Summary :
A group of settlers has traveled across the country to their new homestead, but their stake is disputed by Dicky O'Shea, who also has a deed. Judge Travis rules in favor of the homesteaders but Dicky is not content to accept the decision. The judge asks the seven to escort the settlers on the last leg of their trip, and along the way several people must come to terms with their feelings for fellow travelers.
Memorable Scenes :
Scene One - Grain Exchange
Judge Travis has ruled in favor or the homesteaders but Dicky O'Shea is disputing their claim and is threatening trouble. Vin and Chris are outside when the meeting breaks up and they watch everyone as they leave. They both notice Mary go by on the arm of one of the farmers. Judge Travis comes out to ask Chris and the others to ride with the settlers until they get to their land. The group's leader, Will Richmond doesn't want their help, but the Judge is admanant.
- Judge :Mr. Richmond, this may sound like a suggestion. It's not.
Scene Two - Outside Town
The next morning the settlers are loading their wagons to continue their journey. The seven are also getting ready. For Ezra, it's a little too early in the morning.
- Vin :We about ready?
- Ezra :Mr. Tanner, the only thing I am ready for at this ungodly hour is the comfort of my down pillow.
Vin spots one of the women settlers struggling with a box and goes to help. She insists she can handle the box herself but her lack of success belies her words and Vin takes the box from her and puts in into the back of her wagon. Vin is instantly attracted to the woman but she turns out to be the wife of Will Richmond.
Mary and Bily arrive on horseback to join the wagon train. Mary says she has come to write a story about the journey, but she also has reunited with Gerard - an old friend who went to school with Mary's husband. Mary introduces Gerard to Chris, who wonders if it's a good idea for Mary and Billy to come along. Gerard tells Chris he actually proposed to Mary first, but she accepted her husband's proposal instead. Part of the reason Mary has come along is to catch up on things with Gerard and his young daughter Katie.
As the wagon train moves out, they are watched from the hillside by Dicky and his men. Dicky has plans to prevent the farmers from reaching their land.
Scene Three - The Trail
Buck attempts to strike up a conversation with a young woman driving a wagon alone. Ezra catches up and tells Buck what he has learned about the woman.
- Ezra :I see you have espied our comely young widow.
- Buck :A widow. Well, I do love that word. They are so in need of comfort.
- Ezra :Unfortunately, despite her undeniable charms, she's a tad difficult to get close to.
- Buck :Ezra, no offence, but you're no match for ole Buck.
- Ezra :I'll admit that I'm not as indiscriminate in that area as yourself, Mr. Wilmington, however, the point is, there is another rival for her affections.
- Buck :Oh, she has a beau. Well, that's even better.
- Ezra :He's a formidable opponent. A rapacious, insatiable thief stealing her time and attention like a rogue bandit in the night.
The rival turns out to be Eugene, the widow's young son, who is obviously a handful. Buck and Ezra both think they can win over Eugene to get to his mother. JD bets neither of them can do it.
Vin has been scouting ahead and has found part of the trail has been washed away, making the journey more difficult. There is an easier but longer way to go, but Will intends to stick to his original plan. He has managed to get the group from St. Louis and he doesn't intend to alter his course.
Scene Four - The Hills
Dicky and his men have stopped to rest and wait for an addition to their group - a Powder Man who is an explosives expert who loves his job. Dicky doesn't want the settlers killed - he just wants them scared off what he considers his land.
Scene Five - The Trail
The settlers have stopped for the night. Vin is resting near the wagons and Charlotte brings him a canteen of water.
- Vin :Y'all could just stop now, put down stakes here. Pretty nice spot.
- Charlotte :No, new homestead's gonna be nicer.
- Vin :Think so, huh?
- Charlotte :I haven't seen it yet but I know it's got a river and mountains and fine rich soil as far as the eye can see, and when we start farmin' it, it's gonna be heaven on earth.
- Vin :I reckon, if you're akin to that kinda thing.
- Charlotte :Only a fool wouldn't be.
- Vin :Well, then, I'm a fool, 'cause I never been interested in tamin' no land.
- Charlotte :Oh, the wild and woolly type.
- Vin :Woolly to the bone.
Will calls Charlotte and she hurries away.
Eugene is shooting rocks with his sling shot when Buck approaches to try and make friends. He offers to take Eugene hunting. Eugene says he hates horses and guns give him bad dreams. He does like stories, however, so Buck starts to tell the boy a story. Unfortunately, Buck's story is not suitable for young boys. Eugene's mother over hears and pulls her son away, warning Buck to stay away.
Dicky and his men arrive, offering a deal to the farmers. Will speaks for everyone and turns down the offer and tells Dicky to leave. No one sees the Powder Man sneak in behind the wagons.
Scene Six - The Trail
That night, Vin and Chris are patrolling the area. Chris pauses by Gerard's wagon, where is is telling a ghost story to Billy and Katie, and Mary is obviously enjoying the story as well. One of the farmers - Jack - is loading his wagon, unaware of some explosives that have been hidden on the other side. Will and Charlotte are having an argument and Charlotte leaves their wagon in tears. Vin catches up to her, to make sure she's alright. Vin has noticed Will's bad temper and his shortness with everyone. Charlotte tells him Will used to be different but he changed after their daughter Allison died. Both Will and Charlotte have had a hard time accepting Allison's death.
Suddenly, the dynamite behind the wagon explodes and Jack is mortally injured. Inspite of Nathan's attempts to save him, Jack dies in the arms of his pregnant wife.
Scene Seven - The Trail
In the morning, Jack is buried and Josiah reads a passage from the bible. Chris and Vin realize there must be something special about the land that Dicky is willing to kill for, and JD and Nathan agree to ride ahead to check it out. Will blames the violence on the seven and wants them to leave but the other farmers, including Charlotte, want the them to stay with the wagon train for protection.
The wagons head out again and Chris notices that Mary isn't with Gerard. Gerard points her out - galloping her horse across the prairie. Gerard has noticed a special relationship between Chris and Mary and he wonders if there's more than friendship involved. Chris claims not to understand what Gerard is asking.
- Gerard :Forgive me, that was unfair. My competitive nature sometimes overwhelms my manners. But then again, a man'd have to be blind not to notice her charms.
- Chris :Well, I ain't blind!
Vin and Buck have scouted ahead but Dicky and his men are nowhere to be seen.
Scene Eight - The Trail
The wagons have stopped again for the night and everyone is in a somber mood. One of the settlers is playing a sad lament on his violin, but Josiah decides it's time for some divine intervention. He starts playing the spoons and Ezra exhorts the fiddler to play a livlier tune. Before long some of the farmers are dancing. Ezra decides it's time to try his luck with Eugene, who is looking particularly morose. Ezra has decided that the way to Eugene's heart is through his stomach, and he has brought some bribes: an apple, some jerky and candy. Unfortunately, Eugene tries to eat everything at once and he starts to choke. The only thing Ezra has to help wash everything down is his hip flask, which Eugene grabs and refuses to return. Just as his mother comes along, Eugene throws up on Ezra. His mother spots the flask, smells the alcohol, and threatens to shoot Ezra if he goes near Eugene again.
Chris is on patrol and he spots Gerard and Mary go behind one of the wagons, and he sees Gerard kiss Mary. Charlotte tries to get Will up but he's not interested, so she asks Vin to dance with her.
On the hillside, Dicky and his men are watching the settlers while the Powder Man sets up his latest demonstration. Dicky hadn't meant anyone to die the night before and he warns the Powder Man to get it right this time.
Will decides he doesn't like Vin and Charlotte dancing together and he pushes Vin out of the way. He warns Vin to stay away from Charlotte and grabs her arm to pull her away. Vin tries to step in, but Josiah holds him off. At that moment, the Power Man's latest creations begin to explode like rockets blasting off the top of the nearby hill, and the camp is in chaos. Vin, Buck and Chris ride up the hill to see what they can find and Josiah stays in camp to make sure everyone is alright. Will stumbles out, looking for Charlotte. He has been hit over the head and Charlotte has been kidnapped. Will is blaming himself for not giving the land to Dicky. If he doesn't sign over the land by sundown the next day, Charlotte will die.
Scene Nine - The Homestead
JD and Nathan arrive at the homestead and discover someone has been mining the river. Mining equipment is littered along the river bank. They also discover the body of a dead miner and Nathan guesses the deed Dicky has was stolen from the miner.
Scene Ten - The Trail
In the morning, Chris, Vin, Ezra and Buck are getting ready to search for Charlotte. Will wants to go with them, but Chris says he has to stay to help Josiah protect the settlers. Chris promises Will they will bring Charlotte back. Vin leads the way and they finally track Dicky and his men to a camp in a valley. Ezra thinks they should pay the ransom and when Vin points out they don't have the deed, Ezra pulls out a letter he is writing to his mother which, from a distance could pass for a deed. While Vin sneaks around behind the camp, Chris calls to Dicky that he has the deed and Dicky can come and get it and let Charlotte go. Dicky wants Chris to bring the deed down but instead, Chris and Buck start laying down diversionary ground fire to allow Vin to get into the camp and free Charlotte.
Vin and Charlotte manage to climb back up the hill with the help of Ezra and a rope tied to his saddle horn. Ezra tells Vin the others will hold Dicky and his men down while Vin and Charlotte get away.
Scene Eleven - The Trail
Will is looking out over the prairie for a sign of Charlotte and Mary comes over to try and comfort him. Will is still blaming himself and his pride for what happened. Eugene starts running around them, annoying them like little boys do. Mary tries to shoo him away but Josiah takes him by the collar and drags him off.
- Josiah :You familiar with the bible, son? 'Cause there's a little place called hell I'm gonna tell you all about.
Scene Twelve - The Prairie
At sunset, Vin and Charlotte come over a ridge and Charlotte almost slides off the back of the horse from exhaustion. Vin decides they need to stop and rest, and have something to eat. Later, while they eat, they both realize their attraction to each other. Vin figures it's time to move on because Will is probably worried. Charlotte thanks Vin for saving her.
- Vin :Well, you're worth a hell of a lot more than a land deed.
- Charlotte :Don't blame him for this. You don't understand. That land is everything. Givin' it over would have been too much to lose. That deed doesn't belong to him along.
- Vin :And neither do you.
- Charlotte :We still got a ways to go.
- Vin :Charlotte, there's no excuse for what he did. What man wouldn't give everything he had just to keep you?
- Charlotte :Vin, please.
- Vin :If you were mine, I'd never let you go. I'd just thank God every day for puttin' you on this earth.
Charlotte turns around and kisses Vin tentatively. Then they embrase and kiss each other more passionately.
Scene Thirteen - The Trail
In the morning, Chris, Buck and Ezra have returned to camp and Chris wonders if Will has been up all night waiting for Vin. JD and Nathan arrive back at camp and tell the settlers about the dead miner and the possibility of gold on the land.
Vin and Charlotte also arrive back at camp and Will goes after Vin again. Charlotte tells him they only stopped for food and rest but Will tells Vin if he steps one foot on the settlers' land when they arrive, he'll shoot Vin where he stands.
Scene Fourteen - The Homestead
The Powder Man is burying dynamite in the sand along the river bank. Dicky sends one of his gang to get some more men.
Scene Fifteen - The Trail
Ezra and Buck are teasing Vin about his relationship with Charlotte. He is silent for a while but then he gets mad and both Ezra and Buck back off.
Eugene has taken a liking to Josiah and asks to ride with him. Josiah tries to brush him off but Eugene's mother invites Josiah to ride in their wagon, to the amazement of Buck and Ezra, and Josiah accepts her "charming offer".
While Will is at the back of the wagon train, Vin confronts Charlotte. He tells her he will be leaving the next day, as soon as they arrive at the homestead, and Charlotte thinks that might be for the best.
- Vin :Charlotte, I know it ain't right, but I can't pretend there's nothin' 'tween us.
- Charlotte :There is nothin' between us. Do you hear me?
- Vin :You know there is. We both know it.
Will is looking for Charlotte and she begs Vin to stay away from her. Chris has been behind the wagon and he steps out, telling Vin that Charlotte has a point.
- Vin :You takin' to followin' me around?
- Chris :It's gettin' out of hand. I'm not judgin' ya, but this ain't the time or place for it.
- Vin :One more person sticks their nose in my business and I'm gonna do somethin' I'll regret. So I'm tellin' you now, Chris, you stay outta this.
Scene Sixteen - The Homestead
By next morning, the settlers arrive at their homestead and start to unload their wagons. They can't believe their good fortune. Chris is watching Mary skip rocks across the river with Billy and Katie. She comes over and tells him Gerard has asked her to marry him. Chris congratulates her but she hasn't accepted yet. Vin is ready to leave and Chris tells him the others are going to stay for a couple of days to make sure Dicky doesn't show up. Vin tells Chris not to leave until he's sure everyone is safe.
Dicky is watching from the hillside and he notes Vin's departure. The Powder Man is setting up more deadly explosives this time.
- Dicky :Remember, there's got to be at least one man with a good arm left alive to sign over that deed.
Vin crosses back over the river and rounds a corner to find Charlotte waiting for him. They embrace and then got on his horse and ride away.
To be continued...
Trivia :
- Eric Close's younger brother Chris Close appears in this episode as "Jack", the man who is blinded, then dies from the explosion.
