The Debt

The Debt

JIMMY SEARCHES FOR A MISSING RIDER WHILE LOU FINDS THE ANSWER TO HER PROBLEM...

Jimmy gives Matt Rawlins, the company's newest rider if he survives, final instructions before his first run to Seneca. Matt, who is supposed to be Lou's replacement when she stops riding and gets married, shrugs off the reminders and warnings, intent on showing off to the riders. It is only when Jimmy tells him that "riding for the Pony Express is a big responsibility" and that he's got a "reputation to uphold" that Matt listens.

Lou, on the other hand, has some concerns of her own and asks for a couple days off from Teaspoon to go to Seneca. She hopes to buy a wedding gown there. The Marshall asks her what's wrong and she hesitantly tells him that it's her impending wedding to Kid that's worrying her. She says she loves the Kid "more than anything" but is afraid to give up her secret because women are treated differently.

Jimmy comes in while Lou and Teaspoon are talking. He is concerned because Matt has returned from his run. He tells Teaspoon he is running after the errant rider. Teaspoon tells Lou to go with Jimmy since they are going the same way.

Jimmy assures Lou that he won't let Matt ruin his plans, thinking it's her replacement that's worrying her. When Lou says she is not worried over Matt, Jimmy realizes Lou is more concerned with the wedding than she is letting on. Jimmy assures her that she and Kid will be fine because they love each other and "that's all that matters."

The two riders part ways when they reach Seneca. Lou stays in town to find a wedding gown while Jimmy continues on to Fenton where the stationmaster says Matt went. When Jimmy reaches Fenton he finds a place that resembles a ghost town. Buildings are boarded up and people have frightened and wary looks on their faces. He starts asking about Matt but the folks are uncooperative. He was about to leave when he saw Matt's beloved silver saddle in a shop. The shopkeeper tells him Matt never left town and true enough, Jimmy finds his friend buried in the town cemetery.

Emmet, an older man fascinated with the gunfighters of the West, tells Jimmy the Garrett brothers killed Matt. Jimmy kills one of the Garretts so the mayor asks for his help. Jimmy grudgingly agrees but when Emmet tells him the town folks watched while the Garretts went after Matt, Jimmy becomes furious and decides to leave. The town folks pleaded with him and he agrees again.

In Seneca, Lou has found a wedding gown but is beset by worries again. She forgets her concerns when she sees the murderous Garrett brothers and learns that they are going to Fenton. She immediately saddles up and rides toward the beleaguered town to help Jimmy.

When she arrives in Fenton, Jimmy tells her to leave. But she insists on staying until Jimmy finally gives in. Emmet also goes to help them.

While they are waiting for the Garrets, Lou learns that Emmet's much-quoted wife Audrey is actually dead and that Emmet has taken to reading about gunfighters in order to boost his own failing courage. Apparently, he was unable to stop an attack on Audrey because of crippling fear. Emmet tells Lou he, too, was nervous before he married Audrey but all his fears vanished soon as he said "I do." Emmet comes through in the end and even saves Lou from one of the Garretts. Still furious with the town, Jimmy let the Garrets do considerable damage before stopping them. After the gunfight (which they win, of course), Jimmy gives the marshall's badge to Emmet and tells him to keep town safe. Emmet asks for his name but Jimmy doesn't tell him he is "Wild Bill" Hickok. On the way home, Lou and Jimmy pick up Lou's wedding gown in Seneca.

TRIVIA: The X-Files connection here is with the actor who played the cowardly Emmet. The actor also appeared in The X-Files episode Blood about a government experiment on a small town that heightens the residents respective paranoia and aggression.

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