He would be a hero

It’s rodeo day in Monte Vista, but Sheriff Joe Cook has little time for celebration. A desperate outlaw has robbed the Dawson drug store, shot two men, and vanished into the crowded town. The sheriff needs every dependable hand to help track him down—especially his deputy, “Shorty” McKay.

Shorty, however, is determined to compete in the International Covered Wagon race, where he hopes to prove himself behind a team of half-wild mustangs. When the sheriff dismisses him from the force, Shorty heads for the rodeo, torn between wounded pride, personal ambition, and the duty he has just abandoned. Then his Mexican rival arrives with a formidable team of trained cow ponies—and an unexpected driver at the reins. With a fugitive hiding somewhere among the crowds and a dangerous race about to begin, Shorty’s big day promises far more excitement than he bargained for.