This is the first novel in the series and introduces sixteen year old William Dean Ritter, aka "Montana." Two separate adventures take him from his Montana farm to a Wyoming cattle ranch, Dodge City, Kansas and Texas in his pursuit of the dream to become a cowboy. Along the way something unexpected happens - he becomes a man. The book also introduces Montana's famous horse "Spirit." The characters and plot lines harken back to the best of the western serials of the 40's ...