Sheriff of Sage Valley

Billy the Kid and his friends, Fuzzy Jones and Jeff, intend to rob a stagecoach of the "wanted" posters which depict Billy as an outlaw, but instead intercept a gang that really robs the stage. The robbers get away without the local ranchers' payroll, but the sheriff of Sage Valley, who was riding inside, is killed, and Billy is suspicious because the sheriff was shot in the back. Unknown to Billy, the other passengers, singer Janet and casino dealer Sloane, were in collusion with the robbers. Billy and his friends follow the stage to Sage Valley, where outlaw Kansas Ed, Janet and Sloane's employer, plan to take over the town. To that end, Ed plots to kill mayor Harrison, a banker who refuses to renew Ed's lease on the casino. Harrison vows to cover all the IOUs the ranchers owe Ed, whose gang then shoots Harrison. Billy rescues the wounded Harrison and, as Billy uses a false name, Harrison is unaware of his reputation as an outlaw and offers him the post of sheriff, which he declines. When Billy, Fuzzy and Jeff hear gunshots at the casino, they find that Tim, a rancher who owed the casino money, has been shot by Sloane, who claims self-defense. Harrison warns Sloane to clear out in ten days, but Ed sends his thugs to kill Harrison. Billy rescues the injured mayor and takes him to a doctor, then Harrison urges Billy to accept his offer while he recuperates. After Ed "elects" his own mayor, Billy displays his authorization as sheriff. A brawl erupts and Billy arrests Sloane. Billy, Fuzzy and Tex later see a "wanted" poster depicting Ed and notice his strong resemblance to Billy. Billy, whose brother reportedly died after leaving home, now speculates that he got his unwarranted bad reputation because of his resemblance to Ed, a real outlaw. Janet then lures Billy to the gang's hideout, where he is taken hostage, and Ed exchanges clothes with him. The ranchers are outraged when Ed impersonates Billy and consorts with the criminals, and Sloane gives the ranchers only twenty-four hours to pay their IOUs. Jeff and Fuzzy, meanwhile, free Billy, but are then imprisoned by the irate ranchers, who now know that their new sheriff is the infamous Billy the Kid. Although Harrison still trusts his own judgment and releases them, Billy, Fuzzy and Jeff are then taken by Ed to his casino. Ed brutally beats Jeff, and despite coaxing from Billy, refuses to acknowledge any relation to him. When Jeff revives from his beating, he takes Ed's gang hostage, then shoots Ed in time to save Billy from a blow to the head. With his dying breath, Ed confesses that Billy is his brother, and that their mother died only recently. To pacify the ranchers, Harrison arrests Billy, Jeff and Fuzzy, but releases them soon after, and they leave Sage Valley.