On a stormy night a single wagon with Jethro Creech and his daughter Ruth approaches the wagon train. Creech demands to see the wagon master. As Chris approaches Creech's team of horses runs away scared by lightening dragging Creech. Creech is able to hold on to the reins and stop the horses. His white horse is part Arabian and very high strung. Later, Baylor Crofoot, the wagon train school teacher, spots the daughter Ruth getting water so he offers to help. This raises the ire of her father who tells Baylor to stay away from Ruth. He only respects those with the courage to stand up to him but so far no one meets the criteria. Jethro sits in on Baylor's class and leaves telling the students book learning is not what they need. Things come to a head when Jethro puts on his medicine man show with his patent elixir that evening and reveals a secret about Ruth.
—Anonymous