Mule team.
There it is, Evie. There's our house.
Giddy up.
Whoa.
Come on, Laban, let's bring some water.
Pa, there's no floor. It's just dirt.
Well, the first cattle we sell, | we'll put in a board floor.
Goodnight.
I want to go home.
- You are home. | - I don't want to stay.
She'll be all right.
She just misses her mama.
You'll have the shotgun, Evie...
and enough supplies to last you | at least a month.
A month.
I shouldn't be gone much longer than that.
I've set aside $50. Use it if you need it.
Yes, Jacob.
I never promised you much, Evie...
and it isn't much.
But the land is ours.
And all that the land becomes | will be ours, too.
Bye, Ruth.
- You look after these women now, Son. | - Yes, sir, I will.
When I get back, | we'll be in the cattle business.
Whoa.
Come on, Ruth.
Heel, toe, and a one, two, three.
Give me your hands.
Giddy up.
Sorry, Ben.
Evie, what have I done to...
Somebody's coming!
Giddy up, there.
Whoa.
What in the Lord's name | are you folks doing here?
I'm Mrs. Jacob Teale, and this is Laban, | and this is Ruthie.
Ma'am.
This gent here is Beaver Sampson. | He's riding shotgun against Indians.
The gentleman getting down | from the coach is Tom Wildy.
He's the superintendent of the stage line...
Lord help him.
I'm Charlie McCloud.
We're taking the first stage through | to La Mesa.
Come in. You must be hungry.
We weren't expecting company, | but I'm sure we can find something.
Laban, get me an armful of wood.
You'll forgive our astonishment, | Mrs. Teale...
but we were told there was | no one living in this area at all.
Anyone tell you | this was Indian country, ma'am?
We haven't seen any, | but we've only gone for firewood.
We've stayed close to home.
Is Mr. Teale about?
No. He's gone to the settlements | to buy cattle.
Teale?
I haven't heard that name.
Not that I know everyone | that passes through...
but a man buying cattle, | you'd usually hear about such things.
Yes. Well, come in.
Your cabin is quite well built.
My husband built it himself.
- It took quite some time. | - I imagine so.
Mrs. Teale...
we'll be running somewhat | of a makeshift affair for a while...
and I wonder if you would consider | taking on the feeding of our passengers...
until we get our stations established?
You could make yourself, | as well as the company, a bit of money.
That's scarce, I presume.
Yes, I could do that.
- We would have to lay in supplies. | - Of course.
You'd be saving us a lot of trouble | and expense...
if you could handle this | until we get settled down.
You make up a list, and I'll have McCloud | bring it in on the next stage.
Sure.
How are you with horses, son?
Could you harness the teams for us | until your pa gets home?
Yes, sir. I hitched up and drove | when we came west from Missouri.
You'll be our hostler then.
- Will the stages come often? | - Not at first.
Two or three a week | and then every other day.
One going east and one going west.
It'll depend on the business.
Would you pass that jelly, please?
They'll be bringing the horses out | in about two weeks, Mrs. Teale.
We'll see that a load of feed for them | gets here before they do.
Thank you.
You keep a close look out | for Indians, ma'am.
They ain't been troublesome, lately...
but you never can tell | when they might start up again.
Never give them anything. | They take that as a sign of fear.
Make them trade. They cotton to that.
Thank you, Mr. McCloud. I will remember.
Thanks again for everything, Mrs. Teale.
Mrs. Teale...
if I happen to see your man, | I'll tell him you're all faring well.
- Thank you kindly. | - Ma'am.
Newt! Walken!
I think I'm gonna have to make | a bigger corral.
Go to the house!
Whoa.
- Howdy, hostler. | - Howdy, Mr. McCloud.
- Howdy, Mrs. Teale. | - Mr. McCloud.
Please come in.
Ma'am, this here is Kiowa Staples.
Looks like he run into something | in the dark.
It was a no-account saddle bum | named Conagher.
Yeah, I misjudged him.
Next time we meet...
it won't be our fists we'll be using.
Come on, Kiowa, | you brought it on yourself.
You pushed the gent too far.
Now, you think about it, | you won't blame him none.
I won't be blaming him none...
but I'll kill him.
Get ready, boy! | We're bringing in the horses!
Get in there!
- I hear you're the hostler here. | - Yes, sir.
Well, there's a stage coming through, | nigh onto noon, so you be set and ready.
- Any chance to get some grub? | - I'll ask Ma.
I'm Chris Mahler, son.
This galoot, here, sporting the remains | of a shiner, is Conn Conagher.
Steer clear of him, boy. | He's got a burr under his saddle.
Don't listen to him, son. | I'm a right peace-loving man.
Who gave you the black eye?
Nobody gave it to me, son. I fought for it.
Won't you gentlemen come in for a bite? | Food's ready.
I'll take that kindly, ma'am.
Come on, Conn. Let's eat and ride.
You build this corral all by yourself, son?
Yes, sir.
You did a good job.
Must have been a lot of fun | digging in this rocky ground, huh?
Yes, sir.
When you lay the roof on your shelter, | there...
you ought to try | overlapping them boards a little bit.
Start at the bottom | and set the next one a mite higher.
- Help the water run off better. | - Thanks.
Yes, sir. Let's eat.
Boy, I like that.
Nothing like a wide-open view.
Thank you, son.
Get back in there.
Your father will be very proud of you.
You've done a good bit of work | since he left.
No complaints, either.
I'm proud of you, too.
You know, I like that Mr. Conagher.
Yeah.
I don't know. | He seems different than the others.
Come in soon, Laban.
Hell of a thing, leaving a woman | and two kids out there all alone.
What do you figure?
Should we go on in?
We're getting paid for the job, ain't we?
We get out of here, | we'll get them in there by dark.
Who's there?
It's an apostle with an epistle.
Open up, you sod buster, and let a man in.
You all put your horses | in the stable over there...
then come on in. | I'll get the coffee on the fire. Come on in.
Reminds me of a cowpuncher | who went to wash his feet one spring...
and found he had two pairs of socks on | he didn't know he had.
What're you gonna do | when you pay off, Conagher?
Gonna get drunk?
Nope.
I'm gonna rustle me a job.
Someplace I can put my feet | under the table for the winter.
I'm for sleep. Where can I bed down?
Any place you can find.
Don't make me no never mind.
You'll just have to sleep on the floor, | but I don't care.
You've been holding out on us, | Mrs. Teale...
them's the first cookies | I've known you to make.
I didn't know you liked them, | Mr. McCloud.
- Sometimes I make fried cakes, too. | - You do?
Oh, Lordy.
You'll have to forgive us, ladies. | The place is rather primitive.
I'd better go see about the stock.
Mrs. Teale.
Thank you, ma'am.
But it's so desolate out here.
Yes.
But there's something here.
Come over here.
I miss the things that we had back east...
the band concerts and dances.
The only time we see anybody | is when the stage passes through.
But I love it here.
You don't know what music is | until you hear the wind in the cedars.
Someday, I'm going to get on a horse | and ride over there...
until I can see the other side.
If there is another side.
Where is your husband?
I think he's gone.
He left to buy cattle | over three months ago...
and that's just too long with no word.
I suppose there's always a chance, but...
No.
He's gone.
- What's the matter, Sis? | - Nothing. Leave me alone.
Ruthie?
He's not dead. He's not. | My daddy's not dead.
It's been too long.
We would have had word by now | or he would have been home.
He can't be dead. You don't know.
No, I don't know...
but I feel it.
- I feel it in my bones. | - What does that mean?
You remember how you felt | when your mama died?
Kind of lost and empty?
I felt that same way | when my own daddy died.
I feel it now.
But he can't be gone.
I'll never see him again.
I didn't even get to say goodbye.
It's just us now.
I love you.
What's wrong?
I saw an Indian...
over there in the junipers.
Oh, God.
Laban, Ruthie, come here!
- Let's go in. | - Don't be so bossy.
Ruth, come now!
Let me go! Put me down!
- What's wrong, Ma? | - Indians.
Laban, they mustn't know we're afraid.
All right, Ma.
What is it that you want?
Grub. You give us grub.
I'm sorry. I have none to spare.
You give us grub. We take horses. | We take cow.
We don't want trouble!
You mustn't come here like this!
Go!
Tell that man to leave the horses alone!
You got one, Ma.
Killed him for sure. | Another one's bleeding something awful.
God, I forgot all about the stage.
God.
I'm all right, ma'am. How's Joe?
- We could move him to the table. | - Better not. He might be gut shot.
I've got hot water on the hearth | and I've got bandages.
- I don't know much about wounds. | - I do. I've seen a good many.
Been to a lot of shooting towns.
Hurry, ma'am!
Thank God you got a sod roof.
We have to move that coach. | They'll burn it and the cabin.
- It's stone. | - Makes no difference.
They'll burn the door down | and shoot through the hole.
One of the horses is down.
Cut him loose, man. Here. Take this.
Good work, Evans.
Much obliged, Mrs. Teale. | You saved my life, for sure.
That moon's gonna light this place up | like high noon, ma'am.
He don't look too good.
That's 'cause he's dead.
Will they stay and fight, Mr. Evans?
I figure they'll pull out.
I figure they'll pick up their dead...
maybe try for the horses. | Then they're likely to go.
They'll go, all right.
They ain't out to win no medals.
Thank you.
Are you all right?
Where are you headed?
West.
Maybe San Francisco.
You're lucky. | You got a real nice family here.
There's a rustler's brand, if I ever saw one.
Damn cold out there.
Too cold.
Makes a man wonder what he did | with his summer wages.
Don't know anybody around here | who's looking for a hand, do you?
- Well, there's a... | - Can't say I do.
Mister, I'm in a swapping mood.
I need a box of.44 cartridges | and some beans and coffee.
What do you have to swap?
I usually do | a cash-on-the-barrelhead business.
It'll stand cleaning.
Unusual for a man to want to swap rifles.
They belonged to a pair of Apaches | that jumped me up in the Mogollons.
There was three of them.
Had quite a go around | for a couple of minutes.
Three Apaches?
You're lucky you got your hair.
You said there was three | of them Apaches, mister?
Yeah.
How come you're only swapping | with two rifles?
'Cause I only killed two of them.
Wounded the third, | but he made it to cover.
Well, did you go in after him | and hunt him down?
Mister, nobody but a fool would | go into the rocks after a wounded Apache.
I'll swap.
I'll give you a couple of dollars...
and throw in an extra box of.44s...
for them you used up in the fight.
Most Apaches around here is good people.
It's them south-of-the-border Apaches | that give us trouble.
They attacked a stage station | down the line where that woman runs it.
Teale?
- They didn't kill her? | - No.
She made up quite a fight.
She and them youngsters.
Then the stage came in all bloodied up...
but amongst them they fought them off.
Might as well sit down | and have some coffee.
You ain't going far tonight.
Thanks. I'll move on.
Mind if I ask your name?
Name's Conagher.
You should have got here | a mite earlier, Smoke.
Yeah? How's that?
That rider that just left...
called himself Conagher.
I'll see if it's him.
Hold it, Staples.
I mean to kill that son of a bitch.
Do your killing on your own time.
Come on, let's get drunk.
Come on.
How are you sod busters doing?
Sod busters?
Laban, would you bring us | some more water?
You riding the grub line | or looking for a job?
A job, if I can get it.
A meal, if I can't.
You got any sand?
I won't have any man a riding for me...
who's gonna turn and run for town | the first time he sees a pony track.
I've fought Indians. Rustlers, too.
I don't think much of town anyway.
Well, supper will be on the table | in about a half an hour.
You got time to wash up | and stow your belongings.
Now, in this outfit I furnish the horses | and ammunition.
I allow no fighting among my hands...
and any time you can't stand up | to the work...
I'll give you two days' grub | and a head start.
- Does that sound fair? | - Yes, sir.
Look what the cat dragged in.
The old man hire you?
Hell, somebody's got to do the work.
Now I can see why he was so anxious | to get a good man.
What happened to your job | with the stage line?
Well, you know me, Conn.
Never did much like sitting | at one place too long...
doing the same thing every day.
So you quit a good town job | so you could ride line this time of year?
It's the pay.
- Pay's better here. | - Yeah, sure it is.
Anything strike you peculiar | about this setup?
What do you mean "peculiar"?
Hiring men this time of year.
Usually the old hands hang around | for the winter months.
Let's eat.
Feed's real good. You never ate such grub.
The old man found some chef | got throwed out of some hotel back east.
Damn good food.
Men can't work well on poor feed.
If old Johnny were here, | he'd be licking these plates clean.
McGivern?
Yeah. He rode in with me.
You'll see him out there tomorrow | on your swing.
Good.
Conagher, I might as well tell you now.
Two of my hands just up and quit...
just before Mahler and McGivern rode in.
Do you share any range | with the Ladder Five?
What do you know about the Ladder Five?
I saw a couple of their hands | over at Horse Springs station.
None of them was too friendly.
We've had no trouble with them yet.
I'd never seen them before. | Never expect to again.
I just come here hunting a riding job.
I wouldn't say any more about the Five...
if I was you.
No need letting the old man | get his wind up.
None of my affair.
I just want a place to sit out the winter.
You know a man out there on a horse...
all alone...
would be a sitting duck | for a man with a rifle.
It'd be real foolish to risk that now, | wouldn't it?
What's eating you, Conagher?
You tell me.
I assume Mahler gave you | the lay of the land.
I think he's told me what I need to know.
Conagher...
I got nothing but respect | for an honest cowhand.
I take a man's money, Mr. Tay, | I ride for the brand.
Get back.
Get back.
Where are you going with them steers?
Back to their home range.
As you can see, they're ST cows.
I don't believe I know you.
Are you a new rider for Tay?
- Name's Conagher. | - I'm Tile Coker.
You'd better have a chat | with Chris Mahler.
We've talked before.
Me and Chris rode for the stage company | a while back.
You the gent | that busted up Kiowa Staples?
- We had a difficulty. | - I heard about it.
You and Chris should get | better acquainted.
Save us all some trouble.
Maybe.
- Conn. | - Pretty song.
Thanks.
Those cows seem to be | in pretty good shape.
I've seen a few of them drifting though.
Yeah?
Did you see anybody?
Only a puncher named Coker.
Rides for the Ladder Five.
Did you talk much?
No, not much.
Good coffee.
My ma taught me.
- Yeah? | - Yeah.
Only she had to work 'cause my pa was | killed in a train crash when I was six.
She had nerve.
Takes nerve to bring up a boy | when a woman's alone.
I always wished I could have known | what my pa was like.
Yeah, a boy should know his pa.
Needs someone to look up to.
There was a man, | worked in a store near us.
Sometimes when we hadn't any money, | he'd let us have groceries anyway...
till we could pay.
I don't know if ma ever did manage | to pay him all of it.
Someday you ought to go back | and find out.
Pay what you owe.
I've thought about it.
You think I should?
- Conn? | - Yeah?
Why didn't you draw on Kiowa?
You mean, was I afraid?
Staples didn't need killing.
He needed to be taught a lesson.
He would have killed you | if he had the chance.
He might have.
I'll tell you something, kid...
any man who kills | when he can do otherwise is crazy...
is plumb crazy.
Some men take the side of killing, Johnny.
Just make sure | when the killing time comes...
you're standing on the right side.
Whoa!
- Howdy, Mr. McCloud. | - Howdy, son.
Hi, son.
- Howdy, Mrs. Teale. | - Mr. McCloud.
They're kind of beat up | but here's some reading for you.
Thank you.
- No passengers today. | - No, ma'am, not today.
Just Sampson and myself.
You wouldn't happen to have | any of those cookies, would you?
You bet.
Been reading poems, Mrs. Teale?
In the evening. I sit outside.
Is something wrong?
Mrs. Teale, this ain't easy for me...
and I'm sure it must be | a lot harder for you...
but something, | be it Indians, or thieves, or nature...
has taken your husband.
We know that, Mr. McCloud.
Is there something else?
Yes, ma'am.
In a couple of weeks...
Red Rock Station is going to be finished.
We'll be stopping there instead of here.
Stopping...
Yes, ma'am.
I know you've been making | something off of us...
but the time's almost at an end.
How are you folks going to make it?
We had hoped to have a herd by now.
Yes, ma'am.
Mrs. Teale...
you and those young ones | would be a lot better off in town.
And you'd have a lot better chance | of finding a good man there, too.
The children and I are staying here.
And if I marry again, Mr. McCloud, | it will be only for love.
Yes, ma'am.
I've got to be going, Mrs. Teale...
but I'll come by when I can | and check on you.
Thank you, Mr. McCloud.
Thank you for everything. | You've been a good friend.
- I won't forget you. | - Yes, ma'am.
Thank you.
"Sometimes, when I'm alone...
"I feel I will die...
"if I do not talk to someone...
"and I am alone so much.
"I love to hear the wind in the grass...
"or in the cedars."
We already ate, but the coffee's still hot.
Well, thanks.
Any trouble?
No, not yet, but it's coming.
I don't know you, cowboy, | and you don't know me...
but you got any ideas | about bucking trouble...
I'm afraid you're going to have | to go it alone.
You won't help me?
I'm up into my 70s, boy. | I got a bum ticker to boot.
I was kind of hoping | to just live out my days...
and not die out on some sandy slope | with lead in my guts.
If they get me out on that range, | they'll kill me for sure...
then just take my cattle as they please. | Nobody to stop them.
What if they come after you?
They come after me, I'll damn sure fight.
You better keep your rifle handy.
What's got into you, Conn?
We got a good thing going here, | you play your cards right.
- You do what you like, Chris. | - There's no need to stir up trouble.
You were looking for a place to set up | for the winter, right?
You got it.
So why don't you just sit still | and ride it out?
Come springtime, you can drift.
Take a man's money | and do the job he paid me for.
I don't know no other way.
No, I guess you don't.
You're no tenderfoot.
The Ladder Five is Smoke Parnell's outfit.
You run afoul of them, | and they'll nail your hide to the barn door.
Tell me something, Chris.
Where do you stand?
You riding for the brand...
or you running scared?
Or are you selling out to that damn bunch | of highbinders on the Five?
I ought to make you | draw your gun for that.
Damn you, Conn, you're pushing me.
Seems to me, | I'm the one who's being pushed.
You're a damn fool.
They're gonna clean | that old man out by spring.
Now, you can do your job...
and look the other way, | or you can set yourself up for a target.
You got a choice.
No, you got a choice.
You can throw your pack on your horse | and ride out of here tonight...
or you can go for that gun.
All right.
I'm pulling out.
I'm taking Johnny with me...
and that just leaves you and the old man.
How far is that gonna take you?
None of us is gonna get out of this alive.
That's the only thing | a man knows about life.
- What's going on? | - I just quit.
- Get your gear, we're heading out. | - Where?
I'm joining up with the Five.
- Is this your doing? | - Nope, it's his.
He decided he couldn't swindle a man | who paid him honest wages.
You talk too much.
Come on, kid.
You're my partner, ain't you?
- Well, sure, Chris, but... | - Are you coming or not?
You boys saddled this bronc, | let's see if you can ride it.
I'm staying here, Chris.
To hell with both of you.
"When I was a little girl...
"I dreamed of a handsome knight.
"He'd come on a white charger | and carry me away."
That lets you out.
"Last night I walked out | and looked up at the stars.
"How I wish I knew | the names of the stars."
Jackson!
- Get on, damn it, get on. | - Get your foot out of the damn stirrup.
Come on.
Let's get out of here.
That old horse of yours | looks plumb tuckered out.
Yeah, he's paying the price | for me making you shorthanded.
If you're worried about Mahler, don't.
I'd have done more than just run him off.
We pushed a lot of cows | back into the hills today.
Good. See any riders?
Smoke Parnell and a couple of his men.
Kind of stirred the pot a mite.
Smoke seemed kind of mad.
- Did you see Mahler? | - Nope.
That figures.
You'd better eat | and get yourself some rest.
I'll stand watch the rest of the night. | McGivern will be up at first light.
There you go.
She ain't writing to you, saddle bum.
Good shot, old man.
- Conn, you okay? | - Okay, Johnny.
- You hit bad? | - Yes, damn you.
You came asking for it. | I didn't send no invites.
Are you gonna help me?
You got a man hurt down here!
You want to come and get him, | put your rifle down and come on!
Hold your fire! I'm coming down.
He's gut shot, | and I can't take him back up that hill.
Bring him inside.
Do you want me to drop my gun belt?
No, keep it. If you feel lucky, grab for it.
Easy, boy.
You don't think too much of us, do you?
Bunch of two-bit thieves | that'd rustle an old man's cows?
You ought to think about | quitting this bunch.
Can you do anything for him?
The man's dying, kid.
Now, get back up that hill.
You come after me again, | you'd better be using that gun...
'cause I'm gonna be aiming for your guts.
- You're a hard man, Conagher. | - It's a hard country, kid.
You're bleeding all over my bed, cowboy.
I'm hurt bad, damn you.
Jackson.
He used to ride for me. | He was a good hand, too.
Then he took to riding | with that Ladder Five outfit.
What do you reckon it is | that makes a man go to hell that way?
It's the money, Mr. Tay.
Ain't it?
Give us a hand here, Johnny.
The money.
God help us if that's all it is.
- Storm's coming. | - Sure looks like it.
Conagher, I saw them. | Tile Coker and three others.
Where?
About four miles east, | pushing 25-30 head north.
Goes to snowing, it'll cover their tracks.
I'll get my gear and follow them.
Keep your eye open, Johnny.
Ma, I heard something back there.
Sounded like a lot of cattle bawling, | some men with them.
- Did they see you? | - I don't think so.
I just saw them | kind of shadow-like through the rain.
Ruthie, go in and stoke up the fire.
When I get done here, we'll have supper.
Who's there?
It's a half-drowned cowpuncher | looking to come in out of the rain.
Howdy, Mrs. Teale.
Mr. Conagher, won't you come in?
I better see to my horse.
- I'll get him. | - Wait, I'm coming, too.
- Where on earth did you come from? | - A ranch south of here.
- Go on over by the fire. | - Thank you, ma'am.
- Hey, your roof leaks. | - Yes.
- How long have you been out there? | - A couple of days.
- Here. Have some soup. | - Thank you, ma'am.
My name is Evie.
I rubbed your horse down, sir. | Sorry we have no grain.
Feed that mustang grain, | he'd figure you was trying to poison him.
Thank you, son.
That horse has come a far piece.
Kind of bad weather to be traveling in.
I was following some rustled cattle.
Lost their trail in the rain and the dark.
- Seen any cows? | - Yes, sir. I saw some.
I think they're being held in a corral | over back of us.
- Back in the mountains a few miles. | - How many men?
I don't know, sir. | Maybe only a couple. Might be more.
We could send word by the next stage...
and the sheriff | could come over from La Mesa.
Ma'am, I reckon I'll just mosey up there | and start them cows back.
If you could wait a couple of days, | we might get some help for you.
Mrs. Teale, any man who asks for help | better not start out in the first place.
- Goodnight, Mom. | - Goodnight, Ruthie.
Thank you, ma'am.
- Goodnight, son. | - Goodnight, Mr. Conagher.
I heard about your skirmish | with the Indian.
That seems like an age ago.
Things have such a way of passing here.
- Your man never came back. | - No.
I know that Jacob was killed | or injured in some terrible way.
He wasn't a man | just to go off and stay gone.
All right. Get back.
I said, back up.
Where's the other two?
Out for a walk.
Get over there and get the horses saddled | and be quick about it.
Come on, Coker, get inside | and throw out the coats.
- Damned if I will. | - You'll be damned if you don't.
Come up with any iron, | you'll be lying there next to your partner.
For God's sakes, man, you ain't | gonna leave me here to bleed to death.
Just lie there | and be glad you ain't gut shot.
What about our outfits?
To hell with your outfits. Get new ones.
Parnell's gonna kill you for this.
The sheriff down at La Mesa | is just waiting for you.
- So your best bet's east. | - East?
There ain't a town or place for 50 miles.
That's the life of an outlaw. Tough, ain't it?
Son, how'd you like | to make a couple of dollars...
and take a free ride on the stage?
Yes, sir, I'd like it. | What do you want me to do?
Help me take that herd to La Mesa.
- Is it all right, ma? Can I go? | - Yes, you can.
You'll take good care of him, | Mr. Conagher?
Yes, ma'am.
Likely he'll take good care of me.
My pa was gonna | go into the cattle business.
Maybe you'll do it for him some day.
My old man figured I was loco | when I started punching cows.
How old were you?
About 12.
You keep shy of me until we leave.
The saloon is no place for a boy.
- We got business to do. | - Yes, sir.
You Tom Webb?
- I am. | - I ride for the ST.
I got 27 head of good cattle | down at the pens I'd like to sell.
I could use the cattle, | but isn't this an odd time to be selling?
This is recovered stolen stock.
It's too far a piece | to drive them back to the outfit.
What happened?
I trailed them to a cabin | north of Mrs. Teale's place...
recovered the stock, and then me and | this other cowpuncher drove them here.
Any idea who the men were?
They were all riding Ladder Five horses.
Let's walk over and look at those cattle.
"Oh, Balan, two bodies thou hast slain, | and one heart...
"and two hearts in one body, | and two souls thou hast lost.
"And therewith she took the sword | from her love that lay dead...
"and fell to the ground in a swoon."
Well, looky here.
I knew I hit him.
Okay, back-shooter, where is he? | The idea was to trap him.
I'll find him and I'll kill him. | What difference does it make?
Okay, damn it. Spread out. Let's find him.
Smoke.
He's around here somewhere.
If he went over here, he's a dead man.
You can never tell about him. | I want to make sure.
We'll head back to the outfit and get Chris.
See what's going on at Tay's place.
How much longer are you gonna stay?
We'll keep looking until dark. | We'll pull out in the morning.
Splendid.
Damn you, Parnell, | just lay there and don't even scratch.
You dish up a plate of that grub.
Just reach over and ladle it up.
Now, Parnell, I'm gonna ride out of here...
and you boys are going to get up | and leave the country.
You've had your try at me and you failed.
Come noon tomorrow, | I'm gonna come hunting you...
and I'm gonna shoot on sight.
- Meet your maker, Conagher! | - Come on, Staples!
There's one dead one already.
You're loco. Plumb, completely loco.
Just loco enough | to give you a running start.
Damn!
You get over there and get my horse.
Hell, you're so weak, you can hardly stand.
You want to see how weak I am, | try for your gun.
No. You got just enough sand left in you | to kill me.
Get over there. Go on, get over there.
Si. Montana. That's a good idea.
You gonna kill him?
Kill him?
Kid, you don't know | what you're talking about.
I may be an outlaw, but I never | murdered anybody in cold blood...
and least of all an hombre.
What are we gonna do now?
Me and Pete are heading for Montana.
What about me, Smoke?
You stay here with him, | until he's well enough to ride...
and then you take him to Seaborn Tay.
He's worth more to this country | than that whole outfit.
If you ever get to be | half the hombre he is...
you come back and ride with me.
That is, if you think | you're still cut out for an outlaw.
Damn it, son.
Why do you have to go | tomcatting off across the country?
You could build yourself a nice place here.
Rightly, a piece of it's yours.
I'll be back some spring, | following the wild geese.
So long, Mr. Tay.
Adios.
I'm a damn fool.
Come here. Back. Damn it.
Beer.
Hey, Conagher.
How about a drink?
You buy, I'll drink.
What are you up to, Conagher?
Drifting again?
I got tumbleweed fever.
You, too?
Half the cowboys in the country | are chasing tumbleweed.
Somebody found a note on one of them. | That started the whole thing.
A note? What kind of note?
Some girl up north. | I guess she's from up north.
She's been writing notes | with poetry and things in them...
tying them to tumbleweeds.
Just goes to show you | what happens if you're alone too long.
How do you know she's alone?
That's what the notes look like.
Cowboys over east of here | are taking bets...
whether or not she's tall, skinny, | or short and fat...
blonde or brunette.
She's probably got a husband...
who's wider between the shoulders | than he is between the eyes.
She's probably got married | and had a couple of young ones...
since she wrote those notes.
How's that Mrs. Teale doing?
She had a hard winter, I guess.
I haven't talked to her | in two or three months.
I see her every time the stage coach | rolls past there. They always wave.
Mighty fine woman, Mr. Conagher.
You might want to ride out there | and pay her a visit.
No, I'm heading north.
I wonder whatever happened | to her husband.
Anything could have happened to him.
How many men do you know | just ride off and disappear?
Thanks, McCloud.
Howdy, Mrs. Teale.
Mr. Conagher.
Just passing through...
I thought I'd stop by and see | how you folks made it through the winter.
We've been fine.
I was just picking some greens. | Will you stay for supper?
Yes, ma'am, if you'll let me contribute.
I've got some things in my bag here | you might use.
That's very generous. I accept. Thank you.
Laban was asking about you the other day.
- How are you doing, son? | - Just fine, sir.
Hello, girl.
Come help me wash these.
- This is for your ma. | - Yes, sir.
I sure am glad you came back.
I'm sorry, ma'am. | I haven't got a clean shirt.
That's quite all right, Mr. Conagher. | Please sit down.
Thank you.
That was a fine meal, Mrs. Teale.
Thank you.
Goodnight, Mr. Conagher.
Goodnight, ma'am.
Thanks, girl.
You got a nice place here, Mrs. Teale.
I like to hear the wind in the grass.
Figured you'd pulled your freight.
Heard you quit on the old man.
Lot of good it did you, | risking your neck for Tay's outfit.
A couple of good men | are dead because of it.
Not because of anything I did. | I was just doing my job.
You weren't thinking I was doing mine.
You quit the old man when he needed you | and took up with the Five.
That's a damn lie.
We both know I'm not lying.
Never did like you, Conagher.
No, I never did.
I'm sorry, ma'am.
I'm sure he came here to see you.
Doesn't matter.
You were about to say something.
Just before Mr. Mahler rode up, | you started to say something.
I don't recall.
Mrs. Teale, I reckon I'd better drift.
I know that you have things to do.
You've helped us.
We were having a bad time, you know.
- Well, ma'am... | - Yes?
I'll be coming back this way someday.
Maybe you ought to take this...
so you'll have something for me to eat | when I do.
I don't want to pay you, ma'am, | but I want to feel free to come back.
You don't have to leave money. | You can come anytime.
I hope you will.
We don't have much company...
now that the stage | doesn't stop here anymore.
It's very lonely.
Yes, ma'am.
It sure must be.
Goodbye, Mrs. Teale.
Goodbye, Mr. Conagher.
I'm as dumb as a post.
Hey, Conagher, I heard | you was stopping over at Mrs. Teale's.
I thought you two | was going to get together.
What have I got to offer that woman?
Don't ask me. Let her tell you.
As far as I'm concerned, | you're just a no-account saloon brawler...
- who'd rather fight than eat. | - That's it.
- Where are you going? | - I'm gonna go get drunk.
When I wake up, I'm heading north.
Hey, Sam, watch them. | I'm gonna go get a drink, myself.
A bottle of whiskey.
Heard you were in town.
So I came over here | to see what an honest man does...
when he's away from home.
Mahler, I'm minding my own business.
You got it stuck in your craw | 'cause you rode out and I didn't.
That was your business.
So let it lie.
Suppose I don't want to.
Everywhere I go I hear | what a tough man Conn Conagher is.
I ain't seen none of your graveyards.
Damn you, Conn. Listen to me!
Make sense and I'll listen. | Sit down, I'll buy you a drink.
All right, you don't want to drink, | pull up a chair and I'll order some grub.
We can just sit here and talk. | I ain't going nowhere.
That man you shot | in the hills back of Teale's...
was Shorty Sparks, my saddle partner.
That man was a damn rustler.
He tried to shoot me in the back.
You want a beating? You'll get it.
No man alive | has ever beat me with his fists.
Mr. Conagher.
I think you should come home now.
Home?
Mr. McCloud, help me. I'm afraid he's hurt.
Him? Hurt? | You couldn't hurt him with an axe.
Too much mule in him.
Why'd you come here?
We need you.
We all felt lost.
I don't know what.
I know what, we can make a start.
You wrote these notes, didn't you?
I remember out there that night | you said something...
about the wind on the grass.
I was lonely.
I had to talk...
to write to someone...
and there was no one.
There was, Evie.