Forbidden Trails

Prison inmates Fulton and Howard vow to avenge themselves against former marshal Buck Roberts as soon as they are released. When they arrive in Yucca City, Jim Cramer, their former accomplice, tells them he has gone straight and is starting his own freight company. Jim was released from prison earlier than his partners and now begs them not to harm Buck, who looked after his children while he was in prison. However, Fulton wants revenge, and knows that Buck arranged for Jim's early release. Buck, meanwhile, has retired and is about to leave for Texas to attend the long-awaited wedding of his friend, Sandy Hopkins. Buck is lured to a line shack by a note from Fulton which he signed with Jim's name. Once inside the shack, Buck is trapped and the shack is ignited. Buck whistles for his horse, Silver, then narrowly escapes through a window and is dragged, clinging to Silver's reins until he is clear of danger. Fulton and Howard believe that Buck has died in the fire, but he is rescued by his ranch hand, Bunion, who sends for Sandy and another friend, Colonel Tim McCall. Believing that Buck is in mortal danger, Sandy leaves his wedding before taking his vows. After much discussion with Buck, Sandy and Tim insist that he recuperate at his ranch while they investigate. Sandy arrives in Yucca City driving Jim's freight wagon, ostensibly having taken over for Jim's other driver, and Tim poses as a drifter who is just hitching a ride. Once in the saloon, Tim impresses Fulton and Howard's boss, saloon owner Ed Nelson, with his skill at cards, and Nelson hires him to deal crooked faro games. Nelson, who Jim thinks of as a close friend, plans to force Jim into taking him on as a partner in the freight business by robbing his first shipment of high grade ore, then convincing Jim that he needs to pay him for protection. Sandy befriends Howard in the saloon and leads him to believe they share a hatred of Buck. Just as Howard hires Sandy to work on Nelson's behalf while he drives for Jim, Fulton accuses Tim of cheating him at cards. Buck unexpectedly appears and prevents Fulton from killing Tim, but is forced to kill Howard in self-defense. Sandy and Fulton then escape together. When Buck finds out that Nelson knows Jim's shipping schedule, he urges Jim to leave that night. Sandy overhears the conversation and reports back to Nelson, but Jim later refuses to allow Sandy to drive the wagon and ties him up in the barn. In order to get Buck, Nelson makes certain that his plans to ambush Jim reach Jim's fiancée Mary, who would leave Jim if she knew about his past. Buck rides out immediately to help his friend, and after Tim frees Sandy, they encounter Buck just as he is being ambushed by Nelson's men. Pretending that they are working for Nelson, Tim and Sandy take Buck hostage. Sandy is left to guard Buck, but Buck apparently escapes. Nelson and his gang attack Jim, who finally realizes that his friend is thwarting his success in order to get control of his business. Jim reluctantly signs a partnership contract, but Buck emerges from his hiding place in the wagon and arrests Nelson, telling him that the contract will serve as proof with which to convict him. Tim and Sandy capture the rest of his gang and Buck reveals that Sandy and Tim are actually marshals, formerly partnered with him as "The Rough Riders." After the sheriff takes custody of the outlaws, Jim returns to town with the intention of marrying Mary. The Rough Riders then go their separate ways, and Sandy worries about facing his fiancée when he returns to Texas.