A devastating flood of the Ventura River in 1832 nearly destroys Mission San Buenaventura on the coast of California. But it also unites three unlikely friends: Inigua - a rebellious Chumash elder, Father Francisco Uria - the eccentric Padre-Superior of the mission, and Pablo - an orphaned mestizo boy who yearns to become a vaquero. When Padre Uria pairs Inigua (a former vaquero himself) with Pablo, each is leery of the other, but they eventually form a bond as strong as the braided rawhide lariat they plan to make. The two travel inland to Rancho Ojai to begin the reata, but soon run afoul...