Summary
Into the sun-scorched hamlet of Yellow Jacket, Arizona rides Robert Winchester McTabb, a purveyor of mortality's bookends—peddling ornate cradles and coffins with the sardonic slogan 'catching 'em coming and going.' This silver-tongued charlatan meets his match in Celie Sterling, whose desperation over reputation-damaging documents held by the odious Sheldon Lewis Kellard ignites a deadly proposition: she'll purchase McTabb's finest coffin if he dispatches its intended occupant. Yet McTabb's bravado masks profound cowardice, forcing him into Celie's protective shadow as threats multiply—most notably from the volatile gunslinger High Spade McQueen. A misadventure involving suspicious horse acquisitions nearly sees McTabb lynched as a thief before his exoneration. When he falsely claims credit for Kellard's demise (actually perpetrated by McQueen), Celie pierces his web of deceit but offers absolution after extracting his trembling vow of future honesty—an improbable redemption forged in the crucible of Southwestern dust.
Synopsis
Traveling salesman and teller of tall tales Robert Winchester McTabb arrives in Yellow Jacket, Arizona selling coffins and cradles with his motto that he "catches 'em coming and going." Celie Sterling believes McTabbs lies about his prowess and promises to buy a coffin if he will kill the man she wants to occupy it--Sheldon Lewis Kellard, who has papers which jeopardize her father's reputation. Celie refuses to comply with Kellard's desires in order to gain the papers. Meanwhile, High Spade McQueen is angered by McTabb and threatens to kill him. McTabb agrees to kill Kellard, although his cowardliness makes him stay close to Celie for protection. When McTabb buys two horses, he is accused of being a horse thief by a posse, until he proves his innocence. McTabb tells Celie he has killed Kellard, when McQueen has actually beaten him to it. Celie recognizes that McTabb is a liar, but she forgives him after he promises never to lie again.
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