Here is an example where the minor story line is more interesting than the main plot of the story. The main plot is that a family is looking to go out west when a family member is accused of a crime. The play going on behind the scenes is that Chester is out to catch a guy that stole from the family. The Chester scenes are much more entertaining that the bland plot of the this show.
Cyrus Neff his wife and daughter, Belle, are in Dodge to buy a wagon to take them to Oregon. They first run into a man named Clardy that steals $3000 from them when he says that he can provide wagons and lead them on the trail. He never shows back up again. So when Cyrus goes to the Marshal's office, he talks with Chester that says he can lead them up north.
When Matt gets to the office, he knows that Chester is not the man for the job. He gets Quint to lead the family up north. Chester is not happy since he thinks people are laughing at him but Matt tells him that each man is good at a certain job and Quint is good at tracking and leading.
Anyway on the trip North we learn that the young daughter has killed a man that forced himself on her. Now she starts making advances toward Quint and she does not look like someone you want to know.
For whatever reason this did not play well. The plot was uninteresting and the ending confusing. Never really understood the sudden change in the daughter Belle but time was long and they needed an ending. The Chester sub-plot was much better and more interesting than the rest of the show. Too bad they had to get off on the weird wagon train.