When Kid Cole (guest star Johnny Cash) and his wife, Sister Ruth (guest star June Carter Cash), stop to see Mike while escorting mail order brides to San Francisco, Mike (Jane Seymour) immediately feels the tension in the air between them.
Mike learns that Cole is terminally ill. In an attempt to spare Ruth the agony of watching him die, he has created problems in their relationship so she won't feel obligated to care for him.
Ruth, meanwhile, is devastated at her husband's behavior and seeks Mike's advice.