The Mission - Bonanza S2|34

Charlie Trent used to be an Army scout. Now he's the town drunk. Hoss helps him regain his self-esteem when he has him volunteer to lead a gold-bearing troop through the desert where there's very little water. An Army wagon train carrying gold is in Virginia City getting supplies. When their scout, a large, bossy man named Cutter refuses to obey orders, Captain Pender fires him. Now he needs a scout who can lead them across the desert. Hoss' "friend", Charlie Trent, scouted for the Fremont Expedition, but now is a drunk. On one of his scouting missions, he lead them straight into an ambush and nearly everyone died. That's why he drinks. The Capt remembers Charlie from before the incident, and desperate for a guide, offers the job to him. Hoss promises Charlie will be there. Charlie finally agrees only if Hoss will go with him. Cutter has a small gang, and they had planned on stealing the gold once they got to the middle of the desert. Cutter thinks this is even better. All they have to do is let Charlie lead the wagon train, rob it, and kill everyone. People will assume that Old Charlie led the party and got lost in the desert, and they all died of thirst. No one will know Cutter and his men made off with the gold. So they ride ahead of the wagon train. More on https://bonanza.fandom.com/wiki/The_Mission

LicensePublic Domain