After mountain man Isaiah Crow arrives in Alta California, he saves a group of people from local bandits.
As luck would have it, they are family and Vaqueros from the rancho of Don Hernando Batista, one of the most powerful families in Southern California – and very anxious to take their new friends to meet the Patron.
After Señor Batista introduces his daughter Francisca to Isaiah, the two soon fall in love. From this union a child – Jedadiah – is born. He will learn not only how to read and write, but also the art of war.
Through Jedadiah, the House of Crow will become one of the most powerful families in the country.