When the war memorial is unveiled during the Golden Jubilee celebration, Julia is disturbed at being labelled Crocus's only war widow. Meanwhile, Jake and Ben plot to win a prize horse that is coming up for auction.
Julia has a difficult decision to make after receiving a generous offer to purchase the Osborne farm. Riding his new horse Fever, Jake has a bad spill and must learn to overcome his fear if he is to continue riding.
A mysterious stranger arrives in Crocus just in time to save the town's struggling baseball team, but there are rumors that the talented pitcher may be an escaped convict.
Lottery fever strikes Crocus when the grand prize of its first contest is a trip to England to observe the Queen's coronation.
Jake becomes concerned when a slick oil-company executive, who believes that Crocus may overlie a vast new oilfield, persuades many of the locals to sell him the rights to their land.
Repeat is sued after he cuts off the local undertaker's beard in a fit of rage. Meanwhile, Julia's Hollywood-starlet sister Donna pays a surprise visit.
Despite Julia's objections, Jake teaches Ben how to use a rifle, something he considers a necessary rite of passage for any farm boy. But then, on the first day of deer hunting season, Ben is challenged by the town bully and makes a reckless mistake.
A drifter befriended by Ben and Lazarus turns out to be Professor Winesinger, an old acquaintance of Jake's, who got him out of some serious trouble when Jake was young.
The whole town is concerned about the health of Daddy Johnson, a wealthy 107-year-old who has fallen seriously ill, but Jake in particular believes that Daddy's ""nurse"" Esther Goodrich is really a gold digger after his money.
When orphans Ben and Lazarus feel left out of Saskatchewan's annual father-and-son fishing contest, Jakes and Moses invent a contest of their own. Meanwhile, Molly has a ""girls-only"" slumber party with Julia, but ill-advisedly leaves Gate to mind the store.
A famous hypnotist and his pretty assistant proceed to charm the town, while two mysterious businessmen from Winnipeg show an excessive interest in an old safe of Albert's.
As Crocus prepares for its major annual social event, the Snow Ball, speculation abounds regarding who will escort the town's most eligible woman, Emily Henchbaw.
When a blizzard hits Crocus, the Sanitary Cafe is transformed into a temporary hospital and Jake tries to rescue Albert, who has had a heart attack.