After the death of his wife, Al Murphy, one-time lawman, drinks and drifts. While on the trail, he witnesses a murder. He accompanies the sheriff and the body back to town where the victim's sister and owner of McCormick's Mercantile hires him to ride shotgun with her freight. Christine believes that Gibson, a rival merchant, had her brother killed. Murphy takes the job and finds self-respect and friendship among the threats of violence.