The pressures of his job as Garrett Ranch foreman get to Jim Redlgo (Richard Egan) who quits (but we all know he'll be back, don't we?) to return to his own farm, being worked by a small family. When he arrives he finds the son of the family thinks the land belongs to him, the daughter is searching for love, and the mother is a good woman trying to perpetuate an idealistic view of her dead husband. Reactions are generally predictable, but the story is nevertheless absorbing.

A ruthless man uses his friendship with the Garrets to take possession of their holdings during a drought.