Written by GENE L. COON  Directed by  LEON BENSON  Guest Cast FERNANDO LAMAS as Paco Romero JEANETTE NOLAN as Martha Tuforth JACK WESTON as Crazy John Holden SHEILAH WELLS as Maryanne MARIAN MOSES as Letty Willburn WARREN KEMMERLING as Jack Hanks TOL AVERY as Millburn W. Willburn

This little one-setting drama, although written by a previous Laredo scripter, doesn’t play like a Laredo episode.  It may have been reworked from a script intended for another show.  Joe doesn't make an appearance until the second half.  Chad & the Captain don’t appear at all.  Jack Hanks & his two cohorts Paco Romero and Crazy John meet at Martha’s way station to wait for Benny Murphy with money for their travel to Mexico, not knowing he’s been captured.  Crazy John, who likes to kill lawmen, gets the drop on Reese who is recognized as a Ranger when he comes in pretending to be a cattle buyer.  They’re joined shortly by Willburn, a local politician, & his wife Letty.  Paco Romero wiles away his time romancing Letty & Maryanne, Martha’s young ward  The women become jealous of each other.  When Joe comes in pretending to be a traveling salesman, he’s captured when the women rush him to check out his wares before he can get to his gun. Willburn angers Letty by suggesting she “bargain” with Romero.  The Rangers promote discord  among the group.  Crazy John is killed drawing on Romero over the women. The women fight over who will be taken back to Mexico as a hostage by Paco.  Joe cuts himself loose with a broken bottle while everyone is distracted.  He overpowers the men and leaves Reese with three women angry at him for insulting them as part of the plan to cause disruption.

NiteOwl Review:  Not one of our favorite episodes.