Synopsis
In the Oklahoma Territory, in 1901, a train is held up by three masked bandits, who steal and then blow up an express company strongbox, burning most of the money and scorching the rest. The next morning, two of the robbers, brothers Cottonwood and Violet Goss, leave their rundown ranch with the usable money and head for town. At the same time, U.S. Marshal Lloyd Richland, disguised as a drifter named Rich Williams, arrives in town and chats with Barrow, the town drunk, about the robbery. At the saloon, which is owned by Sheriff Tatum, Lloyd encourages Barrow to theorize about who may have committed the robbery, and Barrow reveals that the Goss brothers are the town's leading suspects. Barrow adds, however, that as one of the thieves was described as a pigtailed Indian, and the Gosses have never associated with Indians, Cottonwood and Violet could be innocent. Lloyd and "ladies man" Violet then vie for the attention of overworked waitress Mary Lingen, who rejects their flirtations and quits in anger. Mary also spurns Tatum's advances, which leads to a vicious brawl between Violet and the sheriff. As Tatum is about to shoot Violet, with whom he has had a long-standing feud, Lloyd intercedes, saving Violet. In gratitude, Violet offers his home to Lloyd, and afterward, they run into Mary, who is trying to barter for a train ticket to St. Louis. The brothers invite the penniless Mary to stay with them for the night, and she, Lloyd, Cottonwood and Violet ride out to the Goss ranch together. Annie, whom Violet and Cottonwood affectionately call "Muddy," greets the strangers with open warmth. When Annie, who has yearned to return to Missouri ever since the death of her husband, learns that Mary "has no people," she invites her to stay indefinitely. Annie then shows Mary a drawing of a fancy velvet hat that she has secretly coveted, and Mary encourages her to ask Cottonwood and Violet to buy it for her. Over dinner, Annie, a loyal Southerner, talks glowingly about Missouri and her frustration at not having enough money to move back. Annie then pulls out the hat picture to show to Cottonwood and Violet, and her devoted sons present her with the real thing, having ordered it by mail weeks before. Just then, the family hears horses in the distance, and Cottonwood, Violet and Lloyd ride to investigate. The trespassers, Tatum and his deputy, fire at the brothers, then flee into the darkness. Later, Mary, who is attracted to Lloyd, asks him whether she should stay with the Gosses, and he gives her some cash so that, if she chooses to stay, it will be for the right reasons. Lloyd then admits that, despite their reputations, Cottonwood and Violet seem like decent, honest men. The next morning, however, Lloyd discovers eye-sized remnants of cut cloth in Annie's room and becomes suspicious. Lloyd then spies Barrow snooping around and forces him to admit that he has a scorched five-dollar bill from the storekeeper, which he claims came from the Goss brothers. Just then, Violet announces that he found Tatum's bullet-riddled hat by their creek. Violet and Cottonwood ride to town and accuse Tatum, who years before shot their father in the back during a fight, of trespassing. Later, Mary reveals to Lloyd that she knows that Violet and Cottonwood robbed the train with Annie, whose pigtails resemble Indian-style braids. Mary begs Lloyd not to turn the family in for the reward, and after declaring that he would never betray their trust, he kisses her. Tatum, meanwhile, discovers Barrow's five-dollar bill and pressures him into revealing its source. At the same time, Cottonwood and Violet show Lloyd their stash and invite him to participate in another robbery. Lloyd finally reveals his identity, and Violet, feeling betrayed, turns his gun on him. Before Violet can shoot Lloyd, however, he is distracted by the sounds of gunshots coming from the ranch house. Promising that he will honor their superior position later, Lloyd convinces the brothers to allow him to join in the fight. When they reach the house, however, they discover that Annie has been shot and killed by Tatum. The brothers race to town to confront the sheriff, and a gunfight ensues. Violet and Tatum shoot and kill each other, and Lloyd arrests Cottonwood. Later, after Lloyd puts Cottonwood on a train to marshal headquarters, Mary decides to stay in Oklahoma with Lloyd.
