Thompson 1880: Ray, young and destitute, reaches Desert Spring, carrying a case on top of his mule. A gang headed by Brady uses apparently legal means to prevent anyone from trading and exploits all the town's possibilities for itself. The only one who dares to protest is Sheila, the daughter of a tradesman who has been ruined by Brady. She therefore welcomes Ray, hoping to make him an ally. But the young man doesn't even known how to handle a gun. However, when Brady's men beat him up and humiliate him, Ray decides to stay.