When the sheriff asks about his background, Cheyenne replies wryly that he's "tried just about everything," but he's in China Hat about a cowhand job he'd seen advertised. Typical Cheyenne Bodie attitude, that he's willing to try any legitimate job, except that the one he ends up taking means concealing his true identity in order to help the pregnant widow of a man he'd just killed in self-defense. There's just something about Cheyenne Bodie that instills trust, so Faith Swain implores him to boss the drive for her and, honorable man that he is, Cheyenne agrees, reluctantly but still with a determination to do a good job.
He takes control right away but as so often happened, he doesn't get much help from the drovers who are just waiting for the chance to "blow out his light." As it turns out, they are in cahoots with the local land baron, Wrangel, as devious and corrupt a rancher as any in the series. Before long, he convinces Mrs. Swain that Bodie is the hard-hearted gunslinger who killed her husband in cold blood. She learns too late that Wrangel is the hard-hearted one, intent on stealing her herd with the help of her own drovers, who have been in his employ all along. They stampede the cattle and almost kill her and her newborn baby. Cheyenne enlists the aid of the local Sioux chief who, in exchange for much-needed beef, agrees to help Bodie recover the herd, save Mrs. Swain, and see to it that Wrangel and his men face justice.
This is a very good episode, with an excellent cast and production values. Worthy of special commendation are Kelly Thordsen as Pike Wood, the Swain's drunken head drover; he usually played a bad guy and he's got the weathered face for it. I enjoyed the character of Jug Wilkins as portrayed by I. Stanford Jolley, who habitually played basically the same character, the old codger in the group of cowboys who often lends an element of balance, reason, and even humor to the proceedings. Sioux Chief Johnny Cake is played by Frank DeKova, not the first time he played an Indian; in this one he not only offers his braves to help Cheyenne against the enemy but he offers his squaw to nurse Mrs. Swain's newborn infant, a nice practical and realistic touch.
Believing the lies Wrangel spews out, Ann McCrea as Faith Swain cries, "Why would he do this to me?" when she's told that her capable and kind trail boss is the man who killed her husband. It's easy to sympathize with her. She's a woman who's suddenly had all the responsibility thrust on her that her husband had shouldered, even if he was not "all a man should be." Plus, she's expecting a baby any minute. In the end she apologizes to Cheyenne, but he, being an example of 'all a man should be' if ever there was one, assures her that he understands. Clint Walker managed to convey kindness, strength, and compassion by softening his rich baritone voice and by the expression on his face. He isn't given nearly the credit he deserves for being able to convey just the right emotions without having to recite lines of dialogue or overact. Clint Walker was one of a kind, the good kind.
He takes control right away but as so often happened, he doesn't get much help from the drovers who are just waiting for the chance to "blow out his light." As it turns out, they are in cahoots with the local land baron, Wrangel, as devious and corrupt a rancher as any in the series. Before long, he convinces Mrs. Swain that Bodie is the hard-hearted gunslinger who killed her husband in cold blood. She learns too late that Wrangel is the hard-hearted one, intent on stealing her herd with the help of her own drovers, who have been in his employ all along. They stampede the cattle and almost kill her and her newborn baby. Cheyenne enlists the aid of the local Sioux chief who, in exchange for much-needed beef, agrees to help Bodie recover the herd, save Mrs. Swain, and see to it that Wrangel and his men face justice.
This is a very good episode, with an excellent cast and production values. Worthy of special commendation are Kelly Thordsen as Pike Wood, the Swain's drunken head drover; he usually played a bad guy and he's got the weathered face for it. I enjoyed the character of Jug Wilkins as portrayed by I. Stanford Jolley, who habitually played basically the same character, the old codger in the group of cowboys who often lends an element of balance, reason, and even humor to the proceedings. Sioux Chief Johnny Cake is played by Frank DeKova, not the first time he played an Indian; in this one he not only offers his braves to help Cheyenne against the enemy but he offers his squaw to nurse Mrs. Swain's newborn infant, a nice practical and realistic touch.
Believing the lies Wrangel spews out, Ann McCrea as Faith Swain cries, "Why would he do this to me?" when she's told that her capable and kind trail boss is the man who killed her husband. It's easy to sympathize with her. She's a woman who's suddenly had all the responsibility thrust on her that her husband had shouldered, even if he was not "all a man should be." Plus, she's expecting a baby any minute. In the end she apologizes to Cheyenne, but he, being an example of 'all a man should be' if ever there was one, assures her that he understands. Clint Walker managed to convey kindness, strength, and compassion by softening his rich baritone voice and by the expression on his face. He isn't given nearly the credit he deserves for being able to convey just the right emotions without having to recite lines of dialogue or overact. Clint Walker was one of a kind, the good kind.
