West of the Pecos

When wealthy Chicago meatpacker Col. Lambeth is advised by his physician to become more physically active, the colonel's daughter Rill decides that moving to the family ranch in Texas is just what the doctor ordered. Although Rill's fiancé, attorney Clyde Corbin, warns her that "west of the Pecos is a lawless country," Rill packs up her father and the family maid, Suzanne, and heads for Texas. As the stagecoach bearing the Lambeths nears town, cowboys Pecos Smith and Chito Rafferty gallop up to the coach to collect their wages from driver Tex Evans. After the two depart, bandits attack the stage and shoot Tex. Drawn by the sound of gunfire, Chito and Pecos ride to investigate and find the mortally wounded Tex. With his dying breath Tex gasps that Sam Sawtelle shot him, and Pecos vows to bring Sam to justice for the murder of his best friend. After the outlaws seize the strong box from the stage, they allow Jeff Stinger, the backup driver, to continue the journey to town. Upon learning that the stage has been robbed, Brad Sawtelle, the town boss and Sam's brother, rallies a gang of vigilantes to track down the outlaws. Later, when Rill is accosted by two gamblers on the street, she decides that a pretty girl is not safe in the Wild West, and so dresses in men's clothes and tucks her hair underneath her hat. Soon after, Pecos arrives in town, looking for Sam. In the saloon, Pecos accuses Sam of murdering Tex, and in the ensuing gunfight, Pecos kills Sam. Retreating to the street, Pecos mistakes Rill for a boy and orders her to bring his horse. When she indignantly refuses, he kicks her, mounts his horse and gallops out of town, followed by Brad and his vigilantes. Later, Rill stubbornly insists that she can guide her father and Suzanne to Rancho D'Oro, the Lambeth homestead, and they become hopelessly lost in the wilderness. After their horses bolt, Rill spots Pecos and Chito riding in the distance and calls for help. Posing as Lambeth's son, Rill chides Pecos for kicking her in town and kicks him back. As the womanizing Chito serenades Suzanne around the campfire that night, Pecos tells Lambeth that he once killed a man for murdering his best friend. Impressed by Pecos' integrity, Lambeth hires him and Chito to work at Rancho D'Oro. Believing that Rill is a boy, Pecos offers to share his bed with her, and mortified, she refuses his offer. As they near the ranch the next day, Pecos meets Stinger on the trail. Realizing that Stinger is now working for Brad, Pecos warns Lambeth that there will be trouble if he remains in the Lambeths' employ, but the colonel insists that he stay. Alerted by Stinger about Pecos' location, Brad leads the vigilantes on an attack of the Lambeths' wagon. Chito hastens to the ranch to summon the vaqueros, and together, they drive away the vigilantes. While fording the river that flanks the ranch, Pecos playfully pushes Rill into the water, and soon discovers that she is a woman. Upon arriving at the ranch, Lambeth sends for Corbin to put a legal end to the lawlessness of the vigilantes. Upset by Pecos' sudden indifference to her, Rill decides to follow him when he rides out to mend some fences. Notified by Stinger that Pecos is working along the fence, Brad and his renegades ride there and open fire on Pecos. Pecos fires back at Brad and his vigilantes, and with Rill's help drives away the assailants. Determined to kill Pecos, Brad sends Stinger to the U.S. Marshal's office to swear out a warrant for the cowhand's arrest, intending to ambush Pecos when the marshal delivers him to town. Upon returning to the ranch, Rill is effusively greeted by the just-arrived Corbin. During a party at the ranch that night, Lambeth discovers the jealous Pecos packing his belongings, and counsels the cowboy to declare his love to Rill. When Rill chooses Pecos as her dancing partner, Corbin realizes that she has fallen in love with him. Soon after, the marshal arrives to arrest Pecos for murdering Tex, and the colonel asks the lawman to leave Pecos in his custody, guaranteeing his appearance in court the next morning. When Corbin, who will be representing Pecos in court, asks to question Stinger, Pecos rides to town, lassos Stinger and takes him to the ranch. Upon discovering that Stinger is missing, Brad assembles his men and heads for the ranch. Overhearing Brad's plans to raid the ranch, Chito rides for the marshal and his deputies. At the ranch, meanwhile, Stinger admits to his complicity in the robbery of the stage. Soon after, Brad and his outlaws reach the ranch and demand that Lambeth turn over Pecos. After the colonel refuses, a gunfight ensues, and Lambeth defends his ranch with gusto. When Chito arrives with the law, Brad climbs over the wall and shoots Stinger. As Pecos pursues the fleeing Brad, the marshal and his posse arrest Brad's men. With the vigilantes vanquished, Corbin returns to Chicago, but Lambeth decides to stay in Texas. All ends happily as Pecos sweeps Rill off her feet.