Shotgun

Thompson's gang rides into town intending to ambush the two marshals. The attack succeeds in killing one marshal, but the other survives and begins pursuing the gang. This brutal ambush sets the stakes for the gang's next moves and draws lawmen closer to their trail.

Following the ambush, the gang debates their next course of action. Bentley expresses a wish to head for California, while Thompson tells him to go ahead. The division forces the group to head in different directions as they search for safety.

Back in town, Marshal Clay Hardin renounces his government post and his engagement to chase the gang. He vows to bring them to justice and restore order on the frontier. His decision marks a personal sacrifice for the pursuit of law.

On the trail, Hardin frees Bentley, who has been captured and left to die, along with Abby, a former saloon worker seeking a fresh start in California. They join Hardin as he resumes the chase. This reunion rekindles their resolve to outrun danger.

Bentley attempts to shoot Hardin during the reunion, but Hardin kills him in self-defense. The last loyal member of Thompson's inner circle is removed from the pursuit. Hardin's victory reduces the gang's immediate threat.

That evening, Hardin and Abby rest on high ground as a band of Apaches race past chasing a rider. Carleton, a bounty hunter known to Hardin though not approved by him, follows, impressed by Clay's shotgun and its limited, 30-yard range. The encounter foreshadows a clash of loyalties and methods.

An Apache messenger informs Thompson that Bentley survived and may have warned Hardin. Thompson deduces Hardin is on his tail and decides to ambush the next stage post anyway. He rides on to meet Delgadito, the Apache chief.

At the stage post, Hardin shoots one ambusher, while Carleton approaches from behind to take the other. The posting men inform Hardin that Thompson has moved on to meet the Apache chief Delgadito. The cat-and-mouse chase escalates toward a deadly showdown.

Hardin and Abby argue about their futures; she urges him to abandon the chase and go to California with her. He maintains that his pursuit is about justice and preventing further violence. She counters that his need for conflict is driving him.

Thompson enters the Apache camp without the rifles he promised to trade. Delgadito reveals he is considering returning to the reservation, signaling a fragile alliance and shifting loyalties.

Abby and Carleton pursue Hardin as Carleton schemes to claim the reward for Thompson. A cooking fire they light in the camp inadvertently alerts the Apaches to their presence. The pursuit pushes Hardin back toward danger and into the heart of the Apache camp.

Hardin returns to the camp to find Carleton dying and Abby captured. He rides in with his shotgun and roars into the camp, rescuing Abby from attackers. Their rescue marks a turning point that culminates in the final showdown.

Delgadito arranges a final shotgun duel between Hardin and Thompson, each allowed a single cartridge. Thompson fires first, puncturing Hardin's horse and leaving him vulnerable. When Thompson is unable to finish him, Delgadito kills Thompson with a spear.

Abby embraces Hardin after Thompson's defeat and expresses a desire to join him on his ranch. Hardin agrees to a future of law, order, and shared life away from the chase. Their bond solidifies as they plan a quieter life together.