Wyoming, 1879: Chad Santee, [Buster Crabbe], a former Cavalry sergeant, is a passenger on a stagecoach bound for Cheyenne, along with saloon singer Rose Fargo [Ann Robinson] and a gambler known as Blackjack Silk [James Seay]. The coach, carrying government gold, is halted by a gang of outlaws.
Chad is on his way to see his brother Jubal Santee [Neville Brand]’s cattle ranch for the first time. What he doesn’t know is that Jubal is among the masked outlaws who rob the coach. Chad intends to defend himself, but Blackjack, fearing a gunfight, knocks Chad cold. Rose takes umbrage, telling the gang about money Blackjack has hidden in his boot. Chad awakens to find Blackjack slapping Rose, so he flattens the gambler with a punch.
A posse arrives, led by Yellowstone Kelly [Walter Sande], who used to be Chad’s army commander. Kelly would like Chad to join him in Jackson Hole in the fur trading business. Chad says he’s obligated to join his brother in the cattle business.
In town Chad starts to court Rose, but one of Jubal’s men, Shawnee Jack [Michael Ansara], has come to town to take Chad to his brother’s ranch. Chad leaves, but assures Rose he will return. Along with Shawnee and Chad is Meeteetse [Lita Milan], an Indian maiden who “belongs” to Shawnee.
On the journey to the dance Chad treats Meeteetse kindly and she takes a liking to him. Arriving at Jubal’s ranch, Chad discovers there are no cattle and the ranch is actually a hideout, with Jubal the gang’s leader. Chad notices Meeteetse wearing a brooch taken from Rose in the stage hold-up, and realizes Jubal’s gang robbed the coach. Shawnee wants Chad dead for knowing too much. Jubal vouches for Chad’s honesty. Chad tells Jubal he is going to Jackson Hole to get in the fur trading business, and Jubal sends Meeteetse along with him to show him the way.
Chad and Meeteetse make a stop in town so Chad can give the brooch back to Rose, but Blackjack sees him with it and tells the sheriff. The sheriff confronts Chad, who takes flight and is shot trying to get away. Meeteetse, along with Rose, get him back to Jubal’s ranch. Shawnee decides he wants Rose for himself, but Chad won’t give her up. Jealous of Rose, Meeteetse goes to town and offers to take the sheriff to Jubal’s ranch if he agrees to arrest Rose and let Chad go.
Chad and Rose plan to leave the ranch in secret, but Shawnee catches them and Chad wounds him. At that moment the sheriff and his men arrive and there is a gun battle between the sheriff’s men and the outlaws. All of the outlaws except Shawnee and Jubal are either killed or arrested. Chad, having seen the gun battle and thinking his brother is dead, rides off with Rose to a new life in Jackson Hole. Jubal, only wounded, escapes with Shawnee. They believe Chad sent Meeteetse to turn them in to the sheriff and they vow revenge.
Jubal and Shawnee bide their time, form another gang, then ride to Jackson Hole to kill Chad and steal his furs. Jubal confronts Chad and Chad convinces Jubal that he did not betray him. Shawnee takes Jubal’s gun and says he’s going to get the rest of the gang and come back to kill both brothers and take the furs. By the time Shawnee and the gang return, Chad and Jubal are prepared to defend themselves and are able to hold off the outlaws, though Jubal is killed saving Chad and Rose. In his honor, they name their baby girl Jubilee.
