Set in the open frontiers of the Wild West, Aces 'n' Eights is the usual story of greedy railway owners, and the poor farmers whose land blocks the railroad's path.  When Die Hard's William Atherton decides to get nasty and hire a couple of gunslingers to move the land owners on who don't want to take up his offer, old rancher Thurmond Prescott and retired gunhand Luke Rivers (Casper Van Dien) stand in the way of progressive development.

So, soon enough Thurmond is gunned down.  Rivers take out a few of the murderers - and when Cracker hears about it and really has a long hard think about it all, he decides to join Rivers and defend the town against the railroad people.

Joined by the dude who was beat up earlier, the three stand on their side of the fence against the railroad spokesman, Riley, and the gunslingers. It turns out that Riley is a nice guy, and just wants what is best for everyone - and didn't know that people had been murdered who stood up to Atherton.

They reach an agreement, but both sides still want blood so the shooting starts.  Riley hides, but pretty much everyone else is soon shot and lies dying.  Bruce Boxleitner does a bad job pretending to be dead - but he isn't really we find out later when he is revived, so maybe it's secretly clever acting.

Rivers is shot twice in the chest. But still alive.  Tate walks over, about to finish it - when Riley pops up and shoots the evil gunslinger in the chest. Rivers still dies.  When the little lad races over to check on Rivers, Riley gives him a choice - to pick up the gun, or to help him clean up this mess and work out what is best for everyone because they need more good guys around.  The little guy puts the gun down.