A former friend of Heath's, Ward, moves with his wife to Stockton and pur-
chases a run down farm. He arrives once again at the ranch to ask Heath
for money.
Tired of Ward's laziness and constant need for cash Heath decides that Ward
can have the money he is asking for but he will have to earn it by breaking
one of their horses.
Ward agrees but is bucked off into the fence and his back is broken. The doc-
tor informs the Barkleys that the paralysis that Ward is experiencing could
be caused by swelling that might be compressing a nerve and might clear up
with time.
Ward is kept at the Barkleys' until his back is healed enough that it is safe
to move him. After the doctor leaves Nick angrily confronts an already guilt
ridden Heath as to why he allowed the man to ride an unbroken horse. Heath
tells Nick to 'get your spurs out of me' and Nick apologizes for being so
rough.
HEATH LET WARD
RIDE THE BRONC
DECISION TO HAVE
WARD EARN THE
MONEY HE WANTS
ride the horse that threw Ward. She gets him to start talking about why he
kept giving Ward money.
Heath tells her that Ward always had big dreams of being successful but that
everything he tried failed miserably. She immediately sees that Heath feels
guilty because all of Ward's dreams came true, but for him not Ward. She
also knows that Ward not only senses Heath's guilt as well but wants him to
feel guilty, and she tells Heath this.
Still feeling responsible, Heath begins to make repairs at Ward and Nora's
farm during his spare time. Ward begins to become jealous of the friendship
between Heath and Nora.
Ward eventually regains use of his legs but keeps this fact from his wife and
Heath. He shows Heath a proposal he has to become involved in a business
but he needs several thousand dollars to invest. Heath takes the information
to the family and although they feel it is little more than an effort to use
Heath's emotions to his favor, they approve giving the money to Ward.
Moments before Heath arrives with the money, Nora catches Ward out of
his wheelchair and, knowing that he intends to take the money without
telling Heath the truth, tells him that she will inform Heath that he is able
to walk.
A scuffle occurs and Ward chokes her until she loses consciousness. Think-
ing she is dead he places her body out of sight and gets back in the wheel-
chair as Heath enters the house.
With money in hand, Ward tells Heath that Nora is on the couch when he
asks where she is. When Heath turns his back to go to her Ward draws a
gun and rises.
He tells Heath that he intends to shoot him then tell the sheriff that he
found the two of them together and acted in anger. Heath notices Nora is
still breathing and when Ward goes to check he overpowers him and takes
the gun away.
COMFORT HER SON
AND REGRET FOR
WARD'S INJURY
TO HIS OWN HOME
Peter Haskell is very believable as the lazy and opportunistic Ward. This
episode shows that it is not always best to feel like you 'owe' another per-
son something because they just may take advantage of you.
than Heath experiencing emotional pain and suffering. Not to mention the
scene at Ward and Nora's where he is working without a shirt!!!