Gunfighter Sam Willard is riding west, fleeing from himself and his violent past. As he tops a rise he spots what he believes to be a rancher, his daughter, and his teenage son being roughed up by a group of horsemen. When Sam realizes that the horsemen mean to drag the boy behind one of their horses, he rides into the melee, kills two of the attackers, and chases the others off. From that moment he becomes the champion of the Stone family in their battle against the powerful Farleys, who want total control of the valley lands and people. Often facing death, more than once saving the Stones from the brutality of the Farleys, Sam finds that he is passionately attracted to Mandy Stone. In spite of the dangers they face, their romance blooms. But the Farleys want none of that, especially Dave Farley's son, Pete, who begins chasing Mandy, swearing that he will have her or on one else will.