Jubal Troop (Glenn Ford) is found lying in the road in a weakened condition, without a horse. He is given shelter at Shep Horgan's large ranch, where one of his workers Pinky (Rod Steiger), accuses Jubal of carrying the smell of sheep. The film follows the complex relationships between Jubal, Shep, and Mae (Valerie French) as well as his interactions with Naomi (Felicia Farr), a young woman from a travelling wagon train known as "rawhiders."