- When an actress named Adah Menken comes into town, Ben considers marrying her, but his sons have other ideas. Meanwhile, trouble arrives when Adah's old lover, washed-up heavyweight boxer John C. Regan, comes along seeking his former glory.—Anonymous
- Adah Isaac Menken and her touring company come to Virginia City to perform the reknowned "Mazeppa". Intrigued by the picture of a naked woman riding horseback, Hoss and Joe are eager to see the show. They sneak out of the house and hurry to the performance only to be pulled out of line by their older brother. Fearing they're about to be reprimanded, Adam scolds them for being late and hopes the best seats aren't gone. During the show, Hoss is confused. The leading lady doesn't look anything like the woman on the poster. Joe says the woman on the poster is playing the part of a man, which just confuses Hoss more. After the show the boys go to the saloon and Hoss is dying to know if she really was naked when she rode out on the horse. After some gentle teasing, Adam assures him that she wore tights. Just then, Ben enters. The boys slump down in their seats hoping he won't notice them. Fortunately, he only has eyes for Adah. She suddenly sees someone she recognizes and begs Ben to take her back to the hotel. It was her ex-husband, once famous boxer, John Regan. They broke up because he abused her. He's followed her before looking for money. Ben hates how Regan treated her. Ben and Adah are old friends and Ben hopes it will be more. He spends all his time with Adah. The boys don't like that he's associating with an actress, but he assures them he can take care of himself. In an effort to prove to Ben what kind of a woman she is both Adam and Joe go to meet her. Neither is successful and both are, more or less, put in their place. Ben even proposes to Adah, he wants so much to protect her. But Regan has a pull on Adah and she can't deny him. Regan is jealous of Ben and takes the opportunity to get revenge by beating Joe up and nearly blinding him. Ben, Adam, and Hoss go to face Regan in the saloon. He refuses to fight with a gun but is willing to take Ben on with his fists. Hoss insists he fight Regan. Ben won't allow him, but Adam holds Ben back and Hoss takes on Regan. Since Regan is a professional boxer, he's beating Hoss. But Hoss won't quit. Finally, at Adam's urging, Hoss turns to wrestling rather than boxing and eventually defeats Regan. He's left lying on the floor when Adah appears. She rushes to him and promises him everything will be alright. The Cartwrights leave and Adam can't understand why a woman like Adah would be with a man like Regan. Ben's only explanation is that there are many kinds of love, as many as their are women.
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