User Reviews

Hoss's friend Wade Tyree (Don Collier) has turned into an alcoholic since he got jilted. Before that Wade worked tirelessly on his farm.

Coincidentally, a single mom, Abigail Hinton (Jeanne Cooper), and her daughter, Bonnie (Noreen DeVita), arrive in town to marry a man who married a rich widow and took off for San Francisco. Hoss tries to get Wade and Abigail together.

SPOILER: After some misunderstandings and challenges, they actually do get married, but there are still emotions to work through and challenges such as a drought, exhaustion and pregnancy. Wade is mostly on the edge of frustration, depression and going back to the bottle.

Eventually Hoss is stunned when Abigail stands up for Wade against Hoss, but it seems to light a fire under Wade, who is ready and willing to fight for his family. Hoss is frustrated that people are so difficult, but Ben reminds him that is what makes people so interesting and rewarding, just as thunder foreshadows rain.

Overall a good, but not great episode with few surprises but good acting.

Not the best episode. Maybe Little Joe and Adam could have made this one work better. Dan Blocker does what he can to bring a family together. Still that's part of the problem. It doesn't make sense why Hoss wouldn't just punt on this project. Hoss has a friend who's unwilling to do what's right. Apparently Ben only has so much pull with his sons. Still the importance of family is a hallmark of the series, and the message comes through. The episode is a reminder of how much work needs to be done on a homestead. It's a wonder anything gets done in Virginia City without the Cartwrights. Maybe it's just as well Hoss is around the neighbor's house a lot.