Willy-Joe falls for Carrie, the daughter of his family's sworn enemy Jake Simms. After Carrie confides a secret to Willy-Joe, he sees a chance for them to be together as husband and wife.

Town gossip about Bessie's nightly visits to wealthy Rick Bragdon angers Luther, which makes him a suspect when the man is discovered shot dead.

Diana, Booker T., and David protect a young vagrant from being found by the townspeople after he and another hobo burglarized W.D.'s store looking for food.

Bessie's father comes home with stories of fighting in the Spanish American war with Teddy Roosevelt - and a claim on 40 acres owned by W.D.

A Chinese family and the Influenza arrive in Palmerstown about the same time which makes the townsfolk think they are responsible for the outbreak.

The husband of a woman that dies in childbirth blames midwife Bessie for her death.

Controversies arise when an old flame of W.D.'s arrives in Palmerstown as the new proprietor of a roadhouse. Working for her is a black piano player who teaches Diana to sing jazzy tunes - against the wishes of her father.

W.D. learns of a quick rich scheme that involves land thought to be worthless. Despite cooler heads advising against the plan W. D. withdraws his family's savings on the risky investment.

A smooth-talking salesman makes romantic advances to W.D.'s sister, the Widder Brown, while working with government agents out to shut down her still and send her to jail.

Coralee takes the schoolteacher job over W.D. 's objections who doesn't believe wives should work outside the home. A frisky principal, an angry father and unruly students are some of the problems Coralee deals with.