The Rifleman
"Welcome to the McCain Ranch"
'The Quiet Fear'
Episode 127
I had gone into town to meet the stage. An old friend of mine and his daughter were coming to live in North Fork. They bought the Hornsby Ranch. As we were getting ready to leave I saw Brice Hornsby come out of the saloon. I called him over and introduced him to Jake Stryker and his daughter Abbey,
a deaf mute. Brice was bitter. He wouldn't even shake hands with Jake. "He didn't buy my farm, he stole it," said Brice. I told him he had no call to say that, he got his price. He said he thought Jake was moving into the ranch by himself. He looked at Abbey. "Maybe I should have stayed on out there after all," said Brice. That was enough, I rode off. Just then Bud came out of the saloon laughing. "Imagine.....a woman who can't talk back at cha'," said Bud. Brice was puzzled by that remark. "What's that suppose to mean?" Bud told Brice he was over at the hotel when the stage came in. He overheard Jake tell me that Abbey couldn't hear or say a word. This made Brice feel bad about his actions earlier towards the Stryker's.
We invited Jake and Abbey to our house for supper. After supper Mark started to read to Abbey. He was trying to teach her how to by pointing at pictures. He sure was enjoying himself. Jake asked me what Hornsby meant by....."He should have stayed on?" I told him that Micah and I thought if he needed help that maybe Hornsby would have stayed on at the ranch. I told him that Brice had been hanging around the saloon since he sold the ranch and so far had lost half of his money over a poker table. I asked Jake why he didn't tell me about Abbey. He told me he wasn't ashamed of Abbey but wasn't sure if people would understand. He was hoping I would. Jake and I had gone
outside to get some air while Abbey and Mark stayed inside. Mark showed Abbey how to write her name.
Jake and his daughter had gone into town for supplies. Abbey waited in the wagon while Jake went into The General Store. As he started to enter the store he ran into Brice. Brice asked Jake how things were going out at the ranch. Jake told him things were alright, that things were starting to shape up. He told Jake about the gate on the bottom land and how he had made it and that all it needed was a turn screw. He said he didn't have any money and that was why he hadn't finished it. Jake told him that was one of the items he had come to town for. Jake told him he had done a good job on it. He told him if he's ever out that way he was welcome to stop by.
Brice saw Abbey setting in the wagon. He went over to talk to her. He wanted to say "hi." He was talking to her when Jake came out with some supplies. Jake called to Brice and asked him what he was doing. He said he was just trying to say hello to Abbey. Just being friendly. He wanted to explain to Abbey about the other day and the way he acted. He gave up trying to explain and walked away. Abbey looked at her father, he knew she was pleased by Brice's visit. Jake called to him. "Brice.....I'm sorry, I didn't mean to jump on you. It's just that some folks.....they.....they get the wrong idea about Abbey. They don't understand." Jake tried to explain to Brice, but he got upset. "Maybe it's you who don't understand!" 
He walked away.
Mark and I had gone over to The Stryker Ranch. Mark was teaching Abbey with her reading and writing and I helped Jake put in some post. I asked Jake when he was going to do his planting. He said he hoped next week but he needed to find someone to help with the heavy work. He told me about his encounter with Brice the day before. He said if he knew that Brice would tend to business he would offer him a job. I told him he should let Brice ask for a job like any other man. I told him that whoever he hires, he should meet them half way. He asked what I meant. "Abbey. She's a grown woman. You can't protect her forever or be suspicious of every man that comes around. You've got to let her find out for herself. If you don't Jake, you'll be denying her rights and feelings as a woman." "You know Luke, a farmer plants a seed, he's got to know how to care for it. Help it grow. I guess being a father ain't much difference."
When we got to the porch Abbey wrote something on her tablet. "Papa." She gave it to Jake. Jake was choked up; he didn't know how to thank Mark for all he had done. You could tell it meant far more then words could say. Mark was pleased. Abbey then kissed Mark on the cheek. It was very emotional. Mark thought something was wrong. I told him nothing was wrong, everything was right.
I ran into Brice in town later that day. He was pretty angry. He lost quite a bit of money gambling and 
felt if he didn't know any better he'd think he was cheated. Bud had really ruffled his feathers. He told me how Bud called him farmer boy and laughed in his face. He said he owed Bud $100. He was lucky; it could have been a lot more. I told him there was nothing wrong with digging in the dirt or being a farmer. I told him he knew that and that he was too stubborn and too proud to ask for help. I showed him the sign that Jake had posted for help at his ranch. I told him he should check it out before someone beat him to it.
Jake hired Brice. Jake told him that he had to have his trust. Brice told him he had it. Brice also told him he wanted to see something done with this place and how it was done. Jake told him to get his things and put them in the room behind the barn. Brice thanked Jake as they shook hands.
They all got along really well. Brice and Abbey more so. They were enjoying each other. It was a nice feeling. Brice would help Abbey as much as he could. They were like school kids chasing each other around the ranch. They sure were having fun. It was a good feeling seeing Abbey so happy and so was Brice. It was written all over their faces and their actions.
Brice and Abbey had gone into town for supplies. Abbey had gone over to Millie's and Brice went to get some seed. As Brice was loading the wagon Bud came out of the saloon. He started making his rude comments to Brice. He ask him how he liked it out at Stryker's. Bud turned and saw Abbey comin'. "Yes sir, I bet you like it a lot," said Bud. Brice told him to go on about his business. 
He said he was here on business, a hundred dollars worth. He told Brice he wouldn't earn that kind of money pushing a plow. Bud then went over to Abbey. He took her by the arm and told her he would help her in the wagon. Brice told him to take his hands off of her. They got into a fight. Micah broke up the fight and told Brice to take Abbey home.
When they got back to the ranch Abbey bandaged Brice's hand up. With hand signals Abbey ask about what was going on in town. He told her that the guy he was fighting with was Bud. When she didn't understand what he was saying he wrote Bud's name on the wall of the barn. He told her she better go to the house and get supper ready. She had forgotten the salve and when Brice went to leave to catch up with her, Bud came up from behind him and knocked him out.
Abbey realized she forgot the salve and bandages and went back for them. When she came into the barn, Bud grabbed her. She managed to get away and picked up the pitch fork. He then grabbed the pitch fork and tugged hard enough and got it away from her, falling to the ground. Abbey started up the ladder to the loft when Bud caught up with her. Forcing her hands loose from the ladder he shoved her and she fell to the ground. She just laid there. She didn't move.
Jake had invited us for fried chicken. Mark couldn't wait. Jake had just got into the ranch and Mark and I not too far behind him. Just then Brice came stumbling out of the barn. We ask him where Abbey was, he didn't know. We went into the barn. There was Abbey lying on the floor of the barn. When Jake saw Abbey he was furious. "I'm gonna kill him! So help me.....I'll kill him!" Jake started slapping Brice around. "What happened? I trusted you! What did you do to her?" I grabbed a hold of Jake and told him to take care of Abbey. Mark went out to get some water and a towel. Brice started to go to Abbey. I stopped him. Jake tended to Abbey. She started to come around. Jake asked her who did this to her. Jake thought she was pointing to Brice. Abbey grab her Pa's face and she shook her head no. He helped her up. She was pointing to
Bud's name. I saw Mark looking up at the loft. There was some hay falling down. I motioned for everyone to be quiet and I motioned for Mark to move. "Alright Bud, Come on down." He shot at me and I shot back missing him. "All right! You wouldn't shoot an unarmed man would ya?" Asked Bud raising his hands in the air. I started up the ladder after him. He took a strap and hit me with it. I grabbed the strap and pulled on it knocking him to the ground. Jake apologized to Brice.
We went to town to see Abbey and her Pa off. They were going to Denver to a school for the deaf where they taught sign language. They would be gone for six weeks. Brice was gonna watch over the place while they were gone. Abbey and Brice kissed good-bye. "You really have taken to .....farmin', haven't you?" "Yes I have," said Brice.
piddlin' stuff.....Patrick McVey as Jake Striker, the father of the death girl. He also was in another episode as Walt Hake in the episode of 'The Hawk'.
He was a regular in the TV series ~ "Boots and Saddles" as 
Colonel Wesley Hayes.
Richard Rust as Brice he was the one who fell in love with Abbey. He appeared in "Comanche Station" and "The Legend of Tom Dooley." He was the first Jason Vining in "General Hospital". He appeared in several of the old westerns and in several of the old detective shows.
Enid Jaynes played Amy Barker in this episode of 'Panic.' She also appeared in 'The Wyoming Story' - part 1 & 2. She played Aggie. She's the woman who wanted Lucas to take her with him when he returned to North Fork. She and Dabbs Greer played in two of "The Rifleman" episodes together. 'Panic' and 'The Wyoming Story.' In the 'Quiet Fear' she was the woman who was deaf—Abbey Striker. In 'Waste' - part 1 & 2 - she was the pregnant woman. She's the one who slapped Lucas's face at the end of the episode. She did not have one speaking line in 'Waste' or in 'Quiet Fear."
She also appeared with chuck in 'Geronimo' (1962) as Huera.
She was married to Jules V. Levy, he was one of the producers for "The Rifleman." He also produced "Geronimo."
Dennis Cross appeared in several episodes of "The Rifleman". 'The Safe Guard' as Witcherly - 'The Gaucho' as Ned Dunnell, he was killed by Manolo for liking his sister. - 'The Pasty' as Lafe Oberly, a member of Doke's gang - 'The Hero' as Dorn, the gunslinger in charge - 'The Vision' as Fance Degnan. He was the cowboy by the wagon that laughed when Mark told Hazel he thought she was pretty and as Bud Martin in 'The Quiet Fear.' He was the cowboy he laughed - thought it funny a woman who couldn't talk.
He also appeared with Chuck and Johnny in "Branded" ~ 'Coward Step Aside'.
" Thanks Nancy for the episode ".....otherwise I wouldn't had pictures!
*If anybody has any information on any of the stars, and would like to share it, please get in touch with 
