In 1881, after a controlled plunge into a river, young Todd Tellier awakes from a lightning-induced coma, and is offered an opportunity to travel around Texas with his Uncle Steve, a part-time peddler of goods to ranchers. In his short sojourn, he is forced to mature quickly by the events of a stay in Dallas and encounters with different types of people. He meets his future business partners, his future wife, and discovers an amazing gift that will make his fortune.