Lucas and Mark McCain ride into the town of Northfork with the hope of buying a ranch and settling down. A shooting match is being held and the prize money could help pay for the ranch...but Jim Lewis, the man who 'runs' Northfork, doesn't want Lucas to win. Written by tomtrekp

Lucas McCain and his son Mark make their way to the ranch they've just bought but get quite a rude reception. Two cowhands working for big-time rancher Oat Jackford, Billy Lehi and Sam Montgomery, tell Lucas that he's not welcome. Jackford has been using the land to graze some of his cattle and has every intention of continuing to do so. When Lucas doesn't show much enthusiasm for their proposal, he's beaten and the house is burned to the ground. Lucas needs to show them and Jackford that he's not going to get pushed around. Written by garykmcd

After Will Fulton breaks his leg while rescuing Mark McCain who has slipped off the edge of a cliff, he recuperates at the McCain ranch. Will and his brother Hank are outlaws with a posse looking for them. Will is an angry young man but his stay with the McCains softens him, especially after he meets the pretty Ann Bard. He begins to reassess his choices and realizes that he must choose which path he will take in life. Written by garykmcd

In North Fork, Lucas McCain meets Micah Torrence, now a drunk but at one time considered one of the ablest lawmen in the territory. He admits he lost his nerve and it led him to a life of drink. Lucas offers him a job as a ranch hand and uses a tough-love approach to get him to sober up. The Shelton brother ride into town looking to get even with Micah who jailed them 10 years before. Lucas is lured into a trap but it's Micah who comes to his rescued. Written by garykmcd

Lucas and Mark McCain are happy when Johnny Gibbs, Lucas' brother-in-law and Mark's uncle stops by the ranch. Johnny is a rodeo rider who needs money in a hurry to pay off some debts. He accepts an offer from rancher Alvah Kemper to try and break a horse named Lucifer to make a quick $100. He rigs it however to make $500 from Lucifer's owner. Lucas also finds a wanted poster on him for robbing an express office. Young Mark is profoundly impressed by his uncle Johnny and Lucas is worried that he might be a bad influence on the boy. Turns out that Lucas may have been too quick to judge him. Written by garykmcd

A year before, Lucas McCain was part of a posse that chased and captured Ephrem Burton, a young troublemaker who killed two churchmen on a Sunday while drunk. Ephrem was convicted and hanged for his crimes. Now his father Zephaniah Burton, himself a former judge, is seeking vengeance against those he feels killed his son. His first victim is the hangman while the second is the judge who presided at Ephrem's trial. Lucas is next on his list but having taken him prisoner, Burton tells Lucas he's not going to die but will watch his own son Mark hang. Written by garykmcd

When the stagecoach breaks down in North Fork an Italian Count, Alfredo di Montova, has to spend the night at the hotel. His fancy dress and accented English makes him a target for town bully Sim Groder and his little crowd. The Count is a calm and collected type but when Groder pushes him too far, he challenges him to a duel. With Lucas acting as his second, di Montova teaches the bully a lesson. Written by garykmcd

The new Bank of North Fork is about to open and hires a gunslinger, Floyd Doniger, for security. The President of the bank, John Maysfield Hamilton sees a future for the community and impresses everyone, including robbers who already have their eye on the place. Doniger's gone straight but knows the bank robbers who assume he has his own plans for the bank. Mark has sold his first pig and he deposits the $5 he's made in the new bank, just as the robbers strike. It's left to Lucas to sort it out and save the bank. Written by garykmcd

Mark asks hid Dad if he might ever remarry and Lucas tells him that perhaps someday he would if ever met the right woman. In town soon after, Mark meets the pretty young Rebecca Snipe who has just returned to North Fork. Lucas is just a bit embarrassed at Mark's attempt at match-making. Rebecca's brothers meanwhile, Joshua and Pete, take it all too seriously and decide to check Lucas out. Meanwhile, three strangers ride into town and it's soon apparent that they're out to kill Lucas. Written by garykmcd

Lucas McCain has to deal with Mr. Tiffauges and his henchman who have come to North Fork from New Orleans intent on settling - or taking over - the town. Tiffauges is a cruel man who takes pleasure in whipping his underlings for the slightest transgression. Marshall Micah Torrance has received information from the Texas Rangers that Tiffauges is the head of a criminal organization and is quite dangerous. For Lucas, a confrontation seems inevitable as Tiffauges has decided he wants to by his ranch and won't take no for an answer. Written by garykmcd

With Marshal Micah Torrence away for short while, young Dan Willard takes on the job. He has no experience and takes a tough stand with a bunch of Texas cowhands whose high spirits are evident at the saloon. Dan's father Charlie is worried that his son will get himself killed if he's not careful and Lucas offers to have a chat with him. Dan has a chip on his shoulder ever since he was dismissed from West Point due to his deteriorating eye sight and is determined to show that he is tough and can take care of himself. When he shoots one of the cowhands their trail boss, Keely Thompson, calls him out. Written by garykmcd

While traveling back to North Fork on the stage after selling their herd, Lucas and Mark are sharing the stage with a Marshal and his prisoner Johnny Cotton. When they stop to water the horses, some of Cotton's friends are lying in wait. Cotton steals the money Lucas got for the cattle and his rifle. He sends Mark on with the stage but tracks the robbers as best he can given that he doesn't have a horse or a weapon. Written by garykmcd

After one of Lucas McCain's cows calves, the little one is missing and he and Mark trace the missing calf to the Ashfford ranch, run by the foreman Norv Waggoner who has been building up his own herd. There have been rumors about Waggoner's herd growing a bit too fast but Jeremy Ashford, the owner's brother, isn't prepared to stand up to him. It's left to Lucas to find the calf they stole and face Waggoner and his men. Written by garykmcd

Rancher Curge Palmer is none too pleased when he hears that someone has bought a ranch that he had his eye on. He's even less pleased when he meets the purchaser, Juan Argentez, from Argentina. The bigoted Palmer is clearly out to insult Argentez and his children, Nita and Manolo. For his part, Manolo is also a bit of a hothead and doesn't like that Nita is now spending time with Ned Dunnell. Lucas wants Mark to spend time with Manolo and learn that people from other cultures are not necessarily bad. When Ned is found dead however, Curge accuses Manolo of the killing. Written by garykmcd

After Ward Haskins shoots down an old saddle tramp, Joe Flecker, Lucas McCain takes Joe to Doc Burrage but he can't be saved. Soon after, Haskins visits Lucas saying he must have something Joe had on him. Lucas doesn't know what he's talking about and throws him off the property. In town the next day, Lucas tries to find out what Haskins was looking for but the Doc tells him two children died the previous day of anthrax and the town is on the verge of an epidemic. When Mark contracts anthrax from Flecker's pony, his life is put in danger. Written by garykmcd

When an ex-confederate soldier stops by the ranch, Lucas McCain offers him a meal and then a job. Frank Blandon was severely wounded in the war and bad surgery has left him with the use of only one arm. He's still traumatized by those events and occasionally will go off on a rant. Lucas soon welcomes others when General Sheridan arrives looking for a place to spend the night. It turns out that Blandon and Sheridan have met before, though the General has no recollection. It leads to a bit of soul searching on the part of both men. Written by garykmcd

Lucas McCain is happy when one of his late wife's closest friends, Clair Wheatly Carney, arrives in North Fork looking to settle down. she has only recently married Wes Carney who at one time had quite a reputation as a gunslinger. Wes has hung up his guns however and he and Clair buy the local feed store that is up for sale. His reputation lives on however and there is a group of troublemakers in town who are continually trying to call him out. He resists their constant badgering and bullying as he has promised his wife never to strap on his guns again. When a man is killed however and only Marshal Micah Torrance and Lucas seem prepared to stand up to the killer does Wes have to decide if he will stand with them or simply be an onlooker. Written by garykmcd

When photographer Abel Goss comes to town, Lucas McCain decides to have son Mark's picture taken. Mark takes quite a liking to the old man but when Abel sees Col. Jess Whiteside in North Fork, he goes mad vowing to kill the man. It seems that Goss was a prisoner in the Civil War and Whiteside was the very cruel camp commander. Lucas calms him down but when Whiteside apparently call him out, Goss shoots him. There are no witnesses to the shooting and Goss is charged with murder. Mark's recollection of events and the photograph Goss was taking just prior to the shooting prove to be the key pieces of evidence at the trail. Written by garykmcd

Lucas McCain becomes involved in the matter of a young couple who are forced to get married by wagon master Aaron Pelser. The young couple were on their way to Yuma to marry there but now married and homeless in North Fork, Lucas offers them a home until they can get on their feet. Several of the hands on the wagon train want to have a shivaree, a party where they keep the newlyweds up all night. Lucas and Marshall Micah Torrance sense trouble and when Chet Packard kidnaps the girl, their fears prove to be well-founded. Written by garykmcd

Lucas and Mark McCain take in a 16 year-old Easterner, from New York no less, who having more that his fair share of trouble. Donnel O'Mahoney regales Mark with tall tales of the big city and soon heads off for North Fork, hitching a ride with Jackson, the local freight forwarder. After Jackson kills his partner Cramer, he tell the Marshal that Donnel is responsible and even puts out a bounty on the boy. Lucas joins the posse while Mark heps Donnel cover his tracks at least until Lucas can make sense of what is going on. Written by garykmcd

Lucas McCain and his son Mark come across U.S. Deputy Marshal Sam Buckhart who is escorting an Indian prisoner. To Lucas' surprise he finds that Buckhart himself is an Indian, educated at Harvard College. In North Fork, Buckhart goes about his business until some of the townsfolk realize he is an Indian and decide to take matters into their own hands. It's left to Lucas to show them the error of their ways. Written by garykmcd

Julia Andueza has recently resettled in North Fork and has made quite an impression with her new boarding house and her great cooking. Lucas recognizes her however as a card cheat who 12 years before swindled a good friend of his out of his life savings. He confronts her and she claims to have turned over a new leaf and left her old life long ago. Lucas isn't sure he's prepared to give her the benefit of the doubt but when her old 'friends' show up in North Fork aiming to turn it into a gambling town, Julia shows her resolve and gains Lucas' support. Written by garykmcd

Lucas McCain puts his life on the line when he agrees to testify at the trial of an outlaw in a nearby town. The original witness in the case was shot while being escorted by two deputies. He was shot from a great distance by someone using a special rifle and a scope. News that Lucas will be testifying quickly spreads through North Fork with most folks thinking that he'll never survive the journey. Written by garykmcd

Lucas McCain is surprised when someone he once worked with, Sam Morley, shows up at the ranch. Lucas thought Morley had died but it turns out he's a wanted man and wants Lucas to do him a favor: turn him in for the $500 reward money that's available. Morley desperately needs the money so his girlfriend, Beth Landis, can get treatment for a serious disease. Lucas thinks he's on the level and decides to go along. Unfortunately another cowpoke who once worked with them, Hamp Ferris, rides into town and is looking to collect the bounty on Morley himself. Written by garykmcd

Lucas McCain's childhood friend, the closest thing to a brother he ever had, drops into to see him at the ranch. Tom Birch is now a known bank robber but his visit with Lucas and Mark is entirely friendly. Mark knows all about the Birch gang and Lucas has to try to explain to him what it means to be a friend but still be honest. Tom tells Lucas he headed to Colorado but when he heads off in the direction of North Fork, it's pretty obvious that he's going to rob the bank and Lucas is forced to choose between his friendship and his community. Written by garykmcd

Lucas McCain arrives in North Fork to find the streets deserted and Marshal Micah Torrance standing a lone vigil across the street from the saloon. Inside is Dan Maury, an ex-convict who has been released from prison after serving five years and he's out to get Micah, the man who put him there. Lucas takes the bull by the horns and forces him out of town but Maury wounds him at the ranch and soon Micah is completely on his own to defend himself. Written by garykmcd

A corrupt marshal from outside North Fork goes after an outlaw with a price on his head. However, he sees an opportunity to make some extra money, so he murders an innocent man to pass off as the outlaw so he can collect the bounty, and then proceeds to blackmail the real outlaw. Written by [email protected]

Lucas McCain and the other good folks in North Fork are unsure what to do when Marshall Micah Torrance and Hattie Denton are taken prisoner in Hattie's store by a gang on the run. They say they're there to get supplies and will leave without causing trouble but it's clear that their leader is a dangerous man who wonders if his time in prison has made him weak. With something to prove, it's clear he's going to cause trouble and it will be up to Lucas McCain to face him down. Written by garykmcd

While out in the woods on his own, Mark McCain meets Walt Hake who is living off the land having lost his horse and all of his gear. Mark naturally invites Walt home for supper and Walt offers to work on the ranch. Lucas is happy to have the help and Walt seems like a good sort. Soon after however Eli Flack, a prison Sheriff who tracks down prison escapees, arrives in North Fork looking for someone who sounds like Walt. Mark meanwhile has nursed back to health a hawk he found in a trap in the woods. Now he has to decide if he can let him go free. Written by garykmcd

Troublemaker Johnny Clover, a student at the North Fork school, wrecks the classroom one day. Lucas, a member of the town's school board, goes to Johnny's uncle to get him to pay for the damage, which turns out to be a task easier said than done. Written by [email protected]

Lucas and Mark McCain have a new neighbor in the form of Abel MacDonald and his son Carey. The elder MacDonald is not very friendly ordering them off of his land which he has just acquired as a homesteader. Mark and Carey become friendly however and he learns the MacDonalds lost everything due to his late mother's excessive doctors bills. When Carey has a serious accident, Abel refuses to let Doc Burrage anywhere near the boy. It's left to Lucas to act or the boy will die. Written by garykmcd

Lucas is more than a little puzzled when he learns that the town's well-liked school teacher, Adele Adams, is suddenly leaving town. He goes into North Fork and realizes that Old Man Healey, his son Garth and the rest of the Healey clan are responsible for forcing her out. Miss Adams was starting a suffragette movement in the town, much to the annoyance of many of the menfolk, but Lucas learns that she is protecting someone. Written by garykmcd

Lucas McCain is none too pleased to see that Tom King is in town. King is a former lawman who always took 'dead or alive' to mean dead and acted accordingly. This time around, he's in town as a contract killer however having been hired to kill Oat Jackford, a bully of a man who many in town would love to see dead. King has a reputation that sends chills down most men's spines but Jackford's approach to dealing with if nothing if not unorthodox. Written by garykmcd

Because of a drought, many local cowhands are forced to take construction jobs building a railroad. However, when an old man claims that he has found a way to make rain, the railroad company--afraid that their workers will leave the job and go back to their ranches if they believe the old man--are determined to stop him. Written by [email protected]

After Lucas McCain finds a wounded man on the side of the road, he naturally delivers him to Doc Burrage for treatment. The man is near death and has no identification on him but Marshal Micah Torrance knows exactly who he is and wishes him dead. Micah says he's John Stoddard, someone he knew long ago. Micah uncharacteristically takes to the bottle and refuses to come out of his office, even when a vigilante committee from a town 100 miles away come to collect Stoddard to hang him for crimes he committed while there. It's left to Lucas to sort it all out and also to find out why Micah hates the man to the point of wanting him dead. Written by garykmcd

While freeing a calf stuck in the underbrush, Mark McCain comes across the body of a stranger. Lucas investigates and find no identification on the dead man but when he checks with Marshal Micah Torrance in North Fork, it appears that he may have been in town the day before. Back at the McCain ranch, Lucas' distant cousin Artemus Quarles is visiting. He's something of a jack of all trades and regales Mark with stories of his years at sea. As Lucas and Micah look for possible suspects, the evidence seems to point to Artemus. Written by garykmcd

A renegade Apache, Chaqua, attacks the McCain ranch and takes Mark McCain prisoner. The renegade has recently lost his own son and intends on making Mark an Apache warrior. Although knocked unconscious, Lucas forces himself out of bed to join a group of men, including Marshal Micah Torrance and his good friend Deputy U.S. Marshal Sam Buckhart, who have set out to retrieve the boy. Lucas will go to any length to get his son back. Written by garykmcd

Dave Stafford comes to town looking to establish himself in North Fork. He's friendly and affable and is generally well-liked by everyone, including Lucas McCain. What no one knows is that Stafford has been sent there to make sure that North Fork doesn't get a planned railroad spur but that it go to a competing town. Stafford is hoping to be sent as the town's delegate to the railroad to plead their case but Lucas is chosen instead. The townsfolk begin to reconsider their decision when Lucas inherits $500 from a notorious outlaw. Written by garykmcd

Lucas takes in an orphaned young boy, and one of the things he teaches the boy is how to use a gun. What Lucas doesn't know, however, is that the boy wants to learn how to use a gun so he can kill the banker he holds responsible for his father's death. Written by [email protected]

While walking down the main street in North Fork, John Hallager is shot from someone hiding in the shadows. Marshal Micah Torrance arrests Billy Mathis who had been seeing Hallager's daughter Lucy despite being told to stay away. Not long afterward, John Barrow McBride comes to town. He has a mind reading act that the townsfolk find entertaining but he also seems to have information about Hallager's shooting. How he got that information tells Lucas how McBride gets the information for his act but also leads him to the real shooter. Written by garykmcd