Shep (Ernest Borgnine) finds Jubal (Glenn Ford) who has been injured. He helps him out and then offers him a job as a cowhand. Mae (Valerie French) who is Shep's girlfriend likes the looks of Jubal and tries her best to seduce him. But he is not really interested in her because he has taken a shine to Naomi (Felicia Farr) who is engaged to another man. Neither Shep nor Pinky (Rod Steiger) are at all impressed with Jubal and his cowardly ways as it seems Jubal is always trying to run from trouble after he stirs it up. Pinky is used to being number one and he is not at all enthused at feeling like he is playing second fiddle to Jubal who seems to be getting most of Mae's attention now. Jubal decides that he is going to stop running from trouble and turn his life around.