Texas was an ideal place to raise cattle, but the war years left that industry in shambles, and the McClellan ranch was among the ranches that fell under the financial pressure it caused. The McClellan brothers never gave up hope of owning their own ranch again, and it was Rufus who made a bold move to fulfill that dream.
The fear of living just below the Caprock was a constant threat. Above them was the home of the Comanche people who rivaled any mounted army in the world and fiercely defended their land, but Rufus soon found out that they were not the biggest threat.
A neighbor who coveted their land and mainly their water, and would stop at nothing to get it prompted him to get help from his brother, but even then it sent their boys on the run...until they decided they would run no more.