An African American boy struggles with his first cattle drive and with the racial prejudices still rampant in the post-Civil War era.

		May 4, 1871 I am getting more and more excited and Mama is getting more and more down in the mouth about me going on the drive. Last year when I saw the guys leaving for Kansas, I dreamed I was going with them, my hat pulled down low over my eyes and my wipe tied loose around my neck. Mama talked about farming and how good it was. I allowed how it was good, but what I dreamed about was being a cowboy.