02x14 - The Posse

[bunniefuu]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

Cattle, they die.

We can't afford to leave 'em to the wolves.

You leave us to the wolves.

Won't come to that.

If it does, you will not be the last to die.

[g*nf*re]

Let us gold find.

Gold find?

Take yourself a pan from the bottom. Take a look.

How big a strike do you think it is, Mr. Peasley?

Can't say for sure.

I'd say you're not gonna have a financial worry

rest of your life, Mr. Evans.

No matter what he says, I knew I had to fight

or be hanged right there in the barn.

You deliberately pointed my own g*n at me.

You deliberately took aim, and you shot me.

This man Luke Macahan, rode with a g*ng of outlaws

known as Flint's Raiders.

From the beginning I know about this k*ller kid.

This is a letter that..

...that Curt wrote to me before he was k*lled.

'"Luke and me were spendin' a lotta time together.'

"Me teaching him how to quick draw and sh**t."

'You have it in for Macahan, don't you?'

Just as you do.

I want him facing me for killin' my brother.

'Difference between us is'

I don't enjoy pullin' the wings off of flies.

- What's the matter with Doreen? - I think he roughed her up.

Young lady, I got to ask you what he did to you?

He was forcing me to do things and hurting me.

Oh, my God.

I can't see him breathing, Marshal

you must have really hurt him bad.

Get back.

[groans]

Now you hand up the p*stol, or I'll break it

if you breathe wrong. Alright.

Get up on your feet and open the door.

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

Josh, you've gotta sober up.

So we can get our heads together. Now, come on.

Two of us hangin' ain't far from talking

if you don't get something working for us here.

I'm tryin', Luke, I-I'm really tryin'.

Please, Luke. Le-let's rest.

[panting]

[panting]

You feelin' any better?

I ain't got any legs, Luke.

Can't you remember anything from tonight?

Talkin'.. Talkin' to Doreen.

You can't remember anything else?

I can't even stay awake, Luke!

It's alright, it's alright.

I gotta get to Judge Rensen.

I hope you don't believe that you and me together just..

...ain't a pack of trouble he don't need.

Come on, kid.

You wait for me her, huh?

Take this.

[instrumental music]

[dramatic music]

[dog barking]

[barking continues]

[knock on door]

[music continues]

Judge Rensen?

Judge Rensen, it's Luke Macahan.

Judge?

[music continues]

Oh, no.

[music intensifies]

It'd take the devil himself to do this, judge.

I guess somebody can..

...have a reason to blame this on me now.

[dog barking]

What's goin' on, boy?

[dramatic music]

[barking continues]

[dramatic music]

That Macahan feller.

[indistinct chattering]

Good to see you up and around, Eric.

Thank you, Marsh.

[piano music]

You need more thought to buyin' that north quarter mine.

You lost 'em.

I figure we can come to some sorta agreement.

[indistinct chattering]

[dramatic music]

Marshal! Marshal!

What's the trouble?

I saw that Macahan feller on the loose.

- He's broken jail? - He sure did.

Marshal!

[grunts]

Josh? Josh, no matter how bad you feel, I figure both of us

to be hangin' if we don't ride out fast.

No, no, no.

Josh! Now, Josh, you gotta. Rensen's dead.

- Dead? - Yeah, somebody k*lled him.

Let's go, Luke.

[water splashing]

[dramatic music]

Here, Luke, I can't do it.

[music continues]

You're gonna head this posse, Mr. Stillman?

Nobody listened to me but I had that kid right.

Cowardly, beaten..

You mean to tell me you didn't arrange for the judge's demise?

Take me for a damned fool?

Luke Macahan shot him.

He was seen runnin' from the judge's house.

Just doesn't figure out.

The only answer I can see is that the judge told Macahan

he was shipping him off to Missouri jail.

The boy's nerves took over.

Whatever. But I got it in my mind and I'm not gettin'

too much for the money I paid you.

Now, Mr. Stillman, once I make a commitment, I aim to keep it.

I arranged two of the best trackers in the southwest.

They're gonna meet you south of town.

They've worked for me before.

They'll follow your orders to the letter.

- To the letter? - You bet.

[Zachary] 'Hey, El.'

Zachary.

About last night..

...you said you didn't hear any shots fired.

No, but I was in the root cellar anyways.

I got back into the house and saw

Macahan headin' away from the judge's house.

My dog was barkin' at him.

Defies logic.

He must've got mad at the judge

after breakin' him and his brother from jail.

Well...we may well never know.

Now, these warrants authorize they may be taken dead or alive.

You and the others consider yourselves

to be deputized Marshals.

How does it feel to be back in the traces again?

I want you to put on a telegraph that I am guaranteein'

a reward of $5000 for the apprehension of Luke Macahan.

[Marshal Russell] 'What about his brother Josh?'

It's the older Macahan I'm interested in.

[instrumental music]

There's a gentleman downstairs just in from Chicago.

He wants to know if you're busy.

Young or old?

He's rich.

Well, that does even matters.

[cow mooing]

I had to chase that old cow all the way down to Peterson Meadow.

She's a wonder alright.

Do you remember Mr. Evans?

How would we forget him?

He's the one that gave us the bad news that our creek

is really on Mr. Peasley's land.

He's dead.

Yeah, Mr. Peterson's boy told me. He helped me chase the cow.

Seems Mr. Evans fell off his horse

and hit his head on a rock.

Oh, that's terrible.

It was a strange accident but I'll tell you when I come back.

'Where are you going with the cider, Jessie?'

Oh, Mr. Peasley asked me if we had somethin' cool to drink.

I'll tell you, Aunt Molly, with Mr. Peasley

out there in our barn working..

Well, I just don't feel too comfortable

is one way of putting it.

I know what you mean, Laura.

I think I once described him to Jessie as being unpredictable.

Though sometimes you do have to laugh at the things he says.

But at other times, somehow his words

just don't fit his expression.

Maybe that's what I'm tryin' to say.

Even when he tells a joke, only his mouth smiles.

His eyes never change expression.

You know, I'm still curious about the circumstances

surrounding his meeting your Uncle Zeb.

Didn't he say it was some quarrel

over a trapline in the mountains?

No, I..

But somehow, I have the feeling that it was

something much more serious than a quarrel

over a trapline, or so slight a matter.

[hammering]

Are you almost finished with that, Mr. Peasley?

Won't be long now.

I brought you some cider.

Thanks, that's really nice.

'Did you hear about Mr. Evans, land office man?'

No.

They found him on the old post road last night, dead.

Dead? What happened to him?

Well, the horse was standing by his body

and some people say that the saddle wasn't cinched properly.

When the saddle slipped around Mr. Evans fell off

and hit his head on a rock.

Isn't that a shame.

He just can't be too careful, you know.

All these accident and all..

[laughing]

See what I mean?

Mmm. It's good though.

You make that yourself?

[dramatic music]

[instrumental music]

Hey, Zeke, come out here.

- What you want? - There's somebody comin'.

[male #1] 'Oh, there ain't nobody comin'.'

You're always sayin' somebody's coming, and nothing's coming.

It's all in that knothead head of yours.

Then, Imma tell you somebody's comin'

'cause of the heap of dust out there.

[male #1] 'But there's always dust out there.'

Last week you said somebody's is comin'

and he was never there.

You get that spectacle of yours and put 'em on.

I'm tellin' you somebody's a-comin'.

You ain't never give me no answer yet

it's your day to do the cookin'.

I showed you tha-that calendar, didn't I?

What good the calendar? You don't know what day it is.

[whistling]

Hey, by golly, somebody is comin'!

That's what I told you, you swedginhead.

Yeah, but nobody was comin' when you said they were.

- Oh, you numbskull, you. - Somebody comin' now.

[male #2] 'I told you somebody was a-comin'.'

Well, they wasn't coming 'til I seen 'em coming, you knothead.

[Zeb] 'Let's keep the herd here.'

I'll go see if I can make a deal for some water.

Hell..

There's a whole herd of cattle out there.

[male #1] 'Oh, you're ailin' in the head.'

'That's a rider comin' this way.'

'I ain't talkin' about the ride.'

'I'm talkin' about 'em back there.'

'You just can't see that far.'

[Zeb] Howdy.

Good day to you.

Depends on how the day goes.

Well, I got a herd of thirsty cattle here.

Last time I was by this way, there was nobody livin' here.

You all, uh, considerin' this private land now?

Yes, we dug down a ways and got us double the flow.

That gives us the right to charge for our water.

I ain't disputin' that.

I got a herd here, I'm gonna have to water 'em for..

...three, four day, maybe a week or they can go on.

How much you aimin' payin' for our water?

How much you charge by the day?

$3 a head.

$3 a head?

I ain't worth no more than $2 you get in the market.

How do I know that? Never had no cattle passin' this way.

Well, I'm figurin' on chargin' you 20 cents a head.

Now, that's more like it. 20 cents a head, fair price.

'I'm little short on cash though.'

Would you mind if I paid you off in beef?

What are we gonna do with beef out here?

I tell you what.

With all this water here, they wouldn't spare you far.

They just graze and come on back.

You'd have meat anytime with you through poor times.

You got a pretty good idea, mister.

I told you that five years ago.

Would you mind if I name the price I can afford?

'For waterin' the herd here, we'll pay you'

three head for every day of water.

How many head of cattle you got?

We start with couple of hundred. We're down around 150 head now.

It will cost you five head a day for that many cattle water.

Exceptin' we can't water 150 head of cattle a day.

- Sure we can. - How do you know?

You said, there ain't no been no cattle through here before.

Heck, they'd drink up all our water.

No, no, mister.

Mister what?

Macahan is the name. Zeb Macahan.

It ain't a big water hole, we got here..

Macahan?

You ain't akin to them Macahan outlaws

we've been hearing about down in Los Mesa's way.

What are you talking about outlaws?

Well, the freight wagon man just passed here yesterday.

He said there's a big manhunt goin' on down Rio Grande way.

They've been a-huntin' two fellas by the name Lyle and Zeb.

Oh, it is Luke and Josh.

'You ain't got the memory of a last year's bird nest.'

You akin to 'em?

Them two would be my nephews.

'Look, I'd like you fellers to-to leave my drovers keep'

'the herd here 'til I get back.'

Whatever price you wanna agree on to the cattle

whatever you think is fair, it's alright with me.

Whatever we think is fair?

I gotta trust you.

Can't go wrong on that agreement.

- Trustin' fella, ain't he? - He's a smart fella.

He knows we wasn't gonna cheat him.

You wanna finish that checker game?

Or you wanna start complainin' about my moves?

It ain't the time you take..

...it's a sleeping you do before you make a move.

My dang hair can turn gray in that length of time.

Now I can leave the herd.

We gotta gotta head back and check on my nephews.

How long we wait here?

I should be back in a week or so.

Now, you just gonna be waterin' 'em and restin' 'em.

'I'm leaving you in full charge, One Wolf.'

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

Still comin' on. Looks like there's only four of 'em.

The others must have gave it up.

Uh, come on, Josh, get it off your mind. Just forget about it.

I can't forget about it.

Josh, he accused you of hurtin' her.

Maybe somethin' happened to me when I drank that wine.

Yeah. Yeah, somethin' happened to you, alright.

You passed out and the miss innocent went into her act.

Luke, I just don't wanna talk about it, okay?

Alright, we won't talk about it.

But right now there, brother, is our problem.

I don't know where Stillman and Grayson got those two, but..

...they sure know how to pick up a sign.

I thought you men knew your business.

Well, what is it? They couldn't have got this far ahead of us.

Well..

Mr. Stillman, these boys we're followin'

are about as expert at backtrack

and coverin' their signs as any we've run across.

You mean to tell me, we've lost the trail?

No, they passed this way midmornin'.

They're on tired horses, but they managed

to ride 'em up them slopes.

We won't get up there 'til dark.

Well, the only other choice is skirtin' the mountain.

That'll be a 30 mile ride ahead of us.

[male #3] 'From up there, they'd spot us and take off'

'in the opposite direction.'

Well, I suggest that we set up camp right here.

If we do, he'll beat us for sure.

No, I don't think that they will.

[dramatic music]

I'll give anything for a-a home cooked meal

roof over my head, and a mornin' hour's sleep.

Well, that ain't likely till we lose that bunch.

[footsteps approaching]

Somethin' goin' on?

Are they restin' for the night?

I sure hope so.

The way they've been doggin' us, it don't make sense

they'd waste any daylight time.

There's gonna be an hour or two daylight left.

Maybe they're wearin' down.

You know, like the others that went back.

[sighs]

Maybe.

[instrumental music]

[Luke] 'They'd sure have to wait 'til mornin''

'to risk comin' up these slopes.'

Now how far ahead is that town, you talked about?

It's on the flats on the other side of that mountain.

You think we can make it in dark?

We're riskin' the horse breakin' a leg, so..

...do some prayin' along the way.

[dramatic music]

[instrumental music]

Where did you pick up that trick?

Pulled it on a wrestler, figured I could be tired as he was.

What happened?

Gave him a decent burial.

Luke, I think I can sleep for a week.

We're gonna have to settle for about six hours.

[speaking Spanish]

[chuckles]

I didn't know, uh, you spoke Mexican.

Enough to get along.

I hid out about a year in Sonora.

Hey, senor, how much you pay for taking those horses?

Well, just how much are you gonna charge?

$5 a horse.

[scoffs] For one night?

We better settle this with a man.

My grandfather leaves the business things to me.

Just what is your business, thievery?

For those who are being followed, $5 is a cheap price.

- Who says we're bein' followed? - Yeah.

Dusty gringos are much hard to cross border.

They do not quarrel about price.

[sighs]

I predict this boy is gonna end up owning the whole town.

I think maybe he already does.

I bet Aunt Molly'd never guess the way her money's being spent.

Is there any chance we can get some food at the cantina

and possibly a couple of beds for the night?

It is my family's cantina.

[speaking Spanish]

I said meals are a dollar for you.

The place to sleep, I will arrange later.

Later?

For those who are being followed

there are safe places to sleep.

And places not so safe.

I will see you at the cantina. My name is Manuel.

Manuel, I predict a bright and prosperous future for you.

Thank you, senor.

[ambient music]

Ah, gracias, senorita.

[sighs]

- Come on, don't sleep. Eat. - Hmm.

- I'm too tired to eat, Luke. - You'll eat anyway.

We're riding all day tomorrow.

We're not stoppin' except to rest the horses.

[music continues]

Josh, I think we're gonna have to..

...we're gonna have to split up and go separate ways.

I-it'd be the smartest thing to do.

It's me they're after not you.

Leave you to ride alone?

Those men keep comin', I'm ridin' with you.

Josh, I can travel faster by myself.

You're just sayin' that.

Look, it'd help me a lot..

...if you just head on north tomorrow.

I'll make plenty of signs so that they follow me.

Believe me. It'll be a load of my mind

if I know that you're safe and on you way home.

But where will you be goin'?

I'll make a wide swing into Sonora

you know, where I told you I hid out before.

Uh-huh.

I got some friends near a place called Carbotorres.

They'll take care of me 'til all this blow is over.

How you like my sister's cookin'?

Good. Real good, Manuel.

You mentioned about somethin' about a safe place to sleep.

You rob banks? Rustlers?

No. No, nothing like that.

What then are you wanted for?

Stranglin' a kid who asks too many questions.

Because I like you

the safe place to sleep will be very cheap.

Afraid to ask the price.

Barred windows?

Looks more like a jail than a house.

The windows are barred so that people cannot enter.

The door has lock only on the inside.

Senores, you do not trust me?

I guess we'll have to.

How long you'll be in town, senores?

Just one night.

How much, Manuel?

A very safe place to stay.

I'm forced to ask $10.

[sighs]

Good thing we're not settlin' in for the summer.

But I have many unmarried sisters

an old aunt, and a grandfather.

Much responsibilities, or I could charge less.

But I like you.

So there'll be special rates, if you come back again.

[chuckles]

[sighs]

Well, first thing in the morning

we'll head up in the arroyos.

[snoring]

Yeah.

You were right about the first thing tonight.

[sighs]

[instrumental music]

[crowing]

Hey, poncho. Two Americans ride up here during the night?

[speaking Spanish]

No, senor.

You sure understand your own language.

I want answers, old man. Start talkin'.

'Leave him alone. Their horses are back here.'

[speaking Spanish]

You like to push old men around?

You mind your tongue, boy.

You talk like stupid gringo.

He's not far wrong.

Get a lot further if you have some decent manners.

Those two gringos, they are outlaws, yes?

Yes, there is a reward out for him.

You'll get a share if you'd tell us where they are now.

How much you pay now?

On account, you stop your monkey jabber

and tell us where they are.

Some gringos are more gringo than others.

They're staying at a hotel.

Other side of town.

'You take the back street to the last building on the left.'

There's a big sign on the hotel.

The sign says, Mariza Hotel.

Son..

Son, I passed this way before

and there's no hotel with a sign that says, hotel on it.

The last building in the east end of town

is a burned out hacienda.

In that small house, couple of hundred yards back

of the cantina used to be a reserve for travelers.

Is that where they're at?

I don't know such place.

[speaking Spanish]

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

[whispering] Josh.

Josh.

They're here.

Macahan, you and your brother got 10 seconds

to open that door.

They couldn't have ridden from the other side so fast.

They'd have to ride all night long, and that's what they did.

They outfoxed us with those cookin' fires they left burnin'.

Macahan, we know you in there. You got five seconds!

Luke.

If we give up, Josh, it's gonna be a hangin' party.

[g*nf*re]

[intense music]

They had enough time.

[g*nf*re]

[firing continues]

Josh, we don't got a chance.

Alright, let's smoke 'em out.

Now hold up, Stillman. Let's talk.

We got nothin' to talk about.

Look, I want to make a deal with you.

You let my brother ride outta here..

...and I'll surrender.

You come outta that door now!

No, Luke. I'm not lettin' you do that.

Let's go out shootin'.

Josh, the most we'd take one or two with us

but we still don't got a chance.

Senores.

Safehouse is one with tunnel.

Come.

My grandfather will have your horses is waiting.

[dramatic music]

How much do we owe you, Manuel?

- How much you got left? - Not much.

But name it, we'll see what we can do.

Too bad you didn't rob bank.

Someday you come back and pay double.

Thanks, Manuel.

[instrumental music]

It is my grandfather's house.

Who is paying for damages?

I oughta pin your ears to a fence post.

Go on.

Son, I'd like to save some time picking up their trail.

I'm guessing that $20 would buy the direction they took.

Money is nice.

But I think there are some things..

...one should not do for money.

Amigo?

Those two gringos, they do very bad things?

The older one did.

Well, it may be it was a mistake, and he's sorry.

Some people call me bad, and I think I make mistakes.

And I don't feel like I'm bad.

I'll think about it.

[instrumental music]

I won't need to answer this right away, Peter.

But thanks for hustling it over.

[Zeb] 'You the town marshal?'

What can I do for ya?

The name is Macahan. Zeb Macahan.

I could ask a couple of questions. You got a minute?

Yeah. I heard, uh, you're kind of a distant relative

of those two on the run.

Their uncle don't figure that too distant.

I got the latest on 'em right here.

Those nephews of yours appear to be taught real good

how to backtrack a trail.

'"Signed, Stillman."'

He in charge of this, posse?

He was duly deputized, and so were the others with him.

It says here, "Macahan is, still travelin' together

"crossed Rio, east to Carrizal."

Yeah, they leadin' that posse a merry chase.

I understood Josh was hurtin' when he left town.

Any word on how him and Luke is doin'?

Well, he was cited at times healthy enough for hard riding.

How many in that posse?

'It started out with a dozen or so.'

The locals couldn't keep up with Stillman, Frank Grayson

and two others, this Grayson, his brother

and Luke rode together in outlaw g*ng one time.

Luke never rode no outlaw g*ng, mister.

Who took Judge Rensen's place?

Zachary Knight was appointed circuit judge just last Monday.

Oh, no, no. I'm not agreein' with you there.

All my instincts tell me that Luke got to the house

after the judge was dead.

But it must be clear to you that Luke fleeing a scene

is legitimately being sought for suspicion of m*rder.

I'll tell you what's clear to me, judge. Luke figured

that neither one could get a deal in this town.

Now you hold on.

Judge Rensen and I, both handle the extradition matter.

And neither one of us was swallowing

any half twos from Stillman.

Now the whole problem is that Luke took

the law on his own hands by breakin' jail.

And it took the law out of our hands.

Now, I don't care how innocent or how wrong the man is.

He's gotta have faith that the law is gonna

get him his day in court.

Just a whole lotta fancy words, judge

don't mean nothin' in this case.

The facts are that this Stillman wanted Luke hurt in a worse way.

Anything that's happened to Luke

in this town is Stillman's doin'.

It wasn't Stillman who arranged for Luke to break jail.

He didn't arrange for Luke to steal horses

'flee the territory, take his brother with him.'

And incidentally stealing horses, you'll have to admit

is becoming a habit with Luke.

Who has it put out them Wanted posters on my nephews?

Me. It was a routine. I ordered them circulated.

And you claim you are on their side, a friend of theirs?

Puttin' out a Wanted poster like that means they're fair game

for anybody who wants to take a shot at 'em?

I understand you're becoming emotional about this.

But that boy Luke had Judge Rensen on his side

he had me on his side.

When he broke jail and took his brother with him

I lost interest in extending him any preferential treatment.

What about that gal Doreen?

You claim you figured she was telling the truth.

Well, I didn't said that, I said I took a testimony

and found nothing contradictory.

[knock on door]

The, uh, club opens at noon, big fella.

Not interested in the club, ma'am

I'm lookin' for a girl named Doreen.

Told she lives here.

She does.

Did you make arrangements with her about seeing her?

I wanted to talk to her about a business matter.

It's been a long weekend.

Just about everybody inside is asleep at this time.

You think maybe this would buy me about ten minutes with her?

Doreen? Doreen?

Clara, is that you?

What time is it?

Well, the gentleman says he has to talk business with you.

What's his name?

I don't know.

Does it matter?

Have breakfast send in for the gentleman.

Alright.

We, uh, have a mutual friend?

In a manner of speakin', young lady.

My name's Zebulon Macahan.

'Now you and me, young lady'

We got some talkin' to do about my nephew Josh.

I've got nothing to say to you.

'Oh, you got somethin' to say.'

Now, I wanna know everything

that happened in this room that night.

I wanna know what he said, what he did, what he was drinkin'.

He said nothing, got drunk, and abused me.

'Now you gettin' off to a bad start right there, young lady.'

'Cause I happen to know Josh pretty good.

Well, you start tellin' me somethin' about him

that I know couldn't be true

or your next statement's liable to be in front of the judge.

You could get in plenty of trouble if I screamed.

Well, it'll be gettin' a whole lot worse.

Now I asked you, what he was drinkin'.

I'm not gonna talk about that night anymore.

Alright, then let's talk about what it is you are afraid of.

I'm not gonna change my story, Mr. Macahan.

Bad things would happen to me if I talked.

[instrumental music]

Who you afraid of?

He'd hurt me if I said anything, as a lesson to the other girls.

'He'd hurt me bad, that's all I'm saying.'

Who's he?

In case you didn't know it, young lady

you're afraid of the wrong man.

[dramatic music]

- 'Who the hell are you?' - Get up.

Oh!

Who the hell are you?

Name's Macahan, mister.

'Now you and me is goin' down to jailhouse.'

You can come peaceable like or tied in a knot.

That's up to you.

Those are mighty magnificent words.

'Especially if you're..'

...backed up by that..

large knife there..

...and that very large g*n.

I ain't plannin' to use nothin' you but my bare hands, mister.

[grunts]

[screaming]

Might as well get dressed, lady.

Your friend won't be comin' back.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

I just don't like the idea of leavin' you to ride alone, Luke.

We don't have any choice, Josh.

Just head up along them rocks and stay in the riverbeds.

There will be no reason for them to follow you.

Say hello to Aunt Molly and the girls for me, alright?

I'll do that, Luke.

I'll be seein' you.

See ya.

[instrumental music]

You're saying, you weren't working with Britten?

I swear!

I didn't know he was threatening this girl to frame Josh Macahan.

Totally ignorant about what was going on.

What about Stillman?

Well, you heard him, judge.

He didn't wanna see a k*ller like Luke go free

that he did all on his own.

And I say, that's a lie.

Stillman was being protected by Britten.

You're relieved of all law enforcement function.

Official reason, stupidity.

And if you'd like to challenge my findings

I'll order a full hearing about all of your past activities.

Now get out of here.

Now...

Now the only thing we can prove here

is that Josh Macahan

was made to appear as an unreliable witness.

'So the governor would find against Luke'

'extradite him to Missouri.'

Of course, Judge Rensen bein' m*rder*d..

Did you hear anything at the club that might indicate

who shot the judge?

We heard rumors that somebody had sneaked into town

and had to pay off an old grudge.

Well, that's probably it, just a coincidence

that Luke visited the house a few minutes later.

The problem, Macahan, is that charge of suspicion of m*rder

hangin' over Luke is still valid.

'Any man, who flees this town as fast as his horse'

can carry him, has got a lot of explaining to do.

A little too late to do anything about that, judge.

But what about that posse of Stillman's

out there chasin' my nephews?

When we hear from Stillman

we'll order him to desist the pursuit.

You will tell him in Mexico?

It's a good place to bury the bodies and no questions asked.

Are you headin' out after them?

I will be.

Francis..

I, uh, I got some words to say to ya.

Might come to have some real importance

for ya one of these days.

'You know the little gal out there Doreen?'

Well, she's scareder of you than the devil itself.

Hmm.

I wonder why that would be?

You know, she is gonna be testifying against you.

And she is gonna be gettin' on a stage for Eastern parts

hoping never to see you again.

Well, I'll try to remember to wish her a pleasant trip.

Well, I hope you'll remember too, Francis

not to ever try and see her again.

'I'll tell you why.'

'I'm gonna be keepin' an eye on Doreen.'

If anything ever happens to her I'm gonna come lookin' for you.

Do you always take this long to make a point?

Only when a man I'm talkin' to has his life depended on it.

Now the point being is..

Anything ever happens to Doreen..

...anywhere, anytime, I'm gonna come after you.

[dramatic music]

And I'll make you a promise.

I'm gonna turn your hide over to the Apaches.

And then I'm gonna pay 'em

for every day they keep you alive..

...over a slow fire.

And I never broke a promise, Francis.

You think about that.

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

Mr. Macahan?

Mr. Macahan, when you see Josh again..

You think low of me.

Well, I feel low.

'You see, it wasn't just that Mr. Britten said he'd do'

'terrible things to me if I didn't help him but..'

...he'd see to it maybe Josh got hurt too.

There was no which way to turn.

But I'd like you to tell him..

...is that I'd like his forgiveness.

- I'll tell him. - Maybe you could say that I..

I enjoyed knowin' him.

I mean, I..

I almost felt about him, the way he did me.

I'll tell him, Doreen.

It ain't too late.

[instrumental music]

[sighs]

[music continues]

Yeah, the young one's crossin' the rocks.

And figure him to swing north when he gets past the river bed.

That's the younger boy heading home.

I don't give a damn about him. What about Luke Macahan?

Unless they changed horses, he is headin' west.

I'll lay odds he's gonna cross that Tygo River

and move in to Sonora.

We can shortcut.

I'm not gonna try outguessin' Macahan.

Stay right on his trail.

[dramatic music]

h*!

Layin' those tracks right out for us..

He's layin' a straight track to make sure we don't bother

followin' his brother.

By night or tomorrow, I'd be back playing games once again.

His sign will be disappearing from every piece

of high ground of water he hits.

If he gets to that Tygo River before us

we'll be a whole day pickin' up a true sign.

I'm thinkin' we got a way of eliminatin' guesswork.

'And the younger one, he'll know where his brother hid.'

I don't think it'd be that much trouble

to backtrack him and catch up with him.

You expect one brother to give information on the other?

Oh, he'll lie to us at first.

But after a while, he'd be beggin' us to believe him.

Well, looks like you and me part company here, Mr. Stillman.

You figure on straight trackin'?

I figure on it.

We've been doin' that but he's still ahead.

We find Josh, he'd tell us where he's hid.

We shortcut and be waitin' for him.

Well, sometimes the shortcuts are not to my likin'.

We'll have Luke's bones picked clean

under in no time you find him.

h*!

[dramatic music]

[instrumental music]

[Manuel] 'Senor!'

Your horse.

I take up to the livery..

What's you name there, young fella?

Manuel, senor.

I'll tell you, Manuel.

My horse's in pretty good shape but

maybe you can help me with somethin'.

I'm looking for a couple of young men

that might have rode through here in the last days.

Looked like they'd been on the trail a long time.

You seen anybody like that?

Here, that help you remember?

You want questions answered for $1?

You must be lawman.

[laughs] Hornswoggle!

No, sir. I ain't no lawman, young feller.

I'm related to them two I was askin' you about.

Now, you have seen 'em or aren't ya?

Related?

I'm their uncle.

Tio.

They rode away, but there were men who followed.

Ah, that's more like it, Manuel.

Now which way was they headin'?

West.

But knowin' they'll be followed

that would be smart to change directions, no?

Mm-hmm. You're right about that.

You know what I'm gonna do?

If I catch up my nephews, and bring them back here safe

I'm gonna see that you get a reward.

Thank you, senor.

But they won't be back this way safe.

The men who followed are more clever.

I say this liking your nephews.

They will not return this way safe.

Sure, hope you're wrong about that, Manuel.

[mellow music]

[horse neighing]

[Stillman] 'You know when two brothers split up on different trails'

'they usually let each other know where they're headin'.'

No we can go about this two ways.

You can either tell us the truth

'and we see it as the truth.'

Or you can start lyin'..

...and give us all a bad night.

I'm telling you nothin', Mr. Stillman.

[sighs]

You know, boy, these men here are paid good money

to get good results.

'I'm gonna take a walk down here'

'and see if the horse is alright.'

Water it and everything.

I'm not coming back 'til you're ready to talk.

You wouldn't believe what I said anyways.

Yes, I would, boy, if it was the truth.

Luke's on his way home about now.

Crossing the Rio.

Whatever has to be done.

[dramatic music]

[groans]

You'll talk to us, kid.

You'll get to the point where you won't be rememberin'

much of what's goin' on, but you'll talk.

[dramatic music]

[instrumental music]

He ain't dead.

He ain't far from it.

[music continues]

[music continues]

Pa, rider's comin' in.

[music continues]

Look at him, pa.

Man who lift a [indistinct] might serve his purpose.

'He appears to be just that, I'd say.'

I was wrong to bring a white boy in here, pa.

I just couldn't let him die.

No, son, you did what was right.

- Howdy. - Good morning to you.

I've been following a sign

around some tracks leadin' up here.

Well, we get a lotta people headin' down from the border.

The name's Macahan, Zeb Macahan.

I could sure use some information.

So to mind our own business, mister.

That's fair enough.

I've been trackin' a couple of young fellas.

Picked up a sign down by those sand-ridges leadin' up this way.

Sorry.

Now, mister, the wind covered most of them sign.

Looked to me like a burro might have brought him right in here.

But I aim to have a look in your house.

[g*n c*ck] You get your hands of that boy.

Mister, no need to hold a g*n on me.

He the one you've been hunting?

You aim on finishin' him off?

We got us some misunderstandin' here, mister.

This boy is my nephew.

Josh Macahan.

I'm sorry, mister, for the misunderstanding. I'm..

W-we sometimes get some bad people comin' through here.

'Um, when my son bring him in, h-he didn't say a word.'

'Found him this mornin', just lying in the desert'

'getting buried by the wind.'

It's me and my son, here.

Since my missus passed.

But we've been doin' all we can for him.

Is there a doctor anywhere near these parts?

No doctor's gonna come with you out here and you can't get him

that distance and expect him to be alive when you get there.

'There is one in San Galino, more than 50 miles away.'

When my son bring him here..

...we knew it was up to the almighty if he lived.

[Josh] 'Uncle Zeb.'

Josh.

I didn't tell them where Luke was.

Don't try to talk now, boy.

The-They couldn't make me tell.

[groans]

I didn't tell.

[mellow music]

Mister, I...appreciate what you've been doin' for him.

- Can he stay for a few days? - Well, you go home.

We'll do what we can for him.

[music continues]

When they left him..

...they didn't care if he'd live or die.

They'll be carin'.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

Uhh.

Ah.

Mr. Stillman, no doubt about it.

Luke Macahan's heading for the Tygo.

But right here is a village--

I told you to take it easy on that.

Alright, here...is a village

he's gotta stop at by the name of Del Oro.

He's got to stop there

because if he doesn't get his horse showered

he's gonna be in sorry trouble

trying to cross those Sonora wastes.

You sure he's headed for Sonora?

Well, I'd say old Luke ain't got too many ways open to him now.

Yeah, you were positive about that boy talking back there too.

Now he's taken a walk.

They're bound to run into a tough one every once in a while.

[horse clopping]

Uh-ha!

Now he's got to be following our trail.

Now, if that's who I think it is

we got another Macahan in our hands. Named Zeb.

I've heard about him. Never met him.

Well, he's not a man to tangle with.

'Indian's call him White Eagle.'

Some superstition in the tribe is that

the b*llet ain't been made yet that can k*ll him.

That's heathen nonsense.

[g*n loaded]

- You afraid of him? - No.

Just letting you know that he's kin to Luke and Josh

and we're gonna have to deal with him.

I don't see him as a problem.

He'd be interfering with the law

if he's taking the sides of those boys.

Now I don't think the fact that you're deputized

is gonna carry any weight with him.

You better ride on, Stillman.

What's the wrong with the three of us dealing with him?

Wh-what Lem means is, means you're a deputized law man.

Maybe there's a couple of things you shouldn't be seeing.

I'll wait up, boys.

[dramatic music]

Let's go.

[horse clopping]

[intense music]

Where do you know Zeb Macahan from?

Ah, couple of times scouting during the w*r.

Never exactly friends, eh?

Ah, we left each other alone.

I want you to wait till he gets real close

before we open up on him.

[music continues]

Here he comes.

[g*ns c*ck]

[music continues]

[horse clopping]

[dramatic music]

You all like beating up on young boys, do you?

How do you make out against a grown man on equal terms?

Now, Stillman was deputized to track down a k*ller.

Posse's got the right to get the job done anyway it can.

Mister, you're not worth wasting many words on.

[g*nf*re]

[g*nf*re]

[intense music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

[cats yowling]

[leaves rustling]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[g*nf*re]

[horse neighing]

Easy!

Hold! h*!

[firing continues]

[grunting]

[panting]

Uh.

[water trickling]

[g*nf*re]

[horse galloping]

[grunting]

[horse galloping]

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

[shouting] Macahan!

Afraid to show your face!

Afraid to face a one-armed man!

[g*nshots]

You're afraid of me, Macahan!

[g*n clattering]

Does it make you feel braver, Macahan?

Make you...make you show yourself now, Macahan

to face a man without a g*n!

[panting]

[footsteps]

You expect me to beg for my life?

Maybe you'd like me to crawl on my hands and knees

and beg you for some of that water?

It'll do you no good, mister.

I don't waste water on a dead man.

[instrumental music]

Alright, Stillman..

...all these years hounding my nephew Luke, why?

You-you are not blind.

He wasn't tryin' to k*ll you. He was just tryin' to get away.

- You was out to lynch him. - It was wartime.

You hung a horse thief

you didn't bother puttin' no cuddling joy together.

He wasn't even tryin' to steal that horse.

He was tryin' to make a getaway and you know it.

Damn Yankee marauders.

They loot and they steal!

They can't pass a house without burnin' it.

So that's it, huh?

You wanted a Yankee soldier boy, so you picked on Luke.

[laughing]

He'll still hang for k*lling Judge Rensen.

If Frank Grayson don't k*ll him first..

[chuckling]

Stillman, I was gonna stay here

and watch you shrivel up and blow away.

But I don't think I will.

It wouldn't be anymore than watching a sick rat die.

You ain't got the guts to k*ll me with your own hands.

I will let you think on it a while.

Every man needs a little time to think when he's gonna die..

...of the good things he did and the bad.

I guess you k*lled those two who went after your nephew Josh.

Yeah. That boy sure did a lot of screamin'.

Did you find him alive, Macahan?

[Stillman laughing]

I just took me a walk out in the night air..

...to listen to him screamin'.

[Stillman laughing]

You gotta hand it to him though.

Not saying where brother Luke was headed.

[dramatic music]

'See..'

[laughing] See, see, I-I was right.

If you hate a man enough, you'll k*ll him!

'Reason don't make that much difference.'

[breathing heavily] It's not the hating that counts..

...it's the killin'.

Go on, Macahan.

Pull that trigger.

'You know that good feeling just like I do.'

First, the hate and then the killin'.

There's just nothing like it.

[sobbing] You can feel it just like I do.

You can feel it. You can feel it.

[Stillman laughing]

Well, Macahan?

You can feel it.

It's the hate! It's the hate! It's the hate!

It's the hate!

[instrumental music]

[horse galloping]

[sobbing]

[crying]

[dramatic music]

Amigo.

[speaking in Spanish]

Gracias.

[speaking in Spanish]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[speaking in Spanish]

[Frank] 'Looks like I interrupted your dinner, Luke.'

This table was more to my liking.

You're sure a man who knows how to travel

without leaving too many signs.

I got a little lucky at the Grand.

I took a wild guess if you'd use the downstream crossing.

So there's no misunderstanding

I've got a g*n under this table pointing straight at your guts.

Well, just so you don't misunderstand..

...the second that I even smell you're ready

to pull that trigger, you're a dead man.

You're that good?

Always was.

And I still am..

...unless I don't see the years catching up with me.

[woman speaking in Spanish]

[sighing]

Grayson, you maybe able to draw and k*ll me..

...but you've got to know I'm gonna take you

right along with me.

Maybe.

But the only reason you're alive to this point..

...is because I'm curious

as to how Curt ever let a double dealer get in back of him.

Back of him?

You think I k*lled Curt?

Would you care to blame somebody else for putting

that b*llet in his back?

No.

No, I wouldn't.

'The reason that Jimson's Break newspaper never named the man'

who k*lled Curt was because they figured

that one of them Flint g*ng would come back on it for him.

Macahan, you're a hard one to figure out.

You're either the smoothest liar I've ever met..

...or you're the most misunderstood and innocent boy.

And that we both know..

...ain't true.

I don't claim to be innocent.

But I did not k*ll Curt.

'The man who did was sh**ting at an outlaw'

who was in the act of robbin' a gold train

so he cannot be blamed for what he did.

I never said I was blamin' anybody, but you.

[woman speaking in Spanish]

You told the sheriff that Flint was gonna hit that gold train?

Yeah.

I thought I had it arranged, so nobody would be getting hurt.

If you hadn't have interfered, would Curt be alive today?

Maybe.

Then you k*lled him.

I don't care who pulled the trigger.

You can go, amigo.

'Gracias, senor.'

Adios.

Have yourself a last glass of wine.

Frank, I'm gonna say this one more time.

Your brother was my friend.

If you think I haven't told myself a hundred times before

that he'd be alive today, if I'd been smarter, you are crazy.

That don't change anything.

I loved my brother and he trusted you.

And that trust k*lled him.

Frank, I'm..

...I'm just plain out of answers.

- Except.. - Except what?

Except both of us are gonna die here.

If you're as accurate as Curt said you were

yeah, maybe.

I'm gonna say one more last thing.

Something that's been on my mind since you showed up.

It's something your brother said

before he died.

Say it.

You see, after he was shot, I-I went to him.

He was laying there in the dirt, the g*n in his hand.

He had me covered.

Why didn't he k*ll you?

I thought he was going to.

He was there looking at me.

Closer to me than..

Closer than we are now.

He just said..

..."there's no sense in both of us dying."

So, that's what I'm saying to you right now.

Your brother gave me my life that day

when he could have taken it..

...but he didn't.

There's no sense in both of us dying.

[dramatic music]

[Zeb] h*!

[music continues]

[indistinct chattering]

[music continues]

Hold it right there.

My name's Zeb Macahan, looking for my nephew Luke.

Is he in there?

Uncle Zeb.

Luke.

You're alright?

Yeah, I'm-I'm fine. Just fine.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

Where is the boy? How is he?

Luke!

Josh.

[music continues]

Owe you more than I can ever pay.

You no owe me nothin'.

It's Almighty's doin'.

Never deny his help.

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

Wild cattle up around these parts, Uncle Zeb?

No, I figure this must've been our herd, Luke.

That one there, it's got Epman's brand on it.

Do you think those Indians just left without you?

Headed on north by themselves?

By looks of it, this herd come through here a day or two ago.

So, that means they must stay down there ten days or so.

Are they dyin' of thirst, Uncle Zeb?

[Zeb] That'd be a good guess.

They'll be able to catch up to you in the morning.

Let's go.

[music continues]

Josh, you didn't tell me about Jessie.

Being lost out in the desert, is she-she back now?

- Is she safe and all? - Everything's fine, Uncle Zeb.

A fellow by the name of Peasley sure was a help.

Peasley?

Oh, he was with Aunt Molly, Laura and me.

Name of Deek Peasley?

Yeah. He said he knew you. Had a run in with you once.

Josh, you mean Deek Peasley is back at the homestead

with our women folk?

Oh, no, sir. Aunt Molly owed him a $1,000 for his help.

He's just back there waitin' for his money.

- You sure he's gone? - Well, sure.

He only went into Elk Creek for the money

Aunt Molly promised him.

Seems to me, I've heard about a cutthroat called Peasley.

Luke, Deek Peasley ran the most vicious g*ng I ever run across.

He was wanted on the other side of the border

for scalping Mexican men and women.

Bringing the scalps back into Texas to sell for bounty.

Texas was paying bounty on Mexican scalps?

No, they was paying for Apache

but Apache was hard to come by.

That didn't make no difference to Peasley.

[Josh] He scalped women too?

[Zeb] Not only he scalped them, he abused them first, Josh.

How'd you get involved with him?

Well, some of his victims was friends of mine, Luke.

I found out what he'd done, I set out after him.

Caught up to him a couple of days later

and k*lled two of his men.

Carved Peasley up pretty good.

I figured they'd k*lled him too.

Then I found out later, they hadn't.

He knows I'll k*ll him outside the next time I see him.

Oh, I hate to see you ladies working like this.

Mining is not an easy life, is it, Molly?

Well, what worries me about all of this is that..

...our chores are being neglected.

You know, tomorrow we certainly have to start preparing..

Easy on the..

...for the fall planting.

Aunt Molly, what do we have to worry about planting for?

We're gonna be rich!

Well, for the very simple reason that "rich" remains to be seen.

How much do you figure we have now, Mr. Peasley?

Oh, we can figure the price of gold, it'd be about..

...$20 an ounce.

That's 95 ounces times 20..

You add five ounces, you got here called

a hundred in round figure.

That's $2,000.

In not even two weeks.

Divide it two ways, that makes $1,000 each side.

That's not too bad for a couple of weeks work, isn't it?

Oh, no, sir.

We set that sluice up down the creek, we might start seeing..

...oh, 5,000-10,000 a week.

$10,000 in a week?

[chuckling] Is that possible?

Why, anything's possible, Molly. It's like a dream.

Of course..

...we might see 20,000-30,000 dollars

then that creek might peter out.

You never know for sure.

Oh, well, we'd still be rich with $20,000 or $30,000.

With that we could buy a brand new ranch.

Yes, that's true but..

...well, to a more practical matter..

...Mr. Peasley..

...I gather from you speaking of Zeb Macahan that..

'Well, that you're not too eager to renew the acquaintance.'

Well, these differences that you spoke of

are they so great that they cannot be resolved?

Despite your help to this family?

Molly, I don't plan to be around here when Zeb gets back.

I'm gonna put my homestead and..

...my share of the creek into the hands of a lawyer

and pretty soon, I'm gonna be on my way.

Halfway between you and the lawyer

my rights will be protected.

- Oh! - We'd never cheat you.

I mean whatever gold we get from the creek

we'd see you get your share.

'Even Uncle Zeb being angry with you for something'

doesn't change our bargain.

Half the creek is yours.

Yeah.

Well, I figured we're all gonna..

...come out about even..

...who owes who, Zeb and me.

In fact, someday I will even see myself getting better.

[dramatic music]

Zeb being such a generous fella and all.

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

Mr. Macahan.

Mr. Macahan's back!

Hi, Mr. Macahan.

The herd won't go on.

No water.

You alright, son?

Yes, sir.

You know that growin' I told you you had to do back the agency..

..it looks like you sure got it, boy.

Come on.

One wolf.

What happened at the south waterhole?

You were suppose to wait for me there.

Water get low.

One wolf figure take chance, reach river.

There ain't no rivers around here.

Anybody get hurt here?

No one get hurt.

Cattle run around in circle.

Many die.

Many horses die too.

It look to me like there's more than 50 head left.

I just wanna say to you men that I'm proud of ya.

'Done a good job so far, stayed with this herd'

'you haven't run off.'

Now we got ways to go, we're gonna make it.

We got some mountains ahead, we're going over them.

Let's move 'em out.

Cattle not move.

I think maybe they will.

[instrumental music]

Alright.

'On your feet, big boy.'

Come on.

On your feet.

Hey, hey!

Up now!

Come on.

[music continues]

Up we go, big boy!

Come on.

On your feet.

[neighing]

'Hyah!'

Hyah!

Up, boy.

[mooing]

Move 'em out.

'Alright, get 'em on their feet.'

'Let's move 'em now.'

'Get 'em up.'

[music continues]

[male #1] Hya!

[mooing]

[music continues]

Ya-h*! Macahans.

'Macahans!'

I've got good news for the Macahans.

What is it, Jim?

The rumors we've been hearing about Zeb being close is true.

The herd's already crossed the south mesa.

They ought to be on their way today.

- Oh! Today? - You bet.

Governor's already in town.

And two stageloads of big-wigs

and the band's comin' over from Gold City.

[cheering]

Jim, are Josh and Luke with Zeb?

That's what I heard.

Why, there'll be the biggest celebration Elk Creek

has ever seen.

You best get the wagon hitched

if you wanna be there when they arrive.

[cheering]

Thank you for bringing the news, Mr. Turner.

Right, come on, we better get ready!

[sighing]

Paid out.

Did it to me again, didn't you?

No end to the rainbow.

[bottle pops]

[instrumental music]

[indistinct chattering]

Good morning, Mrs. Culhane.

Good morning, Mr. McGreevy.

Be careful.

- Thank you. - Hope you had a nice trip.

Oh, dusty! Oh, my!

Oh, it's gotta be a proud day for Zeb and all them braves.

Oh, indeed it is, Mr. McGreevy.

Come along, girls, let's take our places.

[indistinct chattering]

Careful!

Oh!

Here they come!

They're coming!

They're coming!

They're coming! They're here.

[band music]

[applause]

[cheering]

[cheering]

[music continues]

[cheering continues]

[music continues]

What?

It's less than a 25 head I can count.

I thought they were supposed to be a real big herd?

I hear they started with better than 200 head of cattle.

[music continues]

[cheering]

[band stops playing]

[indistinct chattering]

[indistinct chattering]

[cowbells chiming]

Aunt Molly.

They-they look so..

God, what they must've been through.

[cowbells chiming]

[indistinct chattering]

[indistinct chattering]

[Molly clapping]

[crowd cheering]

[band music]

Why do they treat us so..

...after we have failed?

[music continues]

[cheering continues]

[crowd cheering]

[Mr. Pennington] Mr. Macahan.

Congratulations.

What for?

What you see here is all we was able to bring through alive.

Ah, but you accomplished what you set out to do.

Yes, sir, you've carved a new cattle trail.

'All the newspapers in the country are writing'

about the Macahan Trail.

All the publicity, Washington got shamed

into sending beef to the agency.

Three hundred head.

You and your drovers will be celebrities in this territory

for a long, long time.

Good news, Mr. Pennington.

Good news!

[band music]

Hey, big brother, how about a ride?

You got it.

Lookin' forward to a home-cooked meal, sis.

How does chicken and dumpling sound?

[Josh] Couldn't think of anything better!

[cheering continues]

[music continues]

Oh, Mrs. Culhane, so good to see you.

Oh, Mrs. Parker.

You know, the governor's lady has been asking

to meet some of the Elk Creek ladies for tea at the hotel.

Quite a day, huh, McGreevy?

Oh, that it has been, Mr. Stone.

Mr. McGreevy

could you ready the buckboard for me?

I'll find Aunt Molly and head back to the farm.

Ms. Laura, I think I saw your aunt goin' towards the hotel.

That's where all the town ladies are meetin'

with the governor's wife.

The governor's wife?

Mr. McGreevy, maybe I could borrow a horse from you?

So I could go on ahead and get some cookin' started.

No need for that, I go past your farm, I'll be glad to drop you.

- Come on, my bucky's here. - Oh, that's kind of you.

I really appreciate this, Mr. Stone.

Oh, it's no trouble at all.

- All ready? - Yeah.

Let's go.

In addition to the cattle, we got our full allotment

of flour, sugar, grain, even medical supplies.

Zeb..

...and the Macahan Trace.

That's what the newspapers finally got around

to callin' it.

Can it ever be a true cattle trail?

I think it could.

We made a few mistakes, we learned a few things too.

'Next drive's gotta take place in the spring time.'

'After the winter rains.'

I'll tell you one thing..

...if they're gonna call it anything

they're gonna call it the Arapaho Trace.

'These men, they, uh, carved that trail.'

'They left one of their own behind there'

they have earned the right to call it that.

The Arapaho Trace..

...but not without Zeb Macahan.

[instrumental music]

Now, it is time..

...to take the cattle home.

[music continues]

Jeffrey, you know what I'm gonna do?

I'll see that you get a man's wages for that cattle drive.

You did a man-size job.

Gee, thanks, Mr. Macahan.

They're gonna make you a member of the tribe?

Yeah, an honorary member.

I understand you had a rough time lost out in the desert?

Yeah, but everything turned out just fine.

Mr. Peasley was a big help.

I know that fella well enough to know that

if there wasn't somethin' in it for him, he'd never help.

Oh, no, Mr. Peasley's our neighbor.

He's back there right now with Aunt molly and Laura?

Well, yes.

But I remember him sayin' something about

leavin' before you got up this way.

Uncle Zeb, you want me to go along?

No, it's somethin' I gotta do myself, Luke.

[dramatic music]

[Mr. Stone] Whoa! whoa.

Thank you, Mr. Stone.

[crickets chirping]

- Goodnight. - Goodnight, Ms. Laura.

Giddyup!

[glass clinking]

Mr. Peasley.

What're you doing in our house?

I was gettin' my goods together, pretty missy.

Where's your Aunt Molly?

Mr. Peasley!

You've taken our share of the gold.

I wouldn't exactly say "taken," Laura.

I'm sellin' a..

...selling a creek in my homestead for the share.

- I asked you about Molly? - Aunt Molly's in town.

You mean, the whole creek

and all of the gold in it would belong to us?

Yeah, that's about the size of it.

I kinda got the urge to move on.

- When's she gonna be back? - She'll be in later.

Oh, you haven't heard!

Uncle Zeb and the boys are back.

'There's quite a celebration in town.'

- Zeb's back? - 'It was so exciting.'

There was a band playing and everyone--

- When will they be here? - 'Uncle Zeb?'

Oh, he and my brothers took the cattle

to the Arapaho agency.

'I came in early to get dinner started.'

'Everyone comes in, they're gonna be hungry as..'

'...bears.'

Fair timing, I guess.

What?

Speakin' of hungry, Laura

how hungry are you?

[dramatic music]

I don't know what you mean.

Well, it means..

...you know how you wake up sometime

middle of the night, you're gonna..

...lay there just starin' up at the ceilin'?

You don't know what it is, but..

...oh, it's a starvin' kinda feelin'.

Mr. Peasley, uh..

...I don't want you talking like that.

How close you ever been to a man?

Maybe never.

I don't want you talking like that.

I bet you came back here tonight

because you just kinda figured

you'll find ol' Deek here alone.

And you thought, well..

...maybe you got some growin' up to do.

Easy now.

[sobbing]

Couldn't be that bad.

[lock rattling]

Huh.

[dramatic music]

[sobbing] No.

Oh, damn it.

Oh, come on, Laura, I don't..

You don't wanna get ol' Deek mad.

I don't like my meanness coming out on no pretty girl.

Oh, looks like you bested me.

[music continues]

All this time being wasted

you could be purring like a kitten about now.

'Oh, no.'

Laura.

Laura.

Peasley.

Laura.

Dear God.

Laura.

Laura.

[whimpering]

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[dramatic music]

Well, here we come, full about, pretty lady.

You wanna k*ll ol' Deek, don't you?

Well, you know it ain't gonna be easy

to pull that trigger, Molly.

Molly, Molly.

Molly, you've been buying me off for a long time

out there in the desert

knowing I could've had my way with you.

You knew what I wanted.

You wanted the same thing, didn't you?

Didn't you know it always had to come down to this

down to you and me?

Huh?

You know the creek here..

...panned out real quick.

Yeah, there's no more gold.

It was just a little baby pocket.

So, back to what's between Zeb and me.

You think Zeb's gonna know about this

and he's gonna be coming after me?

Well, I want him coming after me, Molly.

You know, he gave me that.

You know?

And this here, see that?

Ain't that something?

So I want him knowin' his Macahan ladies

even things between us

and I want him coming after me with that..

...digging into his guts so that

he's not thinking too much about himself.

You ain't gonna be able to use that

so why don't you put it down.

It's gonna happen, Molly.

[g*nsh*t]

[whimpering]

[groaning] Oh. Molly. Molly.

[whimpering]

[dramatic music]

'Oh, I'm dying, Molly.'

'That's gonna be the end of me.'

'I'm gonna be gettin' to you first.'

'I never got to Laura.'

'Laura not proper, you understand?'

'Heard that wagon coming and I didn't know'

'might be Zeb.'

'Sure interrupted something interesting.'

'I'm gonna get to you, pretty Molly.'

[thudding]

[g*nshots]

[whimpering]

[g*n clicking]

[music continues]

[crying]

[crying]

Aunt Molly.

Aunt Molly.

Oh, child, child.

[dramatic music]

[Zeb] 'Deek!'

I've been waitin' on you, Zeb.

[music continues]

Oh, Zeb.

I took a life.

I had to.

Molly, it's alright now.

It's all over. It's all over.

[crying] Oh!

[instrumental music]

[wagon approaching]

'Are we in Wyoming territory yet, Uncle Zeb?'

'Just a few miles ahead, Jessie.'

[Josh] 'I sure never seen country like this before.'

[Laura] 'Neither have I. It's so beautiful.'

[Molly] 'It is that, Laura.'

'I'm so glad we decided to move on.'

'But I never thought a year ago, I'd be a pioneer'

'crossing the west in a covered wagon.'

[Luke] 'Tell you the truth, Aunt Molly, I think you were born to it.'

[Molly] 'I don't know whether that's a compliment or not, Luke.'

It's so exciting, Zeb.

Everyday the land changes.

Well, that's why anybody spent much time on this country

can't stay away for long, Molly.

There's a place up north of the territory here

called Yellowstone.

They got fountains of water

that sh**t up a hundred foot in the air.

They got warm streams you can swim in all winter long.

You can cook eggs in a hot spring

right out by your front door.

- Honest? - Honest.

Why don't we go see it?

Oh, I thought we were going to Oregon.

Well, that's one of the good things

about being a pioneer, Molly.

You don't have answer to anybody, but yourself.

You can go wherever you want, stay as long as you want.

You don't have to pull up stakes till the spirit moves you.

I'll never get used to this family.

You've all got itchy feet.

If we go to Yellowstone

we can always stop by Jimson's Break and meet Hillary.

Oh, yes.

Are you really gonna marry her, Luke?

Well, not until I get things straightened out with the law.

I'd sure love you all to meet her.

Well, I think it's a wonderful idea.

How far is it, Luke?

It's three or four days north of here.

I was gonna leave once we got to Wyoming

but if we all went together..

Oh, let's do it.

I wanna see the girl who's got my big brother

thinking about marriage.

Well, Uncle Zeb?

Well, why not?

- Jessie, let's head 'em north. - Hya!

[Laura laughing]

[Molly] 'Something tickling your fancy, Laura?'

'Oh, I was just remembering what you said, Aunt Molly.'

'About this family having itchy feet.'

'We started for Oregon over eight years ago'

'and we're still nowhere near it.'

[Zeb] 'Well, I tell you, Laura.'

'Oregon ain't going anywhere'

'and you kids might as well see as much of the country'

'as you can while you're young enough to enjoy it.'

'There's more out here than anybody can see in a lifetime.'

'Why, there is Painted Desert'

'and huge trees turn to stone.'

'Canyons a mile deep and mountains..'

'Why, there's mountains that got meadows so green'

'makes your eyes ache just to look at 'em.'

'Yes sir, folks. It's a big country.'

'Real big country.'

'Maybe the greatest country in the whole damn world.'

[Molly] 'Zebulon.'

'Do try to mind your language in front of the children.'

[Zeb chuckling] 'Yes, ma'am.'

[instrumental music]

[theme music]

[music continues]