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| Episode No. | 5 |
| Episode Title | The Brother-in-law |
| Season | 1 |
| Guest Stars | Jerome Courtland -Charles Watts - Karl Lukas - Fay Roope |
| Airdate | 10/28/58 |
| Writer | David Victor & Herbert Little |
| Director | Arnold Laven |
| Synopsis | Johnny Gibbs, Lucas McCain’s brother-in-law, visits the McCain ranch. Gibbs, a rodeo rider wanted by the law, begins stirring up trouble. Mark was watching a few of our neighbors and I break in some horses. Being so involved with watching us, he wasn't aware his Uncle Johnny had ridden in. Johnny was Margaret's kid brother. Mark had never met him, but when he spoke to Mark he recognized him right off and ran into the house to get his picture. He was thrilled to finally meet his Uncle Johnny whom he idolized. Mark told him that his Mother used to keep his picture on her table and would talk about him so much that Mark felt he knew him personally. Johnny had traveled with Colonel McBirdie's All Star Wild West Show and had won several championship belts and medals. He was an excellent bronco buster and of course he had to give us an example by breaking in a horse that I had just been thrown from. I too was glad to see Johnny after all these years and was glad he had stopped by for a family visit. Or so I thought. It didn't take him long before he told me he was broke and about an offer he had to meet up with a wild west show in Wichita and that he needed a loan of $200 or $300 bad. I told him that money was scarce around our ranch, but if he would be willing to work for it, I could pay him $30 a month plus keep and that would give him some time to catch up with himself instead of always being on the move. While we we're talking, Alvah Kemper, a neighbor of mine, rode up and had an offer for Johnny. He told Johnny that he heard what a good bronco buster he was and that he would give him $100 in prize money if he could stay on Lucifer, his outlaw colt for no more than 3 jumps. He wanted to make Jeff Stacey eat crow. Jeff Stacey was a cruel man and got mostly everything he wanted. Of Course Mark had to brag up his Uncle Johnny by telling Mr. Stacey that when his Uncle Johnny got done with Lucifer they would have to change his name to 'Buttermilk'. Johnny agreed to do this and figured he could use the money. Johnny decided $100 wasn't enough and decided to double cross Alvah and go to Stacey and tell him he would throw the ride for $500. Stacey liked the idea, but did not trust Johnny. He agreed but also warned him if he double crossed him he would answer to his right hand man, Oliver. I was moving Johnny's jacket to make up his bed when a paper fell out of his pocket. It was a wanted poster for Johnny Gibbs. He was wanted for robbing an express office. I told Mark to go to bed and I waited for Johnny to come home from town. When I confronted Johnny about his so called 'family' visit and the wanted poster, he said, "now you know." He asked me not to judge him. He was going to tell me once he got his nerve up. He preceded to tell me that he lied to me about Boston and the show closing, that he had busted his hip and was done as a rodeo cowboy. And that was why he started drinking. When he held up the express office, he was drunk and that he didn't know what he was doing - proof was that he backed right out of the express office into the sheriff's arms and dropped the strong box on the Sheriff's toe. Because of all the confusion he managed to get away. He asked me not to turn against him and if he wins the ride he would go to Mexico. He convinced me that I owed it to Margaret to stick by him. Yes, he was right, he was my 'Brother-in-law,' and I would try and help him anyway I could. He also told me about the double cross and that he would take the ride and the outcome as it may happen, he would not throw the ride like he had planned. Just about everyone was at this bronco bustin' contest. There where many a high bids. Mark even put up a weeks wages. Mark was bragging so much that Stanford told him to put or shut up. Ready for the contest to begin...bang...Johnny rode hard and rode well. You could hear Mark..."yahoo, he did it Pa.!" Oliver and Stacey puzzled by the outcome of this contest were waiting for Johnny after he left the corral. Oliver started to ruff Johnny up. I expected some trouble and was prepared to step in and help. I told Oliver to leave. I told Stacey he needed to take a good look at himself and the kind of person he was and the people he never learned to live with. They would never have any respect for him - that they would look down at him and laugh! Johnny, Mark and I rode to Slone's Crossing where we were to meet Micah. Johnny changed his mind about Mexico and was turning himself in. As we said our goodbyes and Johnny rode off with Micah, I said to Mark, "if his Uncle Johnny sends all the Championship metals and belts that he promises, where would we put them all?" "Where would he send them from, 'jail'?" Mark asked. He began to tell me that Johnny had told him everything. Here I thought I had to protect him and keep him from getting hurt. I was proud of him and how all along he was a man and how he stuck by Johnny. Episode Summary written by Margie Straub of riflemanconnors.com |
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