In the 1880s, Judd Hastings and his daughter Marian, owners of a large cattle syndicate located in Questa, Texas, ask the governor for help in moving squatters from their land. Because the state of Texas is nearly bankrupt, the governor wants to keep Northern investors like Hastings happy, but with no militia to spare, he sends sharpshooter Mike McGann to investigate and keep the peace. Meanwhile, having been assured that the law is on his side, Hastings orders his men to chase the ranchers off the property, but he wrongfully seizes their cattle for himself. Mike and his sidekick, Shiloh, ride to Questa, and after saving one of the dispossessed ranchers, Ben Curran, from a group of Hastings' thugs, realizes that the governor does not know the full story. Determined to help, but aware that the law is on Hastings' side, Mike convinces the ranchers that they must move on and suggests land to the north. The ranchers resent that their land has been sold out from under them, as some of them have had possession since Spanish land grants were issued, but Mike promises to help them regain their stock. To keep his eye on both sides, Mike asks Shiloh to get himself hired by the syndicate. Then Mike introduces himself to Hastings and says he will help move the squatters if Hastings will return their stock. Hastings refuses and later instructs his men to attack the departing wagon train. Anticipating trouble, Mike buys out the gunsmith, who has also been ordered out by Hastings, and sets up a trap for Hastings' men. As Mike serenades Quela, a daughter of one of the ranchers, the thugs arrive at the wagon camp to make trouble. However, they are ambushed and overtaken peaceably by Mike and the ranchers, who also confiscate their guns and horses, promising that all will be returned when the ranchers are safely away. The wagons, with the women and children, proceed north, and the thugs round up a few guns by stealing them from citizens of Questa. Meanwhile, as Mike and Shiloh distract Hastings' men in the saloon by singing "Dixie," which starts a brawl, Ben and the other ranchers retrieve their cattle and herd them north. Guessing that the livestock has been retaken, Hastings organizes his men to create a stampede during the night that will kill all the ranchers. He then plans to retake the cattle. When Marian, who has been against the cattle stealing, fails to dissuade Hastings from his plans, she races out to the ranchers' wagon camp, but just as she arrives, her horse trips and she is thrown and knocked unconscious before she can warn them. Wondering why Marian has ridden out, Mike sets up guards for the night, but the guards are incapacitated by Hastings' men and the stampede is set in motion. Marian, who is being cared for in one of the ranchers' wagons, awakens during the commotion and screams. Hastings recognizes her scream and tries to rescue her, but is trampled to death by the cattle. After rescuing Marian, Mike and the ranchers head off the cattle until the animals settle down. The next day, as the ranchers prepare to continue their journey north with their cattle, Marian decides to return to Questa and run the ranch more honorably. Mike decides to go with her.
