You'd think that when a story opens with a funeral, things couldn't get any worse. But they can. An inexperienced army lieutenant (a.k.a., "shavetail") foolishly ignores the advice of the Indian scout leading their small party, and takes a forbidden pass through Apache land on the word of the devious Mescalero chief Chato. As scout Johnny Brassbuttons had warned, the group is attacked and everyone is killed except for Johnny, whose wife, White Bird, is taken captive by a vengeful Chato. With longtime friend Cheyenne's help, Johnny makes it back to the fort; but he can't tell the colonel what actually happened because Chato has threatened to kill White Bird if he does. Accused of dereliction of duty, Johnny is court-martialed but escapes and is wounded. Again, Cheyenne comes to the rescue.
The funeral that opened the episode was for a deputy U. S. marshal, whose boss and fellow deputy are still on hand when the massacre happens. They're determined to bring Johnny in to face justice for what they deem as the murder of the slain deputy's young wife, who was in the party attacked by Chato. Cheyenne promises to help, even though the appearance of the marshal and his deputy complicates matters. However, when a still weak Johnny is captured by Chato, it all works out because the lawmen prove to be just what's needed to rescue Johnny and White Bird. There's even a nice twist at the end that makes it possible for Johnny's court-martial to be reversed. He receives an army promotion, and the land he and his wife had saved so long for becomes theirs.
Although the series was winding down, priority was still given to Cheyenne Bodie's sensitive interaction with people. This story mixes poignancy with valor and was a welcome change from the many previous episodes where Cheyenne Bodie was threatened by various really bad guys and had to defend himself with his powerful fists or his expert six-shooter. Tony Young was believable as Johnny, and the rest of the supporting cast was also good. Clint Walker proved yet again that his fictional clone Cheyenne Bodie was the best friend any man could have, going literally out of his way and risking his own life to help in any way he could. Besides other obvious attractions, that emphasis on the nature of friendship is one of the most enduring features of this classic series.
The funeral that opened the episode was for a deputy U. S. marshal, whose boss and fellow deputy are still on hand when the massacre happens. They're determined to bring Johnny in to face justice for what they deem as the murder of the slain deputy's young wife, who was in the party attacked by Chato. Cheyenne promises to help, even though the appearance of the marshal and his deputy complicates matters. However, when a still weak Johnny is captured by Chato, it all works out because the lawmen prove to be just what's needed to rescue Johnny and White Bird. There's even a nice twist at the end that makes it possible for Johnny's court-martial to be reversed. He receives an army promotion, and the land he and his wife had saved so long for becomes theirs.
Although the series was winding down, priority was still given to Cheyenne Bodie's sensitive interaction with people. This story mixes poignancy with valor and was a welcome change from the many previous episodes where Cheyenne Bodie was threatened by various really bad guys and had to defend himself with his powerful fists or his expert six-shooter. Tony Young was believable as Johnny, and the rest of the supporting cast was also good. Clint Walker proved yet again that his fictional clone Cheyenne Bodie was the best friend any man could have, going literally out of his way and risking his own life to help in any way he could. Besides other obvious attractions, that emphasis on the nature of friendship is one of the most enduring features of this classic series.
