Returning home to Dodge City after tracking down a band of killers, John Kilcoyn wants a break from the saddle. Instead, the deputy United Staes Marshal is greeted by a ransom note from Jake Pride demanding ten thousand dollars in exchange for a local doctor and his daughter.

Pride was a tough frontier lawman until his desire for fast cash led him to cross the line. Kilcoyn was the one who brought him in. Now Pride is out of jail and out for revenge. And Kilcoyn is running out of time.

To save the hostages, Kilcoyn enlists the help of old friend and county sheriff Bat Masterson. Battling renegade Indians and ruthless bushwhackers, they ride to Black Mesa, where Pride is waiting for them to pay the ransom... and for Kilcoyn to pay with his life.