Cal arrives back to handshakes from the people back in Abilene who are surprised to see him, hearing rumors that he had been killed in the war. Grant Evers, who is now a cattle broker, is especially happy to see him, and urges Cal, who was fast with a gun, to take back his old job as sheriff. He has no idea that Cal is the one who killed his brother.

Just then a fight breaks out in the middle of town and Cal has his first encounter with the evil and greedy sheriff Joe Slade. Everyone wants Cal back as sheriff, but he is hesitant to do so. Cal also learns that Grant is marrying his girlfriend Amy, who thought Cal had been killed in the war. Cal congratulates them both, trying to hide his feelings for Amy. As he walks away, he is welcomed back to town by Leann, who greets him with a kiss.