Mr. Quarry (Clifton James) a cheap-skate, but greedy rancher is the only local rancher to survive a really bad winter with cash. All the ranchers have lost 50% or more of their stock and Mr. Quarry tries to buy their ranches cheap. But, Ben talks to the ranchers about a bull he put on Sawtooth Mountain last year that came from hardy Montana stock. Hoss and LIttle Joe have seen the bull on the mountain and it looks to be in great shape. If it can be proven, the banker will lend money to the ranchers.
Howie Landis (Glenn Corbett) is Mr. Quarry's foreman and, due to his wife's (Sheilah Wells) urging, Howie cuts cards for his boss' turn at providing the meat for the cattleman's meeting. But, Mr. Quarry refuses and says it is on Howie. Howie goes into the mountains to shoot an elk, but comes across the bull.
SPOILER: When Mr. Quarry sees the dead bull with the Bonanza brand, he threatens and blackmails Howie into lying about the source of the beef. Howie decides to lie because his wife just told him that she is pregnant. But, his wife pushes him to tell the truth, come what may. And, at the cattleman's meeting, when everyone is eating the steak, Howie tells the truth.
To prove it Howie will take a group and show them where he dressed out the steer. But, Mr. Quarry uses one of his dead bulls and a running iron (used to fake brands) to plant a dead bull near the same area. Unfortunately, and unlikely for a rancher, Mr Quarry doesn't seem to know that the back-side of a changed brand makes recent changes very easy to spot.
Mr. Quarry takes off on his snowshoes pursued by Ben, when Quarry draws his gun, he is shot and wounded.
Howie Landis (Glenn Corbett) is Mr. Quarry's foreman and, due to his wife's (Sheilah Wells) urging, Howie cuts cards for his boss' turn at providing the meat for the cattleman's meeting. But, Mr. Quarry refuses and says it is on Howie. Howie goes into the mountains to shoot an elk, but comes across the bull.
SPOILER: When Mr. Quarry sees the dead bull with the Bonanza brand, he threatens and blackmails Howie into lying about the source of the beef. Howie decides to lie because his wife just told him that she is pregnant. But, his wife pushes him to tell the truth, come what may. And, at the cattleman's meeting, when everyone is eating the steak, Howie tells the truth.
To prove it Howie will take a group and show them where he dressed out the steer. But, Mr. Quarry uses one of his dead bulls and a running iron (used to fake brands) to plant a dead bull near the same area. Unfortunately, and unlikely for a rancher, Mr Quarry doesn't seem to know that the back-side of a changed brand makes recent changes very easy to spot.
Mr. Quarry takes off on his snowshoes pursued by Ben, when Quarry draws his gun, he is shot and wounded.
