Charlie talks about his younger days in Pierce's Bend, when he worked for a rugged, God fearing trading post operator.

Coop tells Bill the story of the Earp brothers and the Silver Lady, a woman who was encased in a coffin of silver coins that melted around her after the stagecoach she was riding on and guarded by Morgan Earp had an accident and burned.

Hawks refuses to turn an Indian girl over to Chief Crazy Bear, who wants to punish her for killing his son.

Barnaby is forced to shoot and kill a boy his own age who took a woman and her daughters hostage. He is cleared of any wrongdoing but cannot shake the blood he feels is on his hands plus the judge wants him to inform the boy's mother.

Despite the advice of some, Coop decides to visit former girlfriend Eloise Blee, but finds Eloise gone, and instead winds up being talked into posing as her twin-sister Betsy's missing husband and father of her baby daughter.

Tough and headstrong female ferryboat captain Samantha Stewart is asked by her son Johnny and his bride to accompany them on the wagon train to California, where they will board a ship for a Pacific voyage. But actually, Johnny is not telling his proud mother that her doctor has told him that she must stay with a dry climate on land or she will die.

Teacher Mary Lee McIntosh refuses to pay what she feels is an excessive fee to join the wagon train, so she decides instead to follow behind it in her wagon alone, and refuses help from Hale. But after her wagon overturns, things change.

Don Brooke is desperate for money for his pregnant wife Bonnie, who's condition is too delicate for the long trip without more medical care so he seeks a bank loan. When he sees an opportunity at the bank, it leads to tragedy.

The wagon train comes across old Jamison Hershey and Herman, his 3000 pound Belgian horse. The old man has made it safely through hostile Indian territory because the tribes are so in awe of his horse. Hershey and Herman are invited to ride with the train, though it becomes apparent that Herman is not able to travel very fast and may hold back the entire group.

Coop and Charlie ride into a small village for supplies finding it deserted. There is an Indian who stays hidden and later three men and a woman ride into town. They have been looking for the woman's father in a cave filled with bats.

Wanda Snow has several times seen events before they have happened, causing several people on the wagon train to accuse her of being a witch. A medicine show peddler/magician gets the idea to use her in his act, but this creates friction between him and his devious partner.

Hale finds his old flame Chottsie Gubenheimer working in a gambling house and in an argument with the owner, so he asks her to come with him and join the wagon train. He comes to realize that he's getting more problems than he bargained for.

While out looking for water Coop and Charlie are stopped by a gang of five, including two women, who are on the run after robbing a bank and killing three lawmen. The leader of the gang shoots Charlie after tying him up, and they take Coop to lead them through a mountain pass to get to California.

Charlie has finally found someone else who shares his dream of man being able to fly, henpecked inventor Hector Heatherton, who has been working on an idea for building a flying machine so Charlie volunteers to build a machine for Hector.

A little girl, crying each night, appears to be a ghost from The Donner Party. Many people hear her, but she appears each night to Charlie, who questions his own sanity.

Trouble strikes the wagon train when Coop is wounded, Hawks falls ill and a band of hostile Indians prepares to attack.

A blind man called Sangre has joined the wagon train along with his guide Espada. He is actually Coop's boyhood blood brother Richard Bloodgood, and he openly states his plan to kill Coop. Coop gets very hostile and refuses to discuss it whenever Charlie or Barnaby ask the reason Richard wants to kill him, but they know it has to do with the death of a beautiful woman long ago.

Spoiled Nancy Styles, claiming to be the daughter of the owner of the company that owns the wagon train, is determined to get to Denver by forcing her way onto it and then Hale makes it clear he plans to bypass the city due to early snow.

The train doesn't have enough room for all who want to join, including an ex-convict whose life has been threatened by his former partner.

Alice Whitetree is the sole survivor of a tribe that was massacred ten years earlier. Coop, who rescued her, falls in love. As Coop hears varied stories from others about her background, he tries to find out if there is any truth in what he is told. 

Brian Conlin is in charge of some Irish immigrants who were shunned elsewhere, and in need of help. Coop is willing to help, but the immigrants have been so badly treated by others, that they are wary of Coop.

Going to the aid of a stagecoach under fire, Coop finds a Bostonian lady to be the only surviving passenger.

Believing Annabelle Day from the train has been hired as a singer by Sam Race in his tent city, Barnaby West feels protective of her when he realizes she is just a saloon girl. In turn, Bill Hawks wants to protect both of them.

John Gillman being chased and shot in the leg by a posse escapes via a river. He is found downriver nearly passes out by a young orphan girl Abigail. She takes a liking to him but he tries to rebuff her. However, events cause a change.

Hide hunters, hunters who kill buffalo for their hides only, have temporarily joined up with the wagon train. One of their number, Gib Ryker, is a sociopath who enjoys antagonizing young Barnaby West. 

Wagon train scout Cooper Smith was once shot in the back by retired Marshal Bob Stuart. Cooper must now escort Stuart and his wife Janice to the train. Thomas Lance and his younger brother Keith are also on the train. They, too, seek revenge for a brain injury inflicted by Stuart.