A childhood friend of Nick's named Mariano returns to the valley with a herd
of cattle to sell. Nick is excited to see his friend and pleased that Mariano has
taken the calf Nick gave him several years before and established a herd of his
own with its bloodlines.
The market hasn't opened yet and Mariano needs a place to keep his cattle
until it does. Mariano is too proud to accept charity but agrees to lease one of
the Barkleys' pastures for a very reasonable price.
A serious problem soon presents itself. The hands inform Eugene that some
of Mariano's cattle are missing but there are no breaks in the fence. Eugene
shares this information with Nick and Heath.
Suspicious Nick and Heath decide to check on Mariano's herd. What they
find is not good news for them or Mariano. Mariano's herd is infected with
anthrax.
Heath urges Nick to follow the customary way of dealing with this problem
by killing Mariano's herd. Nick knows this needs to be done but doesn't
wish to wipe out all of Mariano's hard work. He chooses to wait and see if
it is only trail fever, as Mariano claims, even though deep down he knows
the truth.
As Mariano continues to lose cattle the family discusses their options.
Eugene tells the family about an anthrax vaccine that he has seen successfully
used to kill the disease but his older brothers are doubtful. Undaunted, Eugene
heads back to Berkley to try and gain assistance from his professor.
MARIANO'S CATTLE WITH
A DISTRAUGHT NICK
EXPLAIN HOW VACCINES
WORK TO HIS FAMILY
them from the pasture, Mariano attempts to leave anyway. He is stopped by
Nick, Heath and the hands and a standoff takes place.
Eugene, his professor and Victoria arrive and Victoria urges Mariano to allow
the professor to vaccinate his cattle. He refuses but says he will agree if they
bring the Barkleys' herd sire, Prince Oxford, out and try the vaccine on him
first. Victoria orders Heath to get the bull. Although not pleased Heath does
as she says.
The bull is placed in the pasture with Mariano's cattle and everyone waits to
see if he will be affected with the anthrax. The next morning the bull becomes
ill and the professor gives him the vaccine.
Everyone waits tensely for the vaccine to work and at one point they fear that
he has died but eventually the bull regains his legs and recovers so Mariano
allows his herd to also be vaccinated.
MARIANO FROM MOVING
HIS HERD
HIS PROFESSOR
PRIZE BULL BUT OBEYS VICTORIA ANYWAY.
ANXIOUSLY TO SEE
IF PRINCE OXFORD
WILL RECOVER
ADMINISTERS THE
VACCINE TO PRINCE
OXFORD.
AS PRINCE OXFORD
REGAINS HIS LEGS
As where many westerns would have depicted a classic gunbattle between the
opposing factions and eventually the cattle would have been destroyed, this
series took a different approach.
New advancements and technology were quite frequently seen in the series
and brought a refreshing new face to the TV western.
Once again Heath's discomfort with his standing in the family is seen. While
he does voice his opinion he still remains less assertive than seen later on.
Nick's turmoil between protecting the Barkley cattle and trying to give his
friend's herd all the benefit of the doubt is very powerful.
This is also the one episode that allowed Eugene to have a prominent and
integral part in the storyline.
lievable and endearing to those that love the character. One of the most
powerful and gripping moments in this episode for me is the scene where
Victoria requests him to bring Prince Oxford out to Mariano's herd.
Although he doesn't protest verbally he doesn't move to grant her request.
Without even looking at him she states, "I don't normally make a request
twice." With a look of bewilderment and a disapproving shake of his head
he finally obeys her.
It is one of those moments where one almost holds their breath, wondering
if he will defy her or not.