Hunt returns to Chicago in time for graduation and greets his new recruits. Hunt visits New Orleans, Austin, and Kansas City as he looks for a strong Deputy Marshal to promote to Marshal. Hunt realizes after returning to Chicago and studying reports that the best recruit was in Denver. Promoting this most beloved man would vastly weaken the Denver team. Before Hunt can make a move, he receives devastating news and is called to Washington for a meeting that could bring his career to an end. Hunt confronts Jacob D. Cox in Ulysses Grant's office, and President Grant is forced to intervene to prevent Hunt from hurting the inept Secretary of the Interior. Hunt travels to Mississippi to check on his new office and joins the team on a raid of a gang of bandits that have been causing a lot of trouble in the south since the war had ended. Hunt insists on President Grant allowing him to return to Denver and the President persuades Hunt to join Charles Crawford on a dangerous mission deep in Indian territory before he would consider granting Hunt his request. Hunt's favorite horse, Gunner, becomes ill and Hunt is forced to break a three-year-old at his ranch that as of yet has not allowed a rider to stay on his back.