Short Grass

Rod Cameron plays Steve Lleweelyn, a drifting cowpoke who stumbles into a robbery, then into a range war when he's wounded and lands in a bed at the Lynch Ranch on Willow Creek.

He's nursed back to health by pretty Sharon Lynch (Cathy Downs) and falls in love with her. And using money taken from a dead man's body, he buys into her father's ranch.

Problem is, Sharon hates New Mexico and the gun violence that's erupting as Hal Fenton tries to take up all the range land, including her father's. And then Steve learns the $3,400 he gave her dad was stolen loot. After paying off the person the money was stolen from Steve leaves.

Years later, Llewelyn arrives at a new cattle boom town, Silver Spur, where his old problems follow him there, including Fenton, who's still land hungry; and Sharon, who's now married to someone else.

Rod Cameron is at his rugged best in this involving western which is well-acted, has characters that are well drawn and their actions drives this tale - the story builds competently to a crescendo and erupts in to some fine shootouts and an edgy fist fight. However, the story about a community finding the courage to stand together against a common enemy takes centre stage.