Guns, guts and glory are on full display after the Civil War in Abilene Kansas. Homesteaders trying to start new lives clash with cattlemen across the street who want to keep the prairies open for roaming cattle. The town marshal, Dan Mitchell (Randolph Scott) has the unenviable job of keeping the peace. But when homesteaders decide to lay stakes on the edge of town the balance is upset and leads to a deadly showdown. Mitchell strives to prevent the confrontation while also dealing with a personal conflict between Rita, a flashy showgirl, and Sherry, the modest, churchgoing daughter of a shopkeeper.
