 Matt Boone (Bill Elliott as Wild Bill Elliott) kills Bull Clark (Ray Bennett) in self defense in a crooked poker game, and leaves Waco as he is certain he would not get a fair trial. He joins an outlaw gang led by Curly Ivers (I. Stanford Jolley), whose lieutenant is Lou Garcia (Paul Fierro), a killer. Following a bank holdup in Pecos, Matt is captured. Two of Waco s leading citizens, Richards (Terry Frost) and Farley (Pierce Lyden), pay the Pecos sheriff (Russ Whiteman) the reward Waco had posted for Matt and bring him back to Waco. There, they tell him they want him to be the sheriff and drive out the lawless element. Matt has trouble with Kathy Clark (Pamela Blake) and her cowhands but she soon realizes that Matt is not a killer, and is a honest lawmen. The Texas Rangers capture Ivers and his gang, except for Garcia who has sworn to kill Matt before he is ever captured. Ivers warns Matt of Garcia. Matt takes off his badge, opens Ivers  cell and starts out to find Garcia. Ivers gives Matt wrong directions and then Ivers prepares to shoot Garcia when he comes looking for Matt. Garcia shoots Ivers and Matt, arriving back in town, kills Garcia. Ivers dies after wishing future happiness for Matt and Cathy.