Headin' for the Rio Grande

When rustlers Ike Travis and Rand call on Senator Black and offer to protect his cattle at a dollar a head, the veteran rancher curtly refuses and the departing Rand tells him he is making a big mistake. Later, a gang of rustlers raid Black's great herd but are stopped by Tex Saunders and Chili, a couple of roving range riders. The rustlers then threaten Pop Hart and his daughter Laura, who are driving a herd to the Rio Grande Valley markets. Again, Tex and Chili come to the rescue. Further down the trail the rustlers attack again with more success, fatally wound Pop Hart and make off with the herd. Tex tells Laura that he, instead of just being a footloose range rider, is the brother of Sheriff Ed Saunders and both of them have made a vow to exterminate Travis and his gang. Tex later kills one of the rustlers in self defense but is jailed on suspicion of murder. He escapes and goes after the gang while Senator Black obtains the assistance of the Texas Rangers. The title song was written by Tex Ritter and Stanley Davis, while 'The Night Herding Song', 'A Campfire Love Song' and 'Jailhouse Lament' were all co-written by Tex Ritter and Jack C. Smith.