Boots and Saddles

Following his father's death, Edward travels from England to the ranch in the Western United States with his solicitor, Henry Wyndham. Gene Autry and Frog Millhouse welcome him and vow to help him become a real Westerner. Wyndham hints that the Granville Ranch is deeply in debt and may need to be sold.

Jim Neale, the wealthy rancher owed money by Edward's father, pressures Edward to sell the ranch to settle the debt. He warns that failure to pay could lead to a court action. His pressure inspires the plan to raise cash by selling the ponies to the Army.

Gene rescues Edward from a runaway horse, softening Edward's arrogant facade. Edward apologizes for his earlier behavior, and Gene decides he is a 'regular fellow.' They nickname Edward 'Spud,' echoing his father's nickname, and resolve not to sell the ranch.

Edward and the others decide to raise cash by selling the cow ponies to the Army, instead of surrendering the ranch. The scheme shifts the focus from keeping the ranch intact to funding it through horse sales.

Gene and the crew prove their mettle by helping round up the horses and driving them back to the ranch. The successful roundup strengthens Edward's resolve to save the ranch and demonstrates their capability.

To arrange the sale, Gene and the others head along dusty roads in wagons toward Fort Wayne. During the journey, they dust a passing buggy that happens to carry Neale, Colonel Allen, and Bernice, setting up later complications.

At Fort Wayne, Bernice recognizes Gene when he visits Colonel Allen's quarters. Posing as a maidservant, she tells Gene that Allen is hard of hearing, which leads to misunderstandings and tension during the next day’s horse auction.

With bids from Gene and Neale identical, Colonel Allen proposes that they each race twelve horses the next morning to decide who wins the contract. The plan hinges on proving which set of horses performs best under pressure, despite Neale’s schemes.

That night, Edward helps prevent Neale from serving a summons to seize their property, then a fire breaks out in the barn where Gene’s horses are kept. Gene rushes in to save the stock, while Frog recalls the incident to identify possible attackers.

Frog discovers that the watch found after the fire belongs to Joe Larkins, Neale’s henchman, linking Neale to the sabotage. The clue begins to unravel Neale’s scheme and strengthens the resolve to win the contract on rightful terms.

Gene competes in the race with the horses he has left and overcomes Neale’s dirty tricks to win. The victory secures the contract for the Granville Ranch and keeps the operation from collapsing.

After the race, Larkins reveals Neale’s underhanded schemes, exposing the broader deception. Gene and Bernice put their differences behind them, and the ranch’s future looks brighter with the truth out in the open.

Edward’s plan to save Granville Ranch succeeds, and he begins to feel at home in the West. The group solidifies their friendships—especially between Gene and Bernice—and looks toward a stable future for the ranch.