Ranchers and Rascals

With the help of his dog Bullet, long-time bachelor Harvey Martin nervously prepares for a visit from his future wife, Helen Williams, and her mother. Harvey sets out in his buckboard for the Williams house, unaware that an automobile has run out of gas just past his ranch. The car, which is driven by a stranger with a baby, is seen by cowboys Larry Simmons and Yates. Although Yates laughs at the young woman's predicament, Simmons, who is angry with Harvey for "stealing" Helen, offers to go to town for some gas and suggests that she wait at "his" house, pointing to Harvey's ranch. When Harvey arrives at the Williams ranch, he and Helen try to sneak a kiss, but are constantly interrupted by her mother or father. When Simmons and Yates ride up, Simmons takes Harvey aside, and in a whisper loud enough for everyone to hear, advises Harvey not to go home because "his lady friend" is waiting there and has brought the baby. Harvey then fights Simmons, but is quickly stopped by Williams and his hands. With an innocent conscience, Harvey decides that Simmons is making a bad joke and sets out for his ranch with Helen and her mother, followed in the distance by her curious father. On the trail, Simmons and Yates encounter another automobile, this one driven by city dweller Robert M. Willis, who asks if they have seen a woman, whose picture he produces. When Simmons asks if she has a baby with her, Willis offers $100 if they will lead him to her. As Harvey, Helen and Mrs. Williams arrive at his ranch, the stranger goes into the parlor and is not seen by the arriving trio. When Harry goes back into the parlor, he sees the woman and her baby and is terrified at the thought of what Mrs. Williams will think. He tells the woman to stay with her baby in the back bedroom. When Mrs. Williams hears a noise from the bedroom, she demands that the nervous Harvey unlock the door, but by this time the stranger has deduced that Harvey is being tricked by Simmons and sneaks out the open window with her baby. Several items left behind by the woman raise Mrs. Williams' curiosity, but Harvey manages to find convincing excuses for all of them. A few minutes later, as Yates, Simmons and Williams approach the ranch, they are seen by the stranger, who sneaks back into the house. Soon everyone, except Willis, whose car got away from him, are at the house. Not wanting to have her true situation exposed, when the stranger is discovered, she says that she married Harvey, who used the name "Robert Willis." Now sympathetic to the stranger's plight, Mrs. Williams comforts her. After the stranger and her baby ride off with Helen and her parents, a disheartened Harvey throws Simmons and Yates off his land. They again encounter Willis, who finally caught up with his car, and raises his offer to $1,000 for return of the baby. Simmons and Yates immediately chase after the Williams' buckboard, with the curious Harvey in close pursuit. When everyone converges on the trail, Harvey forces Willis to admit that he is the baby's father. When he demands the baby, Mrs. Williams grabs him from the stranger's arms and watches as the couple argues over him. When Mrs. Williams breaks up the argument by saying that the baby belongs to both of them, they realize that they love each other and embrace. With his reputation now restored, Harvey and Helen start to cuddle. When he catches Mrs. Williams eye, she laughs and tells him to do it again and begins to cuddle her husband.