Fenton Canaby is unjustly reputed to have led a wagon train to disaster in the desert. He unexpectedly becomes part of Hale's train as Hale has some of the same problems Canaby had and the train carries a widow wanting revenge against Canaby.

Cassie Vance is accused of theft when money and items belonging to a woman on the train that she nursed turn up missing, and especially after another woman recognizes Cassie as having served time in prison for theft when young.

While in the desert, Cooper finds a prospector who is lost and near death from exposure and thirst.

The Bleecker gang attempt to use the wagon train to rob a fort.

Sandra Cummings is an escapee from a Confederate prison. Against her wishes, Cooper Smith takes an interest in her daughter Paula.

Kitty Pryer finds herself in a bigamous marriage to Victor Harpe, who asks her to join him on the wagon train posing as the wife of a friend until he can divorce his wife. However, Victor's change of plans puts Kitty in unique peril.

Eli Bancroft became an outlaw looking for revenge raising his three sons as such after a town's citizens banded together and forced his entire family to uproot, fearing they would catch their illness. Coop and others become his victims.

On the train Coop is falling for the sister of the man running a gang who beat and robbed Coop in Hell's Kitchen in Brooklyn. Coop believes the man who says he is going west to change but his goons are still plying their scam on the train.

After witnessing a bank holdup, Barnaby is taken hostage by outlaws Sam Spicer and Reno Sutton. Sam takes a liking to the boy as he reminds him of himself when Reno first made him a partner but Reno doesn't trust Barnaby.

A woman tries to save her sister from a miserable life in a mining town.

A British newspaper reporter rides along on the wagon train to observe the Wild West.

When Duke and Charlie do not return from a scouting assignment, Chris sends Cooper who has a pretty good idea what lays ahead. The Chinese widow of an Irish Ship Captain wants Coop to carry on her husband's empire.

A tough railroad executive and his younger college educated brother are guided by Chris up a mountain to scout a route. When is accidentally shot by the younger brother, the older brother is forced to make a tough decision he may regret.

As the wagon train reaches Fort Pierce, it is in dangerous Indian country. Chris is hoping the Army will provide an escort when they leave, but the Colonel refuses due to Army orders. In fact, he wants the lone woman there to leave with the train.

After leaving St. Joseph, Hale tells everyone there are no Indians when in fact two escaped Comanches have stolen horses and shown up at the wagon train's first stop. There, the female wants to kill a man... her cowardly husband.