Paladin undertakes a commission to deliver one of the captured Brent Brothers to jail, after Arizona ranchers put together a fund to put the water-poisoning clan away.

Paladin travels to Bracketville in response to a newspaper article about a young troublemaker. The troublemaker's father has hired a gunman to protect the town, and wants Paladin to kidnap the troublemaker. When Paladin refuses, trouble arises.