The Ghost of Crazy Horse is the story of the Wagner family, who live on a small ranch north of Lusk, Wyoming, just south of the Black Hills. Waldo Wagner has a strong connection to the land and horses. The family enjoys sitting outside the home and watching faint lights that sometimes show up in the trees on the north edge of the ranch. His father calls the lights the ghost, or spirit, of Crazy Horse. Waldo and his brother, Eric, work with horses and enjoy hunting, fishing, and taking care of the land. Waldo meets his lovely wife, Aimee, in France while serving with the army. He brings his bride back to Wyoming, where he begins to fixate on the light—the spirit of Crazy Horse. His wife takes care of him as he descends at an increasing pace through the winding path of Alzheimer's disease.