The Monroes

- Season 1

(1966)

After their parents drown, the five surviving children continue on their journey West to Wyoming to farm the land their father had claimed ten years before; but there are some men that declare the Monroe family as squatters, and their Indian friend, Jim, as a rustler.

The Monroes set out to build their cabin, but a couple of wolfers cause trouble when they decide to steal the family's money. Clayt goes after them, and so does Major Mapoy and his men.

On their way into Paradox, Clayt meets an old friend from Illinois. He invites his friend to go with his family to Green River City where they plan to file their deed. After a woman in Paradox asks Clayt to deliver her wagon of "junk," Clayt finds his family in danger when he discovers the delivery is a worth a lot more than he was told.

There is something out there. Clayt doesn't know what it is, but he knows it's there, and he feels it's hunting him. Jim is terrified of it and his own people won't give him any help. Clayt is unable to trap it or kill it. The 'thing' has them all spooked!

The twins come upon a wounded dog that had been shot. Mapoy's men claim this dog is wild and must be destroyed, but the twins tug at Clayt's heartstrings until he allows them to take it home and try to nurse it back to health.

The Monroes meet their neighbors, the Wales when Dalton and Billy Dan drive a herd of horses over the Monroe front yard. Trouble arises when Ruel follows Clayt to confront them and they are accused of horse stealing.

After disobeying Clayt, Big Twin is bitten by a woodchuck. Major Mapoy and Sleeve announce that Big Twin has contacted rabies when Big Twin takes sick. Clayt refuses to believe there is no hope as he and his family set off for a long, dangerous journey to find a doctor.

A Sergeant arrives in Paradox and announces Jim is a wanted man...for murder.

When a war party arrives in the Valley, Major Mapoy orders all the homesteaders to stay at his house; not only for their own protection, but also for assistance if a battle breaks out. Clayt sets out to discover what the reason is for the war party, and the answer surprises him.

A stranger arrives at the Monroe cabin claiming the family dog, snow, has injured him. Clayt agrees to put him up until he gets better. The stranger, however, has ulterior motives.

An army Captain arrives at the Monroe cabin and arrests Jim for murder. Clayt is allowed to come to stand up for Jim at his trial, but they must first fight a band of renegade Indians.

While out hunting for a bear that has been seen around the cabin, Clayt's bullet grazes Lorna Wales on the forehead. Billy Dan accuses Clayt of trying to kill his sister, and Clayt is once again in a heap of trouble with the Wales'.

Big Twin and Amy once again break Clayt's rules and go out on a raft. Big Twin loses control of the raft and they end up way downstream. After Big Twin is finally able to get them onto dry land, they are stuck in the wilderness as it's getting dark. But...they are not alone!

Clayt meets a man with a bag of gold and claims he can lead Clayt to a fortune. Clayt suddenly has gold fever. Kathy tries to talk him out of the crazy scheme, but he refuses to listen and leaves his family in search of gold.

While in town, Kathy is approached by Billy Dan Wales who insists on escorting her home. Ruel Jaxon is there as well and jumps to Kathy's defense. A shootout erupts, and both Billy Dan and his friend, Jonah, are shot. Ruel escorts Kathy and the kids home, but they are chased by the Wales before they get home so Ruel scatters their horses that are grazing nearby. Ruel refuses to pay Barney Wales for the horses he scatters so Barney decides to go to Major Mapoy. He orders the Major to pay him $5,000.00 for Billy Dan's injured arm and the horses that Ruel scattered. A ...

While Big Twin is on a hunting trip with Jim and Clayt. They see a war party of Pawnee, and Jim leads them the long way home. They encounter several setbacks as they try to get back to the cabin. Meanwhile, while talking with the three Monroe members at the cabin, a Pawnee chief rides out of hiding. He and Ruel get into a fight. In the fight, Komatah manages to stab Ruel, and Ruel knocks Komatah in the head hard enough to knock him out. Kathy manages to get both Ruel and the Indian back to the cabin where she nurses them and bandages them. She realizes just how much ...

A man and his wife from the south are passing through the valley when they stop to rescue one of the twins who was trapped under a fallen tree. Clayt invites them to cross on his land when Billy Dan Wells comes and insists they have diseased cattle. Clayt and Billy Dan get in a fight when Billy Dan threatens to shoot all the cattle. Clayt wins and Billy Dan threatens that he would be back. Later at the homestead, Billy Dan and Dalton return and order every cow shot. Clayt orders them off his land. Later that night, Margue goes into labor. Clayt sends the gypsy couple ...

Clayt learns how to be a cattle hand.

Kathy finds herself with a dilemma as she finds herself with more then one suitor. She chooses to cheer for Michael Duquesne as he races against Mapoy's top riders including his rival for Kathy's affections.

Three men come to the Monroe cabin claiming they need some rest and coffee. Clayt, unaware that they are actually three outlaws, invite them inside. But when he finds that one of the men, Pete Lamson, has a bullet in his leg, he suggests he should go get help at the Maypoy Ranch. Soon, he learns that these men aren't as friendly as they seem when Lamson pulls a gun on him and let's him know who's boss.

There is a cougar killing Mapoy stock. In two weeks, they lost ten cows and two calves and Major Mapoy wants a stop to it. So to get the job done, he puts a $200 bounty on the cougar. Everyone is suddenly interested in finding this cougar, even Clayt Monroe and Jim. But the Greggor brothers are mean and selfish and aren't willing to play fair in the hunt.

Clayt acquires five head of cattle and sees it as the beginnings of the Monroe ranch. But the family dreams are derailed when drifter Ed Stanley shows up, declaring the livestock as his and is ready to back the claim with violence.

After a tornado, Clayt takes Big Twin and goes hunting. Little Twin is feeling left out and insists to be called by his real name. Clayt and Big Twin soon encounter trouble with they follow their prey into a silver mine and get trapped inside...with a bear!

Clayt gets a bad feeling that somebody is watching the cabin. The next day while out hunting, a bolder falls down a hill. Clayt still hopes he's imagining things, but suddenly something happens that lets him know he is not imagining things. Sleeve comes by and announces that Major Mapoy is experiencing problems with cattle rustling. Then, the next morning Clayt is shot in the arm! Clayt's a bit relieved when Sleeve tells him an agent from the cattlemen's association is coming. But when the agent arrives, Clayt is more bothered than ever before!

Kathy is frustrated that the children are not getting a proper education. When Clayt suggests maybe she could borrow some of Major Mapoy's books, she goes to Sleeve to discuss it. Sleeve declares that Major Mapoy would be only too happy to help her out, and before she knows it she is also teaching Major Mapoy's new charge who behaves like a spoiled rotten brat. Also, some of the other children who live in the area show up to be taught, and before Kathy knows it she is a school marm in her own home.

It is Clayt's nineteenth birthday. Kathy and the kids take Clayt into town for a surprise birthday party. But the surprise is on all of them when they get to town and find it abandoned. Paradox, once a hustling mining town, is now a mere ghost town. But with the approaching darkness, Clayt and his family come to realize they are not the only one's in this ghost town!