Jack Bateman lost his wife and baby and turned to the bottle for comfort. He had earned a reputation as the town drunk. When he overheard Butch and Pete planning to kidnap Katie Denning, the newly arrived widow, he knew he had to do something. Trouble was, he was a drunk and in order for her to take him seriously he'd have to sober up. Afraid the drunk would mess up their plans for the rich widow, Butch Hyatt, the banker's son, and his newly found friend, Pete, who was of questionable reputation, made it look like Jack Bateman murdered Esther Watkins. Locked up in jail for Esther's murder, and unable to convince the Sheriff he was innocent, Jack broke jail and stole a horse to rescue Katie Denning who had awakened feelings in him that he hadn't felt since the death of his wife. He knew she was in real trouble-maybe dead. If she was to have a chance at all, it would be up to him.