Frontier tycoon Brandt Ruger (Gene Hackman) is a rich cattle rancher who lives for money and disrespects his long-suffering wife, Melissa (Candice Bergen), whom he controls like the rest of his business. It's not surprising, then, how venomous he becomes when outlaw Frank Calder (Oliver Reed) dares abduct her and squeeze him for ransom. But being kidnapped may not be such a horror for Melissa, who finally gets to know a better, nobler man.