Intrigue

Lucas is ordered by a murderous town owner to lose a public shooting match, or he will kill his sharpshooting opponent and possibly harm his son Mark.

Lucas and Mark McCain ride into the town of Northfork with the hope of buying a ranch and settling down. A shooting match is being held and the prize money could help pay for the ranch...but Jim Lewis, the man who 'runs' Northfork, doesn't want Lucas to win.—tomtrekp

Widower Lucas McCain and his young son Mark arrive in the town of North Fork, New Mexico hoping to settle down. They've seen a ranch not far from town that's up for sale and the town seems nice enough. There's also a Turkey Shoot in town and the $500 prize money would be a help in getting the ranch. His main competition seems to be a young man, Vernon Tippert, who has come to town with his uncle to win the prize money as well. Lucas' real competition however turns out to be the local strong man, Jim Lewis, who has bet heavily on Tippert winning and is willing to go to any length to make sure Lucas is the loser.—garykmcd

A rancher and his 10 year old son discover a ranch that they would like to make their home. Lucas had lost his wife four years before when his son was only 6, and since then they have been looking for a place to begin anew. As they ride into town to see about purchasing the ranch, they discover that a Turkey Shoot would take place the following day. Lucas enters, thinking that if he won, the $500.00 could help make the first payment on the ranch. But Big Jim Lewis has been running the town now for 5 years, and he doesn't want to see anyone take the $10,000.00 that is to be his if the young sharpshooter, Vernon, wins the match. Big Jim goes through great lengths to see that The Rifleman doesn't win the match by using the only threat that could work - threatening to kill his son.—Michelle Palmer