In the opening scene, Jessica Murdock is fleeing from an unspecified threat, marked by a recent altercation. She evades detection by intruders at her home and escapes through a window. After hiding in a wagon and stealing food and a map, she ventures into the woods. Jessica spends the night at a ranch owned by Frank Lerner, who, showing compassion, offers her a meal and a ride north. Meanwhile, Elsa Gray, a skilled tracker, is hired to find and capture Jessica by her employer, Raymond Reed.