This classic Western story takes place on a cattle ranch. When a mysterious stranger comes walking into town seeking employment at the Cross-Triangle Ranch, life changes for these simple country folk. The stranger goes by the name Honorable Patches, and throughout the book his tumultuous past and his intentions for coming out West are revealed. Patches is put to the test many times by the other employees, including the caretaker, Phil Acton, and the owner, Dean Baldwin. As Patches continues to prove his worth, the ranch employees learn the importance of a natural life and its role in what it means to be a man.