Theodore Roosevelt and his Elkhorn men strike out for the open range to participate in their first roundup. The weeks-long undertaking of sorting cattle is a chance for Roosevelt to prove himself a true cowboy. Unfortunately, the changing seasons bring back his asthma, and he is injured in a fall. Undeterred, Roosevelt rides alongside the rest of the cowboys as they drive and sort their herd across the Badlands. But the spirit of adventure quickly turns to fear when one of the cowboys turns up dead. Though it looks like an accident, some of the men aren’t so sure, and the sudden appearance of the Marquis de Morés puts Roosevelt’s mind ill at ease. With the cattle season coming to a close, Dow ponders if he should return to Maine as planned or stay in Medora to build a future with Rosie.
