Sam Galway is settled in Dalton, Kansas, and is now a local dignitary and respected family man. However, Dalton is a town split in two: north of the railroad line life is decent and ordered, but south of the line, cowboys raise hell and the riff-raff of the world frequent the streets. Into this town comes Sam's younger brother, Wes. Wes has seen action fighting for the Union, and now lives by his wits and his gun. He has also lost the dearest things in life: his wife and son. Wes wants to change his life, but there are complications: there's his nephew who worships him, and his brother who hates him, and he's fallen foul of the town marshal. A confrontation has to come. Seems like life won't let Wes put down roots, but he won't stop trying.