The Rifleman Information — Lucas McCain’s Family

The Rifleman Characters

Chapter 1.  April 1826 — The Announcement:  Lucas has an important announcement to make to his family.  But Lucas fears his family won't understand the decision he had made.  His announcement leaves pain and bitterness among his family and friends.

Chapter 2.  April/May 1862 — The Letter:  Margaret waits fearfully to hear something from Lucas.  But when news finally arrives, it wasn't the news she had been hoping for.  The family faces a great tragedy.  Can they overcome this?

Chapter 3.  June 1862  — A Distraction:  Margaret can't seem to concentrate with her sweetheart away at war, but she soon finds herself in the middle of a distraction.  Abraham struggles with all the responsibility he has suddenly required and must come to terms with some hard truths.  But he has to hurt someone before he comes to terms with it.

Chapter 4.  July/August 1862  —  Faith: On July 16, 1862, Laura McCain and Margaret Gibbs suddenly feel like something is very wrong with Lucas.  Their "feeling" may be truer than they think.  Then when a telegram arrives, someone finds his or herself in mourning.

Chapter 5.  August/September 1862  — School Days: After a rough summer, Laura begins a new school year.  But nobody seems to understand  her.  After a rough day at school, Laura declares she's never going back and finds herself in grave danger.

Chapter 6. October 1962  — Mischief Night: Some of the McCain's are getting themselves into trouble this Halloween's Eve."

Chapter 7.  November 1862 — The Telegram (Andy's Death):  Tragedy strikes when the McCain/Gibbs family receives the first telegram from the United States army...on Thanksgiving Day.  Things will NEVER be the same again. 

Chapter 8. December 1862  — The Necessary Christmas:  Margaret becomes upset when her brother and mother announce they don't want Christmas, but she is determined to make the Holiday special and goes behind their back to make plans.  But when Christmas Eve arrives, how will her family react?

Chapter 11.  The Wedding That Almost Wasn't:  It all starts when Julie and Abe show up late to Scott's wedding.  Then a chain of events, including a rather interesting tackle in the church, cake in the bride's lap, an interruption on their wedding night, and other things almost ruins the special day.  Will Scott and Amanda finally find the peace they need on their wedding night?

Chapter 12.  Loss:  A troubled pregnancy, destroyed crops, and bad news on the Civil War descend on one family.  How much more can they endure?  One family member learns just how strong the women folk are as they experience loss.

The Trial — Have you ever been pushed around by the class bully, or threatened? What do you think Mark would do in this situation?

The Orphan — This boy had a mean streak in him, how would Lucas handle this?  Is taking on this boy too much for him to handle?

 Blue Boy — He was still holding onto the fact that his father didn’t HAVE to kill his horse.  Mark could have made him better.  He didn’t understand why his father continued to treat him like a child instead of like the man he wanted to be.

The Rattlesnake — It wasn’t long before he realized that was an impossible task.  He had waded in a brook for awhile, and his tracks were already washed away.  He had no idea where he had come from at that point.  How could he had let himself get into a situation like this? 
Be sure & check our the prequel to this episode - Before the Debt by Deanne Bertram

Saving Vernon —“Just what are you afraid of, Vernon?  Are you afraid of failing?  Or are you afraid that you might actually find you are better at something then sharp shooting?  Or maybe-“ Lucas looked at Vernon straight in the eye. “Maybe you are afraid that no one will feel sorry for you.  Is that what you are afraid of, Vernon?  Because if you are, then let me set it strait for you.  Mark and I don’t feel sorry for you.  You made the bed your sleeping in.  It’s time you get off that high horse you’re on and admit to yourself that you aren’t as bad off as you think you are.”

Milly's Story — This is a very touching story about Milly and how she happen to come to North Fork.  You also will read her last letter from her brother Ted before heading off to Bull Run.

Eight Hours to Die (an alternate ending) — There are a lot of questions left unanswered at the end of this episode.  We saw Mark so lovingly care for this wicked judge when he fell off his horse, having no idea that there was anything evil about him.  Then we see Lucas try to choke this man to death.  Then Mark is confused, wondering what happened.  We can leave this just the way it is, with Lucas saying “I don’t know rather to kill you, or thank you.” But did you ever wonder how much of a part Lucas’s rough treatment played in contributing to this man’s death? What if there was dialogue between Lucas’s question and the man’s death.  Only a slight variation would have to occur in this ending.

Struggling — Now that Margaret was gone what are Lucas & Mark going to do.   Now Mark was getting sick, Lucas had no idea what to do.  Margaret, I don’t know how to care for him!  You always took care of this.  What do I do?

The Haunted House —The cobwebs were so thick, Mark could hardly see what was in front of them.  He saw an old broom on the porch and dusted some of the cobwebs away.  He started inside.  He stopped after each step to dust away more cobwebs.  He felt Billy grab his arm as he stepped forward
with him. 

Finding the Truth —“I found him, Micah. Open the cell.”  Micah did as Lucas said.  Lucas walked in and sat him down on the cot.  Then he sat in a chair across from him.  “Lock it, Micah.” Lucas said.  Micah locked it, then he brought in a lantern.  His eyes grew wide and his mouth widened as he stared at the boy.  “He could be Mark’s twin!” Micah declared.

Her Family — A Mother's Day Story —She watched him stand up and slowly walk out of the room.  He sat down at the table with her picture in his hand.  A tear slipped from his eye.  “It’s been exactly five years, my Sweet Margaret, and this day has gotten no easier.”  He sighed as he looked at her picture.  “I
miss you so much!

Saving Buddy Link — What happen to Buddy Link after 'The Coward'? — Buddy Link goes to work for the man that he had badly beaten, where he finds undeserved love and respect.  But the love and respect he receives opens the door to his past, forcing him to remember the reasons he had turned hard in the first place.  Then when the one person he thinks he despises shows up, will he return to violence, or will he be able to find the salvation he so desperately longs for?

Loss — She's experienced lots of loss in her life, but she finally gets a chance at true love.  Will Lucas McCain approve of the marriage?  Will other obstacles get in her way?  Or will Hattie Denton finally find an end to all her loss?

Thirteen — Mark is about to step into manhood as he faces his thirteenth birthday.  But when tragedy strikes, the step may be more of a "giant" then he's ready to face.

An Invitation — After leaving North Fork, she travels to Santa Fe and finds true love.  But will their love be cut short when tragedy strikes?

Pa's Treasure — When Mark and his friend come up on a treasure chest, they dream of giving their Pa everything they wanted, but Mark learns that his Pa already has the "real" treasure.

The Stranger — Eleven year old Mark meets a stranger on the way home from school.  After hearing his story, he agrees to hide him and keep his secret.  But Lucas grows suspicious when the school teacher expresses concern in his odd behavior.

Home — Mark's grown son helps him come to terms with his father's death as he learns the meaning of "home."

The Escape: Prequel to Waste — A Mark’s Memory Production — It's a fight for Mark's life after he witnesses a murder at the young age of eleven.  The murder is caught, and Mark believes the nightmares are over, but the nightmares return when he's thirteen.  His nightmare of that day so long ago will not end until he see's justice carried out.

B A R N —  Six year old Mark learns to spell a new word that has a special meaning to him.  It turns out that the event is a lasting memory that carries on to North Fork.

Note:  This minisode is based on a scene from “The Surveyors.”