Ryker: Ryker opens with a dramatic plea: "Your brother Tom has been hurt. He'll never walk again. I think you ought to come and do your share." With these words from Callie Ryker, Tom's wife, Jake Ryker's freedom came to an end. He would be forced to take on the responsibility of a cattle ranch he had never wanted, to deal with a brother and sister-in-law he could not abide. Jake Ryker, drifter, ends up journeying across New Mexico and Texas in search of a cattle herd with which to stock the failing Circle R Ranch, a tall order for a man riding alone.

Law comes to lawless: John Glyde needs money in order to buy a ranch and the town of Lawless needs a lawman for which it is willing to pay a princely sum. To John the offer seems too good to be true. And he's not wrong. On the trail into Lawless he finds his way blocked by Cole Wescott and his gunmen. Wescott is the owner of Spade Ranch, as well as the man who orignally named the town Lawless, and it is his intention that the town will continue to live up to its name. Now John knows the reason for the good pay. Despite Wescott's warning, John continues into town to start his new job.