Trama

A peace-loving, part-time Sheriff in the small town of Firecreek must take a stand when a gang of vicious outlaws takes over his town.

Farmer and family man Johnny Cobb moonlights as a two dollar a month Sheriff with a homemade badge in the quiet little town of Firecreek. When a gang of freebooters passes through, their leader Larkin, who is suffering from a minor wound, agrees to spend the night. The gang members prove to be vicious, sadistic sociopaths who take advantage of the frightened townspeople, humiliating them for their own perverse amusement. Although Larkin disapproves of their behavior, his leadership role is tenuous, and he is reluctant to test it by exercising control over his men. The mild-mannered Cobb faces a series of challenges from the gang's antisocial behavior. Things come to a head when Meli, an Indian woman with a mixed race child, incurs an attempted sexual attack by one of gang. Arthur, a simpleton stable boy, comes to her aid and accidentally kills the attacker. Cobb locks up Arthur to keep him safe, but when the Sheriff leaves town to visit his wife, who is struggling in labor, there is no one to control the gang. Cobb decides the time has come to act.—duke1029

The film takes place in the late 1870's in a western region where 5 outlaws, most likely fleeing from the law near a territory called "Firecreek". they are led by the empathetic and reluctant leader Bob Larkin who is suffering from a gunshot wound and seeking medical aid. Not wanting to attract too much attention, he sends down to of his men, Earl (Gary Lockwood) and Norman (Jack Elam) to scout out the area. The two run across Leah (Brooke Bundy), a local girl who is washing her clothes in a river. The two tease and then torment her before preparing to molest her when Bob arrives inquiring as to what they are doing before reminding them they are not to stir up trouble. Earl agrees before paying off Leah with a gold coin, completely dismantling her horrified mood from earlier. The gang then enter town and lick their lips when they see how rundown and vulnerable it is to men like them.

Meanwhile, farmer Johnny Cobb is busy handling his farm while preparing to bring his pregnant wife and two sons to the town "Firecreek" to celebrate service since traveling preacher Pastor Broyles (Ed Begley Jr.) is coming to town. Despite sharing his sons' reluctance to attend service under the brash and hot-tempered, Broyles, Johnny remains responsible of the act but is made further reluctant when he learns his wife will soon be giving birth.. Nevertheless, he goes to the town and is met by Bob Larkin's gang which has recently entered town. The men jostle with each other and then begin to ruthlessly fight each other, culminating in one of the men forcibly drowning the other in a water trough. Johnny tries to politely ask them to stop before forcibly interfering. The men are about to fight him until they realize he is the "sheriff" of this town, which charms and amuses them.

While Bob seeks medical attention from the town doctor, a widow named Evelyn (Inger Stevens) with whom he becomes attached, his gang goes about roughing up the town and disturbing the peace. They leer over a Native-American single mother and draw lots to see who will "Say Hello" to her. Bob takes a liking to Johnny and orders his men not to hurt him. When the men obnoxiously break into the town store where service is being held, Earl disrupts Pastor Broyles' sermon, causing a commotion in his sermon. They threaten his life before mocking him as he leaves. Johnny reveals that his role of "Sheriff" is voluntary and pays him only 2 dollars a month due to its poor population of mainly elderly people. Johnny's only real supporter is the homeless stable boy, Arthur who looks up to him as a father-figure and wishes to be his "deputy".

In a drunken brawl, the gang smashes a store window, which they pay off with another gold coin, much to Johnny's discomfort. Arthur sleeps in the street until he is awoken by some commotion in a nearby house, discovering that one of Bob Larkin's men is raping the single mother. He intervenes and holds the man's gun against him in self-defense, only for it to accidentally go off and kill the man. The enraged gang call for Arthur's death much to Bob's disapproval. To keep Arthur safe, Johnny reluctantly locks him in the makeshift jail before ;eaving for home when he is told his wife is giving birth. Bob Larkin explains to Evelyn how similar he is to Johnny and explains he wishes he was not in the positions of outlaws. They two then spend the night together.

Johnny learns that his wife is alright with their new child but knows Arthur's life is at stake. He rushes back to town and arrives in the morning only to discover to his horror that the townspeople allowed the gang to hang Arthur in the livery stable. He lowers the body to the ground, hoping beyond hope that he is alive, but to no avail. The disgusted and horrified Johnny calls out to the town asking, "How could you let it happen?!" Bob Larkin and his men arrive explaining they pressured the townspeople into releasing him and held a kangaroo court, trying and hanging him. "When you find no law, you make your own," he states practically and Earl mockingly flings Johnny a gold coin.

Johnny angrily roars that he will follow them down and see them hung. Without warning, Bob shoots him in the leg to warn and slow him down. This only incenses Johnny who rushes to the store, demanding the only gun the town seems to have, to which the spineless storekeeper is hesitant to hand over. As the gang begin to mount their horses, Johnny rummages through the desks, explaining the single mother and her child were his brother's and that he moved them here to keep them safe. Upon hearing this revelation, the shopkeeper gives him the gun and Johnny storms out into the street shooting at the gang.

He manages to off one by scaring the horse into running away, dragging its rider behind him to a presumable death. Bob, Earl and Norman, caught off guard split up and exchange fire. bob tells Norman to set fire to the livery stable to draw out Johnny who is also hiding. As Norman is about to do so, Johnny confronts Norman and a scuffle breaks out, culminating in Johnny stabbing Norman to death with a pitchfork. Seeing Norman stumble out and die, Earl becomes enraged and goes after Johnny.

Johnny hides behind a house, tending his wounds as Earl sneaks alongside the back porch, hoping to ambush him. Johnny is saved only when his two boys who are watching from an Inn window scream a warning to him. Johnny rolled under the porch and shoots up through it, killing Earl and sending him crashing through the boards.

Johnny then is ambushed by Bob who shoots him in the arm, offering him an ultimatum; If Johnny doesn't chase Bob, Bob will ride away and never come back. Not wanting to negotiate, Johnny tries to shoot Bob but finds he is out of bullets. He loads his gun and tries to shoot him, only to have the gun be shot out of his hand by Bob. Bob then expresses disgust at Johnny trying to be the hero with a homemade badge spelling "Sheraf" and "2 bucks a month".. Undeterred Johnny reaches for his gun. As Bob reluctantly goes in for the kill another shot rings out, this time from the hotel window. Bob has been shot in the chest by Evelyn, wielding a rifle. Looking up at her in abject horror and betrayal, Bob falls on his face dead. The battle over, Johnny stands up and is embraced by his two sons and the townspeople.