Showdown at Boot Hill

US Marshal Luke Welsh rides into Mound City to arrest Con Maynor and collect a $200 bounty. He presents a warrant and faces the town's wary glances as the confrontation looms. The event sets the tone for the tense encounter to come.

Maynor tries to outdraw Welsh, hoping to escape capture. The confrontation ends with Maynor losing the draw and the marshal maintaining control. The failed stand-off raises the stakes for the town and the pursuit continues.

A coroner's inquest is held to determine the shooting's cause. The proceedings conclude that Welsh acted in self-defense. The verdict provides no resolution on Maynor, fueling tension in the town.

The marshal asks the judge to sign an affidavit detailing the facts. The judge signs but omits Maynor's name from the document. Without the name on the affidavit, Welsh cannot collect the bounty.

Welsh continues to press townsfolk for any evidence linking the dead man to Maynor. In the process, he learns why the town liked Maynor so much and what he meant to the community. The pursuit becomes as much about reputation as about an arrest.

During his stay, Welsh's attention shifts toward Sally Crane, the local saloon owner's daughter. The magnetism between them adds a personal dimension to the otherwise cold pursuit. Their budding relationship complicates the marshal's mission and loyalties.

Welsh meets Doc Weber, the town's philosophical barber and undertaker. Doc provides a counterpoint to the marshal's rigid sense of justice and keeps the town's perspective grounded. The two men exchange views about life, death, and duty.

The town grows uneasy with the marshal's presence and starts looking for ways to get rid of him. Hostility rises as neighbors become suspects and the concept of a lawman in their midst becomes intolerable. The plan becomes a mob mentality rather than a lawful pursuit.

The locals egg on a young wannabe gun slinger to test the marshal's mettle. In the confrontation, Welsh wounds the man, showing he can defend himself and further inflaming tensions. The town's fear and aggression begin to boil over into action.

A mob gathers with the intention of killing Welsh. The threat escalates as the crowd presses closer and the marshal must decide how to respond under threat. The scene marks a turning point in the town's moral arc.

Jill discovers the danger and guides Welsh and Sally to safety, urging them to hide in her house. They shelter together as the mob closes in. The act underscores Jill's loyalty and Sally's vulnerability.

The delirious gun slinger locates the marshal and the struggle ensues. He shoots Jill during the encounter, wounding her. The incident raises the stakes and shifts sympathy within the town.

Charles Maynor arrives in town with his family for his brother's funeral. Unknown to them, Charles plans to kill Welsh, but his wife notices Welsh with Sally and urges him to reconsider. The family dynamics complicate the looming confrontation.

The next day at the funeral, Welsh approaches Charles unarmed and declares he is the man who shot Maynor's brother. Charles attacks, but the crowd and mourners restrain him before the fight becomes fatal. The standoff exposes the town's divided loyalties.

After a final discussion with Doc Weber, the marshal realizes his place is with Sally. He chooses love over duty and leaves town to be with her. The departure marks the end of the conflict and a new direction for both.