Cowboy

Frank Harris, a Chicago hotel clerk, dreams of striking it rich in cattle and falls in love with Maria, Vidal's daughter. Their romance is complicated when Vidal learns of it and orders Harris to stay away. Vidal also plans to have Maria return to Mexico with him.

Vidal pressures Harris to keep away from Maria and arranges for her to be sent back to Mexico. Harris feels desperate and determined to prove himself. The family conflict raises the stakes for Harris's upcoming cattle venture.

Tom Reece completes his cattle drive and asserts his growing authority by taking over a wing of the hotel. He makes a deal to buy Vidal's cattle in Mexico, drawing Harris's interest and hope to join the venture.

Harris offers his entire life savings to secure a 50/50 partnership in Reece's next cattle drive. He hopes the arrangement will also bring him closer to Maria. The pact is sealed with a bold leap of faith.

The next morning, Harris proves stubborn about the deal, and Reece reluctantly accepts to avoid losing the partnership. They set out toward Vidal's ranch to begin the drive. The journey marks the start of the rugged trail life Harris demanded to join.

Life on the cattle drive proves rough, and a hand is killed by a rattlesnake during rough play by others. Harris endures the harsh treatment from Reece and begins to toughen up as the journey continues.

Upon reaching Vidal's ranch, Harris learns that Maria has been married off to Don Manuel Arriega. Arriega warns Harris to stay away. The revelation devastates Harris and tests the partners' mission.

At a fiesta, Arriega performs a dangerous stunt by placing a ring on a bull's horn from horseback and taunting the Americans. Harris accepts the challenge, but Reece steps in to protect him. Reece confronts the bull on foot and succeeds.

On the cattle drive back to Chicago, Maria's marriage gnaws at Harris and he grows cold and hostile. He begins to imitate the very harshness Reece once showed him. The bond of the partnership strains under personal conflict.

Reece stamps the herd to rescue Harris during a Comanche ambush; he is shot in the knee, and Harris must take over as trail boss. He drives the men hard to recover the lost cattle.

Harris tells Reece that 200 head lost in the stampede will come out of Reece's share, tightening the strain between them. The drive grows tenser as mistrust surfaces and the partnership strains under pressure.

A former US marshal kills a friend during drinking and then takes his own life, leaving the crew unsettled. Harris coldly orders the men back to work, deepening the dark mood on the drive.

Later, Reece saves Harris's life when he foolishly enters a crowded cattle car on the train, where a steer could trample him. The rescue rekindles some respect between them and softens Harris's mood.

Knowing Reece saved him, Harris snaps out of his resentment and suggests the lost cattle be shared 50/50. They return to Chicago and take over part of the hotel, a boisterous finale that surprises Harris's former boss.