Alice Henderson, divorced single mother of Steve and Tamara, is in financial trouble but everyone's lives are forever changed when Alice is killed in a road accident.
Mike drives to Melbourne to break the news of their mother's death to Steve and Tammy. Upholding a promise made to their mother, Mike becomes the kids' guardian and moves the new family back to Haven Bay.
Cowboy and the others pull Steve and Ted to safety but any signs of a new friendship are quickly dispelled on the first day of school when Steve and Ted get into a fight.
Mission Impossible for Ted and Steve as they try to get food to Bill and Johnny, while Rutt Jones, Wheeler's right hand man stays on guard with a loaded shotgun.
Andy asks Steve not to sell Henderson's Point to Wheeler and to convince him, shows him a secret on the property - a series of ancient aboriginal cave paintings.
Steve goes to Henderson' Point to meet up with Malcolm Aston, a man claiming to be from the museum. Steve shows him the secret cave paintings but is disappointed to be told they aren't genuine.
Steve convinces the other kids that they need to tell Mike about Aston but when confronted, Aston denies ever saying he was from the museum but is a land valuer working for Wheeler.
Mr Morris gives Ted a job at his home. Char gives Tam a friendly warning that Cowboy is hers. Brains crashes into Glynis Wheeler's car on his new bike.
Relentlessly teased by his schoolmates, Trevor Cathcart has a bright future as a pianist. Tamara begins to appreciate Trevor's skills when she delivery groceries to the Cathcarts for Pat.
Glynnis is outraged by her green hair and wants to sue Char for incompetence. Char and her father go to the Wheelers to make a formal apology but Glynnis is adamant - the girl must be punished.
The return of Tam's horse raises alarm bells. All hands are out looking for Tam when she is found by Cowboy and brought home where she tells Steve and Mike about seeing their father with Wheeler.
Cowboy is settling in to the Henderson's causing Mike to push him to look for a job. Char asks her dad to hire Cowboy as a boat hand but his first day at sea is spent mostly leaning over the side of the boat.