High Lonesome

A young drifter is caught stealing food at Horse Davis's ranch by Boatwhistle, the cook. The incident immediately casts the boy as a suspect in the eyes of the ranch hands.

Pat Farrell, engaged to Horse's daughter Abby, believes the boy is a horse thief and perhaps something worse. His accusation strains the already tense atmosphere at the ranch.

Cooncat explains that he was wrongfully accused of murdering Shell and has fled from the law. Shell owed him money, and two strangers—Smiling Man and Roper—gave him a gun to confront Shell. He was knocked unconscious and woke beside Shell's bullet-riddled body.

Horse doubts the boy's story while Meagan believes him. The family's tension grows as the truth remains unclear.

At a barn-warming party for Pat, news arrives that his parents have been murdered. Pat is furious and wants to hang Cooncat, but Horse dissuades him, creating a rift between old friends.

Smiling Man and Roper arrive at the bunkhouse and taunt Cooncat, treating him as their lucky charm. Boatwhistle is killed by Smiling Man, and Cooncat flees the ranch.

Cooncat returns and speaks to Meagan through her window before heading for the trading post to search for Shell's body.

Megan leaves a note for her father and accompanies Cooncat to the trading post in search of Shell's body.

Roper and Smiling Man show up, and Megan and Cooncat hide in the ruins until morning.

Morning comes as Horse, Frank, Dixie and Pat Farrell arrive at the trading post. Horse moves to ambush the man he believes is Cooncat, only to confront the Roper and Smiling Man.

Cooncat emerges from hiding to warn Horse; he is shot by the Roper and Smiling Man inside the trading post.

Horse confronts the intruders, killing Roper, but Smiling Man subdues him.

Pat shoots Smiling Man just as he is about to kill Horse, turning the tide of the melee.

Meagan cradles the wounded Cooncat as Pat and Horse pledge to take him under their wing.