Joe has a run-in with Calamity Jane, and takes her home with him after promising her dying father to take care of her. At first the Cartwrights (besides Joe) think "Cal" is a boy, but they soon find out differently. Cal begins to fall in love with Joe, but Joe finds her attentions unwanted...especially when Cal's boyfriend, Doc Holliday, has it in for Joe.
A comedic episode. Festus tries to get a box full of gold coins away from his relatives and back to Dodge, the Dooleys who are feuding with the Haggens are also trying to get their hands on the box.
No one believes Nolan when he tells them about the Indians running around in strange costumes. That is until a beautiful actress stumbles into camp and tells them about an Indian attack on her theatrical wagon. The men are delighted until they learn she was once a Yankee spy.
(NOTE: For televised repeats, this episode was known as "Murder Arena, Part 1"). McCloud is assigned to shepherd the cowboys at a visiting rodeo. They're old friends, and one of them is killed by a jealous rival over a woman, it appears.
Ladies' man Lothario Larkin creates havoc whenever he hits Virginia City, so Roy Coffee orders him out of town. Naturally, Hoss takes him in.