- A friend of Emily's arrives in Paterson's Ridge with her newborn child in search of a fresh start but her abusive husband soon follows to take her with him.
- Emily is thrilled when her friend Rachel and her newborn son David visit. However when Rachel reveals the real reason why she has left her husband, Emily is shocked. Meanwhile Thomas, Rachel's husband, tracks her down and demands that she returns home.
- When an old friend of Emily's, Rachel MacAlister ("Frances O'Connor"), arrives in Paterson's Ridge,with her infant son David, she tells Emily ("Sheryl Munks") that she is just seeking a diversion from boredom, as her new husband, wealthy banker Thomas MacAlister ("Shane Briant") is always too engrossed in his work to pay her much attention. It soon turns out however that she has been less than honest about the state of her marriage, and she admits to Emily that Thomas is a tyrant, and the marriage the result of a business agreement, drawn up between her father and husband to settle her father's debts. Matt ("Andrew Clarke") tries to help out a neighbour, Tyler Morgan ("Shane Feeney-Connor"), who has fallen on hard times, and pleads the rancher's case to his creditor, Herbert Elliott ("Greg Parker"). However, Herbert says that he cannot offer Tyler any more support, and the news that the bank intends to foreclose on his property tips Tyler almost over the edge. Montana ("Gabrielle Fitzpatrick") invites Rob ("Guy Pearce") round for Thanksgiving dinner at her place, but her skills in the kitchen leave a lot to be desired, so the couple are forced to find another form of entertainment. Rachel's husband, Thomas MacAlister, arrives in town, after his manservant tracks the runaway mother and son to the High Country. When his life is saved by Tyler Morgan, MacAlister returns the favour by paying off Tyler's debts to the bank, but it soon appears that there are strings attached, as he expects the rancher to help him get Rachel and David back. Emily discovers that MacAlister 's cruelty extended to physical brutality, but at Rachel's insistence, promises not to reveal this fact. However, when MacAlister tries to take Rachel from the preacher's house by force, Emily drives him away, and compels her friend to tell the truth to the McGregors, who immediately offer her their protection. Despite their best efforts however, MacAlister and his men manage to snatch the baby from Langara, thus forcing Rachel to return to her husband. As MacAlister prepares top leave town with his wife and son, he is met with opposition by Matt and his clan. It is then MacAlister discovers that, contrary to what he had believed, loyalty cannot be bought at any price. Temporarily defeated, he leaves, but not before swearing vengeance upon the whole town.
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