Murdoch is in a nasty mood, taking his frustrations on a piece of iron he is working on the forge. Jelly approaches and tells him he has been "acting like a snake bit ya" ever since he found out Harlan Garrett, Scott's grandfather, was coming for a visit.

When Scott and Johnny arrive in town to pick up Scott's grandfather, they separate and Scott enters the hotel. His father generally is down on the area and Scott's new life, and when the subject of Scott returning to Boston comes up, Scott says it might be a while to which Harlan replies "We'll see".

Johnny then joins them, and Harlan points out that Johnny is Scott's half brother named Johnny Madrid and his mother was a foreigner. Scott indicates that they should be going. Harlan says he has a surprise for Scott before they leave and turns toward the opening that leads to the lobby.

Through the opening comes an elegantly dressed woman. When he sees her, Scott whispers "Julie" and races to stand by her. Scott indicates she never answered his letters. Julie answers she couldn't and that she doesn't want to go into it then and there.

Johnny approaches the couple and tells Scott to introduce him. He does as "my brother, Johnny" and in turn, introduces the girl as "Julie Dennison." The girl does not respond, possibly because Scott interjects with comments about the wagon being outside and asking where his grandfather's luggage is.

After Scott and Julie leave the room, Johnny exclaims, "Whoooeee, is she pretty." Harlan goes on that they were engaged at one time and he was looking forward to having her as part of the family, but that there is still time.

When Scott stops at the hill at the top of Lancer with Julie and his grandfather. Harlan says he still can't understand what drives a man to put his ambition above all, even his family. Scott reminds his grandfather that Murdoch didn't have a family when he came out here, to which Harlan replies that Murdoch forced himself to make the trade, that Harlan raised Scott for 24 years while Murdoch was carving out his empire. Scott explains, with a sharp tone to his voice, that he has tried to show the older man his gratitude, but Harlan responds that he doesn't want Scott's gratitude.

Murdoch's meeting with Harlan doesn't go smoothly. After Murdoch demands to know what Harlan is doing there, Harlan asks why can't they just have a friendly conversation. Murdoch doesn't think that's possible, but Harlan says that nothing is to be gained by hostility -- Murdoch has his sons by his side, his ranch, his wealth. Instead he picks up a picture, muttering "Dear Precious Catherine" as he looks at it. Looking at Murdoch, he adds, "I don't remember this picture," to which Murdoch replies, "One of the mementos you left behind in Carterville."

Murdoch reaches for the picture, triggering a memory of when he retrieved the picture in Carterville. An older woman handed him the picture saying that was all Harlan left behind that he took everything else, including the baby. When asked if she suffered, the woman said she didn't know that he wouldn't let her near her. As Murdoch kneels by the grave, the woman states that Harlan paid for a nice granite headstone, but if he cared, it seems to her he would have stayed for the burial.

Murdoch wonders if things would have turned out better if she hadn't been moved, to which Harlan responds that he wanted the best for her, not some filthy little town. It would have been better than letting her die in a wagon on a deserted road, Murdoch replies. When Harlan answers back that was all in the past, Murdoch shoots back angrily that it isn't to him. To him, it's right now, and that Harlan kept his son away from him for 24 years. Harlan sneers that a dreamer like Murdoch couldn't have done anything for him. Murdoch declares, "he was still my son," to which Harlan replies that he raised him, he is the one he belongs to.

Realizing Harlan's plan, Murdoch tells him that all the memories of Boston, the pretty girl, are not going to change his mind about returning there. Harlan says he has an estate of considerable wealth waiting for him in Boston, to which Murdoch replies he has one here also. When Harlan sneers at that estate having to be shared with his "half-breed brother," he observes back in Boston, "Scotty" could be with the "right people", making something of his life. Murdoch then points out that Scott is a grown man, with a will of his own. Harlan and Murdoch make an agreement to not use memories of the past to sway Scott one way or the other.

Harlan returns to town and meets the Deegan brothers at the hotel, as he had prearranged. After giving them $100 for expenses, they repeat the bargain that they will get $500 when they testify at the murder trial as agreed. Harlan says it might not be necessary, but he will get in touch with them if it is.

In the paddock back at Lancer, Jelly prepares a horse for Julie to ride. He is using a sidesaddle that belongs to Teresa, but that she never uses. When Jelly comments that the guest should ride astride like everybody else, Teresa replies that Julie is a lady and it wouldn't be proper for her to ride any other way.

Inside the house, Harlan enters Julie's room. He reminds her that she will persuade Scott to return to Boston. When she asks what makes him so sure she can bring him back, he tells her that he knows what she has at stake.

In the great room, Scott is primping, waiting for Julie. Johnny walks past and then backs up to tease Scott about his "elegant" and "breathtaking" appearance, playing with his older brother's tie as they talk. When Johnny adds that Scott is "pretty", the blond shoots back, "Any more 'cute' remarks, little brother, and I will have to teach you some manners." When Johnny asks, "You don't want to get all wrinkled up now, do you?" Scott replies "No." and then turns to face Harlan and Julie as they enter the room behind Johnny. Agreeing it is a "splendid" day for riding, Scott and Julie leave. When Harlan asks if Johnny is going with them, he replies, "No, Teresa forgot to iron my riding pants." His voice rises for the last 4 words, obviously intending Scott to hear.

At some time during their afternoon, Scott and Julie are sitting on a log kissing. Afterward, Julie asks if Scott is trying to forget her and he answers that it takes more than an argument to end what we had. When asked by Julie what they have now, Scott replies he doesn't know. They talk about him returning to Boston, and he says he has thought about it but he now has a home with Johnny and Murdoch, and that his grandfather capable of taking care of himself.

Julie tells Scott she loves him and wants him to come back to Boston with her, making his grandfather happy. When Scott counters with, "Who makes me happy?" in a serious tone, she replies "I will, I promise. You've got to believe me." After a moment's thought, Scott proposes to Julie, asking her to stay on Lancer with him, but she refuses, saying she must stay with her father. When he offers to bring her father to Lancer, she tells him he doesn't understand or doesn't care, to which he replies he does understand because that is what he is feeling about his father. That Murdoch needs him.

Julie, in disbelief, asks why his father didn't need him when Scott was growing up, and reminds Scott that he used to hate his father because it seemed he didn't care. Scott admits he was wrong about his father, that he does care. Julie pushes her point with a statement that it should still make Scott wonder why his father never came to see him all those years, which sets Scott to thinking.

Back at the hacienda, Johnny is asking about Scott, saying he doesn't blame him for spending the day with a girl like Julie and he doesn't understand how Murdoch got Scott to leave Boston at all. Johnny then asks what took him so long to get Scott, because, unlike him, Murdoch knew where he was all the time. Murdoch says, "I tried" as his memory flashes back to when he tried to reclaim Scott from Harlan on his 5th birthday. After listing off all the advantages he has given "Scotty", Harlan states that he will fight Murdoch for legal custody. When Scott knocks and enters the room, Harlan introduces Murdoch as 'a friend" and the boy politely shakes his hand and they exchange pleasantries. As Scott leaves the room, Harlan says, "If you truly love the boy I know what you'll do."

Unable to hear Murdoch's mumbled "I tried", he asks him to repeat what he said about Scott and Boston. Murdoch replies it was nothing just as Scott asks "What about me?"

Murdoch repeats it was nothing.

Scott demands to talk to Murdoch and Johnny leaves. Scott admits he wants to talk about the past, especially why Murdoch didn't come to get him as a child. Murdoch admits he tried but it wasn't possible. When Scott reminds Murdoch that he's his father. Murdoch says he knows that and he's grateful. Scott shoots back, "Grateful for what?" and stands up before adding "you let somebody else raise your son?" Placing a hand on Scott's arm, Murdoch asks him not to make any decisions in anger. Scott picks up his hat and walks out.

Julie packs to leave, unable to deal with the ugliness of Harlan's plan. When Harlan enters her room, chiding her about her qualms, he tells him that he'll never get Scott back, to which Harlan replies "Never underestimate an accountant."

Scott finds Julie as she is loading her bags into the carriage and she confesses that Harlan forced to act as a decoy to trick him to return to Boston by threatening to bankrupt her father's company. Scott says he's grateful to know the truth. Harlan walks out at that point and tells Julie that she made a mistake, saying he had counted on her discretion. Scott tells Harlan the mistake was his. Harlan responds that if Scott isn't willing to return to Boston for Julie, then he has another reason. At this point, he introduces the Degan brothers, who walk out smiling. Scott's grandfather tells him the brothers have something to tell him… something about his father.

Afterward, Scott and Harlan walk into the great room in the Lancer house. Everyone is there, so Scott announces his plans to leave with his grandfather for Boston. Harlan gloats about this "pleasant surprise."

As Scott loads his bags into the buckboard later, Johnny tries to get Scott to say why he is leaving. Scott replies he is not cut out for this kind of life and Harlan reminds them that Scott did live 24 years in Boston. Scott says that they can come to Boston to visit. During a discussion of their plans, it comes out that Harlan left a few things at the hotel, so they will go south from town to pick up the train.

After Scott and Harlan leave, Johnny berates Murdoch for not trying harder to get Scott to stay. Murdoch explains to Johnny that since Scott is a man, it was his decision. Johnny tells Murdoch, "Yeah, that may be good enough for you, but it's not for me," and walks away, followed by Jelly.

Later, Johnny goes into town to check out Harlan's story. He finds that Harlan went to the hotel to talk to the Degans. Johnny then tries to extract information from the Degans, first by charm, then by threats. The Degans raise their voices, drawing everyone's attention to the fact Johnny is threatening them. Johnny leaves, threatening to return if they are lying. The brothers decide not to go to the law, but to go after Harlan to rob him.

When Johnny returns to the ranch, he tells Murdoch about the Degan brothers. Murdoch explains about his past history with their father, namely that the elder Degan tried to rob him when he was rushing to Carterville to join Scott's mother. Because of the delay, he didn't get there until after she had died. Murdoch then went to Sacramento and the marshal there cleared him. Johnny tells his father that he could have shared it with someone, to which Murdoch replies, "There are some things in this world a man tries to forget, Johnny. Killing a man is one of them." Johnny realizes that Harlan somehow used the information to force Scott to leave, thereby 'protecting' him from a murder charge. Murdoch agrees and tells Johnny they are going to meet a train.

On the trip to the train, Scott refuses to speak to his grandfather. When his grandfather asks "Is it possible that we could lose so easily what we had for so many years?" to which Scott replies, "We didn't lose it, you threw it away." After Harlan says there will be time for mending after they get back to Boston, a gunshot rings out and Scott falls hurt from the buckboard. Harlan grabs the reigns and hurries away, followed by the Degans.

Scott is trying to sit up when Johnny and Murdoch arrive on horseback and run over to him. Scott insists he had to go help his ambushed grandfather, but Johnny refuses to let him go anywhere. Scott insists, still trying to get up. Johnny gets Scott on his horse, mounting behind him and takes off for a nearby ranch, giving his father orders to stay there.

Murdoch, however, rides down the road to where the Harlan is. Harlan informs him that "they" have killed "Scotty". Murdoch tells him he is jumping to a wrong conclusion and that Scott is still alive. Harlan and Murdoch starting exchanging gunfire with the Degans. The brothers start trying to move around behind Harlan and Murdoch when Johnny shows up with help and they capture the Degans. Harlan is amazed that Murdoch didn't let the Dugan's kill him, ending all his troubles. Murdoch replies he doesn't have any troubles anymore.

Once back at Lancer, Scott is getting his head bandaged by Teresa while Johnny and Jelly are playing in the background, throwing something at each other. Harlan is watching from the doorway when Murdoch walks up to him. Harlan, morose, observes that the losers have become winners and vice versa, which Murdoch tells him there is no reason to look at it that way. Harlan tells him he won't apologize for what he wanted to do, just how he tried to do it and then shakes Murdoch's hand and apologizes, wonders what would have happened if they had brought themselves to do that 25 years ago.

Johnny is picking up things off the floor when Scott sees his grandfather in the doorway and says they better hurry to catch the stage. After a round of goodbyes, Scott offers to get his grandfather's bags and Harlan observes he still remembers his good manners. After picking up the bags, Scott says he will try to get to Boston sometime and Harlan agrees he should, sometime.

As Harlan and Scott are riding away, Jelly says he would rather see a hard drought come before he did again and Murdoch explains that a hard drought can do some good in that it makes up appreciate what we sometimes take for granted.