Jake and the Kid

Everyone in Crocus is buzzing with excitement over plans to unveil a war memorial in honor of the town's Golden Jubilee. The omission of Moses' father's name from the plaque, however, is an unfortunate error that has left both Moses and Jake terribly upset. And Julia Osborne is equally distraught to be acknowledged as the only W.W.II widow in Crocus. Meanwhile, her son Ben dreams of buying Fever, a prize horse up for sale at the town auction, and with their own brand of creativity, Ben and Jake succeed!

Julia Osborne is torn between following her heart or following her head when Albert Rickey makes an offer on the Osborne farm. Torn between her own family and friends in Toronto and raising Ben on his father's land, Julia ultimately chooses to put down roots of her own in Saskatchewan. Ben is oblivious to his mother's dilemma, having developed a fear of riding after a bad spill from his new horse, Fever. After a mystical visit by Chief Fly-Like-An-Arrow, Ben overcomes his fear enough to contemplate riding Fever in a race against Albert Rickey, the town's own "Donald Trump".

Once the league baseball champions, the Crocus Locusts have been on a losing streak all season, with no hope in sight of turning their luck around. Their fortunes change when a pitcher talented enough for the major leagues arrives in town, and the Locusts are back in the game. Their little miracle begins to fade; however, when rumors circulate that Mac may be an escaped convict.

Crocus's first lottery offers a trip to Queen Elizabeth IIs coronation, and has the townsfolk in a frenzy, including Norma Weathersby, who scoops up tickets in bulk to beat the odds. Her son, Gordie, is a brainy, quiet loner who has become an easy target for the other children's taunts. A near-tragic accident teaches them both some important life lessons.

The Sterling Oil Company is convinced that a fortune in oil is lying beneath the surface of the town of Crocus. When they promise easy money to those townspeople willing to sell their land titles, the residents jump on the bandwagon. Sterling's slick salesman manages to secure a good bit of land, much to Jake's dismay. Jake's concern for the community hits home when Julia considers selling the Osborne farm.

George Solway, the town's blowhard undertaker, becomes an amateur prosecuting attorney after Repeat Golightly cuts off his beard in a fit of pique. Julia's Hollywood-starlet sister, Donna Davey, pays a surprise visit to Crocus. An aspiring artist, she sketches a caricature of George as a goat, fanning the flames of his fury.

Jake leads Ben through the rite of passage for every farm boy - learning how to use a rifle. Overcoming Julia's objections, Ben accompanies Jake to the opening of deer season. Ben's eagerness to hunt is replaced by horror when he discovers the stupid and reckless actions of the town bully, Tuggy Mclntyre.

A down-and-out vagabond is befriended by Ben and Lazarus. The shabby old man is none other than Professor Claudius T. Winesinger, a medicine man who rescued Jake from some serious trouble when he was younger. When the Professor has a run-in with Albert Rickey which almost lands him in jail, Jake returns the old favor - saves the Professor and shows the Kid the true meaning of friendship.

The "world-renowned hypnotist" Dr. Hannibal Suzhee and his lovely assistant, Holly Munger, arrive in Crocus to perform their act. The whole town is soon under the spell of the beautiful Holly and the colorful Dr. Suzhee - everyone, that is, except for two mysterious "businessmen" from Winnipeg who have more than a passing interest in Albert's safe.

It's the "First Annual South Saskatchewan Classic Father & Son Walleye Ice Fishing Derby". To the fatherless Ben and Lazarus, it seems the whole town can enter except them. To help buoy the boys' spirits, Jake and Moses decide to hold their own fishing derby. Meanwhile, Molly decides to have a "girls-only" slumber party with Julia, foolishly leaving Gate to mind the store.

Daddy Johnson becomes seriously ill, and everyone thinks his 107 years may have finally caught up with him. To make matters worse, the scheming Esther Goodrich has made herself Daddy's nursemaid. Jake is convinced that she is no Florence Nightingale, but really an opportunistic gold digger who is positioning herself as the sole heir to Daddy's estate!

While the town prepares for Daddy Johnson's surprise 108th birthday party, a blizzard hits Crocus, snowing everyone in and downing phone lines. In the middle of the storm, Albert Rickey suffers an apparent heart attack. Unable to reach Doc Fotheringham, it's up to Jake and the other to help him. The dire situation turns the Sanitary Cafe into a makeshift hospital - and confessional.