Part 1
During the
United States Civil War, army scout Zeb Macahan (JAMES ARNESS) returns to
Virginia to help his brother's widow,
Kate (
EVA MARIE SAINT), and her three children,
Luke (BRUCE BOXLEITNER),
Josh (WILLIAM KIRBY CULLEN) and teenage daughter,
Laura (KATHRYN HOLCOMB), decide to move
West to
Oregon Territory.
The trek proves far more arduous and dangerous than they expected as the Macahans struggle to survive an unforgiving land and
Native Americans who are fighting to survive an invasion of white settlers to their land. Headed for
Oregon, the Macahans stop along the
Platte River in
Nebraska territory.
Bounty hunter Martin Grey (ANTHONY ZERBE) arrests Luke for desertion from the army; Zeb rescues Luke; but Luke is shot while protecting
Erika Hanks (
BRIT LIND), a member of a religious se
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