Ben Justin along with his wife Mary and son by a previous wife move onto a ranch adjoining Shiloh. Due to past business failures and being abandoned by previous business partners, Ben has developed a wall around him avoiding help and contact with everyone around him, including his son and wife. He wants to prove he can succeed on his own and rejects even casual help. It alienates his wife and son who look to Shiloh for friends and help. The Virginian and Garth provide his son Will with a horse and teach him how to ride so he can help Ben. Mary has keeps it secret from Ben as she is doing it partly for her own benefit. Ben takes it the wrong way thinking there is something between Mary and The Virginian. When Ben takes a risky chance to improve his herd with an expensive bull, it backfires when his ranch is hit with the cattle disease aftosa.
—Anonymous