Last Stand at Saber River

Near the end of the Civil War, Paul Cable returns from years of fighting for the Confederacy. His wife Martha thought he was dead, and their reunion is strained and uneasy. She resents him for leaving their family behind to endure the war, setting a tense tone for what follows.

Paul and Martha try to reconnect after years apart, but they feel like strangers despite their lifelong love. Their arguments reveal the depth of their estrangement and Martha's stubborn independence is on full display. Martha's father, James Sanford, scolds her but she stands firm.

During Paul’s absence, their youngest daughter dies from a fever. Martha bears the loss without him, which deepens her anger toward the man she once depended on. The tragedy compounds the tensions that will fuel the coming conflict.

Cable decides to return west to reclaim the ranch he owns in Arizona. The family packs their belongings and says farewell to Martha’s father as they begin the journey. This move sets them on a collision course with others who want the land.

On the night of their journey, the Cables are disrupted when horses headed by Lorraine Kidston stampede through their camp. Paul and Martha confront the chaos and rediscover that Paul is alive. Lorraine realizes who he is, complicating the ranch battle ahead.

When they reach the ranch, two Kidston men draw on Paul and Martha. Martha fires a double-barreled shotgun in the dark, killing them and initiating a feud. The event marks the start of a violent struggle over ownership and pride.

Cable and his family endure attacks from Kidston hired guns, and several are killed. Vern and Lorraine begin to sympathize with the Cables, hoping to resolve the dispute peacefully. Duane Kidston resists, but eventually has to relent to his children's and brother's wishes.

Vern and Lorraine advocate returning the ranch to the Cables and living peacefully. Duane finally relents, recognizing his daughter Lorraine's insistence and his brother Vern's perspective. The feud loses some of its grip as factions shift.

Edward Janroe, a one-armed Confederate sympathizer, kills Duane Kidston, and Cable is blamed for the murder. The accusation heightens the stakes and intensifies the danger for the Cables. Janroe's act ties Cable to a deadly web of revenge.

Janroe abducts Cable’s daughter as security during an illegal gun transaction with Mexican bandits. Cable and Vern pursue across the desert to stop the plot and save the girl. The kidnapping triggers a desperate chase that tests the family's resolve.

Cable and Vern track Janroe and the bandits, killing Janroe in a climactic confrontation. They continue the pursuit until the bandits abandon their loot and retreat. Cable then places his daughter's safety ahead of vengeance.

Cable returns home wounded and is nursed by Martha, who has learned to accept him as he is. She forgives him and the two reconcile, choosing to love each other again. The couple begins anew as the violence subsides.

With the feud cooled and the perils behind them, the Cables settle into a fragile peace in Arizona. Lorraine and Vern have helped shift the balance toward a peaceful resolution, and the couple's love endures the trials they faced.