Charles Crawford leaves England with the grape plants and six Orlov Trotter foals, accompanied by Darren, his new bride, his sister, and Charles’ new friend, Cathal Byrnes. Charles’ son, C.W., is in Philadelphia and invites them out for the night at the Ponderosa. Cupid’s arrow strikes C.W. when he meets Darren’s sister-in-law, Anabela, and soon follows. Charles, Judith, and the family travel around America with Cathal. Charles discovers a problem with a ranching neighbor in Denver who is stealing prized Herefords. Charles asks Judge Moore to go easy on the rancher, so the judge places the neighbor on a 10-year probation. Within three weeks, the rancher shoots Swimming Otter’s 17-year-old son, Charles’ manager of Ambush Ranch. Charles buys the neighbor’s ranch at auction, and soon learns of another rancher who has stolen 3,000 acres of the ranch’s land.