Apache Territory

Logan Cates spots the Apache gathering at a desert watering hole and fires warning shots to scatter the three cowboys. The shots buy the cowboys time to flee while the Apache threat remains close. This moment establishes Cates as a capable loner who will intervene to protect others.

Sometime later, Cates encounters a young woman whose parents were tortured and murdered by Apache Indians. He offers shelter and begins to rethink his aimless life. The encounter foreshadows a deeper commitment to protecting those in danger.

Cates leads the woman to a small, defensible box canyon with a reliable water supply. There he meets Lonnie Foreman, the sole survivor of the warning group, who will become part of the growing camp. The canyon's geography provides a temporary refuge against Apache attacks.

The box canyon attracts various escapees, including a band of cavalrymen and Logan's former girlfriend Jennifer Fair with her fiancé Grant Kimbrough. The group faces tensions and choices as scarce resources bind them together. The looming Apache threat ensures the siege will test every member.

On the first night, Lugo, a Pima Indian wanted for murder over a dispute involving gold, sneaks in for water. Cates allows him to stay because of his hatred for the Apache and his desire to keep enemies close. Lugo's hidden gold later becomes a dangerous incentive for all.

Lonnie and Junie Hatchett quickly grow attached, creating emotional stakes within the group. Their budding bond complicates decisions during the siege and gives Cates a personal motive to protect them. The emotional ties deepen the cliffhanger of survival.

As Apache attacks intensify, Cates accepts leadership and uses his knowledge of Indian warfare and local terrain to coordinate the defense. He also disciplines the others to stay focused and practical under pressure. The loner begins to shoulder responsibility for the group's survival.

Zimmerman hatches a plan to escape with Kimbrough by stealing Lugo's gold and fleeing into the desert. He is killed quickly after the theft when his ruse is uncovered. Lugo's true treasure remains hidden, underscoring the danger of greed in the desert.

Food supplies dwindle, forcing Cates to risk a raid on the Apache camp for sustenance. Water stores run low as the siege continues, heightening desperation and accelerating decisions. The raid reshapes the balance of power inside the canyon.

With defenders dwindling, Apache attacks claim more lives until only Webb and Conley remain. The death of a fellow officer drives Webb to raging despair, and he is wounded and tormented during the night. Cates leaves his fate undecided, and the scene implies he ends Webb's suffering.

A desert wind rises and Cates proposes a breakout under the cover of a sandstorm. They plan to fill empty water bottles with black powder and stones to make grenades for scattering the Apache horde. The plan hinges on timing and the courage to act when relief seems distant.

Grant Kimbrough objects to Lugo's plan to stay with the women, then joins the others but tries to desert. Jennifer exposes him as a coward, and Lugo shoots him dead to stop the escape. The act reinforces Lugo's leadership in the moment.

Cates and Lonnie ignite their grenades and strike the Apache horde. Conley rushes into the camp and detonates his grenade at point-blank range, dying in the blast. The two survivors retreat back to the canyon under the cover of the sandstorm.

Back in the canyon, Lugo reveals he had hidden gold in Cates' saddlebags and shares a portion with Lonnie so he and Junie can travel to California. The revelation shifts loyalties and reframes the survivors' goals beyond mere survival. The desert's lure of wealth complicates the escape plan.

Lugo, Lonnie, and Junie depart together, heading toward a new life in California. Cates and Jennifer remain behind, and she finally leaves, allowing him to chase after her as they ride off into the distance. The group fractures, but a wary optimism remains for the future.