Josie's mother is killed by the stepfather, unbeknownst to her at the time he also killed her real father, and her grandmother, while trying to get them to tell where a gold mine is located. Josie has to go into the system, the terrible system that it is. Eventually, she gets place at a horse ranch that takes in orphans of the human and horse varieties. It's quickly apparent that Josie has "the gift" for being able to communicate with the horses. She's on a big black stallion and gone for a ride before anyone can stop her. She's the only one able to do a thing with that stallion at the time, he was destined to be shipped elsewhere. Time goes by, Josie adjusts, the horses help her cope, especially the big black horse, Lightning. The evil man is lurking, he wants that gold, he'll do whatever it takes to get it.