"Father's Day" is the seventh episode of season 1 of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.
Ethan Cooper arrives in Colorado Springs "a reformed man" ready to reconnect with the children he abandoned who are now in Dr. Mike's care. Brian, Colleen, and eventually Matthew are drawn into his orbit, and Michaela feels helpless and confused. The townspeople plan a Founders Day Auction to raise money for the new school. Dr. Mike joins the ladies’ quilting circle where she clashes with Miss Olive over small pox vaccinations, Dr. Mike's auction donation. Eventually, Ethan reveals himself to be a con man whose real intention is to steal the town's auction proceeds, a scheme foiled by a suspicious Sully. Sully and Matthew let Ethan leave town and keep the truth about him from Brian and Colleen. Sully learns to ride a horse. Matthew finally dances with Ingrid at the church social.
This episode provides examples of:
- Disappeared Dad: Ethan Cooper walked out on Charlotte and their kids when his dreams of striking it rich in the Pike's Peak gold rush didn't pan out.
- Falsely Reformed Villain: Ethan Cooper claims to be "a reformed man" but it's just part of another scheme.
- Get Out!: Sully and Matthew let Ethan leave town.
- Visit by Divorced Dad: Though he's not divorced from Michaela, Ethan Cooper shows up again. He abandoned Charlotte years ago and took her half of their nest egg, something Matthew is old enough to remember and hold against him.
