Walt Durand is on his way to Red Cloud to meet his best friend, Larry Cramer, when his horse is shot out from under him. Because there is no ground cover, he has no alternative but to hide behind the body of his dead horse. He determines there are three, maybe four, shooters and they appear to be in no hurry. His only option is to keep himself a diminished target and hope for nightfall. Any movement he makes brings on a new round of gunfire.