The central characters in the story are the
families of six farmers and the people in Tarrytown, a small town in the
vicinity where the Younger boys (the same people who made up the
James/Younger gang) were brought up.
Thomas Hastings, a 13 year old boy, lives with his
parents, brother and sister, on one of the farms. He attends a one room
school house and gets caught up in the conflict.
The young men in the community, including Thomas's older brother Grady, form
a band of riders who defend their properties against marauding and hostile invaders.
They also join the Missouri Militia to fight in battles.