In The Presence Of Mine Enemies
Till Death Do Us Part (Part One)
Till Death Do Us Part (Part Two)
Mask Of Fear
JESSE LEARNS ABOUT GIVING SECOND CHANCES...
Polish Janusz Tarkoski gets out of prison and heads toward Rock Creek. He was jailed five years ago after he was convicted of killing his wife Rosa. A foreigner, he couldn't speak a word of English and was unable to defend himself during his trial. The residents of Rock Creek become very uneasy at the prospect of having a murderer in town. But all Janusz wants to do is to rebuild his life and his farm which was burned in the fire that killed his wife. One day, he goes to the town blacksmith to have his plow fixed but Furey told him he'd have to wait because there was too many work for him. Janusz accuses Furey of being like all the other people in town who didn't want to give him a second chance. Jesse -- who works at Furey's -- hears them arguing and realizes that Furey was one of the witnesses in Tarkoski's trial. The next day, Jesse finds Furey dead and he immediately blames Tarkoski. The other witnesses in Tarkoski's trial think he might go after them.
Meanwhile, Rachel is enjoying her new job teaching the children of Rock
Creek. She befriends a young woman, Ruth Barrett, whose husband runs the
bank and was also one of the witnesses in Tarkoski's trial. Ruth seems
to be living a comfortable life but Rachel is a bit suspicious.
Jesse asks Teaspoon to arrest Janusz, but the Marshall declines. Instead, he goes to Janusz's place and asks him questions. Jimmy is inclined to put Tarkoski in jail because of a dubious wound on his hand but Teaspoon says there is no evidence that the Polish man killed the blacksmith.
While working his ranch, Janusz discovers a diary written by his wife. He has learned to speak English but he still couldn't read. He approaches Rachel and asks for her help. Jesse sees them leave together and he erroneously concludes that Rachel is in danger. He goes after Rachel but not before accidentally leading the men in Janusz' trial to the farm. When he gets there, he hears Rachel and Janusz talking. Rachel learns -- through Rosa's diary -- that Barrett threatened to foreclose on the Polish couple's land if Rosa doesn't give in to him. Janusz tells Rachel that he was so miserable about the farm that he went to the saloon that night and had too much to drink. He adds that he could never have killed his wife, whom he loved. Barrett's posse arrive and they go after Janusz.
Rachel and Jesse return to town to get Teaspoon and the riders. Rachel also goes to Ruth's place and finds her friend bruised and beaten. Rachel takes Ruth with her and tells her about Barrett and Rosa Tarkoski. Ruth admits that she had been suspicious but was afraid.
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