Valentine’s Day formed the backdrop for the week, as Cherry tried to keep Mark on point for a romantic evening. However, Mark was distracted by his upcoming assignment to Salt Lake City and a bunch of “rampaging” horses. Unfortunately, he picked a bad (as in very late) time to reveal this information. So much for the evening. Well, if Rivera wants to have Cherry indulge in a bit of unrequited flirting over Valentine, I reckon that’s fine. Who can argue against romance?
So, it was Friday before Mark managed to get out of the house, into a plane, and land in Salt Lake City, only to be met by popular frenemy Diana Daggers, who may once again be his chauffeur and argumentative assistant. After all, that worked out so well in Texas!

Well, the title panel for today is most unusual, if not unique in the history of Rivera’s Sunday strips. Not every one of her custom title panels hits the mark, but many do, and her perseverance and imagination are commendable. But I just don’t get today’s title. Hmm, maybe I’m wrong, and it is designed that way to parody something that I’m not picking up. That sucks. Anyway, today’s subject is a classic Sunday Mark Trail nature topic that might have appeared at any time in the past 70 years, excluding the final panel, that is.