Ep 8. Top Hand

Cheyenne season 3 episode 8, titled "Top Hand," finds our protagonist, Cheyenne Bodie, hired as a temporary ranch hand at the Jackson Ranch in Wyoming. Cheyenne is tasked with helping the ranch owner, Bud Jackson, to wrangle a wild stallion that has been causing trouble for the ranch and injuring his valuable mares.

Cheyenne soon discovers that the locals are not too fond of Bud Jackson, who is known for his ruthless tactics when it comes to his business dealings. His ambition and desire for power has led him to exploit the local farmers and ranchers, leaving them with little land and even fewer cattle to raise. Bud has also been known to cheat his employees out of their hard-earned wages and has a reputation for being a difficult boss to work for.

As Cheyenne works alongside the other ranch hands, he begins to form an uneasy alliance with them. They are a tight-knit group who work hard and look out for one another but are understandably wary of an outsider like Cheyenne coming in to work with them. Nevertheless, Cheyenne wins them over with his work ethic and willingness to get his hands dirty.

As they attempt to capture the wild stallion, Bud's true nature begins to show. He becomes more obsessed with the horse than ever before, even at the expense of the safety of his own employees. Cheyenne begins to suspect that Bud is more interested in the value of the horse than he is in the well-being of his ranch and his employees.

Things come to a head when Cheyenne realizes that Bud has rigged the corral to trap the stallion, regardless of the fact that it could cause serious harm to the horse. Cheyenne confronts Bud about his unethical behavior but is met with resistance and hostility. The two men come to blows over the issue, but Cheyenne ultimately prevails and releases the wild stallion back into the open range.

In the end, Cheyenne decides to leave the Jackson Ranch and return to his own life on the trail. As he rides away, he reflects on the lessons he has learned during his time at the ranch. He realizes that, no matter how hard things may be, it is important to maintain one's integrity and morals, even in the face of pressure from others.

"Top Hand" is a classic Western episode, filled with all the action, drama, and moral quandaries that one would expect from the genre. It is a reminder that sometimes, even in the midst of chaos and uncertainty, it is still possible to do what is right. As always, Cheyenne proves to be a true hero and an inspiration to all those who value honor, justice and honesty in their own lives.