LHOTP Favs

The Galender brothers, two adults and a teenager, come toWalnut Groveand quickly cause trouble. At first,Reverend Aldenpleads with the townspeople to be patient with the newcomers, but it soon becomes clear the Galenders want to do nothing but cause trouble. While the men run up the bills at the Mercantile and Hanson's Mill, promising to pay with a bank draft that never appears, the boy causes trouble at school, including knockingLauradown to the ground, and givingMarya black eye. Eventually, all of the children, except Nellie gang up on him, knock him down to the ground, and take turns beating him up. Things get worse when the men try to attackCarolinewhile she was on the way to the Mercantile to deliver eggs, and whenCharlesgoes to confront the Galenders, he ends up with three broken ribs. Reverend Alden finally realizes that the Galenders are nothing but thugs, and invites them to church to kick them out of the church and out of the community, with the help of the townspeople.

Outlaws Frank and Jesse James bring their trail of treachery to Walnut Grove. They stake out the town and take aliases while trying to blend into the background, even hiring Mary to do their work. However, their cover is soon blown when a posse arrives to arrest the James brothers, causing them to take Mary hostage.

When Adam Simms and his son Luke move to town, Adam instantly takes a liking to Miss Beadle. In this episode Luke and Nellie fall in love too. After Nellie talks to Miss Beadle, she and Luke run away to have a very short-lived marriage. This episode features one of the first looks at the softer side of Nellie's personality.

Charles visits a grief-stricken Mr. Edwards in Chicago after John Jr. died in an apparent street accident. However, suspicions quickly arise over the circumstances of John, Jr.'s death once his boss reveals he was investigating business corruption and was about to go public with his findings. It soon becomes clear that John Jr. was murdered, and it is up to Charles and Edwards to uncover the truth.

Nellie comes from New York to visit Walnut Grove. While she visits, Nancy feels that Nellie is getting all the attention and runs away. Nels and Nellie go out to look for her.