"Bring Me His Ears"
is the story of the development of and dangers associated with the Old West. It is the early 1840s. Texas is an independent territory, and New Mexico is part of Mexico. Wagon trains from the East still head for a new life in the Oregon Territories. The governor of New Mexico elbows Tom Boyd out of his way and into a street in Santa Fe. Boyd retaliates by slapping him across the face, realizes what he has done, and makes his escape. The governor orders his agents to "Bring him back alive or bring me his ears!" Boyd makes plans to take off for Oregon, but meets Patience Cooper and, despite the obvious dangers in Santa Fe, decides to stay instead.