"The Incident" is the fourth episode of season 2 of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.
Jake accidentally kills Little Eagle while hunting for deer with Loren, which instantly triggers hostile retaliation from the Cheyenne. Horace is wounded by an arrow and is intimidated into covering up the truth. Jake's apathy at what he has done and his decision to lie about it infuriate the Cheyenne. Tensions between the Cheyenne and townspeople mount as gossip surrounding the incident runs wild. Dog Soldiers attack the Wakefield family. Jake is kidnapped. Sully tries to negotiate his release but is thrown off the reservation. Horace's conscience finally gets the best of him under Myra's pressure and he admits the truth. Dorothy chastises Loren for his lies, and realizes she must print a retraction immediately. Dr. Mike decides to go to the reservation with Horace to sort things out. Despite being beaten by the Dog Soldiers, Jake tries to blame Horace. Sully finally gets the truth out of him and attempts to defend the townspeople against Cloud Dancing, who says Jake must die. Sully says Cloud Dancing taught him not to hate and that anger has clouded his judgement. Cloud Dancing and Sully fight and Michaela intervenes. Myra offers send a wire to the Army to help resolve the conflict, but Brian and Colleen cut the telegraph wires, fearful of what the Army would do to the Cheyenne. When the Cheyenne tribal council suggest war, Sully declares he is on the side of truth, and that if they wanted to start a war, start it with him. He offers his hunting knife to Cloud Dancing, who refuses to kill Sully and gives him his knife back. Chief Black Kettle decides that as long as there is one white man talking the Cheyenne will not die and that Jake must provide horses and food to the family of Little Eagle. After protesting, Jake gives them a silver pocket watch and a ring which his father gave him. Cloud Dancing also takes his horse he rode in on. When Jake asks "How am I supposed to get home?" Cloud Dancing says, "You may keep the shoes". Not wanting to be pitied, Jake refuses a ride home from Dr. Mike. Dr. Mike is informed of the army being called and Brian cutting the wires. When she says it was dangerous, and illegal, Colleen says to Dr. Mike, "You would have done it" and Sully says, "She's right".
This episode provides examples of:
- Cruel Mercy: Cloud Dancing takes Jake's horse as part of the restitution to Little Eagle's family, but does let him keep his shoes so he can walk home.
- Cut Phone Lines: A non-villainous example, where Brian and Colleen cut the telegraph wires, fearful of what the Army would do to the Cheyenne.
- I Just Shot Marvin in the Face: Jake accidentally shot Little Eagle while hunting.
- "Not So Different" Remark: When Michaela tells Brian and Colleen that cutting the telegraph wires was dangerous and illegal, Colleen responds, "You would have done it," and Sully agrees.
- The Savage Indian: Most of the Cheyenne are peaceful people, but the Dog Soldiers do act in aggressive, hostile, violent ways.
