Brett Ballin is an intelligent fifteen-year-old boy thrust out on his own after the death of his parents. His ambition is to become a doctor. His father has told him he has grandparents in Boston, his mother's parents, and he should contact them in order to get his education. His grandfather, however, has disowned Brett's mother and now rejects him. Not to be discouraged by this bad turn of fate, Brett strikes out on his own. He meets Tim Osterhaus, the two boys become friends and Brett is invited to live with the family. However his life intertwines with his mother's family as he struggles...

Brett Ballin started his life in Winchester, Kansas. After the death of his parents, Mike and Lila Ballin, Brett moves to Boston in order to go to medical school. He becomes a doctor and decides to move back to Kansas, since he loves the wide-open spaces and Western life. On the train to Kansas City, he meets Ben Cameron. He and Ben become friends and Ben helps him establish himself in Stockdale, Kansas, as the town doctor. However, tragedy strikes back in Boston with his adopted family, The Osterhauses, and he finds that he is the only one left in the family who can help his adopted brother...

Troy Donovan is the son of wealthy and prestigous parents who own one of the largest cattle and horse ranches in Kansas. Troy's father, Blake, has enough wealth to send his son to any college in America and wanted him to choose a professional career. Troy, however, had other ambitions. From the time he was a child, he wanted to be a lawman. When he turned eighteen years old and much to the consternation of his father, he approaches the local Sheriff, Rory Kincaid, asking to fill in as a deputy. Despite all the pressure placed on him by his family and long-time girlfriend, Felicia, Troy...