California-bound rancher Ben Warren (Rock Hudson) is shot and left for dead when a demented ex-Confederate, Frank Slayton (Phil Carey), kidnaps his Southern bride-to-be (Donna Reed). Revived, Ben sets out to rescue her. Along the way, he picks up Jess Burgess (Leo Gordon), a slighted former member of Slayton's gang, and American Indian local Johash (Pat Hogan), who has his own beef with the outlaws. Together they embark on a perilous chase toward the Mexican border to stop Slayton.