After Marshall Micah Torrance arrests a notorious killer, Brett Stocker, he deputizes Lucas McCain to act for him while he transfers the outlaw to another town. On his way back to North Fork however, Micah is taken prisoner by Stocker's gang and Lucas receives an ultimatum: release Stocker or Micah dies. While Lucas agonizes over his decision, Micah befriends one of the gang, a young man who had once been treated kindly by a lawman. So while Micah plots his escape, Lucas sets Stocker free but also sets a trap to get him back into custody.
—garykmcd