A terrible fire in Cattle Creek upsets Jesse—especially when his friend Joe is blamed for the tragedy...

Condon's General Store is burning. Too late to save the building and the two people inside: the owner Joe and mean old Frank Howard. Afterward, Jesse learns of the money stolen from the store over the past weeks.

Sheriff Benson is sure Joe set the fire to cover the theft. Jesse, Matt and LT set out to prove his innocence. Trouble is, several business owners have shiny new things—a hotel sign, a telegraph machine, a barber chair.