Andrew learns to read by copying the alphabet from an old Bible he finds. He begins writing a journal to keep track of the crops he raises. Andrew writes about his freedom and about being forced to move to Texas when smugglers took his farm as a hideout. He tells of his trip to Nacogdoches to meet with Sam Houston, a lawyer, and the leader of the Texan army. Andrew signs up for the land grants in east Texas, but discovers that first he must serve two years as a soldier. On his way to claim his land grant, he is attacked by robbers. Andrew is badly wounded and hides in some brush until daylight. A group of Cherokee Indians on a hunting party finds him close to death. They save him and bring him to their village. Andrew joins the Texas Army as a scout. His new wife, Say-te-Qua, and his love for his family make him determined to protect his home from raids by the Mexican army. Follow Andrew as his journey leads him into the heat of the San Jacinto battle and on the quest for Texas independence.