When Logan Huett discovers the magnificent Sycamore Canon on in central Arizona and decides he wants to homestead there, he wires back East to the woman he had courted in Missouri, proposing marriage. Lucinda Baker, a schoolteacher, accepts. But pioneering life proves very hard for her. Living is crude. She helps in the building of what will be their home, but finds the loneliness where they have settled oppressive. The dangers are many and constant. But despite the hardships, despite the dangers, Lucinda remains strong. She is determined to not only endure, but to triumph. 
 

Jean Isbel travels from Oregon to Arizona to join his family and force a final showdown with Lee Jorth and his notorious band of cattle rustlers, known as the Hash Knife Gang. His savage hatred is tempered, though, when he meets and falls in love with Ellen, Jorth’s beautiful daughter. Ellen, too, is torn between loyalty to her father and her feelings toward Jean. As the confrontation draws ever closer, emotions run high on both sides and passions flare, but can any good come from bad blood? 

Sterl Hazelton is no stranger to trouble. But the shooting that made him an outlaw was one he didn’t do. Though it was his cousin who pulled the trigger, Sterl took the blame, and now he has to leave the country if he wants to stay healthy. Sterl and his loyal friend, Red Krehl, set out for the greatest adventure of their lives, signing on for a cattle drive across the vast northern desert of Australia to the gold fields of the Kimberley Mountains. But it seems no matter where Sterl goes, trouble is bound to follow!