"A Cowboy's Lullaby" is the tenth episode of season 1 of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.
Dr. Mike takes in Red McCall, a down-and-out cowboy, and his ailing "half-breed" infant boy. McCall leaves the baby with Dr. Mike, robs Loren's store, and flees. Emily gives advice to Dr. Mike about the baby, who tries to find a home for him, but potential parents prove unwilling or unsuitable. When she travels to a remote cabin to check on the health of Luke Silver as a favor to the Reverend, she finds him badly mangled from a bear attack. The next morning Dr. Mike finds her patient dead, she buries him. While she is finishing the grave, a brown bear turns up and her horse is frightened off. She's trapped in the cabin. Meanwhile Sully and Wolf go searching for Dr. Mike. Sully arrives at Luke Silver's farm, and Dr. Mike warns him of the approaching bear. They both take refuge together in the barn. They both escape after Sully traps the bear in the barn. Colleen and Brian decide to take the baby to Jake. Later, Chief Black Kettle refuses to take the child because he can't feed his own children. He advises Dr. Mike she can raise the child better. Dr. Mike decides she'd rather raise the child herself than turn him over to an orphanage. Sully has a talk with McCall. McCall asks for the baby back and decides to call him Mike.
This episode provides examples of:
- Bears Are Bad News: One kills Luke Silver and traps Dr. Mike in the cabin.
- "Near and Dear" Baby Naming: Red McCall calls his baby Mike, in honor of Dr. Mike.
- Parental Abandonment: Red McCall leaves his baby with Dr. Mike, robs Loren's store, and flees.
- Screw Politeness, I'm a Senior!: Dr. Mike runs into one such senior (a nudist).Dr. Mike: May I ask you a question? Why don't you have clothes on?
Old man: I'm 73 years old. And I figure I'd do as I damn well please.
