A young man decides it's time to venture out on his own as a rider for the Pony Express. His mother, concerned for his safety, begs him not to go due to the dangers of heading west. Recognizing the time has come to finally let him go, she provides him with the ultimate tool for his protection. He confidently rides off, with his mother and younger brother watching and wondering when they’ll see him again. They quickly realize it will be sooner than they think.