Steve, a cowpuncher, and the sheriff's daughter are sweethearts. The sheriff objects to the match and, catching the young couple at the trysting place, reprimands his daughter and admonishes Steve to cease his attentions. Undaunted by the sheriff's powerful physique, Steve renews his lovemaking and carries an engagement ring to the girl. At the same time the sheriff comes home to dinner and is amazed to find his daughter playing the role of a Juliet in the arms of Steve. The girl shows her father the ring. The sheriff returns it to Steve with his compliments. Steve registers an objection, whereupon the sheriff throws Steve out of doors. He returns to the ranch a downcast cowpuncher. He tells his troubles to the rest of the cowpunchers, who find more humor than pathos in the tale. After thinking matters over he decides to elope with the girl. Meanwhile the sheriff has been seeking a pair of desperadoes who have been terrorizing the country. As Steve and the girl ride hurriedly away to find a parson they come upon Mexican Pete and his pal. The bandits recognize the girl as the sheriff's daughter, so they take her prisoner, and after binding Steve securely, ride away. Unable to rise. Steve rolls along the ground to a nearby hay field, where he knows there is a mower. Rolling against the mower, he is able after a while to cut his bonds by rubbing them against the grass knives. Hurrying to the ranch he obtains assistance, and a posse of cowpunchers, headed by the sheriff who has been summoned, goes in pursuit of the bandits and the girl. They are finally cornered, but the posse dares not attack them because they use the girl as a shield. Steve, however, sees how he can make an attack from the rear. It proves successful, and taking the bandits off their guard, he holds them up until the cowpunchers bind them. In the confusion Steve and the girl slip quietly away. After the bandits have been disposed of the sheriff hunts up his daughter and finds her with Steve. He congratulates him on his conduct and starts to lead his daughter away, but Steve, finding that his adventure has given him new courage, has a few words with the sheriff, which present to that individual a new point of view.