Is Lee Pate a man of principle or a misguided dreamer? Troubled by the institution of slavery, he uproots his family-wife, Sarah, and sons, Richard, Melvin, and Abel-without notice and heads west. Lee sends his sons back to Tennessee on a quest that will change the relationship between the brothers forever. In Fort Smith, the Pate family meets the Lewises, a Mormon family fleeing persecution in Missouri. Together, they follow a barely explored trail to the Mexican Province of New Mexico. The travelers face many difficulties, but family struggles prove the most formidable obstacle. Testing the strength of family ties, tells a story as old as time in a new country.