Musgrove spent five years in prison after Ira Spratt turned him in as an army deserter. Now out of prison, Musgrove captures the craven wife beater Spratt and takes him to Dodge City to kill him. In the gun play, Festus and Newly are wounded, and Spratt escapes. He hides in Gideon's barn and again escapes when Musgrove arrives. Musgrove then takes Gideon hostage, threatening to kill him if the townsfolk of Dodge City do not bring him Spratt.

Matt runs into an old flame named Sarah that now runs a one woman saloon for bandits out in the desert. Matt will have to pass as a villain in order to save Sarah's reputation as a trusted confidante.