After losing one of her children in an accident, a woman becomes bitterly resentful of the wagon train and plans to turn back east, while her husband wishes to continue west. Hale, in an effort to persuade her to continue, tells her the story of his own trip west with his family and the ensuing tragedy.

Dissatisfied with Charley Wooster, Hale and Hawks push for a new cook - a Chinese cook named Ah Chong.