A young Mexican boy (Joe/Jose) is given up shortly after being born to an American family. Once the boy reached teen age the mother with the help of legendary Mexican bandit/gun hand is trying to get him back. Paladin gets the mother to agree to allow the boy to decide where he will live. Since the boy wants a better education to allow for his plans to be an engineer to come true, he chooses to stay with his parents. This leaves Paladin to deal to with the women's backer.
—Robert W Anderson