In the small town of Cross Creek, George Temple appears to be an unassuming general store owner with a secret past. Though he attempts to live a quiet life alongside his wife Dora, George is haunted by the memories of his former days as a gunslinger. His reputation was built around a formidable skill that could draw attention from unwanted adversaries. Despite his efforts to repress his past, George frequently practices his gun skills in solitude, fearing the day when his old life might catch up to him. Meanwhile, the townsfolk remain oblivious to George's hidden talents as they go about their mundane lives.

Trouble strikes when news spreads about a notorious outlaw, Vinnie Harold, who roams the countryside challenging and killing well-known gunslingers in pursuit of fame. When Vinnie arrives in town, tension mounts as he hears whispers about George's past. This confrontation draws the inhabitants of Cross Creek into a wave of fear and curiosity. The pressure mounts on George to reveal his talents and defend his community from Vinnie's looming threat. He grapples with internal conflict, torn between embracing his dreaded identity and keeping his peaceful life intact. The townspeople's desperation for a hero tests George's resolve to leave his violent history behind. What unfolds is a gripping tale that explores themes of courage, destiny, and redemption as George faces an ultimate choice that could change his life forever.