While Ben and Clay lead a covered wagon bearing Natalie through the Rocky Mountains toward her operation in Denver, Carter secretly watches from above. Mountain Man attacks Carter from behind and knocks him out, then takes Slade to his shack. Meanwhile, Ben pulls the wagon over in the midst of a snowstorm, and they seek shelter in a cave. Angered at the trespassers on his land, Mountain Man approaches the cave, intending to kill them. Carter awakens in the cabin and recognizes a photo of a woman and child from a recent newspaper article. He leaves to find Natalie. After knocking out Ben, Mountain Man abducts Natalie, believing her to be his wife. Clay follows Mountain Man to his cabin, but Mountain Man doubles back and knocks Clay out. He begins beating Clay, and Ghost Rider breaks in. Their fight weakens the ceiling, and as it begins to collapse, Mountain Man throws himself over Natalie, sacrificing his life to protect her. Clay tries to attack Ghost Rider, but the vigilante injures Clay’s leg. Ghost Rider carries Natalie from the cabin, stating he will take Natalie to Denver for her operation, then return to rescue Ben and Clay.
Ben accidentally shoots Natalie (GR #5, ’67). Ben vows to capture Ghost Rider.
Ghost Rider mistakenly refers to Ben as Riley’s brother. Story continues in WGun #3, ’70, where Natalie gets her operation, and in WGun #1/6, ’70, where Natalie recovers from her operation. Carter Slade dies in WGun #6, ’70. Jamie Jacobs will become the next Ghost Rider and is killed in action in WGun #7, ’71. Carter’s brother, Lincoln Slade, will take Jamie’s pace as the next Ghost Rider, also in WGun #7, ’71. Reno Jones will briefly become the next Ghost Rider in BGlory #3, ’00. Carter’s descendant in the modern day, Hamilton Slade, will become the new Ghost Rider in GR #56, ’81.
