Flying Lariats

On their Sonora, California ranch, proud, stubborn Bonnie Starr and her father "Dad" struggle to round up their cattle, hoping to sell them at the upcoming Sonora Roundup. Initially, the Starrs refuse the assistance of their neighbors, brothers Wally and Sam Dunbar, but the Dunbars find a way to help by convincing a local telegraph operator to deliver $100 to Dad in apparent repayment of a debt. When Bonnie learns that the debtor had died a few weeks earlier, however, she realizes that the Dunbars sent the money. In the meantime, bookmaker Tex Johnson deceives Mr. Appleby, a cashier at the local bank, by presenting him with a phony gold brick as collateral for a $5,000 loan that he plans to use for gambling on various roundup events. The Dunbars are among the contestants in the rodeo as are outsider Kate Weston of Cheyenne, and Bonnie, who uses the $100 as her entrance fee. Realizing that Sam is attracted to Bonnie, Wally agrees to propose to her on his brother's behalf. During the pre-rodeo festivities, Tex asks Kate to bring him inside information on the Dunbars to help increase his odds. During her snooping, Kate interrupts Wally's proposal to Bonnie. Because Wally has not had time to explain that he is speaking for his brother, Bonnie mistakenly believes that he is proposing on his own behalf and accepts his proposal, to Wally's dismay. To facilitate her investigations, Kate arrives at the Dunbar ranch and pretends to have injured herself in a fall from her horse so that she will have an excuse to remain there. She also hopes to compromise Wally, thinking that if Bonnie sees them leaving together the next morning, the engagement will be broken. Wally has the same idea and enlists Dad's help to ensure that Bonnie will see him with Kate. The next morning, however, Wally is asleep in the barn when Bonnie arrives, and she sees Kate and Sam together instead. During the rodeo, Sam and Tex compete at lariat roping and Sam wins, despite Kate's efforts to sabotage his lariats. Later, Buzz, a local boy, overhears Appleby and Tex arguing over the profits from their enterprise. Tex knocks Appleby out and escapes with the money. Buzz informs the sheriff, who deputizes the Dunbars and organizes a small posse. Bonnie joins the chase after she completes the cowgirls' relay race. Sam traps and lassoes Tex. Appleby, who has taken the stolen money from his cohort, is also arrested for illegally lending his bank's money. After Wally clears up the confusion about his proposal to Bonnie, she and Sam embrace.