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20 Episodes 1959 - 1960
Episode 1
Tue, Sep 22, 195960 mins
Bronco is tasked with shipping 200 head of cattle on an ocean going ship which sinks in a bad storm. He finds himself in a rowboat with another man, Gerald J. Harkenss, rowing back to San Francisco. Harkness is thankful that Bronco saved him so he gives him a card allowing him access to the Beacon Club as his guest. He decides to check out the club after being told its significance. He runs into Harkness' daughter Cynthy who thinks he is dressed for their costume ball. As Bronco leaves he runs into a pretty young woman, Amanda Stover, who has overheard him talking to Harkness. She introduces herself as a school teacher with a business opportunity for Harkness. She implores Bronco to introduce her to him which Bronco eventually does. She immediately impresses both of them with her skill playing poker. Harkeness agrees to sponsor her in a game for a percentage of the winnings. She wins over a quarter of million dollars. When she skips out on Harkness, Bronco finds himself in trouble with him and others.
Episode 2
Tue, Oct 6, 195960 mins
Bronco rides into a town and dismounts at the same time two Army soldiers ride in as well. One of the soldiers, Second Lieutenant John Stoddard, yells Bronco's name and calls him out for a pistol fight. Bronco refuses to draw but Stoddard pulls his pistol and guns down Bronco. The action moves to Stoddard's court martial at Fort Lowell in the Arizona Territory where he is defended by Major Carter who is pleading him not guilty by reason of insanity. His proof of this is the testimony of Bronco who is called to the stand and sworn in. Bronco then proceeds to recount the story of how he and the then Major John Stoddard met during the Civil War. Bronco was a captain in the Moccasin Raiders who were assigned the task of destroying oil fields that were guarded by the Snake Hunters led by Stoddard. Bronco was selected to act as a captured Union captain to gain the confidence of Stoddard, help him escape and return to his unit. He relates how he destroyed Stoddard's career and lost the love of his life. But he must resort to a different tactic to clear Stoddard as his current trial.
Episode 3
Tue, Oct 20, 195960 mins
As Bronco prepares to enter a hotel a man, Dan Flood, getting off a stage gives Bronco a coin and asks him to handle his bags. Bronco returns the coin telling the man he can handle his own bags. When Flood checks in, the clerk sends a man to Frank Kelton's ranch to warn him Flood is in town. Kelton arrives in town as Bronco and Flood tangle in the bar over a spilled drink. Seeing Bronco whip Flood gives Kelton an idea. He hires Bronco for $500 to protect him from Flood by sticking with Flood. Seeing easy money Bronco accepts the job. Flood who made a small fortune in the gold rush parties well into the night forcing Bronco to stay up with him. Bronco is finally able to get to bed by tricking Flood into being arrested. When Flood runs into Kelton and his wife, Bronco stops Flood from killing Kelton. Later, Kelton's daughter comes to Bronco saying her father is dead. Bronco who has been with Flood all day goes to the ranch with Flood. They find Kelton apparently dead in the floor. Bronco feels obligated to find the killer.
Episode 4
Tue, Nov 3, 195960 mins
Bronco traveling in Montana is attacked by Indians who steal his horse before two men intervene. Barnaby Spence who is unarmed but friends with the Indians agrees to give them 25 head of livestock to tide them over until the Indian Agent can provide more meat. Bronco now without a horse or money agrees to take a job with Spence but is taken aback when he learns Spence is a sheep owner. He is under attack by Mike and Kay Ransom who own a nearby ranch. They want no sheep on the range fearing they will ruin it for cattle. However, Spence has a grant from the government giving him the land. He wants to be friends but Mike will have nothing to do with him. Mike is also trying to force the Indian Agent to pay a very high price for his cattle compared to what they are worth. Spence is offering to sell sheep to the Agent further eroding Mike's position. Bronco realizes that one of the men working for Spence is Billy the Kid who wants to take the fight to Mike and his hired gun Jackson. Bronco wants to keep the peace to avoid another Lincoln range war.
Episode 5
Tue, Nov 17, 195960 mins
As Bronco stops at a waterhole for a drink a man yells at him. He tells Bronco the water is poisoned and he is about to die from it. For saving Bronco's life, the man asks him to take a box to Deputy Billy Styles. Styles pulls a gun on the approaching Bronco but changes his attitude when Bronco gives him the box. He says the money was taken in a robbery. At that moment Marshal Gaffney from Tombstone and a posse ride up arresting Bronco and Styles. They are taken to Sheriff Hodgkins' jail. Styles tells Bronco they are both being railroaded but he has a gun stashed they use to escape and take the money. Styles says they are headed to Yuma for a fair trial but Bronco soon finds he has been tricked when the sly Styles has a rancher hold Bronco for the posse. Bronco faces clearing his name with a posse on his trail but a the wife of his captor, herself a prisoner of sorts, wants him to take her with him.
Episode 6
Tue, Dec 1, 195960 mins
As Bronco rides through a town he sees Bart Donner by a horse. After he rides by Bart cuts the strap holding the saddle on the horse. As he walks down the sidewalk, the Maxton brothers bump into him intentionally. Their father Rob tells them to get on their horses. Bart watches as they ride off. Willy Maxton falls off his horse when the girth strap breaks. However, he runs when he learns that Willy has broken his leg. Outside town Bud Donner rides up a few seconds after hearing the shot that knocks Bronco out of his saddle. Bronco has been knocked out so Bud puts him on his horse which he leads home. His father Pete awakens the dazed Bronco. Bart arrives followed by the Sheriff who has come to warn Pete his brother Jeb escaped prison. He asks Bronco for ID which he produces. In response to Pete asking about his ID, Bronco says he is a US Marshal there to recapture Jeb. Even after knowing Bronco's purpose, Pete agrees to let him stay there to recover. Bronco helps them against the Maxtons who hate them because of Jeb who robbed the bank.
Episode 7
Tue, Dec 15, 195960 mins
Bronco has a job as foreman for Mr. Goddard, a wealthy rancher, whose ranch borders Mexico. Bronco is on patrol with ranch hands on the ranch boundary posting it against trespassers when they come upon a man and his mother in a wagon trying to hold off an attack by Mexican bandits. The men chase off the bandits while Bronco stops to see who the couple is. They say they are refugees from Mexico trying to return to Austria. Bronco offers them lodging at the ranch house where they can rest. The woman says her and her son were servants to a Baron who was killed. Goddard has taken to a sedentary life trying to impress his neighbors and friends of his daughter. He wants a high standard of living for her but the lack of activity makes him cranky. When Goddard's inept French cook becomes drunk, the lady decides to take over as cook with her son acting as the waiter replacing Pepe who ran away. Marilee finds the son interesting but too timid with the men until Bronco proves his mettle. Bronco soon figures out who the couple really is and why the bandits are watching the ranch.
Episode 8
Tue, Dec 29, 195960 mins
Bronco is having a bad night playing poker. After he is cleaned out, a man asks him if he would be interested in a job. He needs someone to accompany a friend to Denver on the train that night and it pays $25. Bronco accepts but it is not until he arrives at the station he learns the man is an undertaker and he is accompanying a corpse. As he boards the train he runs into a pretty blonde and then his old friend Jack Finley who is escorting $100,000 to Denver for Wells Fargo. Bronco goes with him as he locks the money in the baggage car - with the corpse. The two then return to the passenger car where both take turns trying to impress Laura Winters, the blonde. She is a singer performing in Denver. When the train hits a bump, Bronco returns to the baggage car where the corpse is fine but the money is gone. As he prepares to go tell Jack, Jack enters the car and accuses Bronco of stealing the money. In Denver he goes to jail until two men bail him out wanting him to turn over the money he doesn't have. They give him three days to find the money.
Episode 9
Tue, Jan 12, 196060 mins
During the Civil War Captain Bronco Layne is given the task of getting a message to General Shelby. When he is captured by Union soldiers, a group of Southern guerrilla fighters led by Cole Younger and including Jesse James attack the soldiers. All are killed but one who Bronco helps. Jesse James attempts to shoot the soldier but Bronco and Cole stop him. They then attack a train at Centralia supposedly to steal ammunition but in fact Jesse only wants to kill the Union soldiers on board as there is no ammo. Bronco is unable to stop him. After the war Bronco, a U.S. Deputy Marshal, is transferred from west Texas to the Missouri area by Shelby, now a U.S. Marshal, to find Jesse James as he knows him. The Younger brothers are also wanted but not on the warrant, only Jesse. Bronco reluctantly takes the job. He rides to a farm owned by Belle Starr where he crafts a plan to get Jesse but save the others if they will cooperate but the best laid plans go awry.
Episode 10
Tue, Jan 26, 196060 mins
Bronco spots three men about to rob a stage with $30,000 which he stops letting the stage pass by. As he has the men unmask he finds himself faced with three kids. After a short fight with them, he feels a rifle barrel in his back. Their fourth partner is a young girl. As they pick lots to see who shoots him, he convinces them he is an experienced outlaw so they decide to partner with him. In town one of them, Tim Willis, works as a swamper in the saloon so Bronco attacks Deputy Joe Bush there. Joe and Sheriff Luke Davis arrest Bronco. Back at the sheriff's office, Joe, who knows Bronco, and Luke learn the truth. Tim's father was hanged as a horse thief while the other two boys' fathers are the banker and a wealthy rancher. Later, the girl turns out to be the Sheriff's daughter when Bronco and Joe spot her. Bronco pretends to plan a big gold robbery while actually reforming the boys with new jobs they like. However, a run-in with an outlaw gang kills the sheriff as Bronco faces a lynching for it.
Episode 11
Tue, Feb 9, 196060 mins
While Tom Fuller, son of Pop fuller, rescues Bronco from a watery grave, a rider brings mail to Pop at the cattle drive's camp and to see when the cattle will arrive at Solcito. One of the letters is for Tom from Molly Corley who now lives in Solcito. She was supposedly engaged to Tom but married John Corley. Pop tears up the letter but tells Tom about it when he arrives along with Bronco and the water they need. Tom decides to ride ahead to Solcito to see Molly against Pop's wishes so Pop asks Bronco to ride with him to keep an eye on Tom. Bronco joined the drive late as he happened to be headed to Solcito anyway. In town, Tom dumps Bronco to see Molly while Bronco looks up the local law handled by Judge Claymore as there is no sheriff. Bronco tells him he is working for Pinkerton looking for a man in the area. The judge tells him the man may be in a nearby town. Meanwhile, events lead to the bank being robbed, Tom jailed and escaping, John's murder by Molly and Tom taking the blame for all of it and only Bronco to help him.
Episode 12
Tue, Feb 23, 196060 mins
Bronco, a contract Army Scout, is escorting Amy Carter to Fort Monument where her husband, a captain, is the commander. As they come over a rise and see the fort, it appears devoid of life but Bronco sees a large war party of Comanches behind them. He whips up the team to race to the fort where the doors open to let them in. The fort is manned by five men led by Sgt. Ross. Everyone else has been killed by the Comanches, they have no horses and little water but enough ammo for a few days. Bronco agrees to abide by Ross's decisions since they are under siege. At her request Cpl. Rod Evans escorts Mrs. Carter to see her husband's unmarked grave. Chief Black Leg and another brave approach the fort under a flag of truce. Bronco rides out to meet them but Ross shoots the brave before Bronco can talk to Black Leg who he knows. He is forced back to the fort where the soldiers say another brave was about to shoot Bronco. A suspicious Bronco decides to search the fort and stumbles on a find that confirms his belief all is not as it seems.
Episode 13
Tue, Mar 8, 196060 mins
In this replay of the real life story Bronco is ramrod for John Tunstall as the Lincoln County War breaks out and is friends with Billy the Kid. Bronco and Tunstall meet Billy the Kid and his wife Abrana who are being chased by Indians as well as buffalo hunter Pat Garrett. Tunstall offers a job to both Billy and Pat upon Bronco's approval which they accept. Tunstall and lawyer Alec McSween are working together along with John Chisum against the crooked Sheriff Brady and L.G. Murphy. Their feud breaks out into the Lincoln County War after Tunstall is killed by the Sheriff's men. Billy having his first home provided Tunstall vows for revenge against Brady and kills him. Billy and Bronco are trapped with others in a fire fight in the McSween store which is burned to force them out with McSween killed during the fight. Bronco tries to save Billy from being killed and to give himself up for killing Sheriff Brady. In the end Pat Garrett takes the job of sheriff to go after the $10,000 reward for Billy the Kid.
Episode 14
Tue, Mar 22, 196060 mins
As General Sims' Army Scout, Bronco was sent to scout the area in the Oklahoma territory as a possible home for the defeated Osage tribe which are being held as prisoners by Col. Arthur's troops. Bronco reports that the area in Oklahoma is unfit for human habitation but Col. Arthur will only allow the tribe to move to Oklahoma or Kansas neither of which is acceptable to Chief Crippled Bear. The Osage wish to move to Wyoming which both Bronco and Capt. Williams support. Arthur's aide, Sgt. Hughes, tries to help a sick Osage baby. When Bronco discovers the issue, he immediately recognizes it as cholera. When Col. Arthur drinks from Hughes water bucket, he and Hughes must be quarantined. Both become sick with the disease. Arthur relents and creates a treaty giving the Osage the right to move to Wyoming but he dies before he can sign it. This leaves the decision to Maj. Trask who was sent to relieve Arthur but Trask has his own reasons for his plans.
Episode 15
Tue, Apr 5, 196060 mins
Bronco who has a $2000 bounty on his head for murder is walking down a street distracted after tearing down one of his wanted posters when he bumps into Ruth Miller. After picking up her packages, he is yelled at by Wild Bill Hickock who tells him to surrender. Bronco is shot and killed by Hickock after he shoots Hickock's hat. Hickock throws Bronco's body over his horse to take him away as Ruth watches in horror. At the edge of town Hickock tells Bronco to "wake up". He has faked Bronco's death to help him leave the country but Bronco is determined to clear his name. He decides to catch a ride on a special steamboat taking settlers up river but a posse for another outlaw forces him to say he is married by picking the rejected singer and show girl Lola Dalzel as his wife. Ruth Miller who is also on the boat sees this and tries to warn the sheriff but Bronco hustles her into a cabin until the ship sails but she throws a note to the sheriff as the boat leaves. Bronco wants to clear his name but other events get in the way on the voyage.
Episode 16
Tue, Apr 19, 196060 mins
Bronco brings the body of Reeves, the Apache Indian Agent, to the fort to Maj. Allison Tedrow. Reeves was shot up close twice plus his ledger entries make it appear that he was helping the Apache named Char when he was shot. Bronco and Tedrow ride alone to the reservation to see Chief Long Shadow who tells them Char has left. The Army by treaty cannot cross the reservation but the Chief and Tedrow agree to send Bronco alone to bring Char back for trial. Bronco disliking the assignment agrees to help preserve the peace. In town Andy Strudevant takes advantage of the murder to have the drunk Royal Washburne named the Interim Indian Agent to create turmoil among the Apaches to force them off their land while on the reservation Yellow Moon and several braves hope to kill Char to blame the whites to force the Apaches to fight and regain all of their land. Bronco is caught in the middle trying to return with his prisoner and the Major who has a past that clouds his thinking.
Episode 17
Tue, May 3, 196060 mins
Bronco taking a herd of horses to Montana starts to cross Mark Tanner's ranch which he thought was open range. Tanner and his men stop Bronco telling him he can't cross. When Bronco starts to argue, Tanner's men drag him off his horse, beat him up and scatter his horses. The injured Bronco makes it to the home of small rancher Joe Russo where Joe and his wife Claire help Bronco. At the same time Joe's seventeen year old daughter Robin takes a deep interest as well. Tanner is trying to force the small ranchers to sell to him by having his hired gun Dove drive away ranch hands. Bronco stays on to help Joe plus he wants the $300 due him for his lost horses. Bronco suggests the small ranchers band together but they refuse until Bronco collects his $300 by gunning down Dove who drew first. Claire is jealous of Robin's interest in Bronco who spurns Claire. A drunk Joe drowns when Claire refuses to help him but the decision haunts her which Tanner uses to frame Bronco for Joe's murder.
Episode 18
Tue, May 17, 196060 mins
Bronco is riding shotgun on a stage attacked by Apaches near the Mexican border. The stage is overturned leaving Bronco alone to fight off the Apaches to save himself, a beautiful blonde passenger, Judith Castle and a priest Brother Paul. Although having some success killing his attackers, Bronco is wounded when an arrow hits him is the side. Brother Paul shoots one attacker giving Bronco a chance to regroup. Luckily, a group of Mexican Bandits returning to Mexico seeing the fight decides to intervene hoping the strong box holds gold. The female member of the group, Catalina, helps bandage Bronco. Their leader Tomas Fierro decides to take them to his hideout in Mexico rather than risk taking them to the authorities in the U.S. Bronco recognizes Fierro is a wanted man with a price of $50,000 on his head - dead or alive. Fierro seeing the gorgeous Castle takes an instant interest in her but one that is not reciprocated. Bronco finds Fierro's interest in the fickle Castle results in problems along with interest from Catalina.
Episode 19
Tue, May 31, 196060 mins
A mob led by Kate Crowley is preparing to lynch 'Pop' Ben Owens when Marshal Matt Sample and his two deputies, Bronco and Al Sawyer, ride up to stop them. She accuses Pop of killing her son but Pop confesses he only stole from a few sluices. Sample takes the prisoner saying only rope provided by the law will hang Pop. He will take Pop to Dennison for a trial telling Owens to come there to press charges. Owens rides off to bury her son so Sample sends Bronco to investigate the body and scene. After Owens leaves with the body, Bronco finds a pocket watch he assumes belonged to the dead son. He rejoins Sample as nightfall closes in along with the cold weather. Pop offers his nearby home to give them a place to sleep off the ground which they accept. As they approach the house, gunfire traps them until Bronco slips around to capture Pop's daughter Francy. Later, on the trail Owens attacks the group mortally wounding Sample who makes Bronco promise to get the prisoner to jail.
Episode 20
Tue, Jun 14, 196060 mins
Deputy U.S. Marshal Bronco rides into Las Cruces, New Mexico where he stops at the U.S. Marshal office to see if there are any messages for him. He and partner Jim Fargo have traveled from Montana looking for the escaped prisoner "Rod" Bundy. At the office he learns his friend, Allan Brierly, from the war is getting married so he stops in at the reception. He and Allan make a quick trip to Allan's photography shop to develop a picture of the wedding party. As they enter Bronco is knocked out and Allan shot. A bit later a man rides in to report massive gunfire outside town involving a marshal. Bronco along with the local marshal and deputy ride out to help. Bundy is killed as well as Bronco's partner Jim. Bundy's effects contain a purple poker chip from the Club Frontera at Fort Canto near the border. Allan's widow finds a picture missing from an album. A new picture from the negative shows outlaw Wib Travis who was hanged at Fort Canto years ago. Marshal Merrick asks Bronco to go undercover to investigate which results in Bronco being hung.