The main story is a love story, revolving around the efforts of young cowboy Curly McLain to take orphan farmer's daughter Laurey Williams to the Box Social party. Larey is unimpressed by Curly's bragging and to spite him accepts Jud Fry's offer instead. Jud is the hired hand on the Williams farm, a surley dark and dangerous individual who is obsessed with Laurey. Will Curly's love for Laurey win through or will she come to a grim end with Jud?

The sub plot provides the comic relief in the form of a love triangle between local flirt Ado Annie, her childhood sweetheart and bronco buster Will Parker and travelling conman Ali Hakim. While Will has been away in Kansas City trying to get enough money to marry Annie (her father has set a $50 minimum bank balance to look after his daughter), Annie the girl who can't say no falls for Ali Hakim. He is only interested in a good time but Annie's father is mighty handy with his shotgun.

Both stories are set against the conflict between farmers and ranchers over the future of the Oklahoma territory. Will open warfare break out or will the town matriarch Aunt Eller be able to hold the town together?