Jake and the Kid

Ben Osborne tries to prove to his older friends hes no longer a kid and winds up rolling a tractor. When a prairie grass fire rages near Crocus, Ben see his chance to prove hes an adult and sets off to fight the fire. Hes no match for the flames, though, and Jake must risk his life to save Ben and his dog Rocket.

Taking their cues from the Capulets and the Montagues, Jake and the new schoolteacher, Paul Krause, take an instant dislike to one another. While rehearsing for a community production of Romeo and Juliet, a flustered and jealous Jake punched Paul for showing him up in a fencing duel, witnessed by Julia. Bens ego also takes a beating when he breaks his arm trying to show off in front of Lazarus and his pals. Their humbling experiences teach both Jake and Ben valuable lessons about life.

The Sanitary Café is purchased by the Melnyk family, setting tongues wagging over the strange food Sophia Melnyk is serving and Bogie Melnyks junk yard behind the café. Matters come to a head after newspapers editor Hattie Fisher come writes a scathing editorial in the Crocus Breeze about the towns racial discrimination. Even Ben is caught up in the issue when he called Katya Melnyk a bohunk during a fight over a kite flying contest.

After being humiliated by two older boys, Ben and his friend Jackie Whitbread are determined to beat them at the Dominion Day Horse-Pulling Contest. Ben ignores Jakes warnings about using his race horse Fever as a plow horse and goes on to win the contest. His actions carry a heavy price, however, and Ben must make the toughest decision in his life after Fever goes lame.

Inspired by news of a big find in North Saskatchewan, Ben, Katya and Bogie are convinced theyve discovered uranium on a farmers field. With visions of riches dancing in their heads, they vow to keep it their little secret. But its not long before Albert Rickey catches wind of it, as does the editor of the Crocus Breeze, Hattie Fischer, who writes it up as a front page story. Meanwhile, we learn Jake has a secret too. He found uranium in the field years ago low grade, worthless uranium. Hes playing along just to sting Albert, who buys the farm. Jakes light-hearted scam soon gets out of control as the town goes wild with uranium fever, the army descends on Crocus and Katya and Ben are quarantined after being exposed to radioactive rock.

Julias glamorour actress sister Donna Davey returns to Crocus with her Hollywood director firend Cole Donner. When Cole meets Jake, he feels hes found his archetypal cowboy and begs Jake to mentor him on the ways of the West. Meanwhile, Donna mentors Julias beau Paul Krause on the art of taking things slow, just as Julia decides to speed things up resulting in a romantic muddle.

Julias sudden and surprise engagement to Paul Krause sends Ben running away from home. He is joined by Katya, who feels her new baby brother has become the centre of her patents lives, and Jackie, who is simply looking for an adventure. At the climax of a journey filled with mishaps, their raft tips over and Ben saves Jackie from drowning.

The ongoing feud between Jake and Paul heats up after Paul begins taking over farm duties, prompting Jake to consider leaving Crocus. His news upsets Ben and turns Julia against Paul. Jakes friends desperately try to convince him to stay, reminding him of his many memories in Crocus.

Clarence Big Cat Jacobson and his sleazy manager Ted Templeton are on their way to a big comeback match when their car breaks down in Crocus. The big man teaches Ben a few moves to help him stand up to the school bully, while Ted concocts a barn fight scheme to make some fast money. Upon learning that Ted is only using the again boxer for his own selfish ends, Jake climbs into the ring to make Clarence reconsider his boxing career.

The sight of a circus cheetah being abused by its trainer sends Ben, Katya and Jackie into action. They steal the big cat away to their tree house, sparking a search by the townsfolk. Jake hunts for the animal with a mysterious young roustabout who has a chip on his shoulder and bears more than a passing resemblance to Jake.

Otto, a local hermit, begins building a giant ship, in the belief that the next apocalyptic flood is coming. Ben, Katya and Jackie set out to spy on this Second Noah, upsetting him. Ben finds himself briefly trapped in Ottos cabin. With Ben suffering nightmares from the experience, Julia, Paul and other Crocus citizens demand Otto be sent to an asylum. Jakes assurances that Otto is a harmless old man fall on deaf ears and only Ben can save him.

Julia gets cold feet on the eve of her second wedding, prompted in part by her discovery of strange feeling for Jake and her jealousy of his former flame, Emily Henchbaw. Ben decides Jake would be a better husband than Paul for his Ma and hatched a plan with Katya and Jackie to sabotage the wedding. Meanwhile, George Soloway proposes to Violet Bowdery, who is truly in love with Gate Gatenby. To wed or not wed that is the question!