In this great western Monte Walsh (Tom Selleck) and Chet Rollins (Keith Carradine) are old cowboys, working at ranches, and rarely leaving their horses backs. They spend a couple of months on the range and occasionally take a trip into town. Chet has a relationship with a widow who owns the hardware store in town, while Monte is involved with a prostitute, Martine Bernard (Isabella Rossellini). They spend their days hanging out or competing with other cowboys until one of the cowboys, Shorty Austin (George Eads), loses his job and gets involved in crime and killing. That redirects Monte's and Chet's carefree lives on the range into a completely new direction.