Dan Reid, the fourteen-year-old nephew of the Lone Ranger, was riding the stagecoach from Rockton to Bellmap, returning from a visit with friends. The only other passenger in the coach with Dan was a young woman, whose beauty and pleasant smile attracted Dan's attention. As their eyes met, the girl spoke to ask him about his purpose in the territory. Her name is Betty Rawlins, and this is her first time out west, but she's likely going to stay, since her uncle died and left a large ranch to both her cousin, Jack, and herself. She's eager to learn all about cattle ranching, and how to ride a horse. Jack has worked the ranch for a number of years, however, and the cowhands are already talking of how Betty could meet with an accident, so that the ranch would defer to Jack.