After clashing with his father, Abraham Kent and his bride leave for the frontier. Later, their son, Jarod, begins life on the high seas during the War of 1812. Seeking refuge and a new start, Jarod and his cousin Amanda travel west, but danger awaits.

Philip accepts an assignment to retrieve cannon from Fort Ticonderoga and his friend, Judson Fletcher, accompanies him. The two men take on different roles in the war until a joint mission brings an old rivalry to a head.

After learning that he is the illegitimate son of an English lord, Phillipe Charboneau crosses the Channel to claim his inheritance. He then sets out for America, where he becomes a printer's apprentice and falls for Anne Ware as the Revolutionary War looms.