In the season opener Jim Bronson takes a temp job at Hanrahan School, a summer camp for disturbed children run by noted therapist Edward Hanrahan and his daughter Doris Hanrahan. Doris is by chance an old girlfriend of Bronson. He becomes affected by a small autistic boy John known as ""the runner"" for his penchant to flee. Edward Hanrahan gives Bronson wide latitude in dealing with John and this leads to complications.

When Bronson's motorbike is inadvertently badly damaged by a careless gasoline attendant a grizzled oldster Alex lets Bronson use his ranch to make the needed repairs. Alex shows Bronson his old bike, an antique 1937 Rudge Ulster, that had been in storage for years. Soon, both are riding again and, since Alex had promised his wife Nora to abandon cycling, it leads to complications in his marriage and more.

Bronson travels to Colorado to find an old friend named Bucky O'Neill--a priest with a crisis of conscience. Bucky has fallen in love with Mary Draper and yet leaving the priesthood torments his conscience. Mary is tortured as well and blames herself for Bucky's dilemma. Moreover, she also believes she's destined to die giving childbirth. When she refuses medical help Bronson is forced to make a decision.