Summary
Ed Harley is a man defined by competence, a trait that makes him both an asset and a threat in the shifting landscape of the American West. When Mulford dispatches Ed to salvage Radigan’s failing ranch, the task is more than just a job; it is a test of Ed's ability to impose order on chaos. Through sheer grit and a sharp mind for management, Ed transforms the dilapidated property into a thriving enterprise. However, the true conflict arises not from the land, but from the rigid social hierarchies of the era. When Ed seeks a loan to cement his own future, Radigan is willing to offer capital but refuses to part with his daughter. Ed Harley, never one to settle for half a victory, decides that he will not be forced to choose between financial independence and the woman he loves. The film follows his calculated pursuit of both, challenging the notion that a hired hand must remain in his place.
Mulford sends Ed Harley to manage Radigan's rundown ranch. He makes a success of it but when called to return, he asks Radigan for a loan. Radigan says he can have the loan but not his daughter. Ed wants both.
