A rancher and a hired gun join forces to take on the criminal who betrayed them both.
In the 1870's Taw Jackson is paroled from prison after being framed and cheated out of his gold-rich land by Frank Pierce, the ruthless owner of a mining company. Determined to have his revenge, Taw devises an elaborate plan to hijack Pierce's huge, armor-plated war wagon when it is carrying a half million dollars in gold dust. He enlists the aid of Lomax, a flamboyant gunman previously in the employ of Pierce; Wes Catlin, a supply wagon driver; alcoholic Billy Hyatt, a young demolitions expert who soon becomes attracted to Catlin's young wife, Kate; and Levi Walking Bear, a renegade Indian. Although Pierce tries to lure Lomax back into his employ by offering him $12,000 to kill Taw, the gunman sees a chance for greater profit in the heist. Assisted by Kiowa Indians, Taw puts his plan into motion. A road is blocked, nitroglycerin charges are set off, and the war wagon is blown into a steep ravine. Pierce is shot through the head by Lomax, and the sacks of gold dust are loaded into barrels of flour in Catlin's wagon; but the Kiowas suddenly turn on their companions, shoot Catlin, and attempt to steal the gold. A charge of exploding nitroglycerin kills the Indians and sends Catlin's wagon hurtling over a ledge, whereupon hordes of starving Indians gather up the gold dust, believing it to be flour, and make off with it. Enraged at losing his share of the bounty, Lomax takes Taw's horse as partial payment and rides off. Taw, unbeknownst to Lomax, has prevented the loss of some gold Lomax had hidden from the others. He gives Billy and Kate enough to live on temporarily and sends word to Lomax that he may claim his share of the recovered gold. Soon Lomax appears and angrily demands his share, but Taw insists that the gold remain in his own secret hiding place for a waiting period of 6 months. Until that time Lomax will have to guard Taw's life 24 hours a day.
