Saddles and Sagebrush

Lucky Randall, a cowhand with a fast draw, is offered a job by Ace Barcow and Cutter working for their boss, Krag Savin, in Pinon City. When Lucky inquires why Savin, an entrepeneur and rancher, needs to hire gunfighters, Barcow replies that Savin needs protection from squatters. His interest piqued, Lucky accepts the offer. Lucky's decision worries his sidekicks, Bob and Cannonball, and Cannonball decides to follow him. Meanwhile, in Pinon City, Savin is waging a war of terror against Lafe Parker, an outspoken settler who is trying to rally opposition against the corrupt Savin, who has been stealing the settlers' land and cattle. When Blackie, one of Savin's henchmen, torches Parker's haystacks, the rancher decides to confront Savin, and Ann, Parker's concerned daughter, follows her father to town. There, Lucky watches as Parker accuses Savin of fencing in free range and cattle rustling. When Parker challenges Savin to draw his gun, Blackie fires on the rancher and wounds him, causing Lucky to voice his sympathy for the settlers. After summoning Lucky for a talk in his office, Savin accuses the settlers of impeding progress. In response, Lucky protests that Parker and the others are not squatters, but homesteaders, and that Savin is acting out of greed. When Lucky declares his allegiance to the homesteaders, Savin orders Blackie to ambush and kill him. After leaving Savin's office, Lucky and Cannonball ride to the Parker ranch to offer their help. While Cannonball unpacks in the bunkhouse, Lucky rides back to town and is ambushed by Blackie and Barcow along the trail. After lassoing and disarming his attackers, Lucky continues to town and there sends a telegram to the registrar of public lands, inquiring about the ownership of the county range lands. After Lucky leaves the telegraph office, Trigger, one of Savin's thugs, reads the message and warns his boss. Knowing that the government's reply will confirm Lucky's suspicions that the lands are free range and therefore available to all settlers, Savin orders his men to rob the mail delivery on the incoming stage. Bob and his boys, who have been summoned by Lucky, are riding toward Pinon City when they see the stage being robbed by Blackie and his thugs. Bob drives away the robbers, but not before they have absconded with the mail. After Bob arrives at the Parker ranch, Lucky recruits him to help reclaim the settlers' stolen cattle from Savin's ranch. When Bob tells him about the stage robbery, Lucky realizes that he must capture Blackie alive to learn the response to his telegram. Bob, Lucky and the others then ride to Savin's ranch, and after wresting control of the herd from the rustlers, they capture Blackie. While Cannonball and the others manage the herd, Bob and Lucky take their prisoner to the Parker ranch. When Cutter rides into town with news of the raid, Savin assembles his gang for a showdown at the Parker ranch. At the ranch, Lucky has just forced Blackie to admit that the lands are free range when Savin shoots him and begins firing at Lucky and Bob. Retreating into the house, Lucky and Bob battle the outlaws. Riding nearby in her buckboard, Ann hears the gunfire and races to find Cannonball and the boys. Lucky and Bob are down to their last bullet when Cannonball and his reinforcements arrive to rout the outlaws. With defeat imminent, Savin takes Ann hostage and flees with Lucky in pursuit. After capturing Savin and the others, Lucky is appointed marshal by the grateful townsfolk of Pinon City.