It is Christmas on the western frontier in the year 1888. Seth and Mary Kellar own and operate the Sage Creek stagecoach station, a small relay stop outside of Lusk, Wyoming Territory. Seth, a former trail guide and scout for the US Cavalry during the Indian Wars, eventually made peace with the Sioux.

Mary's father, Ike Franklin is a stubborn and angry man. The years on the rough open frontier have hardened him. The death of his beloved wife by a Sioux war party raid a decade earlier has made Ike bitter and prejudiced. Ike and Seth do not always see eye to eye. There is a steady conflict between the two men. Ike does not respect his son-in-law.

Ike filed the first homestead on Sage Creek nearly twenty years ago. He is the largest cattle rancher in the region and controls almost all of the rangeland around Sage Creek. All, except one small homestead- John Red Eagle's.

The Red Eagle family are the Kellar's friends and neighbors. John Stockton adopted the Sioux customs and ways, before marrying a prominent Oglala chief's daughter. John has taken the Indian name of his family as his own. His wife, Sunny, a woman caught between two worlds- that of her traditional past and the new changing modern West- must constantly strive to hold her family values in check.

Her father, Chief Joseph Red Eagle, has spent over 60 winters and summers on the open plains. The respected elder's wisdom and knowledge of the Oglala culture is irreplaceable. He embellishes the Indian tradition and shares his life long experiences with Sunny's son, Samuel, at all times. Samuel's best friend Zachary, is the Kellar's eldest son. The ten-year-old pioneer boys share a common bond that will be greatly tested by unfortunate events that will occur during this Christmas season.

Zachary's grandfather, Ike, is blinded by the hatred that has developed from the bloody conflicts of the past. He has determined to take the Red Eagle homestead. He successfully obtains a federal 'Notice of Eviction' order against this peaceful Native American family. The notice is delivered by US Cavalry troopers just a few days before Christmas.

The soldiers announce that they will return on Christmas day to seize the Red Eagle's personal possessions and escort them to the Pine Ridge Indian reservation. To compound the situation, a second unexpected tragic event strikes the family on the same day the soldiers deliver the eviction notice.

John suffers a terrible horse accident and is killed while returning with winter supplies and gifts from Lusk. In one terrible day the Red Eagle's entire world is thrown into chaos and turmoil. Seth is stunned at Ike's actions against the Red Eagle's, now compounded by John's untimely death.

However, his own family is not immune from the indiscriminating fate of the open plains. The following day Seth's youngest son, Kit, contacts a terrible fever that rapidly consumes his small defenseless body. Kit is Ike's favorite grandchild. He absolutely adores the little boy.

As the child's illness worsens, Ike becomes consumed with rage and anger. He couldn't save his beloved wife, Rebecca Ann, ten years earlier, and now he is about to lose his favorite grandchild. All seems hopeless and lost. The boy is being quickly killed by the deadly fever.

An angel of mercy appears. Chief Joseph delivers a special mixture of native plants and medicines to the Kellar family on Christmas Eve. Ike protests at first, but with Seth and Mary's insistence, allows the treatment to be given to the dying boy.

All is quiet in Kit's bedroom on Christmas morning. We are unsure if the boy has died in the night. He is very still and his raspy breathing has stopped. Seth, Ike, and Mary are asleep in his room. We see flashbacks of the young boy interacting with each one of his loved ones during the past Christmas season. Good times. Happy moments and thoughts.

Kit awakes with a yell! He has survived the deadly illness. A special Christmas miracle has occurred. Tragedy is narrowly averted. Ike breaks down and makes peace with Chief Joseph and Sunny. He now realizes that he must forget the past and begin to live the remainder of his life again. He does not want to be left alone anymore. He sheds his anger and prejudices. He accepts his new hope and expectations for the future.

The cavalry troopers return as promised on Christmas day. They come to the Sage Creek station. The soldiers want the Red Eagle family. They will use force if necessary. Seth meets them at the front door. He is heavily armed. He firmly states that no one will be taken away on this special day of miracles. He will risk his life to protect the Red Eagles. Seth is greatly out numbered and out gunned. The tension builds to a deadly conflict.

Abruptly, Ike appears and backs Seth's tough play with both barrels of a loaded shotgun. He stands firm with his "son" in front of the soldiers. He is responsible for this mess. The hatred must stop. Redemption. The crisis is adverted. The soldiers leave without bloodshed. The families can now live in peace and friendship together on the western frontier.

WGAw No. 841172

THADD TURNER

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