Roy Champion leads a family struggle to keep the Yellow Rose ranch from reverting to its original owner, Jeb Hollister, who lost it on a bet to Roy's late father. Chance, a mysterious drifter, signs on as a hand at the ranch and displays more than a casual acquaintance with Colleen Champion and Grace McKenzie. Chance becomes the prime suspect in a drug smuggling operation.

Chance plots a breakout for a friend at the prison rodeo after learning all parole hearings have been frozen due to a prison guard stabbing. While a prisoner, Lenny Hollister comes up with a plot of his own.

After Chance helps his friend Toat Gilmore escape from prison during the prison rodeo, Warden Garrett gives Roy a 24 hour deadline to get Toat back.