Jim is sent to negotiate a right-of-way for Wells Fargo stagecoaches through Sam Brundage's property as a shortcut. His price - convincing Brundage's neighbor, John McCloud, to share his water in a river he dammed up with the Brundages.
Jim Hardie is sent by Wells Fargo to negotiate a right-of-way across Sam Brundage property as a shortcut to a dangerous mountain route they use currently. Sam Brundage greets Jim with a gunshot near his head. The only price he will accept is for Jim to convince his neighbor John McCloud to let water flow again in the river that McCloud dammed up on his property. This is beyond Jim's ability but as he leaves he finds Blake McCloud knocked out after his horse threw him. While tending to Blake, Sam Brundage's daughter Martha rides up to help and Jim suddenly sees a possible solution. He returns Blake to John McCloud and tells them Martha helped. He returns later to implement his idea starting with Blake.—Anonymous