- Vin and Buck rescue the daughter of a missionary who was apparently abducted by an Indian brave. Vin isn't sure the young woman didn't flee with the Indian voluntarily. When the young Indian escapes jail, Vin is blamed.
- Chanu, an Indian brave, abducts a missionary's daughter. Vin and Buck capture him and recover the daughter, Claire, but Chanu escapes and abducts her. She end up strangled, and Claire's father Owen seeks justice and turns the townspeople into a a mob to burn down the local reservation Chanu hails from.—Gislef
- The local reservation missionary Owen Mosley reports his daughter Claire missing, allegedly kidnapped by Indian brave Chanu, her age. After Vin and Buck capture him, she denies being abducted and he escapes, taking her along. The Seven find her strangled corpse and Chanu runs, chased by a lynch posses raised by Owen to burn down the reservation camp. Visiting Chief Ko-Je, Chanu's elderly father, Josiah and J.D. learn the true story.—KGF Vissers
- While traveling through the plans, Claire Moseley collapses from exhaustion. She tells the man leading her, Chanu, that she can't go on. Chanu tells her that she must bring one of his two horses over, and tells Claire that she will ride while he walks.
As Chanu gets Claire up on the horse, Vin, Buck, and J.D. come along the nearby creek, following Chanu's tracks. Vin realizes that Chanu is trying to cover his tracks but missed a few, and notes that he's using unshod Indian ponies. Reverend Owen Moseley and his son Rafe are with them, and Rafe is irritated that they haven't caught up to Chanu and Claire yet. Owen tells Rafe not to use such a tone, and when Rafe complains that Vin isn't sure what side he's on, J.D. says that all Vin said was that he wasn't sure Chanu was a renegade.
Rafe tells Buck that Chanu is probably waiting to jump them, and Buck half-jokingly says that Chanu will probably go for Rafe first because he's the loudest. Meanwhile, Vin tells Owen how he knows the tracks are still fresh. and tells Owen to follow him to Claire.
Chanu stops for water, and tells Claire to drink.
Vin continues following Chanu's trail, and realizes that Chanu is on foot leading the ponies. He tells Buck that they won't get any closer with their large group, and Buck tells J.D. to make camp while he and Vin scout ahead. Rafe insists on going with the two men, and Owen tells Rafe to listen to Buck.
Buck and Vin get the drop on Chanu as he gets water, Claire says that she's unharmed, and Chanu realizes that he's outnumbered and surrenders.
Vin, Buck, and J.D. take Chanu and Claire to Four Corners, and Ezra tells Mary that she'll have trouble turning the situation into one of her pro-Indian editorials. Mary says that they don't know Chanu story, but Ezra isn't impressed. He asks Vin what happened to Owen and Rafe, and Chris comes out and tells Vin to get Chanu behind bars before someone does something stupid, as the townspeople start yelling at Chanu in anger.
As Vin and the others take Chanu into the sheriff's station, Chris warns Mary that the situation will probably get out of hand. She says that it will take at least three days for Oren to get there to here Chanu's case. The townspeople start throwing vegetables at Chanu, and Chris warns Mary that it's going to be a long three days.
Owen and Rafe arrive, and Vin directs Owen to the newspaper office where Chris and Mary are looking after Claire. Rafe complains to Vin that he cut them out and took Chanu in separately, and figures that shows what side Vin is on. He warns that if Claire was raped, there may be a lynching party. Vin just walks off, and Josiah tells Rafe that Chanu is just a scared Indian.
Rafe walks off, and J.D. tells Josiah that Rafe is trouble and J.D. has heard that Owen has had to pull Rafe out of scrapes in various towns. Josiah figures that sounds about right for a missionary's son.
Mary and Nathan tend to Claire, and Owen and Rafe come in and ask Claire if she's okay. Nathan tells them that Claire has just bruised knee, and takes offense when Rafe asks if Nathan touched her. Owen tells Rafe to calm down, then tells Claire that he shouldn't have let her be near the reservation. Claire says that she's okay, and Chris suggests that Owen take Claire home to get some rest.
As the Moseleys go, Mary offers Owen any help she can. He asks her to pray that he finds forgiveness. Owen says that he's devoted his life to bring God to Indians, and questions his faith if Claire being abducted is his reward.
At the saloon, J.D. and Josiah discuss Chanu. Josiah confirms that Chanu is the son of a chief, Ko-Je, and he'll finally get a chance to meet Ko-Je. He plans to go to the reservation and tells Ko-Je that they have his son, and will stay for a few days to make sure they don't get any ideas about breaking Chanu out of jail. Rafe joins them and says that if Owen can't turn them, Josiah can't. Josiah says that he isn't interested in turning them, and Rafe says that he isn't impressed with the Seven's reputation. J.D. tells Rafe that he has a few more days until Rafe grows into his reputation, and Josiah tells Rafe to tend to his family.
Rafe asks Josiah if he's worried that he'll throw down on him. Chris joins them and says that Rafe is the one who should be worried, and Rafe says that he'll be watching them and leaves. J.D. sarcastically says that they're shaking in their boots, and Josiah glares at him.
That night, Josiah rides to the reservation and meets with Ko-Je, and says that he's no longer a missionary. Josiah tells the chief that Chanu is in jail, and is going to stand trial for kidnapping. Ko-Je suggests that they bring Chanu there so he can be punished by tribal law, and Josiah tells him that the townspeople won't agree to that. Ko-Je says that they don't understand, and Josiah says that he knows what it means to have a Bible shoved down one's throat.
Josiah explains that his father was a missionary like Owen, and the two of them finally parted ways when they "broke". Ko-Je says that God came between him and Chanu, and God should find better things to do with his time.
J.D. and Nathan play poker in the jail, while Chanu sits in his cell and chants. When J.D. asks Nathan why Chanu is chanting, Nathan suggests that Chanu is praying. Meanwhile, Chanu unwinds a strap from his legging.
Outside, Vin is on guard. Buck and Ezra walk up and Buck tells Vin that they might have a problem. Ezra says that rumors are spreading that Vin and Chanu have a "relationship". Vin says that he doesn't know Chanu personally, but figures he had a reason for doing what he did. Buck notes that Claire was frightened when they found her with Chanu, and there's no reason he can think of that would make that right.
After Buck and Ezra leave, Vin goes in and tells J.D. and Nathan to get some food while he watches the place. Once they leave, Vin gives Chanu some food and tells him that he can get a message to Ko-Je if Chanu wants. Chanu doesn't respond, and Vin says that he's heard Chanu was raising hell about the missionaries at the reservation. He asks if that has something to do with Chanu taking Claire, and Chanu just looks at Vin but doesn't answer.
Vin tells Chanu that people think he took Claire to have his way with her, but Vin figures that Chanu would have done that long before they found him if that were so. Chanu says that Claire lies like Owen and there's no reason to talk to her about what happened. Chanu says that Owen tries to destroy his people's spirits, so he stole from the missionaries because they steal from his tribe.
After a moment, Vin tells Chanu that Oren might understand what happened with Chanu, and might keep him from being executed. Chanu asks for Vin's good, then grabs him and strangles him with the strap. Vin manages to grab Chanu's other hand and break his wrist, but Chanu keeps his grip with his other hand and strangles Vin unconscious. Chanu then takes the cell key from Vin, release himself, and escapes.
Later, Nathan returns and wakes up Vin. J.D. and Chris are also there, and Chris posts J.D. outside to make sure no one comes in. Vin insists on going after Chanu, and says that all he needs is 24 hours. Chris offers to ride with him, and agrees to give Vin 24 hours before they form a posse.
Vin and Nathan go to the Moseley home, and Rafe comes out to greet them. He tells them that Owen and Claire were gone when he got home, and three horses are missing. Rafe is armed with a rifle, and says that he found the front door wide open. Vin figures that Chanu got Claire, and Owen went after them. Rafe tells them to stop, and Vin tells him to shoot them if he has to but they're going after Claire.
Rafe demands to know where Claire is, and Vin tells him that he doesn't know but Chanu has escaped. The young man wants to form up a posse, and says that he's going to kill Chanu when he finds him. Vin punches Rafe unconscious and rides off with Nathan.
The next morning, J.D. rides to the reservation and tells Josiah that Chanu escaped, and Chris sent J.D. to back Josiah up if Chanu come there. Ko-Je overhears him and says that his son won't come there. Josiah talks to Ko-Je privately and figures the chief knows where Chanu is because of what Ko-Je said earlier. When Josiah says that Ko-Je has to protect his son, Ko-Je asks if Josiah's son protected him. Josiah says that he did in his own way, but his father is dead and he'd like to keep Chanu from being the same. Ko-Je tells Josiah that his father is on his shoulder, and that's why Josiah is "unbalanced". Josiah says that it isn't about his balance but Chanu, and Ko-Je tells him that all things are connected and walks away.
Vin and Nathan track Chanu, and Vin discovers that Chanu changed direction from north where he was heading. He says that he lived with the Indians when he was buffalo-hunting, and a friend in the tribe taught him everything he knew. The Army killed him when they rounded up the tribe for a reservation.
Owen rides up and dismounts, and admits that he's a preacher not a tracker. Nathan advises him to head home, but Owen says that Claire worked at his side trying to save the Indians and he'd go to his grave trying to get her back. He offers to show him where he lost Chanu's trail, and Vin agrees to let him accompany them but tells him to stay back if they found Chanu.
In Four Corners, Ezra and Buck stand guard to make it look like Chanu is still inside. Ezra says that he doesn't see the need for the ruse, and Buck says that they don't need the town riled up because Chanu has escaped. Rafe rides up and Ezra figures that they'd better shut him up before things get out of hand. Rafe angrily asks them why they're not out looking for Claire and Owen, and Buck says that they're in good hands.
Some of the townspeople look on, as Rafe complains that Vin "almost took his head off". Ezra looks at Rafe's head wound and, claiming to have some medical knowledge, says Rafe could collapse at any moment. Buck knocks Rafe out from behind, and he and Ezra carry Rafe into the sheriff's station.
Vin and the others find a fresh campfire, and Vin notices a nearby tree hit by lightning. He tells Owen that Chanu's people don't burn wood that has been "cursed" by lightning.
At the reservation, J.D. spots smoke coming from a hut. None of the tribespeople react, and J.D. tosses a bucket of water inside... and discovers that several old Indians are in a sauna. Josiah comes in after J.D. asks, them to excuse the boy because of his poor upbringing, and takes J.D. out. Outside, Josiah tells J.D. that the hut is a sweat lodge and J.D. should show more respect. J.D. figures that they should go over Chanu, but Josiah says that there's something Ko-Je wants him to know about Chanu, and is waiting for Josiah to figure it out for himself.
Vin spots Chanu ahead, alone and chanting as he makes a circle of stones. When he spots Vin, Owen, and Nathan approaching, he jumps on his pony and rides off. Vin mounts Chanu's other horse and spots Claire's body lying behind the bushes. Nathan goes to her, confirms she's dead, and tells Owen. Owen kisses his daughter's hand in grief.
As a storm comes up and Owen wraps up Claire's body and prepares to take it back to town, Nathan tells Vin that there were bruises on Claire's neck about the size of a man's hand. Owen asks Nathan to deal with Claire's dealer. When Vin says that they'll track Chanu down, Owen wonders if that's good enough anymore.
Owen returns to Four Corners, and Buck and Ezra see Claire's body. Mary comes out and sees it along with many of the townspeople, Chris notices as well, and Rafe comes out and sees his sister's body as Owen takes the body to the town undertaker. He runs over and Owen stops him as his son breaks into tears, while Chris holds Mary.
That night, Nathan and Vin make camp. Nathan tells Vin that it isn't his fault that Claire is dead, but Vin figures that if he hadn't let Chanu escape, Claire would still be alive. Vin thought that Chanu wasn't so filled with hate, and Nathan tells him that Vin is just a man and sometimes a man can be wrong.
The next morning, Josiah approaches Ko-Je as the latter stands on a hill overlooking the reservation and tells the chief that Claire is dead. Ko-Je knows, and Josiah warns that things could get dangerous for the tribe and he needs Ko-Je's health. Josiah admits that he and his father fought because he felt his father didn't practice what he preached, and Ko-Je says that Chanu feels the same way about him. Josiah hopes that when Chanu gets to be his age, he'll regret it like Josiah does.
Ko-Je tells Josiah that he failed in his belief and didn't honor Chanu's path, and they both have lost balance and must find it again. Josiah suggests that they find Chanu first, and then balance themselves.
Vin and Nathan continue tracking Chanu, and Vin spots the Indian watching them from behind a tree. He gets his rifle and tells Nathan that he has to do it alone, and goes into the brush after Chanu. Chanu runs off, and disappears from one spot and reappears in other several feet away. Vin goes after him and an Indian brave jumps him. The brave and Vin both draw their knives and prepare to fight, and another Indian joins them and prepares to attack Vin.
Facing off against the two braves, Vin says that he no quarrel against them and Chanu is the one he wants. One of the braves, Chanu's brother, says that Chanu will be judged by his own people and Vin warns them that some people won't let that happen. Nathan arrives and throws a knife into the brother's shoulder as he prepares to attack Vin. Vin manages to disarm the other brave and punches him unconscious, and points out that the first Indian is Chanu's brother and next in line to be chief. He figures they must be close to Chanu, has a good idea where he's heading, and figures that he'll need water. Nathan tells Vin to go on ahead while he takes care of the braves' injuries.
At the town cemetery, the townspeople gather for Claire's funeral. Owen says that Claire would have wanted forgiveness, but all he has is rage in his heart. Despite he gave everything he had to the reservation Indians, he believes that they killed Claire. The townspeople echo his sentiments, and Mary tries to calm them down without success. Owen asks whose child is next, and the townspeople head to the reservation.
Chanu stops for water at a creek, and Vin emerges from hiding and trains his carbine on Chanu. Chanu advances on Vin, saying that he's already dead and doesn't care if Vin kills him. He tells Vin to kill him, and gets close enough to grab Vin by the throat. The two men struggle and Vin pins Chanu down, and figures that Chanu took Claire to protect him. Vin realizes that Chanu was making a burial mound with the stones and asks why he did it, and Chanu says that Claire was his wife and loved her.
In the reservation sweat lodge, the elders continue purifying themselves. Josiah and Ko-Je are with them, and Ko-Je tells Josiah that he's not listening when Josiah admits that he isn't coming up with anything. Ko-Je figures that Josiah's father told him that he didn't listen, and says that Josiah's father will speak to him when Josiah's anger at himself is gone. The chief says that the spirits tell him that he should trust Josiah, and tells Josiah that it's about Claire and "the other". Josiah wonders who he means, and when Ko-Je remains silent Josiah says that it's best if the chief tells him who else is involved.
In Four Corners, Ezra and Buck prepare to ride off after Chanu to bring him in. When Chris confronts them, Buck tells him that they don't think Vin is right for the job of bringing Chanu in. Mary runs up and says that the mob is heading for the reservation to burn it down.
The townsmen ride to the reservation, and Ko-Je smiles as they come. Josiah points out that there's not much to smile about, and Ko-Je says that things are as they will be and the spirits will send help. Rafe dismounts and asks where Chanu is, and Ko-Je tells him that Chanu isn't there. Josiah and J.D. step forward, guns ready, and tell the mob to leave. Owen is with the posse, and says that Josiah is a heathen.
Rafe says that he's going to find Chanu and lynch him. Ezra and Buck arrive and fire warning shots, and Chris steps out as well. Buck tells the mob to go home, and Owen says that the gunfighters are sinners. Vin and Nathan arrive with Chanu and the wounded braves. Dismounting, Vin announces that Chanu and Claire were married, and they ran off together. Owen is offended, and Chris asks Vin if he has proof.
Vin says that Chanu was away getting water when Claire was killed, and the man who strangled her had strong hands. He points out that he broke Chanu's wrist at the jail and Chanu couldn't have strangled Claire. Rafe wonders who else could have done it, and Vin looks at Owen and points out that Owen followed the trail and the campfire was his. He explains that Owen found Claire alone at the camp and killed her.
Owen says that it's all a lie, then grabs a gun from a horse holster and prepares to shoot Chanu. Chris shoots the gun out of Owen's hand, and Josiah asks him if he accepted the baby that Claire was carrying. Owen says that the baby was a demon from Hell, and Rafe stares at his father in shock as Owen says that Chanu turned Claire against them and God. He tells the crowd that he tried to talk to Claire, and she pushed him away so he went out of control and strangled her.
Rafe flies into a fury at his father, and Josiah holds him back. When Rafe draws a gun, Josiah grabs his hand says that if Rafe kills Owen, he becomes him. Josiah asks Rafe if that's what he wants, and Rafe lowers his gun. The others take Owen to jail,
Later, Chanu gives Vin a pouch on a strap as a gift to his new friend, and they shake. Meanwhile, Josiah tells Ko-Je that he has his balance back, and Ko-Je smiles as the Seven ride back to Four Corners.
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