Branded

Jason McCord comes to the aid of a man, Jed Colbee, who he finds on foot and near death in the desert. Colbee tell Jas of his wife Sally & his daughter Jessie... who will be five in three days and how important it is for his ""Survival"" and to get to Granite Wells before the wagon train pulls out. With half a canteen of water & one horse, they head out for a two day ride to Granite Wells. Colbee fears that two men can't make the desert...but one man alone would have a better chance. So he leaves Jas with no horse and no water. An old indian finds Jas and gives him water & a burro and tells him to find the man and repay him for doing this to him. Jason sets out for revenge and seeks out Colbee...but when he sees Colbee and his daughter he has a change of heart. He wishes Jessie a ""happy birhday."" Jason says to Colbee..""you still owe me a cup of cheer"" and rides off. trivia...Jason McCord's horse is named ""Domino.""

""What happened at 'Bitter Creek'?"" That's what Ned Travis - a newspaper reporter from the New York Herald wants to know. His editor sent him west to do a story on Jason McCord. He searches out the widow of Lt. John Pritchett who was third in command and served under McCord. While questioning John's widow the reporter finds out that she has some letters which her husband had sent her and how he talks of General Reed and that he feels there was something wrong with him and how McCord always covers up for the General. Jas tells the reporter ""What happened at 'Bitter Creek' is between him and his conscience."" Jas talks to Mrs. Pritchett and tells her that the letters could destroy the peace with the Indian Nations and convinces her to destroy the letters. So Jason roams the west still ""branded"" a coward.

While on his way to Sioux Falls.....Jason unintentionaly involves a Catholic priest in a deadly encounter with four drunken Comanches. Jason ends up killing three of the four Comanches. But he is upset when this strange does not take part in helping him defends the two of them? As he approaches the stranger with anger.....he sees his white collar and his cross. He then understands. He goes back to the mission with Father Durant. While working outside at the mission an indian approches the priest and tells them Chief Looking Glass wants to see the long coat(Father Durant). The Chief accuses them of killing the three braves and the priest must fight Wild Horse - who was the fourth indian who had lied to the Chief about what had happened. Jason wants to fight for the priest and tells the Chief of a different kind of bravery and courage. And puts the priest to a ""test"" to prove how stong and brave the father really if. And how he does not fight and will turn the other cheek. The c