Brendon and Wyoming buy a homestead and life is great, but he's drafted and ships off to Viet Nam. Upon return home they have a son, and then a daughter, Montana. An Indian Tribal medicine man predicts Montana will become a warrior, Brendon laughs it off, but it comes true.

After being seriously injured in Afghanistan, she leaves the service to return to her life in her home state, Montana. Four years later, she marries the local County Sheriff who has a teenage daughter, Cindy, that did not want a step-mother.

Her husband's National Guard unit is called to active duty, and she finds herself appointed to fill her husband's shoes while he's gone. When prisoners escape a prison, everyone assumes they'll head for Canada. A blizzard descends on the State, closing off major highways.

Cindy is snowed in at a post-Christmas retreat in the mountains. When there's a knock at the door of the cabin, it's one of the escaped prisoners, Sully, and two accomplices who have come to retrieve the loot form the house he left there after a murder/robbery. Recognizing the escaped prisoner, Cindy texts Montana.

Montana coordinates a rescue with the State Police if need-be. When it's apparent that Sully plans on using Cindy as a hostage, Montana relies on her sniper skills to save her.

When Montana's husband returns, he learns Cindy has given Montana her fervent wish and now calls her Mom (not step-mother).