Reno is prepared to fight off the entire group of Gray Fox's renegades when a Reverend enters the scene and takes Reno in trade for a box of rifles for the renegades. The two ride in his wagon, Reno bond, they confront a group of cavalrymen.
The Reverend Graves informs them of the natives and the cavalry thank him and move in for the kill. The reverend then ungags Reno which prompts Reno to ask why the Reverend is pushing both groups into fighting one another.
The Reverend explains that natives killed his family and the cavalry were too weak to grant him the vengeance he sought. Reno taking the initiative kicks the Reverend and knocks him out and then cuts his binds with the Reverend's knife.
Taking a horse from the wagon Reno rides back to the native camp to rescue the Kid and hopefully stop the bloodshed, although upon getting to the camp he sees that it is already surrounded and so Reno rides straight into the camp and warns the natives of the upcoming attack. The warning comes too late as the firing begins soon after.
Whilst this was going on Kid Cassidy is still recovering from his injures with the help of Rachel. Bandaged but weak he gathers his strength and readies to leave just in time to see Reno coming towards the hut.
Cassidy leaves the hut leaving Rachel behind due to her not wanting Reno to find out that she is Gray Fox's squaw. Upon meeting with Reno the two mount up just in time to be confronted by Reverend Graves who's gun is drawn. Reno grabs a gun of his own and the two seem to be at a stalemate.
Reno admitting to himself he couldn't shoot a reverend drops his revolver and then is shot by the Reverend which seems to have grazed him. Kid Cassidy seeing this grabs a rifle and shoots the Reverend in turn.
As he lay there dying from his wounds the Reverend confesses that he was right to be shot and that he had hoped that Reno and him could have been friends as it was after his family died that a black family was his only compatriots.
The two Gunhawks bury the Reverend but are sadden that they couldn't change his outlook before it was too late.
The two then return to the native camp which has since been turned into a graveyard of natives and cavalrymen. The Major seems to think it was worth the sacrifice and soon after Gray Fox somehow still alive as well comes riding through the camp with Rachel.
Reno seeing Rachel begins to mount a horse to begin his chase but is then knocked out by Cassidy who thinks to himself that this is what Rachel wanted but Reno wouldn't see it as such.
The Gunhawks series, including characters like Reno Jones and Kid Cassidy, often explores complex themes of loyalty, revenge, and the harsh realities of frontier justice. This episode centers around Reverend Graves, whose tragic past fuels a dangerous vendetta that manipulates both the native tribes and cavalry forces into deadly conflict. The Reverend's backstory—losing his family to natives and finding companionship only with a black family—adds emotional depth to his motivations, reflecting the nuanced portrayal of relationships and racial dynamics in the storyline. Reno and Cassidy's dynamic showcases the classic Western archetype of reluctant heroes caught in a morally ambiguous fight. Reno’s hesitation to shoot the Reverend despite the threat illustrates his personal code of ethics, contrasting with Cassidy’s pragmatic decisiveness. Their bond grows stronger amid the chaos, highlighting themes of friendship and trust against a backdrop of violence and betrayal. Rachel’s role introduces additional complexity, as her secret connection to Gray Fox creates tension and influences character decisions, particularly Cassidy’s choice to keep her identity hidden from Reno. This subplot enriches the narrative by delving into issues of identity and loyalty within the fraught environment. The use of firearms such as rifles and revolvers, as well as the arrival of cavalry and the depiction of native camps, grounds the story in the Western genre while emphasizing the harsh realities of 19th-century frontier conflicts. The grim outcome—a battlefield turned graveyard—underscores the tragic cost of vengeance and the challenges of achieving peace. Fans of Western comics and narratives will appreciate the layered storytelling that combines action with emotional and ethical dilemmas. The Reverend Graves character serves as a poignant example of how trauma can distort judgment and lead to destructive choices, making this Gunhawks story a compelling exploration of human conflict and consequences in a historical setting.
