Ep 4. Incident at Widowed Dove

Rawhide is an American western TV series which aired for 8 seasons from 1959-1966. It follows the story of a group of drovers who drive cattle across the Western United States to market. In season 1 episode 4, titled "Incident at Widowed Dove," the drovers face a new challenge as they encounter a group of women in a nearby town who are struggling to keep their ranches afloat.

The episode begins with the drovers making their way to the town of Widowed Dove, where they are scheduled to pick up a herd of cattle. However, when they arrive, they find that the town is populated primarily by women, all of whom have been widowed by the harsh realities of the frontier. The women run the town and their respective ranches, but are struggling to make ends meet and are facing bankruptcy.

The drovers immediately recognize the gravity of the situation and lend a helping hand, offering to repair fences and tend to the cattle. They also meet a group of cowboys who have been brought in to help with the cattle drive, but quickly realize that they are inexperienced and are not up to the task. To make matters worse, the cowboys are led by a man named Wes Cameron, who is known for his hot-headedness and tendency to cause trouble.

As the drovers and the women join forces to prepare for the cattle drive, tensions rise between Wes Cameron and the drovers. Wes is resentful of their presence and seeks to assert his authority over them, leading to several confrontations between him and the drovers.

Meanwhile, one of the women, Mary Loring, is trying to save her ranch from foreclosure. She turns to the local banker, Mr. Tuttle, for help, but he refuses to extend her any more credit. Desperate, Mary turns to Wes Cameron, who agrees to lend her the money she needs in exchange for a stake in her ranch.

As the cattle drive gets underway, the drovers and the women find themselves facing a number of challenges, including harsh weather conditions and attacks by bandits. They also continue to clash with Wes Cameron and his cowboys, who are becoming more and more reckless as the drive progresses.

In the end, the drovers and the women are able to overcome these obstacles and successfully complete the cattle drive, thanks in large part to the determination and resourcefulness of Mary Loring and the other women of Widowed Dove. Along the way, friendships are forged and lessons are learned, as the drovers come to appreciate the unique challenges that face the women of the frontier.

Overall, "Incident at Widowed Dove" is a compelling and thought-provoking episode of Rawhide that explores themes of gender roles, community, and resilience in the face of adversity. Through its portrayal of the women of Widowed Dove and their struggles, the episode offers a powerful reminder of the important role that women played in shaping the American West.