The ranchers in the Sangre de Cristo foothills are alarmed over wholesale rustling along with two mysterious murders, each followed by the weird cry of "Tokee-Tokee." Ed Maken, owner of the K-Spear outfit and a cattle baron of the old school, is determined to put an end to the stealing, which is cutting into his herds disastrously. Accompanied by his daughter, Cochita, he leads a posse of his men into the range in the hopes of locating the rustler.
The Ma ana Kid, mysterious border vaquero, arrived in Guadalupe in the midst of a killing at the Cantina El Paseo. Accused of the crime, he escaped from the pursuing posse and disappeared into the sparsely settled Santa Ynez valley, mounted on his swift Palomino stallion. His determination to locate the real murderer led him into a series of exciting adventures. He had only one clue to work on -- and a warning concerning the Rancho Diablo -- but the Ma ana Kid, in spite of his nickname, was not the type to be easily discouraged.
Set in the rugged landscape of Badger Basin, the story follows Steve Laird, tasked by the Stock Association to confront the cunning Skyline Riders, a notorious gang of horse thieves. As he navigates the challenges of the Wild West, Laird faces off against some of the smartest criminals on the range, highlighting themes of bravery and justice in a classic Western narrative.