The Talisman

Anthony Zerbe receives a cross with a spent cartridge on it. The talisman is a message from former Texas Ranger pal Jim Haynie now a priest in a mostly Mexican small village. They're being preyed upon by a bandit who wants the silver they've mined as a community.

Shades of The Magnificent Seven as Zerbe brings along a few of the Pony Express Riders to help. Shades of The Alamo as the village under siege prepares for an attack they now is coming. It works out better for the villagers than the Texans.

Zerbe leaves Gregg Rainwater in charge at the marshal's office and his biggest problem is a woman who says she's being harassed by a mountain man. This is one brute of a guy who makes the Pontipee clan from 7 Brides For 7 Brothers look like guests for a Windsor Castle ball. But that works out too.

Bothe the comic and dramatic elements work well in this episode.