In 1871 a band of Indians attack a lone covered wagon traveling westward along the Gila River in Southern Arizona Territory. A few days later, a wagon train reaches that fateful site and finds Brian Jamison barely alive. They bury the dead and treat Brians wounds, whereupon he learns that his ten-year-old brother, Chad, was not among the dead and may have been taken captive.

While recovering, Brian spends several months in Escondido, California helping the Hawkins family establish a farm. A romantic relationship develops between Brian and Abi Hawkins. Nevertheless, Brian cannot rest until he discovers Chads fate.

Brians Search is the story of a valiant young man who risks everything to find his lost brother. Traveling alone, Brian soon learns his quest must include exhaustive questioning of mountain men and army personnel about rumors of white captives among the Indians. His journey encompasses hundreds of miles of open and often dangerous country in Arizona and Southern Utah Territories. Along the way the people he encounters and the obstacles he faces forever change his life and the lives of those he cares about.