The Killer's Brand

Dace Kelly is three years into an eight year sentence at the Canyon City penitentiary when the warden offers a deal to get him released. The catch: he must help the warden's sister save her ranch outside Tolerance, Colorado. He and Professor (a wannabe newsman who is also being released) ride there together.
Problems are aplenty. The warden's sister does not want Dace around aher ranch, considering him a no-account gunman. But a powerful rancher wants her ranch at any cost; then there's an unknown assailant who tries to kill Professor; another fast gun who thinks killing Dace would give him a reputation. Maybe Dace should have stayed in prison!