November, 1879, Dakota Territory. Corporal John Taylor, one of "Custer's avengers," is bored and lonely at Fort Grummond, a small, isolated outpost associated with a Lakota Sioux reservation. Any glimpse of Jeannie Scheid, the beautiful 17-year-old daughter of the Indian agent, Orville Scheid, exacerbates his frustration.

Scheid insists the Indian children learn English. Chief Stone Bear refuses. Scheid blunders and uses a single, ill-chosen word that terrifies the reservation's people. The Sioux kill some troopers and agency employees, kidnap Scheid's family, and launch a desperate attempt to flee to Canada. Major Nelson Prescott conducts an equally desperate mission to stop them.

Taylor's life and that of B Troop explodes in violence and tragedy. Pursuit by the cavalry is relentless, but the resistance of the Sioux is persistent and resourceful. All in the teeth of a brutal winter that grinds down both pursuers and pursued.

A climactic confrontation erupts at the Missouri River, shy of the Canadian border. Taylor rescues Jeannie, and he learns a lot more about the young woman, the Sioux, the Army, and himself.

Ride along with Taylor and his set of four – Sean O'Dea, Linus Skinner, Hans Klausmeyer, and himself – and B Troop during this epic struggle.