- A snow blizzard strands Paladin, a marshal and his prisoner at a cabin. Horseless and wounded they must try to get the prisoner to jail before he can talk his way out of his shackles. But what puzzles Paladin is why the prisoner was caught in the first place when he could have easily avoided capture.—DrDOS
- Paladin (Richard Boone) and Marshal Lyle McKendrick (Allyn Joslin) and their prisoner Curley Ashburn (Royal Dano) take refuge in a mountain cabin after losing their horses following a gun battle between McKendrick's posse and Ashburn's outlaw gang. McKendrick has been wounded, and Paladin tends to the wound while Ashburn, unfazed by his capture, tells them of bank deposits spread around the country. They name a price and Ashburn will prepare a bank draft. The lawmen brush off the attempted bribes, but this only encourages Ashburn. Paladin is dumbfounded that Ashburn, who had gotten away, turned back only to be captured. Ashburn brushes off Paladin; saying that every man has his price and that once he finds the lawmens he will be free. If that doesnt work he says that his henchman Salazar who should be following will set him free. Paladin and McKendrick ignore Ashburns overtures. Ashburn has been chained to a chair and Paladin goes outside to get firewood. The lawmen thought the cabin was abandoned, but its occupant, who has been lurking outside, attacks Paladin and is subdued and carried inside. The men are amazed to find that the occupant is a teenaged gird. She tells then that her name is Cassandra Langford (Jena Engstrom) and was recently orphaned when her mother died. Ashburns intense interest in the girl that goes unnoticed by the other two men. Cassandra shows the men a locket with her deceased mother's photo. Ashburn tells her he will write her a $5,000 bank draft if she gives it to him. He tells her that adventures await and describes trips they could take, which makes no sense to Paladin and angers McKendrick who offers Cassandra a place in his home with his wife. Ashburn mocks him. When questioned about her schooling Cassandra picks up an unopened letter addressed to the marshal that had been discarded. The letter from Washington, D.C. informs McKendrick that he is being replaced , after 30 years of service. The news devastates McKendrick and amuses Ashburn. Cassandra, who has been watching, relates to the down-to-earth McKendrick. She turns down Ashburns offer saying she wouldnt know what to with $5,000 and goes to sit with McKendrick. Hoping to cheer everyone up Cassandra tells the men that there are potatoes in the barn. Paladin hands McKendrick a pistol and goes with Cassandra to get the food. In the barn they are confronted by Salazar (Miguel Angel Landa) who grabs Cassandra. She struggles and when she falls away Paladin shoots Salazar. Paladin and the girl return to the cabin to discover that Ashburn now has McKendricks pistol. The dedicated lawman now with no future has been bought with a $10,000 bank draft from Ashburn. Ashburn tells McKendrick to watch Paladin and he leaves to get food from the barn before getting on the horse that Salazar had brought. Paladin, disgusted with his friend McKendrick says he is going after Ashburn. An ashamed McKendrick hands Paladin the pistol. Outside Ashburn is leaving the barn. He draws his gun when Paladin orders him to stop and is shot down. Paladin bends over Ashburn and asks the dying man why he turned back when he was free; he says that the girl is his daughter. He asks Paladin to make McKendrick use the bank draft he had given as a bribe so that McKendrick has the means to look after Cassandra. Paladin agrees.
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