"Orphan Train" is the sixteenth episode of season 2 of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.
When a group of orphans from New York arrive in Colorado Springs, Jake and Loren take an immediate dislike to them, but the Reverend and Dr. Mike volunteer to take them in. Dr. Mike diagnoses Scurvy, Anaemia, and Rickets. Dr. Mike, Matthew, Brian, and Colleen struggle with the orphans' behavior and Brian and Colleen have trouble sharing their things and their space with other children. When the Reverend volunteers to find homes for some orphans, the townspeople refuse to take them in, wanting only servants. Sully is upset with Dr. Mike for trying to change everything all the time. Jennifer, the eldest of the orphans comes to Hank looking for a job. Meanwhile, Michaela warns Colleen and Brian not to be selfish and to be grateful for the things they do have. Later, Myra has a talk with Jennifer about what she is getting into. After taking the orphans out on a picnic, Dr. Mike considers a marriage proposal from the Reverend, after he shaves his beard off for her in order to provide eight newly arrived orphans with an instant family. Sully and Matthew see the Reverend kiss Michaela after he proposes, and Matthew confronts Michaela. He tells Dr. Mike how Brian and Colleen feel. Dr. Mike tells Brian and Colleen about the Reverend's proposal which upsets them. Hank tells Myra if the girl comes to work for him, he will let Myra out of her contract. Brian tells Dorothy the Reverend is going to marry Dr. Mike, and Dorothy prints it. Dr. Mike and Sully argue about the orphans and whether she is in love with the Reverend or not. When Sully leaves the clinic, Dr. Mike realizes she might have made a dreadful mistake. Loren forces the eldest boy to stop smoking. Robert E makes a fake leg for a crippled boy, Jennifer's brother. Myra decides to keep her contract so the girl won't have to go through what she went through. Hank says he loves Myra but she tells him he doesn't know what love is, to Hank's disappointment. At Grace's cafe, Dr. Mike denies the Reverend's proposal, saying that it would be for the wrong reason, that she doesn't love him, and they decide to send the children to a Reverend in another town. Dr. Mike apologizes to Sully, Matthew, Colleen, and Brian and explains why. And they forgive her.
This episode provides examples of:
- Hooker with a Heart of Gold: Myra lets Jennifer know what she would be getting into working for Hank, and ultimately decides to keep her own contract with Hank so Jennifer won't have to go through what she went through.
- Hot for Preacher: Inverted. It's the Reverend who falls for Mike while they're trying to find homes for the orphans.
- Love Triangle: Michaela ends up in one with the Reverend and Sully.
- Orphan's Ordeal: The orphans are malnourished and desperate, and the townspeople refuse to adopt them, wanting only servants.
- Radish Cure: An orphan boy keeps stealing Loren's cigars. Loren finally tells him that he can have them as long as he smokes them all in the store, in one sitting. The boy ends up hating them as a result.
- Remarrying for Your Kids: A variant, where the Reverend proposes to Michaela so they can adopt the orphans.
