
During the 1840s, six settlers and their guide are caught in a dangerous situation: They are lost, food and water are running out, and the surrounding desert threatens to claim them all. Meanwhile, their guide, Stephen Meek (Bruce Greenwood), refuses to acknowledge that they may be several weeks off-course. When a Native American (Rod Rondeaux) is captured, Emily Tetherow (Michelle Williams), one of the settlers, shields him from Meek's wrath, and he offers to lead the group to water in return.
During the 1840s, six settlers and their guide are caught in a dangerous situation: They are lost, food and water are running out, and the surrounding desert threatens to claim them all. Meanwhile, their guide, Stephen Meek (Bruce Greenwood), refuses to acknowledge that they may be several weeks off-course. When a Native American (Rod Rondeaux) is captured, Emily Tetherow (Michelle Williams), one of the settlers, shields him from Meek's wrath, and he offers to lead the group to water in return.
Quirt Evans (John Wayne), a cowboy on the run, is injured when his horse stumbles near a Quaker family's land. The family takes him in as he regains his health, and he falls for their young daughter, Penelope (Gail Russell). As Quirt falls deeper in love and becomes accustomed to the family's peaceful ways, his violent past starts to catch up to him. Eventually he is forced to decide whether it is worth letting go of his turbulent former life for his future with Penelope.
Phoebe Titus (Jean Arthur) is a tough-as-nails pioneer with dreams of starting a freight service in Tucson, Ariz. Peter Muncie (William Holden), a vagabond passing through Arizona en route to California, takes a romantic interest in Phoebe and coaxes out her softer side. Just as their romance begins to blossom, Peter packs up and moves on. Though charming southerner Jefferson Carteret (Warren William) steps in to lend a hand, he may be plotting in secret to sabotage Phoebe's nascent business.
Two brothers, Nick, an athletic high school football star, and Mark, a rising name on the rodeo circuit have always been rivals; after a family tragedy, the competition heats up for their father's attention.
A cowboy (Tim Holt) and his Irish-Mexican sidekick (Richard Martin) expose a scheme to divert reservation food.
A quiet cowboy (Buck Jones) on a white horse saves a gal (Dorothy Fay) from cattle rustlers.
Framed for a murder he didn't commit, a cowboy hides with a traveling woman as he flees a sheriff and hunts for the real killer.
An undercover postal inspector (Stephen McNally) stops a gang of train robbers with a shady woman's (Alexis Smith) help.
Tensions between Doc Holliday and the Earp brothers and the Clantons and McLaurys build to a bloody showdown at the OK Corral in Tombstone.