Rawhide (1959) s04e02 Episode Script
Sendoff
Hyah! Rollin', rollin', rollin' Rollin', rollin', rollin' Keep movin', movin', movin' Though they're disapprovin' Keep them dogies movin' Rawhide Don't try to understand 'em Just rope and throw and brand 'em Soon we'll be living high and wide My heart's calculatin' My true love will be waitin' Be waiting at the end of my ride Move 'em on, head 'em up, head 'em up, move 'em on Move 'em on, head 'em up Rawhide Let 'em out, ride 'em in, ride 'em in, let 'em out Cut 'em out, ride 'em in - Rawhide - Rollin', rollin', rollin' Hyahl All right, let's kick those brushes.
Get him up.
Well, go on.
Go after him.
Don't just sit there.
How are you supposed to get anything in there? What? Are you afraid of a little brush? I'm not afraid of brush.
It's just that I had enough to last me a lifetime in the last three weeks.
Besides, I'm tired of getting cut up on these thorns.
Oh, now, that is too bad.
Yeah, well, maybe it isn't worth it.
We're getting a herd for nothing.
You know how much these critters are getting at the gathering ground? Look, boss, I know you're trying to do something good for us.
But you know, we're all wore out.
We got enough cattle already.
You haven't got more than 1,000 a head.
And don't forget we 800 more head we got to pick up in San Anton'.
And we can handle more than 3,000, so we keep working.
Pete, you take over here.
- Where you going? - See the men on the other side of the creek.
Well, let's see what's in here.
Who are you? You're the one that's trespassing.
Who would live in this place? That's no business of yours.
Just keep on moving.
- Not until I get that steer.
- It ain't yours.
I didn't see any brand on it.
I got as much right to it than anyone.
You'll be a long day getting it the way you was going at it.
I suppose you can do better? Well, I'd be dead long ago if I couldn't.
Well, there he is, boy.
Go get him.
Hyah.
Hey, you ought kind of hold on your horse out here.
It's a long ways back to camp.
I'll be all right as soon as I get that critter.
Here comes the boss.
We better get going.
Howdy.
These gentle ones? You're looking at them.
I sure could use some gentle ones to help me with the wild ones.
I ain't in the cattle business.
Oh, I'd pay a good price.
I said they ain't for sale.
Oh, say, I come across the ruins of wagon train up there.
You know anything about it? You can see for yourself.
Indians got them.
Comanches come through in a raid.
They all wiped out? Well, you saw it.
You think anybody would walk away from a thing like that? Well, if it's privacy you want.
You the boss of this outfit? Yeah.
That's right.
Yeah, and you trying to get yourself a herd by picking up these brush cattle here one at a time? You know any other way? Well, now if you knew what you could do, you could pick up maybe 3, 400 head at once in a bunch with no trouble at all.
Well, if I knew what I was doing, what would I be doing? Well, spotting the lead steers.
Lead steers? Out here? Yeah, they got their own herds, and they gather around the water holes.
Only trouble with that is I haven't seen many water holes.
You ain't seen many steers, either.
You pick up three, four bunches like that, you'd have your herd in no time at all without this brush popping.
You're the only one who knows how do that.
You want a job? Job? Riding with you? Find us the beef.
I'd pay you two bits a head.
Find us around 400, you can pick yourself up an easy $100.
Naw, I said I ain't in the cattle business.
You got anything better to do? Look, we'll take the gentle ones off your hands, too.
Between the two, you can pick up a nice stake.
Maybe enough to get out of this brush.
My name's Jed.
Jed.
The other name don't matter.
Fair enough.
My name's Favor.
You read to go? No, no, I'll meet you here around sundown.
You give me enough men to handle the cattle.
Haze these into the bunch.
Bring back every man you can spare.
We'll eat fast and head back out.
You ain't serious about following that crazy old coot, are you? That crazy old coot could show us stuff in that bush we'd never believe was there.
Oh, I don't know.
There's something strange about him.
Sure, he's probably ducking some sheriff from somewhere.
That's none of our business.
All we want him to do is show us where we can pick up some beef.
- I think he can do it.
- I don't know.
Look, you was the one complaining about getting the job done fast.
This is your big chance.
Sure good you're back.
We got all kinds of company.
Riders from all the ranches and a sheriff.
You Mr.
Favor? That's right.
I'm Sheriff Blaine.
You the boss of this outfit? What can I do for you? Well, these are reps from some of the ranches around here, Mr.
Favor.
The boys want to know what you're doing out here.
It's fairly obvious.
We're gathering a herd of mavericks.
Mavericks, huh? Well, now, it seems to me you got quite a few head of branded cattle in the bunch out there.
Naturally.
Pick up everything we find.
Like anybody else would.
Naturally we're gonna cut out the brands and turn them over to the reps here when they show their credentials for them.
Of course I'll expect the usual payment for bringing in strays a dollar a head or the equivalent in beef.
One out every five head, my choice.
Is that satisfactory to you? That's only $5.
00 a head.
Going rate this year.
Lot of those mavericks are our cattle, too, you know? Look, I can't help it if you're too lazy or too soft to go in that brush and get them out.
We did it.
We worked hard for those scrubs, and I'm not about to give up one head of them.
Now, Mr.
Favor, nobody wants to take anything away that you rightfully come by.
It's just, well, the boys figure you got enough by now.
Oh, it's just a matter of figuring, then.
And I don't figure it that way.
So we'll stay until we're ready to leave.
Unless you got legal reason? No.
No, can't says I have.
All right, then we'll be staying for a bit.
Oh, you gentlemen are welcome to stay and watch.
I haven't got time to cut them right now.
You can go ahead if you want to.
Of course, I'll have to leave a few of my men to watch you.
There was no offense meant, Mr.
Favor.
And none taken.
It's just that, well, you're not to well known around here.
Oh, I guess I will be now.
Yeah.
Yeah, I guess you would.
Say, you want some coffee? No, thanks.
I think I'll be riding back into town.
You think they'll be looking for trouble after you leave? Not unless you start it, Mr.
Favor.
Those are all good, honest men.
Hardworking hands for reputable ranches around here.
Came across something.
Mean anything to you? "LeFever and Karse.
" No.
Can't say it does.
Found it out there in the brush, ruins of a wagon train.
Five or six wagons.
You found that? Well, now, we've been looking on and off for that for, oh, past two years.
Where was it? Oh, about 2, 3 miles out that way over the other side of the ridge.
Oh.
What's it look like now? Oh, nothing much left of it.
It's all burnt.
There is one thing, though.
There's 12 graves around there.
Well, he buried them.
That's something in his favor.
What's the story? Oh, just about what you saw.
Small wagon train heading through here on its way to Mexico unlucky enough to run into a big raiding party of Comanche.
There's only one survivor.
A man named Hadley.
He was their wagon master himself.
How come you never found it, then? Well, this Hadley fella just up and disappeared before anybody had a chance to find out where the wagons were.
Nobody's seen hide nor hair of him since.
Something mighty strange about it.
I'd like to take a look at it if I can find the time.
Think you can show me where it is? I can point you in the right direction when you're ready to go.
That's fair enough.
I'll see you, Mr.
Favor.
Well, come on, let's get eating and get back out there.
I don't know.
I got a feeling in my bones.
We're gonna have trouble with those jaspers.
Maybe.
Maybe we'll be out of here before it has a chance to start.
That is if you ever get some food so we can get back to work.
Thanks, man.
Well, who do you suppose that is? Probably more ranch reps.
Ah, Wishbone can take care of them.
We got more important things to do.
Howdy there, whiskers.
Who's the boss of this outfit? Right now I'm the boss, friend, whiskers and all.
No offense meant, cookie.
I'm on the way to a good set myself.
Only on you they don't look so good.
You're a regular fighting cock, ain't you? Only underneath that rough exterior beats a heart of gold, huh? Is there any chance of weary travelers camping next to you, neighborly-like? Right now, we practically got a whole convention.
If you can find any room, I can't stop you.
Well, I've had heartier welcomes, but we accept your hospitality.
We? Is there any chance of buying some beef? We've been out in that wilderness for about a week.
We were half starved for some fresh meat.
Well, for you I could maybe spare some for a price.
Thank you kindly.
Oh, yes, thank you, young man.
This here is Mrs.
LeFever.
How do you do, ma'am? My, aren't we fortunate, Mr.
Karse, to meet such a nice young man? Oh, indeed.
Indeed.
Well, why didn't you just say so in the first place? Of course, ma'am.
I'd be honored if you'd be my guest for supper.
You just come right on down and make yourself to home.
Mushy, come over here and help.
There.
Right there.
That all? Only four of them? Yeah but they're the right four.
Put a rope on those critters there, and we camp here and wait.
You'll see.
All right.
Let's see.
My, such delicious food, Mr.
Wishbone.
You are a wonder way out here in this wilderness, too.
'Tisn't anything, ma'am.
Well, if I may be so bold as to ask, ma'am, what brings you out in a brush like this? I've come to find the grave of my only son.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Out here, ma'am? In the brush.
Somewhere out here.
We're not sure where.
But we've been driving hoping to find a clue.
See, he was killed in massacre of a wagon train about two years ago.
But it has taken us this long to trace it to somewheres around here.
Nobody can tell us where.
We were hoping that maybe some of you gentlemen have heard something.
No, ma'am, we haven't heard a thing.
None of the men scouring around here come across any signs? Not that I know of.
How do you know it's around here? They told us so in Dog Town.
The only survivor come there, the wagon master himself.
Only that coward run out before he told them where it was.
You sure your boy was killed, ma'am? No one but this Mr.
Hadley escaped, that's certain.
So you see, Mr.
Wishbone, I simply had to come.
We're not even sure there was a burial, that there is a grave.
My boy may still be lying out there in the wilderness.
There, there, ma'am.
My, what a story? Yeah, it is, eh? Hey.
What's this? I don't know.
Let me see.
"LeFever and Ka" Well, that's your name and I thought you said nobody around here knew anything about a wagon train? Oh, I never heard anything.
Then where did this come from? Well, I don't know.
I've seen Mr.
Favor has something like that today.
- Favor? - Well, he's our boss.
- Oh, Mr.
Karse.
- Where is he? Mr.
Favor? He's out in the brush with the men tonight.
Well, I'm sure he doesn't know anything about a wagon train.
Don't he? You sure he's name's Favor? You sure it ain't Hadley? Well, now that's ridiculous.
Is it? Maybe it is.
Maybe it ain't.
We'll see.
But I'm gonna have me a little talk with this Mr.
Favor.
Rowdy, wake up.
Look around.
Been dreaming.
Most be close to 200 head within 200 yards.
How many man do you think you'll need to hold them, take them into the gathering ground tomorrow? I don't know.
It's wild stuff, isn't it? You drive the lead steers on ahead.
The rest will follow.
It's easy as driving a trail broke curve.
Well, I guess you know what you're talking about.
Yeah.
What, about five men, maybe? - All right, we'll leave them.
- Where you going? Onto another watering hole.
See if we can get another bunch like this.
Billy.
Quince.
Never would have believed you.
Must be well over 400 head.
You give me three or four more men.
I got a couple more watering holes to look at.
You can send some more men up and meet us in the morning.
You get half again this many, I'll have my herd.
I said you would, didn't I? You sure did.
And you're not a cattlemen, are you? Lot you know, don't you? You get a couple hundred tomorrow.
You bring them on into camp for the counting.
I'll give you your money.
How's Mrs.
LeFever? She's sleeping.
Well, that's a pretty hard trip for an old lady.
Now, you let me know when she gets up, I'll make her a nice breakfast.
Hey, uh, when will this Mr.
Favor be in? I told you, not until he gets the cattle he wants and not before.
I don't know when that'll be.
How long do you know him? Long enough to know his name isn't Hadley.
It's Favor.
You known him for two years? About that anyway.
You know what he done before he was a trail boss? He was nothing but a regular cowhand and a trail boss.
He's knowed all over Texas, half of Kansas, and the nations beside.
Ain't much difference between being a trail boss and a wagon master.
Man could be either.
But why would he, under another name? Well, maybe he had a reason.
You sound like you know of one.
Maybe I do.
Well, you're wrong about Mr.
Favor.
He don't know anything about it.
Besides, he isn't the type to run from Comanches or anything else.
Where did he get that name plate, then? I don't know where he got it.
He could've picked it up anywhere.
Don't mean anything.
Mm-hmm.
We'll see.
Well, let me tell you something, mister.
If you're planning on taking out any revenge on him, you better be mighty well sure you got the right man because you're asking for a lot of trouble.
All right, herd them in with the others.
We'll keep them all together tonight.
Mr.
Favor, this is Mrs.
LeFever.
How do you do, ma'am? Mr.
Favor.
What's a lady like you doing way out here? Maybe this will explain things.
I'm Karse.
Her son LeFever was my partner.
He was killed in that wagon train massacre.
Oh, I see.
I'm sorry, ma'am.
Thank you, sir.
It was a tragic thing, of course.
He was in the prime of life.
Do you have anything else to say? What else should I have to say? Your name wouldn't by any chance be Hadley would it? What are you driving at? Well, you seem to be the only one who knows where that wagon train is.
You and the fella that ran away from it, Hadley.
That is unless you're one in the same man.
Sure I know where the wagon is.
Came across it out there in the brush.
The only reason I picked that up was to have something for somebody identify.
That's all you know about it? Except what I heard since.
Well, you wouldn't mind showing us where it is.
You see, Mr.
Favor, it's her only son, and, well, she's come to see the grave and all.
Well, there are 12 graves out there, but there's nothing to identify which is which Oh, then at least he is decently buried.
Yes, ma'am.
Uh.
Nothing fancy.
You will take us there, Mr.
Favor? What do you say, Favor? Yeah, sure.
We'll go first thing in the morning, or of course whenever you're ready, ma'am.
Thank you, Mr.
Favor.
Oh, the poor soul.
No way to tell which one.
No, indeed.
He didn't mark them.
He? Well, I guess the wagon master had must been the one that done it.
Well, then he couldn't have been wholly bad man.
Well, I hope he didn't think anybody would ever come out here looking or even find them.
Doesn't matter.
They died with my boy.
They're all here together.
I'll pray from them all.
Suppose you and me leave the old lady alone for a while, huh? Now, you and me will have a little honest talk.
What are you doing with that gun? That's the way I like it.
Maybe that way you realize you better just tell it all right away.
For crying out loud, you still think I'm Hadley? It don't matter to me if you are or not.
I just want to know where is it? Where is it what? Don't pull the innocent with me.
The box the tag came off of.
There wasn't no box.
At least I didn't see none.
It was lying loose on the ground.
Anybody could see that it was pulled off a metal box.
Not by me.
Maybe by the Indians or by this fella Hadley.
You don't anything about it? You can point that gun all day long.
I'm not going to know any better.
If you're so upset, there must have been something pretty valuable in that box.
I thought you didn't know.
Well, it wasn't very hard to figure.
Figures, since you didn't want to say nothing about it that must have been something stolen, huh? Now you're just convincing me you know too much.
I'm just guessing.
Probably he would've taken the loot to Mexico.
Gonna meet later.
Now, if he had been running out on you, you'd put up a scream, but you didn't say nothing.
All right, I'll do some guessing.
That massacre was mighty handy for the only survivor Hadley.
Maybe he knew about the box a planned it this way.
But if I'm not Hadley? Well, maybe you were just lucky.
You stumbled in here, found the box, and then hid it somewhere.
Oh, sure.
And I'm hanging around sweating a herd out of the brush.
- Maybe to cover up.
- From who? You're the only one who know about it.
How would I expect you to show up? Oh, I'm guessing better than you are, Karse.
Which wagon was Billy's? I told you, I don't know.
I'm not Hadley.
You're bad guessing again.
Well, I'll find it.
Hey.
Unless the Comanches got your box.
That would be a laugh.
Look, you Now that's enough.
Either use that thing or put it away.
Look for your box all you want to.
I can't help you.
It was thoughtful of you gentlemen to allow me my moment alone, thank you.
You ready to leave now, ma'am? I thought before I'd never be ready, Mr.
Favor.
It seemed a terrible thing to go away and leave him here in the wilderness.
But since I've been here and seen it, it's easier somehow.
And now we can go back.
Well, I thought I'd stay around and look around a little while.
Maybe I'd find something of Billy's.
Oh, there was nothing of value, Mr.
Karse.
You know that.
Somehow I don't think anything should be disturbed.
- Yeah.
- Besides, Mr.
Favor here, we've kept him from his work long enough.
You can come back later and look around.
Now that you've been here, I imagine you can find your way again.
I'll manage.
Whoa.
It was a fine thing you did.
You're welcome, ma'am.
Finish with the cutting? All expect this last bunch.
We're holding our brands over across the creek, take them out before night.
Your man over there should have the tally shortly.
Fine, I'll check with him then.
Come back and talk to you about the trade.
Mr.
Favor, that last bunch that fella Jed brought in is over 200.
Looks like we got a herd.
Good enough.
Hey, did you find that wagon train? Yeah, we found it.
Anything out there to show what happened? Well, I think there's something fishy about it.
Just like I think there's something fishy about that fella Hadley, too.
I always thought that.
Well, I'll tell you something else.
I think there's something fishy about that fella Favor.
Why? Well, he's got men all over out there.
Who knows how many of your brand he's got? Why, he might have whole herds hid out there in the brush just waiting for you to leave to pick them up.
Thanks.
That does it.
That's our herd.
No reason we can't move out in the morning, then.
What about branding them? Well, they can wait a couple days down the trail and get away from this brush.
What's the tally? Jed brought in 620, most all of them unbranded.
Hey, you picked up yourself a nice piece of change for two days' work.
Ah, bring it up to 1,900 head, just about, a little over.
There's about 40 or more to come from the trade.
Well, we'll pick up some strays along the way, and that 800 head down there at San Anton'.
That's about 3,000.
Don't crow yet.
Let's get them away from this brush and out on the trail first.
I don't like the looks of the sky.
Favor.
Yeah, we a count for you.
Well, never mind that now.
We've been thinking.
You better not pull out in the morning.
Oh? Why not? Well, we think we better take a look around, just to make sure.
What in the name of heaven do you think we're holding out on you? Look, you're cattlemen.
How much stock do you think we can handle with the men we got? We hear you got more of them up in the hills.
You heard wrong.
Who told you that? Never mind.
Just don't try to move those cattle in the morning.
Look, we'll move out whenever we want to.
And we'll have to stop you.
Little something to top off your supper, ma'am.
Why, thank you, Mr.
Wishbone.
You're very kind.
'Tisn't anything.
Nothing at all.
These men have all been so hospitable.
Yeah.
She sure is a nice old lady.
What she doing way out here? Oh, that's a real sad story.
Her boy was killed in that wagon train massacre.
She went up there to see his grave today.
l uh, Mr.
Favor.
Mr.
Favor, I'd appreciate it if if you'd give me my money so I can go on home.
In the dark, storm coming up? You're more than welcome to spend the night.
Yeah, well, I'd rather not, if you don't mind.
Say, Jed.
You know, sooner or later you're gonna have to come out and face people, even if your name is Hadley.
Where did you ever get that idea? Oh, just a hunch.
The common criminal hiding out sure wouldn't pick a place like you did to hide.
He wouldn't stay there alone no two years, neither.
No, you're not a criminal.
Just hiding from people yourself.
Besides, living so close to where it happened, just figures your name's Hadley.
Honest, Jed, you're gonna have to come out of the brush sometime.
Keep from going brush crazy.
I didn't ask your advice.
Ordinarily I wouldn't give it, but I've been mistaken for you, and my life's been threatened.
That's your life.
By who? That fella Karse.
He thinks that, uh, you're responsible for his partner being killed.
Moreover, he thinks you stole something belonging to them.
- I didn't touch a thing.
That money's - Ahh.
That right, Jed? Well, I guess you know who I am.
Suppose you always knew.
I don't know how you knew, but you do.
It wasn't difficult to figure.
I've seen men eaten out by guilt before and try to run away.
Tell me, Jed, it has been two years now.
Is it any better? Well, I just wanted to warn you against Karse.
Better be careful, eh? You're still welcome to spend the night, you know? If you don't, though, what do you say to eight double eagles? Well, that's that's $10 too much.
More than worth it.
And thanks.
You You'd shake hands with me? Well, I don't know what you did out there in the brush.
You sure did us a good.
Bye, Jed.
Hello, young man.
You look lonesome.
If you don't mind the company of an old lady, come sit down and visit a spell.
Ma'am, l I feel a little lonely myself tonight and a little sad.
God forgive me, I know I shouldn't be sad with my boy in the arms of the Lord.
Sometimes a body can't help missing him Look, ma'am, l Oh, my ma'am, please, forgive me.
Forgive me.
Forgive you, why? It was all my fault, ma'am.
Your son might not be dead today if it weren't for me and my cowardice.
What do you mean, young man? Who are you? My name's Hadley, ma'am.
I was the wagon master who ran away.
You want to talk to me about it? It might help.
Well, l I never dreamed it could happen.
I always thought I was brave.
I never dreamed I was otherwise.
But l I never been tested.
I've never really been face to face with with death until that day when we saw the Indians, and and then I knew I knew what death looked like, and I wasn't brave at all.
Not many men are, Mr.
Hadley.
Oh, but they didn't act the way I acted.
How did you act? I was the wagon master.
I was responsible for him, but I ran to save my own life, and I left them to do the same.
I was on a horse, and they were in wagons.
They didn't have a chance.
Maybe they didn't have anyway with all those Indians.
Maybe you're crucifying yourself No No, ma'am.
No, I thought about it and thought about it and You know, those Comanches were heading home from Mexico loaded with Mexican horses and gold.
They weren't interested in us.
l I knew even then that that we might have a chance if we just squared up and we fought them off two or three times.
They'd go away and leave us alone.
It's not worth the trouble.
Might have.
Yeah, and some of us might have lived, and some of us some of us might have died.
And I knew that one of them might be me, and l I just turned and ran to save my own worthless, miserable life.
And l I ran.
Even I could hear behind me what was happening.
I see.
I see.
Ma'am, whatever you think of me you got a right to think because I already thought it.
But I ain't had a minute's peace since then.
I've just been thinking.
I took courage for you to come back and to bury them and then to go into town and tell it.
Ma'am, could you have it your heart To forgive you? Oh, yes, Mr.
Hadley.
I've never known fear like that.
But I don't think a person lives who can say and be sure of it that they wouldn't have acted just as you did under the circumstances.
And now, if you'll excuse me, I'm a little tired.
Yes, ma'am.
I'll go.
And, Mr.
Hadley, you will come back in the morning? I want to hear more about my boy.
Yes, ma'am.
I'll come back.
And, Mr.
Hadley, peace will come.
Perhaps you all ready have taken the first step.
And if that's so, I'm glad the Lord has guided my footsteps here.
Mr.
Hadley.
Well, who are you? My name's Karse.
I wouldn't run again if I were you.
You and me are gonna have a little talk over here.
Come on.
Whoa.
All right, Mr.
Hadley, get off.
Which one of those wagons was my partner driving? Well, l I don't exactly know.
They were heading ever which way.
Well, you buried him.
Where did you find him? Uh Well, l l I think it was over there.
Well, it better be.
You're in trouble if it ain't.
The men back already? We're holding our beef down a ways.
Want to make sure you didn't try moving out before morning.
You know, that's exactly what's worrying me, too.
And you can help prevent it by getting out there and riding with my men, help them to hold this herd with the storm coming in.
Are they getting restless? Greenhorns on an anthill.
I want every one of you out in the saddle when you're through.
You, too, Mushy.
And what about me? If you can still get in a saddle, climb in one.
- Where's Jed? - That's a funny thing.
I saw him and Karse going off that way in the wagon.
With Karse? Tell Rowdy to take over.
What do you think they're up to? Now where are you going? Pop the lock off.
Well, it's all here.
Well, well, Mr.
Hadley.
That money ain't yours.
Who's you think it is? Yours? I don't know.
Probably that old lady's.
It's up to the law to say.
It ain't up to nobody but me to say.
It's mine.
Him and me were partners.
That was ours together.
Well, then part of it belongs to that old lady.
Well, she don't need it.
She ain't going to live long.
Let's say I need it more.
I can't do that.
You? What do you got to do with it? I was master of these wagons.
It's my duty to hold the belongings of any one of the deceased.
And you're talking like that after what you've done? Why do you think I stayed here for two years? What are you gonna do? Run back to town and tell them all about this, huh? Yes, I will.
I ran once, but I won't do it again.
You mean that, don't you? Yeah.
I'll turn the money in.
You can have it if it's all yours all legal.
Well, in the first place, you fool, ain't nobody got a legal claim to it.
It's stolen.
Well, then, we just have to give it back.
Well, there's nobody to give it back to.
The man's dead.
He didn't have no family.
Nobody in the world knows about this money but you and me.
Looks like there's only one thing for me to do.
Hyah.
Jed! Jed! Jed! Yeah, here.
You hurt? No, no, it's all right.
He just got me in the arm.
Got away with the money.
All right, come on, I'll get you back to camp.
Wish the boss would hurry up and get back.
I don't think we can hold them much longer.
Yeah, just any little thing will set them off for sure.
They're going for the brush! Head 'em off! Head 'em off! Hyah! Yah! Yah! Hyah! Hah! Hah! Haah! Get off! I'll be back for you.
Hyah! Ha! Hyah! Hah! Yah-yah-yah! Hyah! Hah! Hah! Haah! Haah! Yaah! Yaah! We return thee to thy maker.
May He give thee everlasting rest.
Amen.
Thank you, Reverend, and for coming all this way out from town.
Thank you.
It was a privilege to be of assistance, Mrs.
LeFever.
Jed, what about the money? Well, I don't know.
Karse said the man they stole it from was dead and he had no family, so there's nobody to give it to.
Except her.
Well, with that much money, she'd be sure to suspicion something.
Yeah, that's right.
Of course, unless I make up a story.
- Jed - Well, now, Mr.
Favor, now, as master of that train, I consider it my responsibility.
It means you'd have to tell her about it.
Well, I already did.
What about the others? Yeah.
Well, I guess it's time I did admit it.
Mrs.
LeFever.
Yes, Mr.
Hadley? Did you say Hadley? Reverend.
That's right, Sheriff.
My name's Hadley.
I'm the wagon master who ran away.
I'll tell you all about that later.
Now, then, Mrs.
LeFever uh, before the attack, your son told me something.
He told me that he had a stroke of good fortune, that he had, uh uh, discovered a, uh, a gold mine and and that he had sold it.
My goodness, is that so? He never mentioned it to me.
Yeah, well, I guess he meant it as a surprise.
But anyway, Mr.
Favor and I, we, uh, we found the money out there, and it's it's yours.
It's mine? Why, Mr.
Hadley, I don't know what to say.
Well, it'll have to be done all legal-like, you understand, but it it's yours.
Mm, the money's not so important, but I'd like to hear more about my boy.
Would you ride back to town with us? Why, yes, ma'am.
Yes, ma'am, I'll just get the money and my horse, and I'll be right with you.
Boy, that's a surprise, ain't it? Oh, big surprise.
Well, we ready to go? Yeah, all ready.
We lost a few strays in that run last night, but I think we can pick some of 'em up on the way out.
Yeah, you fellas satisfied we ain't trying to rob you? Just don't come back next year looking for more beef.
Well be scouring that brush ourselves.
Fair enough.
I'll probably need a new crew anyway.
I doubt if any of these thin-skinned loafers would get within a mile of that brush.
Not unless you throw us and hog-tie us.
No, I'll take the wide-open spaces from now on.
We better saddle up.
Hey, wait a minute.
- Ain't you forgetting something? - What? We're starting a new drive, and the reverend's come all this way out here.
Reverend, would you? Almighty Father, Thou knowest these men who bow their heads before Thee hard-working, God-fearing men who brave the dangers of a long and arduous trail to bring food to a hungry people.
Guide them, protect them, man and beast.
And bring their venture to a safe and prosperous conclusion.
Bless them, O Lord, in Thy name.
Amen.
Hyah! Get! Head 'em up! Move 'em out! Rollin', rollin', rollin' Rollin', rollin', rollin' Keep rollin', rollin', rollin' Though the streams are swollen Keep them dogies rollin' Rawhide Through rain and wind and weather Hell-bent for leather Wishin' my gal was by my side All the things I'm missin' Good vittles, love, and kissin' Are waiting at the end of my ride Move 'em on, head 'em up, head 'em up, move 'em on Move 'em on, head 'em up Rawhide Count 'em out, ride 'em in, ride 'em in, let 'em out Count 'em out, ride 'em in Rawhide Rollin', rollin', rollin' Rollin', rollin', rollin' - Hyahl - Rollin' rollin', rollin' Hyahl Rawhide - Hyahl - Rollin', rollin', rollin' Hyahl
Get him up.
Well, go on.
Go after him.
Don't just sit there.
How are you supposed to get anything in there? What? Are you afraid of a little brush? I'm not afraid of brush.
It's just that I had enough to last me a lifetime in the last three weeks.
Besides, I'm tired of getting cut up on these thorns.
Oh, now, that is too bad.
Yeah, well, maybe it isn't worth it.
We're getting a herd for nothing.
You know how much these critters are getting at the gathering ground? Look, boss, I know you're trying to do something good for us.
But you know, we're all wore out.
We got enough cattle already.
You haven't got more than 1,000 a head.
And don't forget we 800 more head we got to pick up in San Anton'.
And we can handle more than 3,000, so we keep working.
Pete, you take over here.
- Where you going? - See the men on the other side of the creek.
Well, let's see what's in here.
Who are you? You're the one that's trespassing.
Who would live in this place? That's no business of yours.
Just keep on moving.
- Not until I get that steer.
- It ain't yours.
I didn't see any brand on it.
I got as much right to it than anyone.
You'll be a long day getting it the way you was going at it.
I suppose you can do better? Well, I'd be dead long ago if I couldn't.
Well, there he is, boy.
Go get him.
Hyah.
Hey, you ought kind of hold on your horse out here.
It's a long ways back to camp.
I'll be all right as soon as I get that critter.
Here comes the boss.
We better get going.
Howdy.
These gentle ones? You're looking at them.
I sure could use some gentle ones to help me with the wild ones.
I ain't in the cattle business.
Oh, I'd pay a good price.
I said they ain't for sale.
Oh, say, I come across the ruins of wagon train up there.
You know anything about it? You can see for yourself.
Indians got them.
Comanches come through in a raid.
They all wiped out? Well, you saw it.
You think anybody would walk away from a thing like that? Well, if it's privacy you want.
You the boss of this outfit? Yeah.
That's right.
Yeah, and you trying to get yourself a herd by picking up these brush cattle here one at a time? You know any other way? Well, now if you knew what you could do, you could pick up maybe 3, 400 head at once in a bunch with no trouble at all.
Well, if I knew what I was doing, what would I be doing? Well, spotting the lead steers.
Lead steers? Out here? Yeah, they got their own herds, and they gather around the water holes.
Only trouble with that is I haven't seen many water holes.
You ain't seen many steers, either.
You pick up three, four bunches like that, you'd have your herd in no time at all without this brush popping.
You're the only one who knows how do that.
You want a job? Job? Riding with you? Find us the beef.
I'd pay you two bits a head.
Find us around 400, you can pick yourself up an easy $100.
Naw, I said I ain't in the cattle business.
You got anything better to do? Look, we'll take the gentle ones off your hands, too.
Between the two, you can pick up a nice stake.
Maybe enough to get out of this brush.
My name's Jed.
Jed.
The other name don't matter.
Fair enough.
My name's Favor.
You read to go? No, no, I'll meet you here around sundown.
You give me enough men to handle the cattle.
Haze these into the bunch.
Bring back every man you can spare.
We'll eat fast and head back out.
You ain't serious about following that crazy old coot, are you? That crazy old coot could show us stuff in that bush we'd never believe was there.
Oh, I don't know.
There's something strange about him.
Sure, he's probably ducking some sheriff from somewhere.
That's none of our business.
All we want him to do is show us where we can pick up some beef.
- I think he can do it.
- I don't know.
Look, you was the one complaining about getting the job done fast.
This is your big chance.
Sure good you're back.
We got all kinds of company.
Riders from all the ranches and a sheriff.
You Mr.
Favor? That's right.
I'm Sheriff Blaine.
You the boss of this outfit? What can I do for you? Well, these are reps from some of the ranches around here, Mr.
Favor.
The boys want to know what you're doing out here.
It's fairly obvious.
We're gathering a herd of mavericks.
Mavericks, huh? Well, now, it seems to me you got quite a few head of branded cattle in the bunch out there.
Naturally.
Pick up everything we find.
Like anybody else would.
Naturally we're gonna cut out the brands and turn them over to the reps here when they show their credentials for them.
Of course I'll expect the usual payment for bringing in strays a dollar a head or the equivalent in beef.
One out every five head, my choice.
Is that satisfactory to you? That's only $5.
00 a head.
Going rate this year.
Lot of those mavericks are our cattle, too, you know? Look, I can't help it if you're too lazy or too soft to go in that brush and get them out.
We did it.
We worked hard for those scrubs, and I'm not about to give up one head of them.
Now, Mr.
Favor, nobody wants to take anything away that you rightfully come by.
It's just, well, the boys figure you got enough by now.
Oh, it's just a matter of figuring, then.
And I don't figure it that way.
So we'll stay until we're ready to leave.
Unless you got legal reason? No.
No, can't says I have.
All right, then we'll be staying for a bit.
Oh, you gentlemen are welcome to stay and watch.
I haven't got time to cut them right now.
You can go ahead if you want to.
Of course, I'll have to leave a few of my men to watch you.
There was no offense meant, Mr.
Favor.
And none taken.
It's just that, well, you're not to well known around here.
Oh, I guess I will be now.
Yeah.
Yeah, I guess you would.
Say, you want some coffee? No, thanks.
I think I'll be riding back into town.
You think they'll be looking for trouble after you leave? Not unless you start it, Mr.
Favor.
Those are all good, honest men.
Hardworking hands for reputable ranches around here.
Came across something.
Mean anything to you? "LeFever and Karse.
" No.
Can't say it does.
Found it out there in the brush, ruins of a wagon train.
Five or six wagons.
You found that? Well, now, we've been looking on and off for that for, oh, past two years.
Where was it? Oh, about 2, 3 miles out that way over the other side of the ridge.
Oh.
What's it look like now? Oh, nothing much left of it.
It's all burnt.
There is one thing, though.
There's 12 graves around there.
Well, he buried them.
That's something in his favor.
What's the story? Oh, just about what you saw.
Small wagon train heading through here on its way to Mexico unlucky enough to run into a big raiding party of Comanche.
There's only one survivor.
A man named Hadley.
He was their wagon master himself.
How come you never found it, then? Well, this Hadley fella just up and disappeared before anybody had a chance to find out where the wagons were.
Nobody's seen hide nor hair of him since.
Something mighty strange about it.
I'd like to take a look at it if I can find the time.
Think you can show me where it is? I can point you in the right direction when you're ready to go.
That's fair enough.
I'll see you, Mr.
Favor.
Well, come on, let's get eating and get back out there.
I don't know.
I got a feeling in my bones.
We're gonna have trouble with those jaspers.
Maybe.
Maybe we'll be out of here before it has a chance to start.
That is if you ever get some food so we can get back to work.
Thanks, man.
Well, who do you suppose that is? Probably more ranch reps.
Ah, Wishbone can take care of them.
We got more important things to do.
Howdy there, whiskers.
Who's the boss of this outfit? Right now I'm the boss, friend, whiskers and all.
No offense meant, cookie.
I'm on the way to a good set myself.
Only on you they don't look so good.
You're a regular fighting cock, ain't you? Only underneath that rough exterior beats a heart of gold, huh? Is there any chance of weary travelers camping next to you, neighborly-like? Right now, we practically got a whole convention.
If you can find any room, I can't stop you.
Well, I've had heartier welcomes, but we accept your hospitality.
We? Is there any chance of buying some beef? We've been out in that wilderness for about a week.
We were half starved for some fresh meat.
Well, for you I could maybe spare some for a price.
Thank you kindly.
Oh, yes, thank you, young man.
This here is Mrs.
LeFever.
How do you do, ma'am? My, aren't we fortunate, Mr.
Karse, to meet such a nice young man? Oh, indeed.
Indeed.
Well, why didn't you just say so in the first place? Of course, ma'am.
I'd be honored if you'd be my guest for supper.
You just come right on down and make yourself to home.
Mushy, come over here and help.
There.
Right there.
That all? Only four of them? Yeah but they're the right four.
Put a rope on those critters there, and we camp here and wait.
You'll see.
All right.
Let's see.
My, such delicious food, Mr.
Wishbone.
You are a wonder way out here in this wilderness, too.
'Tisn't anything, ma'am.
Well, if I may be so bold as to ask, ma'am, what brings you out in a brush like this? I've come to find the grave of my only son.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Out here, ma'am? In the brush.
Somewhere out here.
We're not sure where.
But we've been driving hoping to find a clue.
See, he was killed in massacre of a wagon train about two years ago.
But it has taken us this long to trace it to somewheres around here.
Nobody can tell us where.
We were hoping that maybe some of you gentlemen have heard something.
No, ma'am, we haven't heard a thing.
None of the men scouring around here come across any signs? Not that I know of.
How do you know it's around here? They told us so in Dog Town.
The only survivor come there, the wagon master himself.
Only that coward run out before he told them where it was.
You sure your boy was killed, ma'am? No one but this Mr.
Hadley escaped, that's certain.
So you see, Mr.
Wishbone, I simply had to come.
We're not even sure there was a burial, that there is a grave.
My boy may still be lying out there in the wilderness.
There, there, ma'am.
My, what a story? Yeah, it is, eh? Hey.
What's this? I don't know.
Let me see.
"LeFever and Ka" Well, that's your name and I thought you said nobody around here knew anything about a wagon train? Oh, I never heard anything.
Then where did this come from? Well, I don't know.
I've seen Mr.
Favor has something like that today.
- Favor? - Well, he's our boss.
- Oh, Mr.
Karse.
- Where is he? Mr.
Favor? He's out in the brush with the men tonight.
Well, I'm sure he doesn't know anything about a wagon train.
Don't he? You sure he's name's Favor? You sure it ain't Hadley? Well, now that's ridiculous.
Is it? Maybe it is.
Maybe it ain't.
We'll see.
But I'm gonna have me a little talk with this Mr.
Favor.
Rowdy, wake up.
Look around.
Been dreaming.
Most be close to 200 head within 200 yards.
How many man do you think you'll need to hold them, take them into the gathering ground tomorrow? I don't know.
It's wild stuff, isn't it? You drive the lead steers on ahead.
The rest will follow.
It's easy as driving a trail broke curve.
Well, I guess you know what you're talking about.
Yeah.
What, about five men, maybe? - All right, we'll leave them.
- Where you going? Onto another watering hole.
See if we can get another bunch like this.
Billy.
Quince.
Never would have believed you.
Must be well over 400 head.
You give me three or four more men.
I got a couple more watering holes to look at.
You can send some more men up and meet us in the morning.
You get half again this many, I'll have my herd.
I said you would, didn't I? You sure did.
And you're not a cattlemen, are you? Lot you know, don't you? You get a couple hundred tomorrow.
You bring them on into camp for the counting.
I'll give you your money.
How's Mrs.
LeFever? She's sleeping.
Well, that's a pretty hard trip for an old lady.
Now, you let me know when she gets up, I'll make her a nice breakfast.
Hey, uh, when will this Mr.
Favor be in? I told you, not until he gets the cattle he wants and not before.
I don't know when that'll be.
How long do you know him? Long enough to know his name isn't Hadley.
It's Favor.
You known him for two years? About that anyway.
You know what he done before he was a trail boss? He was nothing but a regular cowhand and a trail boss.
He's knowed all over Texas, half of Kansas, and the nations beside.
Ain't much difference between being a trail boss and a wagon master.
Man could be either.
But why would he, under another name? Well, maybe he had a reason.
You sound like you know of one.
Maybe I do.
Well, you're wrong about Mr.
Favor.
He don't know anything about it.
Besides, he isn't the type to run from Comanches or anything else.
Where did he get that name plate, then? I don't know where he got it.
He could've picked it up anywhere.
Don't mean anything.
Mm-hmm.
We'll see.
Well, let me tell you something, mister.
If you're planning on taking out any revenge on him, you better be mighty well sure you got the right man because you're asking for a lot of trouble.
All right, herd them in with the others.
We'll keep them all together tonight.
Mr.
Favor, this is Mrs.
LeFever.
How do you do, ma'am? Mr.
Favor.
What's a lady like you doing way out here? Maybe this will explain things.
I'm Karse.
Her son LeFever was my partner.
He was killed in that wagon train massacre.
Oh, I see.
I'm sorry, ma'am.
Thank you, sir.
It was a tragic thing, of course.
He was in the prime of life.
Do you have anything else to say? What else should I have to say? Your name wouldn't by any chance be Hadley would it? What are you driving at? Well, you seem to be the only one who knows where that wagon train is.
You and the fella that ran away from it, Hadley.
That is unless you're one in the same man.
Sure I know where the wagon is.
Came across it out there in the brush.
The only reason I picked that up was to have something for somebody identify.
That's all you know about it? Except what I heard since.
Well, you wouldn't mind showing us where it is.
You see, Mr.
Favor, it's her only son, and, well, she's come to see the grave and all.
Well, there are 12 graves out there, but there's nothing to identify which is which Oh, then at least he is decently buried.
Yes, ma'am.
Uh.
Nothing fancy.
You will take us there, Mr.
Favor? What do you say, Favor? Yeah, sure.
We'll go first thing in the morning, or of course whenever you're ready, ma'am.
Thank you, Mr.
Favor.
Oh, the poor soul.
No way to tell which one.
No, indeed.
He didn't mark them.
He? Well, I guess the wagon master had must been the one that done it.
Well, then he couldn't have been wholly bad man.
Well, I hope he didn't think anybody would ever come out here looking or even find them.
Doesn't matter.
They died with my boy.
They're all here together.
I'll pray from them all.
Suppose you and me leave the old lady alone for a while, huh? Now, you and me will have a little honest talk.
What are you doing with that gun? That's the way I like it.
Maybe that way you realize you better just tell it all right away.
For crying out loud, you still think I'm Hadley? It don't matter to me if you are or not.
I just want to know where is it? Where is it what? Don't pull the innocent with me.
The box the tag came off of.
There wasn't no box.
At least I didn't see none.
It was lying loose on the ground.
Anybody could see that it was pulled off a metal box.
Not by me.
Maybe by the Indians or by this fella Hadley.
You don't anything about it? You can point that gun all day long.
I'm not going to know any better.
If you're so upset, there must have been something pretty valuable in that box.
I thought you didn't know.
Well, it wasn't very hard to figure.
Figures, since you didn't want to say nothing about it that must have been something stolen, huh? Now you're just convincing me you know too much.
I'm just guessing.
Probably he would've taken the loot to Mexico.
Gonna meet later.
Now, if he had been running out on you, you'd put up a scream, but you didn't say nothing.
All right, I'll do some guessing.
That massacre was mighty handy for the only survivor Hadley.
Maybe he knew about the box a planned it this way.
But if I'm not Hadley? Well, maybe you were just lucky.
You stumbled in here, found the box, and then hid it somewhere.
Oh, sure.
And I'm hanging around sweating a herd out of the brush.
- Maybe to cover up.
- From who? You're the only one who know about it.
How would I expect you to show up? Oh, I'm guessing better than you are, Karse.
Which wagon was Billy's? I told you, I don't know.
I'm not Hadley.
You're bad guessing again.
Well, I'll find it.
Hey.
Unless the Comanches got your box.
That would be a laugh.
Look, you Now that's enough.
Either use that thing or put it away.
Look for your box all you want to.
I can't help you.
It was thoughtful of you gentlemen to allow me my moment alone, thank you.
You ready to leave now, ma'am? I thought before I'd never be ready, Mr.
Favor.
It seemed a terrible thing to go away and leave him here in the wilderness.
But since I've been here and seen it, it's easier somehow.
And now we can go back.
Well, I thought I'd stay around and look around a little while.
Maybe I'd find something of Billy's.
Oh, there was nothing of value, Mr.
Karse.
You know that.
Somehow I don't think anything should be disturbed.
- Yeah.
- Besides, Mr.
Favor here, we've kept him from his work long enough.
You can come back later and look around.
Now that you've been here, I imagine you can find your way again.
I'll manage.
Whoa.
It was a fine thing you did.
You're welcome, ma'am.
Finish with the cutting? All expect this last bunch.
We're holding our brands over across the creek, take them out before night.
Your man over there should have the tally shortly.
Fine, I'll check with him then.
Come back and talk to you about the trade.
Mr.
Favor, that last bunch that fella Jed brought in is over 200.
Looks like we got a herd.
Good enough.
Hey, did you find that wagon train? Yeah, we found it.
Anything out there to show what happened? Well, I think there's something fishy about it.
Just like I think there's something fishy about that fella Hadley, too.
I always thought that.
Well, I'll tell you something else.
I think there's something fishy about that fella Favor.
Why? Well, he's got men all over out there.
Who knows how many of your brand he's got? Why, he might have whole herds hid out there in the brush just waiting for you to leave to pick them up.
Thanks.
That does it.
That's our herd.
No reason we can't move out in the morning, then.
What about branding them? Well, they can wait a couple days down the trail and get away from this brush.
What's the tally? Jed brought in 620, most all of them unbranded.
Hey, you picked up yourself a nice piece of change for two days' work.
Ah, bring it up to 1,900 head, just about, a little over.
There's about 40 or more to come from the trade.
Well, we'll pick up some strays along the way, and that 800 head down there at San Anton'.
That's about 3,000.
Don't crow yet.
Let's get them away from this brush and out on the trail first.
I don't like the looks of the sky.
Favor.
Yeah, we a count for you.
Well, never mind that now.
We've been thinking.
You better not pull out in the morning.
Oh? Why not? Well, we think we better take a look around, just to make sure.
What in the name of heaven do you think we're holding out on you? Look, you're cattlemen.
How much stock do you think we can handle with the men we got? We hear you got more of them up in the hills.
You heard wrong.
Who told you that? Never mind.
Just don't try to move those cattle in the morning.
Look, we'll move out whenever we want to.
And we'll have to stop you.
Little something to top off your supper, ma'am.
Why, thank you, Mr.
Wishbone.
You're very kind.
'Tisn't anything.
Nothing at all.
These men have all been so hospitable.
Yeah.
She sure is a nice old lady.
What she doing way out here? Oh, that's a real sad story.
Her boy was killed in that wagon train massacre.
She went up there to see his grave today.
l uh, Mr.
Favor.
Mr.
Favor, I'd appreciate it if if you'd give me my money so I can go on home.
In the dark, storm coming up? You're more than welcome to spend the night.
Yeah, well, I'd rather not, if you don't mind.
Say, Jed.
You know, sooner or later you're gonna have to come out and face people, even if your name is Hadley.
Where did you ever get that idea? Oh, just a hunch.
The common criminal hiding out sure wouldn't pick a place like you did to hide.
He wouldn't stay there alone no two years, neither.
No, you're not a criminal.
Just hiding from people yourself.
Besides, living so close to where it happened, just figures your name's Hadley.
Honest, Jed, you're gonna have to come out of the brush sometime.
Keep from going brush crazy.
I didn't ask your advice.
Ordinarily I wouldn't give it, but I've been mistaken for you, and my life's been threatened.
That's your life.
By who? That fella Karse.
He thinks that, uh, you're responsible for his partner being killed.
Moreover, he thinks you stole something belonging to them.
- I didn't touch a thing.
That money's - Ahh.
That right, Jed? Well, I guess you know who I am.
Suppose you always knew.
I don't know how you knew, but you do.
It wasn't difficult to figure.
I've seen men eaten out by guilt before and try to run away.
Tell me, Jed, it has been two years now.
Is it any better? Well, I just wanted to warn you against Karse.
Better be careful, eh? You're still welcome to spend the night, you know? If you don't, though, what do you say to eight double eagles? Well, that's that's $10 too much.
More than worth it.
And thanks.
You You'd shake hands with me? Well, I don't know what you did out there in the brush.
You sure did us a good.
Bye, Jed.
Hello, young man.
You look lonesome.
If you don't mind the company of an old lady, come sit down and visit a spell.
Ma'am, l I feel a little lonely myself tonight and a little sad.
God forgive me, I know I shouldn't be sad with my boy in the arms of the Lord.
Sometimes a body can't help missing him Look, ma'am, l Oh, my ma'am, please, forgive me.
Forgive me.
Forgive you, why? It was all my fault, ma'am.
Your son might not be dead today if it weren't for me and my cowardice.
What do you mean, young man? Who are you? My name's Hadley, ma'am.
I was the wagon master who ran away.
You want to talk to me about it? It might help.
Well, l I never dreamed it could happen.
I always thought I was brave.
I never dreamed I was otherwise.
But l I never been tested.
I've never really been face to face with with death until that day when we saw the Indians, and and then I knew I knew what death looked like, and I wasn't brave at all.
Not many men are, Mr.
Hadley.
Oh, but they didn't act the way I acted.
How did you act? I was the wagon master.
I was responsible for him, but I ran to save my own life, and I left them to do the same.
I was on a horse, and they were in wagons.
They didn't have a chance.
Maybe they didn't have anyway with all those Indians.
Maybe you're crucifying yourself No No, ma'am.
No, I thought about it and thought about it and You know, those Comanches were heading home from Mexico loaded with Mexican horses and gold.
They weren't interested in us.
l I knew even then that that we might have a chance if we just squared up and we fought them off two or three times.
They'd go away and leave us alone.
It's not worth the trouble.
Might have.
Yeah, and some of us might have lived, and some of us some of us might have died.
And I knew that one of them might be me, and l I just turned and ran to save my own worthless, miserable life.
And l I ran.
Even I could hear behind me what was happening.
I see.
I see.
Ma'am, whatever you think of me you got a right to think because I already thought it.
But I ain't had a minute's peace since then.
I've just been thinking.
I took courage for you to come back and to bury them and then to go into town and tell it.
Ma'am, could you have it your heart To forgive you? Oh, yes, Mr.
Hadley.
I've never known fear like that.
But I don't think a person lives who can say and be sure of it that they wouldn't have acted just as you did under the circumstances.
And now, if you'll excuse me, I'm a little tired.
Yes, ma'am.
I'll go.
And, Mr.
Hadley, you will come back in the morning? I want to hear more about my boy.
Yes, ma'am.
I'll come back.
And, Mr.
Hadley, peace will come.
Perhaps you all ready have taken the first step.
And if that's so, I'm glad the Lord has guided my footsteps here.
Mr.
Hadley.
Well, who are you? My name's Karse.
I wouldn't run again if I were you.
You and me are gonna have a little talk over here.
Come on.
Whoa.
All right, Mr.
Hadley, get off.
Which one of those wagons was my partner driving? Well, l I don't exactly know.
They were heading ever which way.
Well, you buried him.
Where did you find him? Uh Well, l l I think it was over there.
Well, it better be.
You're in trouble if it ain't.
The men back already? We're holding our beef down a ways.
Want to make sure you didn't try moving out before morning.
You know, that's exactly what's worrying me, too.
And you can help prevent it by getting out there and riding with my men, help them to hold this herd with the storm coming in.
Are they getting restless? Greenhorns on an anthill.
I want every one of you out in the saddle when you're through.
You, too, Mushy.
And what about me? If you can still get in a saddle, climb in one.
- Where's Jed? - That's a funny thing.
I saw him and Karse going off that way in the wagon.
With Karse? Tell Rowdy to take over.
What do you think they're up to? Now where are you going? Pop the lock off.
Well, it's all here.
Well, well, Mr.
Hadley.
That money ain't yours.
Who's you think it is? Yours? I don't know.
Probably that old lady's.
It's up to the law to say.
It ain't up to nobody but me to say.
It's mine.
Him and me were partners.
That was ours together.
Well, then part of it belongs to that old lady.
Well, she don't need it.
She ain't going to live long.
Let's say I need it more.
I can't do that.
You? What do you got to do with it? I was master of these wagons.
It's my duty to hold the belongings of any one of the deceased.
And you're talking like that after what you've done? Why do you think I stayed here for two years? What are you gonna do? Run back to town and tell them all about this, huh? Yes, I will.
I ran once, but I won't do it again.
You mean that, don't you? Yeah.
I'll turn the money in.
You can have it if it's all yours all legal.
Well, in the first place, you fool, ain't nobody got a legal claim to it.
It's stolen.
Well, then, we just have to give it back.
Well, there's nobody to give it back to.
The man's dead.
He didn't have no family.
Nobody in the world knows about this money but you and me.
Looks like there's only one thing for me to do.
Hyah.
Jed! Jed! Jed! Yeah, here.
You hurt? No, no, it's all right.
He just got me in the arm.
Got away with the money.
All right, come on, I'll get you back to camp.
Wish the boss would hurry up and get back.
I don't think we can hold them much longer.
Yeah, just any little thing will set them off for sure.
They're going for the brush! Head 'em off! Head 'em off! Hyah! Yah! Yah! Hyah! Hah! Hah! Haah! Get off! I'll be back for you.
Hyah! Ha! Hyah! Hah! Yah-yah-yah! Hyah! Hah! Hah! Haah! Haah! Yaah! Yaah! We return thee to thy maker.
May He give thee everlasting rest.
Amen.
Thank you, Reverend, and for coming all this way out from town.
Thank you.
It was a privilege to be of assistance, Mrs.
LeFever.
Jed, what about the money? Well, I don't know.
Karse said the man they stole it from was dead and he had no family, so there's nobody to give it to.
Except her.
Well, with that much money, she'd be sure to suspicion something.
Yeah, that's right.
Of course, unless I make up a story.
- Jed - Well, now, Mr.
Favor, now, as master of that train, I consider it my responsibility.
It means you'd have to tell her about it.
Well, I already did.
What about the others? Yeah.
Well, I guess it's time I did admit it.
Mrs.
LeFever.
Yes, Mr.
Hadley? Did you say Hadley? Reverend.
That's right, Sheriff.
My name's Hadley.
I'm the wagon master who ran away.
I'll tell you all about that later.
Now, then, Mrs.
LeFever uh, before the attack, your son told me something.
He told me that he had a stroke of good fortune, that he had, uh uh, discovered a, uh, a gold mine and and that he had sold it.
My goodness, is that so? He never mentioned it to me.
Yeah, well, I guess he meant it as a surprise.
But anyway, Mr.
Favor and I, we, uh, we found the money out there, and it's it's yours.
It's mine? Why, Mr.
Hadley, I don't know what to say.
Well, it'll have to be done all legal-like, you understand, but it it's yours.
Mm, the money's not so important, but I'd like to hear more about my boy.
Would you ride back to town with us? Why, yes, ma'am.
Yes, ma'am, I'll just get the money and my horse, and I'll be right with you.
Boy, that's a surprise, ain't it? Oh, big surprise.
Well, we ready to go? Yeah, all ready.
We lost a few strays in that run last night, but I think we can pick some of 'em up on the way out.
Yeah, you fellas satisfied we ain't trying to rob you? Just don't come back next year looking for more beef.
Well be scouring that brush ourselves.
Fair enough.
I'll probably need a new crew anyway.
I doubt if any of these thin-skinned loafers would get within a mile of that brush.
Not unless you throw us and hog-tie us.
No, I'll take the wide-open spaces from now on.
We better saddle up.
Hey, wait a minute.
- Ain't you forgetting something? - What? We're starting a new drive, and the reverend's come all this way out here.
Reverend, would you? Almighty Father, Thou knowest these men who bow their heads before Thee hard-working, God-fearing men who brave the dangers of a long and arduous trail to bring food to a hungry people.
Guide them, protect them, man and beast.
And bring their venture to a safe and prosperous conclusion.
Bless them, O Lord, in Thy name.
Amen.
Hyah! Get! Head 'em up! Move 'em out! Rollin', rollin', rollin' Rollin', rollin', rollin' Keep rollin', rollin', rollin' Though the streams are swollen Keep them dogies rollin' Rawhide Through rain and wind and weather Hell-bent for leather Wishin' my gal was by my side All the things I'm missin' Good vittles, love, and kissin' Are waiting at the end of my ride Move 'em on, head 'em up, head 'em up, move 'em on Move 'em on, head 'em up Rawhide Count 'em out, ride 'em in, ride 'em in, let 'em out Count 'em out, ride 'em in Rawhide Rollin', rollin', rollin' Rollin', rollin', rollin' - Hyahl - Rollin' rollin', rollin' Hyahl Rawhide - Hyahl - Rollin', rollin', rollin' Hyahl