Neighbours in the Short Creek basin become suspicious of one another when two of their largest cattle operations are victims of cattle rustlers. Elias Fagan, a drifting cowboy, having previously worked with the law, agrees to investigate - covertly. However, someone tries to ambush him before he even reaches Short Creek - and later he's savagely beaten in town. Then, outlaws from the old Hole-in-the-Wall gang turn up and recognise him - it seems there's more than just cattle theft going on.