Cheyenne is tasked by the U.S. Army with bringing home the body of Cole Prescott, a decorated soldier, for burial. Expecting to meet Prescott's family at the train station, he instead finds no one and a message to take the body away from Sheriff Dan Blaisdell. Blaisdell takes Cheyenne to John Thompson who is president of the town council. Thompson repeats the desire of the town but gives no reason. In the saloon he finds Prescott's father who is a drunk. He takes Cheyenne to Cole's widow Maria. There Cheyenne learns she did not receive the wires that he was coming and Cole's mother is a Sioux Indian. Jealousy and anger are tearing up the town. The town council doesn't want that "half-breed" to own even "six feet of White River property!" as stated by Thompson. Mrs. Ruth Thompson wanting the issue put to rest contacts Cheyenne and Maria to tell them there is a work around. Three citizens can veto the council decision. Now Cheyenne just has to find those three!
—DrDOS