A young, single mother gives birth to a baby boy at a western Nebraska ranch where she works as a housekeeper for a seasoned rancher, Ol' Man Sweeney. As Luke Wilson grows up, Sweeney takes him under his wing, teaching the boy all facets of running a ranch. Luke's life is fun and ideal amid wild horses and rodeo competitions until a twist of events thrusts the now teenage cowboy into challenging, new responsibilities. Trouble starts for Luke when he has to make difficult decisions virtually alone.
Life gets more complicated for Luke when motivated by their own goals and intentions, two individuals, Patsy Monroe -Sweeny's long-time business associate- and Harold Porter -a local businessman- use opposite approaches to guide the teenager's life and future. Ultimately, Luke arrives at a crossroad where he must either allow other people to decide for him or decide on his own what's best for him and his future.