When Aidensfield is visited by a family of gypsies, the residents are up in arms against them. Nick discovers the family patriarch, Joseph, an old friend of Greengrass and Ferrenby, has returned to his native soil before cancer ends his life. As they attempt to help the family, Nick and Kate put their own lives at risk when they come under attack from local bigots, and village life descends further into chaos when the church is robbed, the shop is trashed and the vicar's daughter falls in love with Joseph's son.

Nick has been offered a job with the anti-drugs-unit within Scotland Yard, only to find his loyalties tested when Alan Maskell is charged as an accessory to car theft, although he helped the team to catch the real thieves. Betrayed and broken, Alan goes on the run, and Nick's search for him leads the bobby back to his roots. Can he convince Alan to face his court hearing and will he leave Aidensfield just as he and Kate are becoming part of the community? Meanwhile, Blaketon is in high spirits when Greengrass ends up in court for sheep rustling, whilst Kate grows concerned for George Ward, owner of the Aidensfield Arms, but he refuses to admit that his health is deteriorating.