Autumn 1867. Clay, Annie, and Ward are bound for Pueblo to inform Ward's sister, Dorothy Benkelman, about the death of their brother. Meanwhile, Joe and Russ DiMarco are also traveling nearby. They are captured by a local sheriff, then witness his murder. After fleeing, they encounter the killer. They know him! By now, Ward has left camp and entered Pueblo to get directions to his sister's ranch. While gone, Clayton and Annie are kidnapped by the Ute warrior Antonga. They escape to the nearby Benkelman ranch, now besieged by Antonga's warriors, and join with the others to battle the Indians, but the outcome is touch and go.