Tom Stafford and Old Ned rode the trail towards Stockton at a leisurely pace. Tom was about 22 years of age, and his father had owned a small ranch near Pecos, and at first they had prospered. However, a group of outlaws had continually rustled his cattle, until finally on their last raid they had killed Mr Stafford. Tom had vowed to take up their trail until he found them and avenge the death of his father, and Old Ned - his father's loyal foreman, had begged to go with him.