Julie Holland is falling for Michael Malone, a man haunted by the death of his sister. Meanwhile, the marriage of Ben and Beth Mitchell is strained because of Beth's increasing bitterness toward her husband and her feeling of unworthiness.

Chris Hale has loaded up on supplies because he has learned the Army has closed the normal trail so the wagon train is forced to take a difficult and dry route through the desert. Judge Arthur Forbes questions Hale's decisions, as do others. Geneva Balfour ignites a fire in hopes she and her husband Aaron will turn around and head east.