Prairie Moon

During a shootout with lawmen, Jim 'Legs' Barton dies with a plea on his lips. He asks his old friend Gene Autry to look after his affairs. This dying request establishes the guardianship of Barton's three motherless boys.

Barton's attorney informs Gene that, as executor of the estate, he must take responsibility for the three boys. The news comes with a legal burden and a moral duty. Gene begins to plan how to bring the children to safety.

Gene sends Frog Milhouse to Chicago to locate and retrieve the Barton boys. He also starts preparing the ranch for their homecoming, with Peggy Shaw assisting as the local teacher. The plan hinges on bringing the city-raised boys back to the Western life awaiting them.

Frog tracks down William Brain, Clarence Nails, and Hector Slick Barton in Chicago. The trio proves to be feisty and resistant to his attempts at diplomacy. Frog realizes that receiving them back will be more challenging than expected.

Upon arrival at the ranch, the Barton boys struggle to adjust to Western life. They long for the city and the comforts they knew. Their restlessness foreshadows further trouble.

Gene Autry publicly proposes to Peggy Shaw at a barn dance, capturing a hopeful future for both of them. The boys secretly spy on the couple, catching glimpses of family plans. The romance complicates the guardianship dynamic.

Frank Welch, Legs's secret partner, orchestrates a cattle rustling raid. He uses the boys' desire to stay in the city to mask his crime and undermine Gene's guardianship. The raid sparks a hunt among the ranchers.

The ranchers chase the rustlers, but the cattle vanish without a clear trail. The community grows suspicious, yet Welch remains unproven. The mystery deepens as trust fractures.

The Barton boys spot Welch riding out from behind a waterfall on their own ranch and begin to piece together the truth. They realize their father’s partner stands at the center of the rustling scheme. This sighting confirms their suspicions.

Welch uses the adoption discussions to further his own plan, trying to win the boys over with false friendship. He casts himself as a benefactor and a father figure. The boys’ loyalty becomes a bargaining chip in the scheme.

At the hearing, Welch and his wife offer to adopt the Barton boys. Gene agrees because the boys express a desire to go with Welch. The courtroom atmosphere turns tense as the truth about intentions begins to surface.

One of the boys has a change of heart, and Gene produces a phony Mrs. Barton with three children to expose the ruse. The judge rules Brain, Nails, and Slick as imposters, triggering a confrontation with Welch. The deception is laid bare just as stakes rise.

Welch reveals a more sinister plan to get rid of the boys and secretly move the rustled cattle off their ranch. Gene intervenes before any harm can come to them. The confrontation escalates, forcing Welch and his gang to face capture.

Gene and Peggy decide to marry and adopt the Barton boys, giving them a stable home at last. Frog worries about taking on more children, but the couple remains resolved. The story closes with a hopeful future for the blended family.