South of St. Louis

During the Civil War, ranch owners Kip Davis, Charlie Burns, and Lee Price are forced to leave their town by guerilla raider and Union Army leader Luke Cottrell, who burns down their ranch. Despite Deb, Kip's fiancée, pleading with them to stay in Edenton, they vow to seek vengeance and decide to head south to find Cottrell.

The three men travel to Brownsville, Texas, where Lee chooses to join the Confederate Army, while Kip and Charlie attempt to rebuild Three Bell ranch. Before doing so, they accept Rouge de Lisle's offer to transport furniture, which turns out to include an illegal shipment of firearms, resulting in Kip's arrest.

Kip is freed from arrest and is recruited by Rouge to work as a gun-runner for the Confederacy. Hoping to fund the rebuilding of his ranch, Kip agrees and they hire gunmen, including Slim Hansen, to transport weapons to Mexico for the Confederacy.

While crossing the border into Mexico, the group encounters Cottrell and his gang. A gunfight ensues, but Kip and Charlie are rescued by Confederate soldiers, including Lee, and they return to Edenton, where Deb again urges Kip to stay.

As Brownsville is captured by rebel soldiers, the trio faces diverging paths: Lee continues fighting with the Confederates, Kip focuses on rebuilding his ranch, and Charlie persists with gun-smuggling, driven by money. Deb refuses to abandon her nursing duties, leading Kip to decide to continue smuggling with Charlie.

Kip and Charlie plan to keep smuggling guns, even after Cottrell threatens their lives. They steal Cottrell's shipment by disguising as Union soldiers, but are mistaken for enemies by Confederate soldiers, damaging their relationships and trust within their circle.

Cottrell kills one of Kip’s men, prompting Kip to seek retribution. In an ambush meant for Kip, Cottrell is ultimately killed by Slim. Afterward, Kip returns to Edenton only to discover Deb has fallen for Lee, leading him to leave with Rouge for Matamoros.

Following the Civil War, Lee joins the Texas Rangers, while Deb seeks help from Kip to resolve conflicts involving Charlie. Deb travels to Matamoros to persuade Kip to return to Brownsville and help calm the tensions in their circle.

Kip arrives in Brownsville just in time to intervene in a fight between Lee and Charlie. During the confrontation, Charlie is fatally shot by Slim, and with Charlie dying in his arms, Kip promises to rebuild the Three Bell ranch, symbolizing hope for the future.