All Tyler ever wanted was to be a cowhand. Virgil Hutt, The Bootheel's owner, brought the orphan boy to the ranch and raised him like a son. Word comes that rustler's have made off with The Bootheel's cattle. Tyler, Hutt, and the other ranchhands find the outlaws. They find a captive Indian girl, Luak, and take her back to The Bootheel. Though Luak can't speak English, Tyler's affection for her grows. Dalton Fox and his men capture Tyler and Luak. As Tyler's fury threatens the last shreads of of his innocence, he guns down Luak's killer. He saddles his horse and leaves The Bootheel to clease himself in the uncertainty f a new journey.