The story takes place in Flint Hills, Kansas, in the early 1900s. Jocelyn Belle Royal, after losing her farm to the bank, joins a mule drive and arrives in Flint Hills, where she rekindles her acquaintance with childhood friend Pete Pladson. Jocelyn and Pete are now married, running a cattle operation on the Nickel Hill Ranch. The struggles the couple face in settling into their new life and building their cattle herd are numerous. However, they endeavor to rally neighbors to start a community school on their property. Their efforts are met with opposition from cattle rustlers and parents alike. The Pladsons welcome two homeless young people into their home and hearts, despite escalating tensions in their small community.