I must admit I don't know what to think about a lot of Adam's love interests. Pernell Roberts is an excellent actor and I've seen the lady that plays his love interest in this episode in other things and she impressed me with what I've seen her in. So I don't really know why a lot of these episodes leave me feeling lukewarm when it concerns trying to see on screen chemistry between the two characters. I even noticed this when it concerned Adam's serious relationship that occurs later on down the line. I didn't see any chemistry. Strangely enough I felt like Adam had the most chemistry with the lady in "Woman of Fire". Yeah, that character definitely needed to tone down some of her actions (breaking other peoples stuff) but Joan and Pernell did have hot chemistry even if the two characters aren't even meant to have lovers chemistry...
At least some of Adam's relationship storylines show a breakdown of why anything beyond this storyline won't work. You can be attracted to somebody sexually but if you don't have the same ideals, it's just not gonna work. Adam's a good guy. He's only gonna resort to violence if he truly has to. But the lady in this episode is a Quaker and traveling with other Quakers. Their beliefs include no violence. Not even for self defense purposes. That truly becomes a problem when you have a target on your back. Some men steal from the Quakers and kill the Quaker leader. It's not Adam's fault but he's a good enough guy that he does feel responsible/guilty for this guy being around at all. He does the right thing and tries to right the wrong he feels he committed. Although I don't think it was Adam's fault either. You can't control other peoples actions.
It's so strange watching these early seasons! So many of the characters are actually wearing different clothes!
I'd also say they're still tweaking with the characters personalities as well. I know I've watched season 1 episodes and it kinda cracks me up to see how the Cartwrights fall into that "Get off my lawn!" attitudes rather than the friendlier characters they end up becoming.