Allie McCrae is broken-hearted at the death of his parents and wife during the Irish Potato Famine. Armed with his father's gold watch and little money, he boards a cholera-laden ship for America, in search of his dream. The unexpected occurs his first day in New York when he is robbed-not the dream he had in mind. Allie joins the U.S. Army, which takes him West. He rescues and marries a Choctaw woman. Their son, Mark, graduates from West Point and is sent to Fort Hellsgate in Arizona Territory, where his father is stationed. Mark is white, Indian, and now a soldier, who feels split loyalties. To further complicate the situation, Mark finds himself attracted to Amanda, the niece of the commandant. Gold thieves, crooked Indian agents and Draco, murderous renegade follower of Chief Victorio, add to the drama as it races to a startling conclusion.