Rafe Covington (Tom Selleck) while watching a friend die from a beating, promises to watch over the friend's family and ranch. He then avenges his friend and goes to Wyoming to keep his promise. Once there he finds Ann Rodney (Virginia Madsen) the widow of his friend has taken up with Bruce Barkow (Mark Harmon) the local gang boss. Bruce is only after the oil on the land and doesn't care about the girl. Rafe sees through Bruce's scheme and takes on Bruce and his men to restore the ranch to the widow. Rafe is out manned and outgunned but still he fights for his beliefs.