Johny Darr is forced to kill the father of the girl he loves. He leaves Abilene, Kansas, and rides south onto the Chisholm Trail. With his life in disarray, he does not care what he does or where he goes. South of the Red River, Captain Oden of the Texas Rangers persuades him to join and assist him in accomplishing two missions. First, he must ride to southwest Texas and gather information on the land-grabbing, rich rancher, Gregory Sladon, who has hired gunmen and is forcing ranchers to sell. Upon completion of this assignment, he is directed to find and infiltrate the outlaw gang of Hamma and Ravenna, and learn their movement. Darr plays the timid part of the yellowback, and does not reveal his talent with the gun until forced by Sladon"s ace gunmen, Cal Beneware and Nick Hagarty. He meets and falls in love with the beautiful, Renee. Why does he ignore her every attempt for a close relationship? She discovers the answer after he has left her father"s ranch with the outlaw, Ravenna. She then makes the mammoth mistake of her life while attempting to intercept him.