The Big Valley

In this series premiere, the railroad has hired men to force the farmers and ranchers of Stockton off their land. The Barkleys join with the rest of the valley to help fight them off. While at home an angry young man, Heath, shows up claimimg to be the deceased Tom Barkleys' illegitimate son.

While preparing for a major cattle drive bunching the Barkley's herd with those of other ranchers, Heath has major difficulties being accepted as a Barkley, especially by the ranch hands. Then when Nick's former commander in the war comes to visit, Heath is suspicious of him, and with good reason. He is there to cause trouble and steal the herd!! Nick ends up getting shot while on the drive and has to be taken to town, leaving Heath in charge of the drive. Heath ends up saving the day, and finally the hands begin to accept him as a true Barkley.

Victoria begins to wonder if Tom ever truly loved her, if he could go off and have an affair which produces a child. So she's off to Heath's hometown Strawberry to find out more about Tom and Leah's (Heath's mother) relationship.

Audra is save by a man who claims to be a mustang hunter, but who's band of mustangers are also extorting protection money from the farmers and ranchers of Stockon. While Audra is smitten with him her brothers are suspicious, and soon find out the truth. Which Audra does as well. . .after she is kidnapped by them.

Victoria sells land to an old friend, while the Barkley boys are part of a plan to flood it!!!

While Heath investigates violence at one of the Barkley mines, he discovers that the miners hate the Barkley's for unkept promises. This discovered they work to set things right before anything else happens.

A con man comes claiming to be Heath's real father, not Tom Barkley.

Part 1, Heath is down in Mexico where an old friend of the family escapes arrest, fleeing to the Barkley ranch. Heath is imprisoned to be held in exchange for the general.

Nick and Jarrod head to Mexico to break out Heath, who has already broken out and been recaptured.

An old friend of Audra's has a new , very young, stepmother who likes him as more than a son, and is jealous of Audra.

Victoria heads alone into the desert to find a sick indian before he reaches, and infects, his people.

Jarrod defends a Basque sheepherder.

A man is hired at the ranch who is believed to be a Mexican outlaw thought long dead.

Victoria helps three indian women at a desert mission.

To pay off a gambling debt, sheepherder Josiah Freeman pawns off his flock on Nick, who stubbornly tries to tend the troublesome sheep — despite insults and threats from his fellow cattlemen

Jarrod is temporarily blinded.

Heath and family help a wayward saloon girl.

Nick stops at an inn where they kill people for their money.

Victoria's first clue of Major Jonathan Eliot's mental imbalance is when he proposes to Laura.

One of the former confederate spies arrives in Stockton.

When a Cattle Rancher suffers amnesia, he believes that Victoria is his Wife.

After a panther nearly kills Nick, he wants revenge.

When Jarrod visits Baker City, he gets involved in a Mexican Marital mix-up.

The Barkleys hire a man famous for his bad luck to help harvest their crops.