Plot

Dr. Mike tries to reunite a father and son before it's too late when a sick old prospector staggers into town and Jake Slicker recognizes him as his father, who deserted his family years before. The prospector, Lucius, is played by veteran stage and screen actor Ray Walston who won an Emmy Award as Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 1995 for his regular role as Judge Henry Bone on "Picket Fences," on the Network. Lucius claims not to remember his son, and Jake is sure he is faking memory loss out of guilt. However, Dr. Mike believes she recognizes in Lucius the signs of senile dementia. The anguish Jake feels is a painful reminder to Brian and Matthew of their own father's desertion. Meanwhile, the huge gold nugget Lucius waves around ignites gold fever in Colorado Springs, especially in Horace, who sees wealth as a way to get his wife, Myra, and daughter, Samantha, back.

Lucius, a sick, old prospector (guest star Ray Walston), staggers into town, and Jake Slicker (Jim Knobeloch) recognizes him as his father, who deserted his family years before. Mike (Jane Seymour) tries to reunite the two before it's too late.

Lucius claims not to remember his son, and Jake is sure he is faking memory loss out of guilt. However, Mike believes Lucius is showing signs of senile dementia. The anguish Jake feels is a painful reminder to Brian (Shawn Toovey) and Matthew (Chad Allen) of their own father's desertion.

Meanwhile. the huge gold nugget Lucius waves around ignites gold fever in Colorado Springs, especially in Horace (Frank Collison), who sees wealth as a way to get his wife and daughter back.