Broadcast 10 January 1962 on the NBC television network.

Synopsis by curator@jmdigitalscrapbook.com:

On the western edge of Nebraska, the wagon train stops for the night and wagonmaster Chris Hale (John McIntire) decides to host a hoedown to lift spirits and give everyone a chance to relax.

But two people are conspicuously absent from the party. One is young Janie Cutler (Anne Helm), oldest of six girls who lost their father the year before and whose mother is pregnant with her seventh. It has fallen to Janie to be both mother and father to her sisters, helpmate to her mother, and driver of the family wagon. With all her responsibilities, she finds she has no time for anything as frivolous as a dance.

The other absentee is Dick Pederson (James MacArthur), a young man working as driver for the Brewer family. He joined the train after being found wounded along the trail. The story he gave was that he had been attacked by Indians and left for dead. He doesn't want to go to the dance because he would rather sit alone and watch the stars. When Hale tries to question him further about his background and why he's such a loner, Pederson is vague and unhelpful.

When Chris tries to coax Janie into putting aside her chores to join in the fun, she turns him down, but does ask for his help. She's concerned because Pederson spends so much time with her sisters, playing children's game with them and taking them off alone into the woods.

Just how did Dick Pederson end up shot and left for dead? Why does he prefer the company of five little girls to the other adults? Is Janie right in her suspicions or is there an innocent explanation for everything?