"Running Ghost" is the eleventh episode of season 1 of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.
Cloud Dancing teaches Dr. Mike about the medicinal value of local plants. Dr. Mike discovers that the railroad has hired hunters to clear buffalo herds and Indians out of a proposed railroad path. Sully offers to speak to the buffalo hunters, but ends up badly beaten and partially paralyzed after a run-in with them. Cloud Dancing brings Sully to Dr. Mike and they fight to help Sully regain the use of his legs. Thaddeus Birch passes himself off as the railroad's advance man and swindles the townsfolk out of the deeds to their properties. As Sully recovers, Dr. Mike unmasks the con man's plan and saves the town. She tries to stop Sully from fighting Rankin, the leader of the buffalo hunters, and goes to the Cheyenne. Black Kettle says they won't interfere as it is Sully's fight, and Cloud Dancing tells Dr. Mike she is the only one he will listen to. When Sully confronts the buffalo hunters, a mystical white buffalo (Running Ghost) appears to avenge the animals' deaths. Sully fights Rankin and tells him to leave. As Rankin goes to shoot Sully, Running Ghost appears and kills Rankin.
This episode provides examples of:
- Con Man: Thaddeus Birch passes himself off as the railroad's advance man to swindle the townsfolk out of their property deeds.
- Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane: Maybe Running Ghost is just a big white buffalo. Or maybe Running Ghost is an avenging spirit...
- Single-Episode Handicap: Sully recovers from his partial paralysis by the end of the episode.
- That Old-Time Prescription: Cloud Dancing teaches Dr. Mike about the medicinal value of local plants.
- This Is Something He's Got to Do Himself: The Cheyenne consider the conflict with the buffalo hunters to be Sully's fight, and won't interfere.
