Home Of The Brave

**Home Of The Brave** is episode 3 of season 1, and episode number 3 of The Young Riders series overall. It centers around Buck and the conflicting allegiances he has with both the Pony Express and the Kiowa.

## Synopsis

Buck finds himself in a moral quandary as tensions rise between the Kiowa and the Pony Express - does he continue to work for those looking to colonize the rest of America, or does he return to his tribe? Resolving to leave the Pony Express, his tribe forces him to undertake a grueling test of his personal fortitude. However, in the end, Buck's heart still lies with his found family, his fellow riders.

## Plot

The episode opens on a way station keeper getting threatened by a band of Indians. The Kid and Ike come across the way station later while on a mail run, finding the station burnt, the keeper badly beaten and a shield baring an ominous design.

Back in Sweetwater, the other riders – Jimmy, Cody, Lou and Buck – discuss the recent increase in hostility from the local Indians before going into Tompkins’ store. Tompkins makes several racist comments towards Buck, accusing his friends of being Indian-lovers, prompting Jimmy, Lou and Cody to start a fight with Tompkins and two of his men. Buck, however, slips out during the confrontation. When Jimmy berates Buck for walking out on them, he correctly points out that Jimmy didn’t start a fight in defense of Buck, but rather in defense of his own pride after being called an “Indian-lover”.

Ike and The Kid later ride back to the station with the Indian shield in hand. Buck says the sign is a warning from the Kiowa. Jimmy, Lou and Cody return, trailing Buck. The riders discuss the Indian scare over dinner, during which Buck remains quiet. Pony Express deliveries are cut down to priority mail only, but otherwise the riders are told to ride on despite the new threats. Teaspoon, who grew up around Indians, sympathizes with their situation and tries to get the riders to understand why they act the way they do.

> *“The Indians is fighting for their way of life – they’d like to live the way they did before we got here. Just like our kin fought the British almost a hundred years ago. ‘Cept the Indians is called savages. Our kin was called patriots.”*
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That night, Buck rides off alone with the shield. He rides to an Indian village and meets up with his half-brother, Red Bear, who is now a Kiowa war chief. Buck asks why Red Bear sent for him with the shield, to which Red Bear expresses his worry that his warriors may kill Buck if he continues to work for the Pony Express, and asks him to return to the Kiowa. Buck refuses, expressing how his fellow riders are now his family. He also recalls how poorly he was treated for being half white, and how Red Bear failed to see the abuse he received growing up. The two part ways with hostility, Buck receiving a slash to the chest.

The next day, storekeeper Tompkins rides up to Sweetwater Station with Sam Cain, demanding the riders pay for damages and also cutting off Emma’s credit as a consequence. After continuing to make low comments about Buck, Ike trips up his horse.

Later on, Buck saddles up his horse alone. Ike questions where he’s going, but Buck refuses to say. While on a run, The Kid is pursued by Kiowa. However, Buck, anticipating this, grabs Kid off his horse and saves him. Back at the station, Buck reveals who his half-brother is. Jimmy gets bent out of shape at the fact that Buck has returned to his Kiowa friends, thinking he is colluding against the riders. The other riders similarly question Buck’s loyalty, but The Kid sticks up for him. Jimmy and Buck fight, and Buck storms out.

Teaspoon talks with the riders, explaining how Buck is struggling with his identity. The other riders can’t stay mad at him, and Jimmy’s only request of Buck is that he tries to snore less. Teaspoon talks with Buck alone. Buck feels bad that he’s making the riders a target for the townsfolk, and decides to leave until his thoughts are clear.

The next day, Jimmy, Cody, Lou and Teaspoon address the Tompkins situation. Teaspoon reads Tompkins a later from head office – unless Tompkins agrees to continue business with the Pony Express, his mail and freight will be cut off. This forces Tompkins’ hand, and the riders are again allowed to do business with the store.

The Kid and Ike do the next mail run, but something is bothering Ike. Ike reveals Buck has left, right before the two are ambushed by Kiowa. The Kiowa capture Ike and his horse, and The Kid runs back to the station to get help. The Kid returns to find Buck gathering his gear, and Buck resolves to ride out alone to retrieve Ike from the Kiowa. The Kid ends up following him, but agrees to hang back. Buck rides into the Kiowa village to find Ike tied up. For Ike’s release, Buck offers to join Red Bear’s war party. Red Bear agrees, but demands that Buck’s Indian spirit be tested. Ike rides out of the valley where he’s found by The Kid, and the two watch Buck’s ensuing trials from the top of the valley.

Buck is given peyote and has visions of the trials he must face. The first trial he’s subjected to is a beating while blindfolded. The second is being tied up over a coal pit, the coals burning his feet. Hearing Buck’s cries from the top of the valley, The Kid is convinced the tribe are trying to kill him. Buck’s trails take over 3 days. The other riders, as well as Emma and Teaspoon, worry about the three boys.

Buck’s final challenge is to traverse a pit of rattlesnakes and scale a tall rock at the other side. The Kid wants to get Buck out, looking to shoot Red Bear, but Ike begs him not to interfere. The Kid starts to make his way into the valley anyway, with Ike staying as lookout. Buck looks up at an eagle flying overhead, also catching sight of Ike and The Kid looking out for him, and gains the courage to hop over the snakes.

As it is put by Red Bear, Buck’s spirit is now Kiowa, but he still senses the loyalty Buck has for his white family and turns down his offer to join the war party. He warns that the next time they meet may be in battle. Buck solemnly rides off, reuniting with Kid and Ike for the ride home.