In this bridge novel between McMurtry's Dead Man's Walk and Lonesome Dove, Woodrow Call and Gus McCrae are in their middle years, still serving as respected Texas Rangers.

The Comanche steals Scull's horse Hector and takes it to the Sierra Perdida as a gift for Mexican bandit Ahumado.

Scull promotes McCrae and Call to captains and orders them to lead the Ranger troop back to Austin.

Having returned to Austin, McCrae learns that his beloved Clara Forsythe intends to marry his rival, horse trader Bob Allen.

Governor Pease sends Call and McCrae out with a typically small Ranger troop to rescue Captain Scull.

Realizing they won't be able to collect that many cattle nor persuade King to sell them, Call and McCrae try to rescue Scull on their own terms.

The Civil War takes most of the soldiers away from the frontier, enabling the Comanche to push back the white settlers.

It features actors Karl Urban as Woodrow F. Call, Steve Zahn as Augustus McCrae, Val Kilmer as Inish Scull (often given top billing), Elizabeth Banks as Maggie, Wes Studi as Buffalo Hump, Adam Beach as Blue Duck, and Jake Busey as Tudwal.

Other stars include Linda Cardellini as Clara Forsythe, Rachel Griffiths as Inez Scull, and James Rebhorn as Elisha Pease.