In the Powder River region of Wyoming, cattle baron andEnglish gentleman Thomas Trafford, despite being the firstEuropean to enter the region, is struggling to maintain hisempire against the homesteader 'invasion'. He is alerted to ahuge and mysterious loss: the horrific slaughter of all hispregnant cattle, for which he holds the homesteadersresponsible.Meanwhile, on their journey north, Eli andCornelia encounter a victim of Captain Clegg's bushwhackers anda baby who Eli delivers from its dead mother.
