In Pearl City, Texas, cattle ranchers have serious problems with squatters who are encroaching on their land and stealing cattle. Freelance gunfighter Bus Crow arrives in town eager to find work. He starts throwing his weight around and getting noticed by the local cattlemen. A few of them decide to hire Bus Crow to intimidate the squatters and persuade them to leave. Written warnings are to be posted on the squatters' fences but killings are to be avoided. However, a trigger-happy Bus Crow starts killing the squatters one-by-one. Some squatters complain to the sheriff but he argues that he has no evidence as to the killer's identity. Later, at the homesteaders' request, U.S. Marshal Sam Rochelle arrives in town and begins his investigation. However, local residents are too scared to give him any useful information. Feeling safe, Bus Crow continues his killings and starts a romance with saloon owner Hannah Lee. He accidentally kills a little boy who surprises him while he is hiding his sniper rifle into the hills. Unknown to Crow is the fact that U.S. Marshal Sam Rochelle already suspects him to be the hired killer and is trailing him to catch him red-handed.