In the Salinas Valley of California, young Tom Tiflin (Peter Miles) lives on his family's ranch with his parents, Fred (Shepperd Strudwick) and Alice (Myrna Loy), who are constantly at odds, and with his rambling grandfather (Louis Calhern). Capturing Tom's admiration, however, is the hired ranch hand, Billy Buck (Robert Mitchum), a venerable horse expert. When his father gives him a pony as a gift, Tom learns the importance of responsibility, but also has to face the pain of loss.