When Jeffords is reassigned as Indian agent to the Utes, his replacement proves to be both without the necessary sensibilities and bureaucratic adaptability, so hostilities ensue as the Chiricahuas threaten to break the peace.
A Mexican ranch owner is pressured by his foreman to not allow Cochise to move and water his cattle on the ranch property, by threatening to tell the don's daughter that her mother was Apache.
Area commodity providers conduct raids which turn deadly disguised as Aravaipa Apaches to foment conflict and draw military into the area and so gain profit from the increased presence of troops.
Federal agent Tom Jeffords makes a deal with Apache chief Cochise to permit the mail riders to pass safely through Apache territory despite the mutual animosity of Apache and white.
A Chinese cook, saved from renegades by Cochise and Jeffords, is bound by Chinese culture to protect Cochise in the future. But he is put in a dilemma when his mining crew, working Chiricahua land, plan Cochise's murder.
Cuchillo, a treacherous Chiricahua, convinces young Miguel that he has killed a white man from whom Cuchillo has stolen dynamite, so that Miguel will flee and Cuchillo can hide from Cochise his plan to deliver the dynamite to Geronimo.
Jeffords joins an area posse to pursue a gang leader who sold liquor to Chiricahua braves, hoping to prevent Cochise from rashly pursuing him. But when the posse fails and Jeffords is wounded, Cochise takes over.