Ride with the Devil (1999)

[bunniefuu]

A little late, Dutchy.

Ain't it so? Sener.

Buddy.

Mornin'.

Wow. Looks great.

Hi, Mr. Roedel.

Giver of all spiritual grace...

the author of everlasting

life, send thy blessings...

upon these, thy servants -

this man and this woman

whom we bless in thy name -

that as Isaac and Rebekah

lived faithfully together...

so these persons may

surely perform and keep...

the vow and covenant

between them made.

Dearly beloved, we

are gathered here -

What's ticklin' you?

Do you smell somethin' funny?

Fool. It's the cologne my ma

slapped on me this mornin'.

...signifying unto us

the mystical union

What brings you so late

to Sister's funer -

I mean wedding. My

pa had me workin'.

Huh. Son.

Let him speak now or else

forever hold his peace.

Do you believe all those

men are necessary, Horton?

We can take no further

chances, Asa.

You and I both know it'll soon be w*r

between us and the Yankee aggressors.

With that black republican Abe

Lincoln in the White House...

Missouri's no longer safe

from the depredations

of Jennison and his

Kansas Jayhawkers.

They've yet to strike this

deep into Missouri, Horton.

Lawrence, Kansas, and its abolitionists

are a long way from here.

There are Union men even

here amongst us, Asa.

Schmitz and his Germans form

a militia at Independence...

and his Lawrence cohorts have

eyes and ears amongst us.

Even here.

If you refer to us Bowdens,

Lee, you are sorely mistaken.

We may be Union men, yes.

But we are Southerners too.

Now, you know very well we'll

have no hand in jayhawking

or abolitionist provocations.

I did not imply it, sir.

I believe, sir, you did.

Now, gentlemen, my home is no place, and

this is no time for political quarrels.

We are all old friends here.

Asa Chiles, you have spoken truly.

My apologies, Horton.

Well said, sir.

Horton. Horton.

Bye. Take care now.

I've been thinking, Jack Bull.

A wedding is a peculiar thing.

It's no more peculiar, Jake, than sl*very.

That's certain.

That's why I've often wondered

for what cause those Northerners

are so anxious to change

our Southern institutions.

Hmm. From both North and South

men are every day enslaved at the altar,

regardless of their state or color.

Well, there's a type of subjugation.

We shall avoid it, Jake.

Happily my poverty ensures

my freedom from such a fate.

Oh, no. Not if my

mother can help it.

I heard her singin' your praises

earlier to the sister of the groom.

Good day, Mrs. Chiles.

Sir. Father.

Please give our regards to your father, Jake.

You know he's always invited.

He's more comfortable workin'.

You must at the least bring

Mr. Roedel some of the cake.

I will, ma'am. Thank you.

Guten Abend.

Guten Abend, Herr Meyer.

Guten Abend, Ja.

Guten Abend. Guten Abend.

Father, Mrs. Chiles sends her regards.

A piece of the cake.

You are to see

tomorrow Mrs. Kreuzer.

The w*r it is sure to come

now, with the secession.

Mrs. Kreuzer's husband will

take you in Saint Louis.

Pa, I told you. I'm not gonna huddle with all the

other Lincoln-lovin' Germans in Saint Louis.

It is safer. For us,

this is no w*r.

Pa, you may have borne me in

Germany, but I was raised here.

These are my people. And if it gets hot

- Your people?

No, Jacob, this they are not.

You will always be a

Deutschman, a German to them

no matter with who

you are friends.

Promise me you'll

go to Mrs. Kreuzer.

All right, come on!

Get 'em all out!

Where is he? Where is he?

I got him! I got him!

Oh, no!

Where's your boy, Asa?

My son's gone.

Where's your boy?

Jake. Jack Bull.

He told me to run, Jake.

He told me.

Did you see who they are?

Jayhawkers, Jake. Lawrence men.

Father!

Come on! Don't you die here too.

Find the boy. Let's

go look in the mill.

You men find the boy!

Asa!

Oh, my God!

Ted? Riders.

Gentlemen. Captain

Henderson, Company D.

You boys have rid a

bit far from home.

Hell, spent two nights trackin'

this bushwhacking bastard...

and his Confederate friends

through the Sni-A-Bar.

What are you boys doin'

this far into Missouri?

Just rootin' out rebels and

conscriptin' chickens.

Been through all Cass

and Lafayette Counties.

k*lled our share.

Not much action in Lafayette.

We got four Sunday last.

Stretched their necks.

They're still hanging.

Hey, George. Fetch that

busthead out there.

So you men were in on Lafayette?

Yes, sir.

But we're tirin' of chasin'

these rebs into the bush.

Can't trust none of these locals.

They're all hidin' 'em.

I wish we had a

real army to fight.

Not these sneakin' bastards.

Battles and armies -

it's all back East.

Down here in Missouri, you just

have the people to fight ya.

Ted.

Ted!

So you were in on

Lafayette, huh?

Bushwhackers!

Doin' business with the

Yankee invaders, huh?

No. They forced me.

He's dead.

You k*lled him.

sh**t me too, please.

We don't hurt women, ma'am.

We took her man. We should

leave her the store.

Come on, Jake. It's

gettin' hot in here.

Enough of this, boys.

Let's load up!

Black John.

George Clyde.

Yep.

Well met, my man. Well met.

Hey, boy. Watch that man.

He's a cheat.

Jack Bull.

You boys will love riding

with George Clyde.

Makes Yankee killin' as entertaining

a pastime as greasin' ganders.

Who's g*ns are those?

Even Holt over there.

You'll get used to him.

That's Holt.

That's George

Clyde's pet n*gg*r.

Don't call him that in front of George though.

George don't like that.

He carries those? Yep.

He's a damn fine scout. George tosses

him a g*n a good Yankee k*ll or two.

You know, him and Clyde

growed up together.

When Jim Lane's boys come for Clyde,

Holt there sent three of them to heaven.

So he rides with us now.

'Cause them Yankees want

to k*ll him real bad.

Yeah. Well, a n*gg*r with g*ns

is still a nervous thing to me.

We're lookin' for the

Dorr's place, ma'am.

It's just up the road.

Who are you?

Why, we are Southern

men, and hungry.

You don't look

like Southern men.

How do I know?

Woman, my name is Crawford. One

of the Six Point Creek Crawfords.

Do you know me?

I knew the father.

Well, come on. Eat

as what we have.

Ma'am.

You alone here? Yes.

Well, no. My man's at

Arkansas with Shelby.

My son's in the barn.

Is he grown?

He was.

Gave up a leg at Wilson's Creek.

I keep him hid away. Union

Jayhawkers would k*ll him.

He should ride with us.

Oh, no. He won't fight.

He's done with that.

Hello inside.

Show yourself, Clark.

We're friends.

Bushwhackers. I could

have k*lled you both.

But it ain't even loaded.

Not no need of that.

We're friends.

Oh, you suppose so, do you?

I don't.

You were at Wilson's Creek.

Who with?

Why, with General Price.

The fat glory-hound

rebel himself.

Didn't see that one comin', huh?

Oh, I saw it comin'.

I saw it rollin' past the little piles of

meat and bone which I once called my friends.

I watched it roll

right up to me.

If you saw it comin',

couldn't you have dodged it?

Well, nature bore me smart.

That changes things.

I wanted my foot broke

so's I could head home.

Damn little cannonball was rollin'

slower than a fevered rabbit.

You are a fool. Cannonball

will rip your leg -

Well, General Price

is a good man.

Why don't you have us fetch

you something to eat.

I have a mother for that.

I don't eat anyway. Tryin'

something different.

You'll be k*lled anyways.

Jayhawkers or militias - someone or

the other stop here and k*ll you.

Oh, they already been here.

Burned the barn.

I wouldn't even move to put it out.

Ma done it.

Likely you boys

will k*ll me now.

I don't much care.

You wanna die?

Perhaps you choose to die now.

I have some experience in the k*lling line, Clark.

I could do you a fair job of it this minute.

No.

No, Ma has her heart

set on me livin'.

You sure of that? I'm

here now loaded.

I don't believe so.

Your mother's a

fine enough woman.

You could help her out

some, don't you think?

Get yourself a stick to

lean on, walk around a bit.

That could be next.

That could be the

very next thing.

You're an interestin'

foreigner, Jake.

Why is that?

I hear your pa's a Dutchman.

But you're loyal to here, not the North.

It's uncommon.

Nah, Jake may have

been born a Dutchman

but my ma and pa

practically raised him.

He's as Southern as they come.

Where's the other

one, you devil?

Speak up now, and

maybe you'll live.

I'm alone.

That's my daddy's horse. He was

shot off it three days back.

He's lyin'. Let's parole him

to Jesus, and right now.

Jake, get in here!

I'm gettin' the horses!

Damn! They took my pinky!

You boys, cover outside!

Holt!

Damn! Go on over there!

Go over there!

Holt!

Ah! Turner, cover the women!

Please, ma'am. Ma'am,

get over there!

Ow! Damn! Don't fret

about that now!

Cease fire!

Cease fire! Hold

your fire, boys!

I said, cease fire, g*dd*mn it!

Control your fire!

Do you k*ll women?

There's women in here!

You know we don't k*ll women!

Send 'em out now, and

they'll be safe passaged!

Please, ma'am, you and

your daughter got to go.

Come on. Come on.

We are goin', son.

You best believe it. There

ain't no way we're not goin'.

You'll have to come out! Fire!

Ray!

You gotta trust me. We

can't hold 'em from here!

Get back, Lewis!

We'll k*ll them yet!

We'll just have to take

our chances running!

They'll riddle us down! There ain't so

much as a stump out there for cover!

Whoo! Come on, men!

Let's go to it!

Let's go.

Holt.

Go! Go!

Go, Ray!

Come on! Let's go!

Come on! I'll get Ray! Come on!

Hold your fire!

Hold your fire!

Split up, boys!

Head for the woods!

Split up! We'll

meet at the place!

Where's my brother? Don't know.

Did you see my brother? Black John.

With him alive.

With Black John? Alive?

Whoo! That was sure enough hot! They

left us hurtin', that's certain.

This way, boys.

Come on.

Turner.

Jake. Well, Jack Bull.

Taylor. You're alive.

Jake Roedel.

Well, Alf Bowden. You

sure are in a fix.

Seems so. Surely does seem so.

Do you know this man? Certainly.

His daddy's place is just

downriver from the Chiles'.

Hemp growers.

Jack Bull. Alf Bowden.

News of home? No, no, no.

It all just goes on.

Some may have died, not most.

What of my mother?

Well, now

- Well, she is watched.

All the secesh are watched.

And my father?

He comes and goes.

He's a Union man.

He ain't bothered by no one.

You must know that.

You must know the whole town talks about

you boys out here black-flaggin' it.

Some friendliness may

be lost for your kin.

You been fed?

Not so as you'd notice.

I'll look into it.

Roedel.

Now, take this down. It is for

the Lexington Union News.

So do it fine, the way you do.

Gladly.

"Dear Citizens:"

"Mistakes are most common these

days and deadly for it."

"The Federals are to hang William

Lloyd and James Curtain"

"two fine sons of Missouri."

"But by a provident

cut of the cards"

"four Federals have

been dealt to me."

"And it is their hope that Lloyd

and Curtain are not hanged"

"as they would provide the

sequel to these murders."

"However, if our

boys are released"

"I will, as a gentlemen"

"release these unfortunates."

"The choice is yours,

citizens, so make it wisely."

"Signed, John Ambrose

and George Clyde"

"Command of First Irregulars."

That's good. Put a

note on it that says:

"Where you think we ain't, we are.

Remember it."

Who will deliver it? There are

Federals all over Lexington.

We could slip a man in there.

We done it before.

Oh, I reckon a citizen could be pressed

into service, if one could be found.

That might be a job, for citizens

are cautious hereabouts.

You got some better

idea, Dutchy?

Maybe you should

volunteer yourself.

Well, there is a way we could

prove more things than one.

If we send a prisoner, it would

prove we have prisoners.

And also he can attest

to our intentions.

It seems to me he could get

more quickly into town as well.

And time is short.

Lloyd and Curtain will be hanged

right quick, I would think.

It is a good idea. There are

some fine touches to it.

You know, you should

speak up more, Roedel.

You're not near so

dumb as you let on.

Now go put one of them Federals

on a horse with that letter.

Convince them to see

this deal through, Alf.

We're only askin' to be treated

like the soldiers that we are.

We shall do the same for

your companions here.

Do your best.

What are you lookin' at?

What is it, Jake?

I hear you ruminatin' louder

than a cow chewin' in my ear...

and it's keepin'

me from my sleep.

Do you think Alf Bowden's made

it back to Lexington as yet?

There was a minute there

when I saw him ridin' off -

I thought maybe you and

me could join him.

That we could all

ride home together.

Just ride back home.

What have you left at home you're

so anxious to ride back to?

Nothin'.

Just a passel of memories.

Mostly memories of you and me.

Of your father, old Asa Chiles.

We'll stick together, Jack Bull.

We'll get all of it back.

Then you're a black magician who

can raise the dead, are ya?

No. My father's under

the dirt to stay.

Like that's gone to stay too.

My finger?

Well, so it is.

And it makes me

notable by the loss.

You sound pleased, as if that finger

had been pesterin' you for rings.

No. It was a fine finger, and

I'd rather have it still.

But it was took from me, and it's

been et by chickens for sure.

And I say, what is the good

side to this amputation?

And there is one. Name it, Jake.

Well, you say one

day some Federals

catch up to me and

k*ll me in a thicket.

Well, they would

riddle me and hang me,

and no Southern man would

find me for weeks or months.

And when they did, I'd be bad meat,

pretty well rotted to a glob.

You're scientifically

accurate, I'm afraid.

I've seen it. I'd be a

mysterious gob of rot.

People would say,

"who was that?"

And surely someone

would look up and say:

"Why, it's nubbin-fingered

Jake Roedel."

And then you could go and tell my

father I was clearly m*rder*d,

and he wouldn't be tortured

by uncertain wonders.

And that's the good of it?

Yes, sir, that's the good.

Go to sleep, Jake Roedel.

Get over there!

They hanged and quartered

Lloyd and Curtain last night.

Seems those bushwhackers

are not real soldiers.

Had it with you, boy!

Not fit for trading anyhow.

Hey, Jake, what are you knowing?

I feel I'm knowin' too much.

Ah. Well, forget it.

Throw it down.

We could've merely shot them. Well,

that was not the plan, Jake.

Might be no rhyme to it, but that

was just plain old not the plan.

Jake.

Black John says you're lettered.

It's Union mail.

Wants you to look it over, tell

him if there's anything to learn.

All right.

Well, it's just stuff from up north.

There's no military intelligence in here.

Yeah. Well, maybe you could

read it to us just the same.

Read us this letter, Dutchy.

That's someone else's letter.

Was. I wanna hear you read it.

I don't think I care to.

Oh, is that so?

Well, I think that if you think

a little bit more, Dutchy...

you'll think you do

wanna read it me.

Right now too.

How do we know there

might be secrets in it?

Read it at us.

Yeah, come on, Dutchy.

All right.

This here is from Mrs. Mary

Williams of Bear Lake, Wisconsin.

"Dear Sons, No word

of you in so long"

"right past first frost

of the year last."

"Your father is better, but

his feet are still bloatin'."

"He won't walk right on them."

That's thicked-up blood does that.

Thicked-up blood bloats the feet.

"Fire hit the old church.

Burned down."

"The new one was just ready, so

no great trouble was had of it."

"Margaret is married since the

frost of this year last."

"You wouldn't know it, for how could you?

Her husband is Walter Maddox."

"He is out of the w*r, with one

arm busted at New Madrid."

"But it works fine enough."

"The dirt was turned over, and the

smell and deepness gave me heart."

"It is just black rich. You

boys know how that is."

My daddy was up there.

He was up there way

before they hung him.

He said the dirt was so rich you

could've ate it like porridge.

They have very good

dirt up there.

Short grow season.

Yeah, sounds like

real good dirt to me.

"That girl Dave got sweet for is in

town and still single and about."

"She asks of you, but I have no news

since first frost of the year last."

"Without news, I

cannot answer her."

"You are both missed here.

Your mother."

Sounds like my mother -

that old woman does.

One mother's very

much like another.

Remember one thing. Her boys

will k*ll you if they can.

It is time for our

winter hibernation.

I have gathered the names of loyal

Southerners who shall provide for us.

We'll group in fours.

I'll send word the beginnin' of

spring for where to rendezvous.

We shall to the

Evans farm, boys.

Their place is about half a

mile from the Willards'...

where there resides a

certain Miss Juanita...

to whom, if I do not

flatter myself...

my attentions are not

unfavorably regarded.

You mean to say we're to spend

the winter in Lafayette...

solely on account that you're

sweet on Juanita Willard?

Ach, it's as good a

reason as any, Dutchy.

Nolan's brought some

news from home.

Hank Pattison is m*rder*d.

Our old neighbor Jantzen got

him with his g*ng of militia.

That is sad. He was a good Southern man.

What of Thomas?

Oh, he is m*rder*d too.

And Sally Burgess married

a Federal from Michigan.

Her whole family

hides their faces.

And -

Well, Dutchy...

that Federal Alf Bowden -

he rode straight from here

and k*lled your father.

He shot him in the neck

down by the river...

then booted him along

Main Street till he died.

I spared Alf Bowden.

You all know it.

You taught him mercy, but

he forgot the lesson.

My father -

My father was a Unionist

like all the Germans.

An unconditional Unionist.

Well, yeah.

But he was mainly known

as your father, Dutchy.

You got a reputation now.

Hello there, boys.

Good day, sir.

Gabel Evans. George Clyde.

Sorry we can't all be of proper

hospitality, but with the Federal patrols -

We're much obliged. May

I ask after Mrs. Evans?

My wife. Well, she's as

well as can be expected.

Our other Mrs. Evans

- that's Sue Lee -

Well, she was a Mrs. Evans

for but three weeks...

until my son joined our

Confederate forces.

He was k*lled in the

fightin' at Independence.

We're sorry to hear of it.

Yes. Well, you boys lay low.

We'll come by from time to time

with provisions such as there are.

We're much obliged.

It's been a while since we done work.

Somethin' soothin' to it.

Yeah, well, work has never

been my main ambition.

Ah, we've done much work. I think

I've spied an easier way to riches.

Spell out this miracle.

You just ride on up and take it.

Ah, good old rule.

A simple plan.

It's a workable method.

That is proven.

Now, George...

you got mud in your eye.

Rider comin'. Oh, let's

go see our visitor.

Just me! Don't sh**t or

some dumb thing like that.

Whoa. Well, how do?

You must be Mrs. Evans. I

brung you some supper.

I'm, uh, pleased to

meet you, Mr. Chiles.

Mr. Jack Bull Chiles.

This is Jake Roedel.

And - George Clyde, Mrs. Evans.

Mrs. Evans wishes me to apologize for

not havin' sent you food sooner.

The Federals have

been on the move.

And don't you call me Mrs. Evans.

My name is Sue Lee Shelley.

It's a good one, and

I am a widow now.

Reckon I'll go back

to it and use it.

Please pardon me.

Won't you come in? It's

not much to gaze upon...

but I reckon we could

assay some hospitality.

George. After me, ma'am.

Right this way, ma'am.

Excuse me.

Thank you.

Damn.

What are you smilin' at?

I'll see to that mule.

Wait a second. What did you say?

I say I'll look to him.

You better go on in there. Let

that woman see your face.

Damnation, Holt.

I think I know best how to

handle my personal affairs.

Now, you see that lady's mule while

I check on what she brung to eat.

Excuse the mud. We'll just

- There you go, ma'am.

My!

Well, aren't you

bushwhackers the gentlemen.

We try to make the effort

when possible, ma'am.

Do you think manners should be

dropped in times like these?

No. But I don't think horse

sense oughta be dropped either.

It's cold.

You're so kind to

think of us, ma'am.

You men think of us more.

You do the good work.

I know it's dirty

and it's dangerous.

Those are good words

to hear, ma'am.

It's It's not always

we hear them.

Well, I really should be goin'.

Mrs. Evans will

worry if I don't.

Uh, ma'am?

We're awful sorry about Evans Jr.

Gettin' k*lled.

Well, we all suffer.

But he suffers no more.

He was a good husband to me.

For three weeks he was a good

husband, but he didn't last.

What's he doin' here, inside?

Oh, ma'am, this this n*gg*r's with me.

His name is Holt.

Well, wouldn't he be more

useful off in a field plowin'?

Oh, no, I reckon not.

No, ma'am. That's, uh, one n*gg*r I

wouldn't try to hitch behind a plow.

No, I wouldn't try that.

Well, now.

Oh, I almost forgot.

Mr. Evans asked that you come to the

house tomorrow evenin' after dark.

He's up on the latest Federal movements,

and he could post you on 'em.

Why, we'd be honored.

Um, I'm not sure about him.

Mr. Evans -

You ain't got nothin' to

worry about on that score.

You needn't worry about Holt.

I'll be takin' Holt with me

to the Willards' tomorrow.

We won't be comin'

to your dinner.

Mr. Clyde, honestly...

I didn't mean to speak

ill of your n*gg*r.

He's not my n*gg*r.

He's just a n*gg*r who I trust with my

life every day and night, that's all.

That's very high praise.

Yes, ma'am, it is.

I see.

Well, gentlemen, I really

must take my leave.

I hope the food'll please you.

It looks wonderful.

Why, thank you. Now

good night, all.

Good night. Good night, ma'am.

Holt, the lady said

good night to all.

Now touch your hat

and say good night.

Chiles, you don't tell him nothin'.

He's bein' rude.

Gentlemen, please. He don't

need no tellin', Chiles!

It's all right, George.

Good night, missy.

Good night, Holt.

I'll see the lady to her mule.

Holt. It weren't no

hardship, George.

Well, let's eat.

This smells good.

Be careful. Good evening.

Holt, you want my bacon?

I could eat more.

Go on then.

Appreciate it.

Roedel

you want my bacon?

Yes, I could eat it.

Well, I'll shit it out by the

oak tree in the mornin'.

You can just go and

help yourself.

And why, if you do

not mind my askin',

did you not join

the regular army?

Army? Well, we thought of it.

I suppose we decided this fight's got

to be made in our own country,

not where some general

tells us it should happen.

It soon will be everywhere.

My family and I, we will be

quittin' this house in the spring.

As soon as the roads are clear,

we're gonna be tryin' for Texas.

About half of Missouri

has went to Texas.

Well, the whole state's

thick with invaders.

We cannot drive them away.

We have different thoughts.

I still wanna fight.

Reckon I'll always

want to fight them.

Always.

Have you ever been to

Lawrence, Kansas, young man?

No, I reckon not, Mr. Evans.

I don't believe I'd be

too welcome in Lawrence.

I didn't think so.

Before this w*r began, my

business took me there often.

As I saw those Northerners

build that town,

I witnessed the seeds of our

destruction being sown.

The foundin' of that town was truly

the beginnin' of the Yankee invasion.

I'm not speakin' of numbers,

nor even abolitionist

trouble-makin'.

It was the schoolhouse.

Before they built their church

even, they built that schoolhouse.

And they lettered every tailor's son and

every farmer's daughter in that country.

Oh, spellin' won't help you

hold a plow any firmer.

Or a g*n either.

No, it won't, Mr. Chiles.

But my point is merely that they rounded

every pup up into that schoolhouse...

because they fancied that

everyone should think...

and talk the same

free-thinkin' way they do,

with no regard to station, custom...

propriety.

And that is why they will win.

Because they believe everyone should

live and think just like them.

And we shall lose because we don't

care one way or another how they live.

We just worry about ourselves.

Are you sayin', sir, that

we fight for nothin'?

Far from it, Mr. Chiles.

You fight for everything

that we ever had.

As did my son.

It's just that we don't

have it anymore.

Mr. Evans, when you get

back from Texas...

it'll all be here

waitin' for you.

Jack Bull and me,

we'll see to it.

Well, yes.

Thank you, son.

Well, enough of this w*r talk.

Let's have the ladies join us

and think nobler thoughts.

Lydia! Fine idea.

Some company would be splendid.

Jack Bull, we should be

thinkin' about gettin' back.

Federals could pass by anytime.

Sue Lee! Oh, put a gown on, Jake.

It's too cold.

They'll all be in front of the

fire examinin' their plunder, huh?

I, um, have it in me to sing.

Shall we have a sing-along?

Oh, yes. I like those the best.

My voice is not what it

should be these days,

but it was once rumored

that I could carry a tune.

And you, Mr. Roedel?

I believe I won't sing.

Young ears are present.

Well, I bet you sing lovely.

You would lose that bet. He

really does sing very poorly.

But he imitates the

turkey first-rate.

I'd best do my

gobblin' out of doors.

You folks go ahead and sing along.

I'll keep my eye on the road.

Do you really think that

- Good man, Jake. I'll relieve you soon.

Clyde back?

I believe he's, uh, fixin' to pass a

few more hours with Miss Juanita.

Jack Bull? In the company

of Mrs. Sue Lee Evans.

You mean Sue Lee Shelley?

Roedel. Yeah, Holt.

What's that?

I've been keeping 'em.

Nobody ever learned me letters.

When you were readin'

the mails out loud,

it was somethin' the likes

of which I'd never heard.

Got me thinkin' you might

sometime try it again.

So you packed those and

kept 'em all this time?

Well, it might not

be too amusin'.

It might just be a bunch of borin'

thoughts from one stranger to another.

That one you read from the mother was fine.

You recall it?

Yeah.

Mmm. She say things

I enjoy to hear.

All right. Here it goes.

"Dear Brother, I must

write this right quick"

"'cause I say good-bye to Massachusetts

and our home in one hour."

"Yes, Danny, I've

joined the fight"

"and a difficulter decision

never before was made"

"as I've been just about the only

eligible bachelor to dance with"

"at Parlan's this past year."

"Without my favorite

brother, it is not the same"

"although the beer

has been free"

"as I've been drinkin' it with

one of the Parlans' daughters."

"Which one, I will not tell."

"Here's to you, Danny, and keep

your head low out there. Bill."

It could come to where you

could maybe like that man.

Yeah.

In other times he

would not be so bad.

I think though I like the

one from the mama best.

Holt

where is your mother?

Uh, Kansas or Kingdom.

I don't know.

I know she was sold into Texas.

I reckon she in Texas.

How was that? Was that

George that sold her?

No, sir.

George and me, we

growed up neighbors.

It was George what bought me out

when Master Henry passed, but...

he didn't have no means

for my mama or my sister.

So Clyde owns you? No, sir.

Not in greenbacks

and coppers nohow.

No, he don't own me that way.

Nope.

He made of that a gift.

It's me.

Hey, Jake.

Your aim is wild. You

splattered poor Holt.

Well, it surely is. Oh, no.

Whoa, mule! Settle down there!

Mule? "Whoa, mule"?

Just calm down.

Well, do I look muley to you?

Why, no.

Well, does that look

like a mule to you?

Does that look like the rear end of

an animal that hee-haws in the night?

Looks like it might could be.

Jack Bull Chiles!

Just 'cause I'm a widow don't mean that

you can get that familiar with me.

Pardon me, ma'am, but I believe it was

you that shoved your rump into my face.

That was only just

to make a point.

You made it. I'll always know

your rump from a mule's now.

Several differences. Don't

know how I missed 'em before.

Well, don't be mean.

I can't tolerate meanness.

Is that too mean? No.

It's really not too mean at all.

Oh, for cryin' out loud! We're sittin' right here.

Show us some mercy.

He really is quite right.

Mmm, I better get

back to the house.

Cover your tracks in the snow too. You'll

be leadin' curious Federals right onto us.

Don't be rude. You have

no reason to be rude.

There happens to be

a w*r goin' on...

everywhere but between your

two ears, you dumb ox.

Dumb ox, am I?

Sorry, Jake. My leg just

did that on its own.

No thought behind it.

I hear you. I hear you.

But Holt and me ain't dyin'

just so you could be kissed.

Leave Holt out of this. Holt ain't even here.

Holt ain't nowhere near here.

I don't think anybody's

about to die from my kiss.

In fact, she seems to be

doin' tolerably well.

Well enough to get goin' too.

Good day.

You reckon George Clyde'll

ever join up with us again?

Or do you think Juanita Willard will be

his only cause and comfort from here on?

Ah, George is efficient

when it comes to comfort.

This thing with Sue Lee and you

- Will it go on?

I would reckon.

Well, that's good for you.

Yep.

I believe I'll marry her.

I believe you should.

Sue Lee'll be by this evening.

Oh, good. It's been near a

week since I've seen her.

Yeah, all this warmth has the Federals

out for jaunts. It's kept her home.

It won't be long before

we join them out there.

No, it won't.

That's why I want to ask

somethin' of you and Holt.

Name it.

Well, there, future best man, I'd

like to ask you for some privacy.

Oh, you would, would you?

It's not much to ask.

And what are Holt and me to do?

Anything you'd like.

Throw walnuts at squirrels.

Play mumblety-peg.

I reckon we could come up with a better

use of our time than that, eh, Holt?

It's possible.

Howdy.

I, um, brung you two somethin'.

Try this bread, boys.

Why, thank you. Did you make it?

No. Mrs. Evans's

sister lives in town.

She's a Federal, but a sister still.

She gave us two loaves.

Well, that's kind of her. You

thank her for us, won't you?

I don't suppose I'll tell her where it went.

That might not do.

Well, this good weather

has me and Holt...

wantin' to fling walnuts

at mumblety-peg players...

or something along those lines.

All right. Now have fun.

Jake. One hour, please.

"Dearest Ruth Ann"

"I trust this letter will

reach you before winter."

"'Here it is always a sort of

winter, as folks are so cold now."

"Rebels are out of the

city as far as armies go"

"but there are copperheads

around performing misdeeds."

"So much cruelty goes on."

"Gratiot Prison is full of rebels, and

they are left to waste away so pitifully."

"They are traitors,

but also human."

"If you looked in on them, you

would not believe that they were,"

"for they so resemble

scarecrows now."

"Father believes the

w*r will go on and on"

"but is ever more committed to the...

struggle."

"He manages to send ever greater

numbers of slaves up north"

"to freedom and away from the

grasping hands of their masters"

"who even in the midst of all

attempt to lay claim to them."

"The Confederates claim that we

strike at their liberty and rights"

"but what kind of liberty is it that

takes away the liberty of others?"

"The w*r will end."

Has it been an hour yet?

No. Ain't no hour passed yet.

Roedel.

You know my name?

It's Holt.

No, my whole name.

My whole name is Daniel Holt.

Daniel. Like that lion's den man.

You know his story?

Of course I do.

They throwed Daniel

to the lions,

but he won't never ate.

Daniel.

That's what my mama named me.

Is it an hour now? Nigh on to -

That's the Evans' place.

Got to be.

Jake.

Whoa, whoa, whoa!

g*nshots at the Evans'.

I heard 'em.

Holt!

Jake. Sue Lee, you stay put.

There's gonna be a fight.

Holt! Does Clyde have his g*ns?

What do you need? Bring her in!

Bring her in!

Jack Bull, let's go!

Boys, they k*lled him!

How many were there?

They k*lled him! He's dead!

He's dead! What will I do?

Heard the fracas all the

way from the Willards'.

Thought you boys might be in a spot.

How many?

I don't know! A dozen or less.

Well, shit, then let's get 'em!

Come on!

Hyah! Roedel!

Run, you bastards!

Ow! Damn!

Jake! Jack Bull, hit 'em!

Get them, Holt!

Jake!

Oh, shit.

He'll be all right.

He'll be okay.

Come on.

That fire's got to go out.

We're heatin' water!

Heat it quick. They'll come back

with more men if they got 'em.

We can't have 'em

smellin' that fire.

That arm's gonna

have to come off.

He's gonna need it.

We can heal it.

Dutchy, we got no medicines or doctor

sense amongst the whole group of us.

And I can't go shanghai

a sawbones neither.

Federals will likely

be on us by sunup.

I'll mend him.

I can I can nurse him with Jake.

As you say. But you watch out green

rot don't get started on him.

'Cause once it does, it's over.

That look none too good, Roedel.

g*dd*mn it! Don't

nobody say that again!

We're gonna burn

the wound closed.

No! No.

Holt. No.

There's men on the road.

How many? More than a few.

But they ain't comin'

into the woods.

Keep the watch.

I want to fight away from

here if we got to fight.

What came of

Mrs. Evans and Mary?

The Willards took them up.

They all headed out of here.

Willards too? Said they was

goin' south, clear roads or no.

Maybe I should try to

find us a doctor tonight.

Where from?

There's one in Kingsville.

You can't make it there

and back in one night.

I know that, Dutchy.

I can lay up near there and try

and drag one back the next night.

If I can't find a doc,

I'll head on to

Captain Perdee's.

Holt'll look after

you and the widow.

I wish you luck.

That arm done for.

Oh, I know it.

I hoped it wouldn't be.

It's done for.

Well, maybe George will bring the doctor.

He may see something we don't.

You know good as I, George Clyde done

rode straight to Captain Perdee's.

It's just us now, Roedel.

And it's time. The longer you wait,

the harder it gets on the man.

Oh, hellfire! Will you shut up on that, Holt?

Please, just give me peace for a while.

Jake.

Jack Bull.

You look sad.

We're taking care of you.

You'll be mended.

We're fixin' it.

I always knew we'd be k*lled.

One or both of us.

You recall the pies

on Mother's sill?

Of course I do. Those

were good eatin' times.

That they were.

I always thought

it'd be you, Jake.

I'm dyin'.

I was certain I'd

have to bury you.

I wish you were.

Me too.

Sue Lee.

I'm right here.

Good.

That's good.

Them veins is blackenin' all

the way up to his armpit.

We've got to do it now.

Can you do it?

If he screams too

loud, we may all die.

Put that stick in his mouth.

Don't let him scream too loud.

Keep his jaw clamped

down on that stick.

Holt, you hold him down

whenever he starts to flop.

No!

We should be gettin'

to Captain Perdee's.

We gotta head south first.

Sue Lee, you'll need a place.

We'll go to the Browns' farm.

Those are Cave Wyatt's people.

They're far away from all this.

You're not to worry, young man.

She'll be just fine.

Just give us time.

Jake.

The w*r hasn't come

down here yet.

I'm I'm sorry.

I'm sorry too.

Holt and me -

Well, George Clyde

should be missin' us.

You don't have to go back, Jake.

Mr. Brown says you boys are more than

welcome to stay here and work the farm.

He could use you.

You'll do all right here.

Holt and me will come by again just

as soon as we can and see to it.

Who goes there?

Who the hell do

you think we are?

You smell like a couple of

piles of fine Southern shit.

Welcome back to hell, boys.

While you boys were sunnin'

yourselves down at the border...

things have turned

rather interesting here.

Federals everywhere.

Welch and his boys got

caught down in Pattonsburg.

Heads cut off.

Some of us still ride

- Anderson, Pitt, Todd.

Scalpin' every n*gg*r

they can find.

Except, of course, our own.

But there's still riches

to be had, right, boys?

That the man we were

supposed to k*ll?

Somebody must have

got him recent.

I'll look up here.

Holt, we ever been in

this house before?

We've been everywhere before.

Mmm. I smell bacon.

You know, we were

here with Jack Bull.

Man danced a jig right there.

You writin' a letter?

Who I got to write to?

What about that Sue Lee gal?

Write to her. Let her know

what we've been doin'.

It ain't worth writin'

about, is it?

That ol' king crow

He was a blackened thief, I know

And he never says nothin' but

Jenny, fetch your hoecake

Boy, don't bother me

Jenny, fetch your hoecake

Said it ain't done

Jenny, fetch your hoecake

Boy, don't bother me

Fetch another hoecake

when we're done

Best to stay clear of

Black John right now.

You know, when that women's jail

collapsed in Kansas City...

his womenfolk were in it.

Three of 'em done

in by the Federals.

He's been acting kind of itchy,

if you know what I mean.

Word is Black John called for Quantrill

and his boys to come join us.

Quantrill?

There's some crazy

talk in the air.

Quantrill's plannin' to ride

into Kansas, is what I hear.

Maybe that.

A raid into Kansas?

We might get over there, sure, but

gettin' back would be su1c1de...

once the Kansas Fifth

gets on our tail.

You got that, Roedel.

But why not?

It's su1c1de sittin' in these woods waitin'

for them Federals to pick us off anyhow.

I am short on cash.

Will these do?

That's two n*gg*r scalps?

I'll see you with

one Dutch scalp.

I'm out on this one.

I just got money.

Don't worry, Turner.

We'll take your money.

Get him, Jim. Good job, buddy.

Come on! Get out of my way!

Get out of my way!

Come on! Get him!

Holt.

Come on over and

share some whiskey.

I got work back here to finish.

Well, when you're

finished up then.

Well, lookee here.

You two sure got to be

pals, now, didn't you?

I mean, ever since you boys come back,

you been clappin' your gums together.

Regular as crones.

George.

My boys, today I am a sad man.

I am sad because I mourn

for our sisters and mothers,

who slept in that

Kansas City jail.

Who slept until the walls fell

down around them and they died.

I am sad, boys.

And I am tired.

The best of us are dead.

And now we're just dogs

chased into the woods.

I am sad, boys,

but I am vengeful.

And I shall not sleep.

I shall not sleep again until

I stand upon Mount Oread,

and I look down upon the

abolitionists of Lawrence.

Yeah, k*ll those thieving Jayhawkers!

k*ll them Red Legs!

I shall ride through Kansas

to get there, boys,

and meet any Yankee

army put in my way,

because I will fight them

myself if I have to.

But I shall reach Lawrence.

That's right.

I will fight them all myself.

Unless there be any men among you-

who would ride with me.

I'll ride with you.

So I'm asking:

Are there any men here

who would ride with me?

Then, hell, boys!

Ride with me to Lawrence!

To Lawrence!

Let's ride to Lawrence!

Down to Lawrence! All right!

Yeah!

To Lawrence!

The battle's at least two miles ahead, sir.

Well done, Colonel.

All clear! Mount up!

Come on, boys! Get

on your horses, men.

Let's move.

All right, boys. Join up and

get back in this column.

You men, fall in line.

Fools. Those farmers and puffs wouldn't

be able to fight a herd of cattle,

let alone the Kansas Fifth.

No more fools than

you and me, Roedel.

Come on, men. I wanna

see you awake!

Wake up! We'll make it before

sunup if we ride now hard!

Move it! Come on!

Pick it up now!

Sweet dreams, Dutchy?

Go back to sleep.

You just may wake up

in Lawrence tomorrow.

Let's ride, men. Come on now.

You and the boys take the

river north and east.

Mackeson, I want you

scoutin' up toward the west.

Make God's work of it, boys. We'll

wait for first fire. Head out.

I want your boys to be settin'

up a post on Mount Oread.

Watch the road from Fort Leavenworth.

Any dirt kicks up,

I want word sent

down straightaway.

Here's the death list.

We shall cross off every name.

Jackets off, boys.

Let 'em see who we are.

What's all that noise? It's

a little early for that.

Sorry?

It's a little early

for that, huh?

Let's move.

A little early for

maneuvers, huh, Sarge?

k*ll!

k*ll, boys!

Make no mistakes!

The Bushwackers are comin'!

Get inside!

Get inside!

No! No! No!

No! Let him go! Let him go!

Let him go!

Red Legs, we got us a jayhawker!

From the top!

Find George Carpenter.

Bring him back here.

No!

Was I right? Who was

I not to know...

this town is full to brim

of Northern abolitionaries?

I am sickened, yes, but

- But now real Southern men is coming...

and I say "Hooray," as I

am Southern man at heart.

Perhaps you-you

join for whiskey.

I have here in office.

Whiskey?

Yes.

Come on! Come on!

Come on, peckerwood!

I'll give you something

to write about.

g*dd*mn lyin' bastard.

Stay there, boy.

Put this in your newspaper.

Old man! Old man!

Where's your army?

Who are we to fight?

Who are we to fight?

You are cowards, all!

Send him to hell!

Tear it down!

I'll blow your head

off right here!

Oh! You k*lled him!

Oh, let me keep his picture! No!

Sure, that Jim Lane -

he steal the slaves.

But he just sell them

again another day.

Me, yes, I always do what

I can for the cause.

It's just me and Granny Esther.

All right, Rocky.

Young reports Lane...

We had thought this

would be a real fight.

It's just bad-luck citizens finding

out just how bad luck can be.

They ought not to

m*rder the young ones.

Pups make hounds.

If it was your pup, you'd

feel different, son.

Holt?

Let's get us some eggs.

Yeah, Roedel. Let's get

us all the eggs they got.

And some ham.

Hey, boy -

Hey! Hey! This man's

with us, you fool!

Huh? That's George Clyde's

n*gg*r, you fool!

See that pipe there on the end?

And some tobacco.

And this one.

You were makin' breakfast there?

Yes.

What were you makin'? Potatoes.

And coffee? Yes.

Let's have us some

breakfast then.

Mister, shut up.

Thank you, ma'am. More coffee,

if you please, ma'am.

Jake Roedel.

Pitt.

Bring those two outside.

I wanna show 'em somethin'.

We'll see to them once

we've had our vittles.

Why, you little Dutch son of a bitch, you

do what I tell you, or I'll k*ll you.

And when you figure to do this

mean thing to me, Mackeson?

Is this very moment convenient for you?

It is for me.

Let's just take him out.

Nope. That won't work.

The hell with it.

There's plenty more of them

Jayhawkers to k*ll anyhow.

I'll see you back in Missouri,

you tiny sack of shit.

You know where to find me.

That's Pitt Mackeson, ain't it?

I hear he'd soon as k*ll

a man as mash a tick.

My, what a scary fella he is.

I like you, son,

but that bastard will have your

scalp if you ain't careful.

Thank you, mister. Thank you. There

ain't enough thanks in the world -

Oh, you go to hell!

Now, now, boys! Federals comin'!

Eight miles out. Let's go!

Mount up! Let's go!

Come on! Get on your horses!

Thank you, ma'am.

Have a good day.

Get those horses and mount up! We

got a Federal army approaching!

So long, little man.

You are a Southern hero.

I will always, uh, remember

our Southern friends, eh?

Good friends, huh?

Yes. Thank you.

Good morning.

What?

We're too slow, men! Drop

that damn piano! Let's go!

Jake Roedel.

I heard disappointing

words on you, Roedel.

Is that so? Are you

a traitor, Roedel?

You know I'm not.

Well, you spared, boy. I

told you not to spare.

Don't think you are a good man.

That thought will spoil you.

Federal troops, sir.

Closing from behind.

This is it, boys! This

is our last stand!

I'll do what I can for you.

Remember your families! We

shall avenge their deaths!

They're right behind!

g*dd*mn it!

Mount up!

Battalion, halt! Halt!

Run into line!

Fall back! Fall back now!

Let's go! Fall back!

Regroup!

Stand firm, boys!

They'll be coming!

Ride on through! Ride on through!

Pass 'em through, boys!

Fall in and form a line. Give

the signal to the right flank!

Secure your horses and form a line!

Let's cover the left.

Secure your horses and

form a second line!

Form a line!

Stand strong, men! Hold your

fire till we feel their hooves!

Hold your fire!

Stay with me, boys!

Come on now! Take aim!

By company! Fire!

Dismount! All

soldiers to the rear!

All soldiers to the rear!

Form a line! Form a line!

All soldiers to the rear!

Reload your weapons!

Fall back! Fall into the circle!

Come on! Come on!

Aim for their belt buckles!

Holt!

Wait! Wait!

Fire!

Holt! Holt! Come on, I got you!

George. George.

Oh Oh, George.

Hold on now, George! Hold on!

Come on, George! Come on, George!

Holt!

George! Jake!

Hold on! Holt, we gotta go.

Come on, Holt. Holt, come on!

Holt! Come on! He's dead!

Pull back! Pull back!

George!

Goin' back with Anderson

to the front line!

George!

Pull back!

Let's go, Holt!

I'm gonna k*ll you!

We'll make for the Brown farm.

Are you gonna make it?

Yeah, you're gonna make it.

I'll set you boys up

in the parlor here.

Much obliged, Ort.

Ort, who is that?

Well, take a look. I'll

just be stayin' the night.

Is that my little Cave?

Aunt Wilma.

Aunt Wilma.

Oh, it's good to see you, Cave.

You look just like your father.

Are you hurt again?

Well, yeah.

But I didn't do it to myself, you know.

Holt and me, we been shot.

Well, you should

have expected it.

I hear you sayin' it.

Whose is that?

Well, it seems -

Well -

What do you think of her?

Ort, you'd best explain

it to Cave here. Come on.

Come on, Cave.

Let's go out back.

Her name's Grace.

Grace Shelley Chiles, as

far as I'm concerned.

Okay.

Looks all right to me.

Here, I'll change her.

Oh, Grace.

There you go, sweetie.

Come on now.

Let me take a look at

your bad spot, Jake.

I wanna make sure it's clean. Oh, yeah.

It's clean enough.

No, Jake. Clean enough ain't good enough.

You should know that.

And you too, Holt.

Let me take a look.

Remember, when you're fixed up, you can

come down, join the Regulars with me.

Maybe that.

Uh, Ort tells me when you

brung that girl here...

she was already pregnant.

You better marry her, boy.

It ain't right not to.

Me?

Yeah.

No, no. Not me. I don't

gotta marry nobody.

Is that right?

You're that kind of man, Dutchy?

Well, I will take

care of her, Cave.

It'll be took care of

somehow when it can be.

That's all I ask. 'Cause everybody

likes her real good, you know.

Ort and Wilma there they already think

of her as somethin' of a daughter.

Well, that's good to hear.

How's your rib?

None too good.

How's your leg?

Same.

I have a thing or two

to say to you, Jake.

Well, speak up.

I think I'll take a walk.

What's this trash I hear

about you bein' my fiance?

Well, so you've heard that. Well,

that was sprung on me by Cave.

You see, they all seem to think you

was carrying my kid, 'cause, uh -

Well, after Jack Bull,

I brought you here.

So, do you figure I

ought to be married?

Yeah, if you want to keep fingers

from waggin' in your face.

That doesn't bother me.

Well, it's also another

thing, Sue Lee.

See, they got a name for kids without daddies.

You know, it ain't a good one.

I know that.

So, do you want to marry me?

No, not too bad.

Good. That's good news...

'cause I wouldn't marry you for

a wagon load full of gold.

I bet you wouldn't.

I wouldn't marry you even if you

weren't some runty little Dutchman...

with nubbin for a finger.

Fine. That's damn fine.

I wouldn't want a wife that didn't

know how to keep her place.

Anyhow, it's a proven thing that being

your man is just plain bad luck...

and I don't need to

marry any of that.

Well, it's true.

Guess it's true.

You're not bad luck. You

just had bad luck, is all.

I need convincin' you mean that.

I need convincin'

that you were right.

Thank you, ma'am.

You're welcome.

I believe I'll catch some air.

Well, breathe some for me.

Perhaps you boys can watch after this

little one while I'm at my chores.

Yeah, maybe it's best you talk to him

about that particular line of work.

Who, me? That's right.

About time we have

some help around here.

Be back around noontime.

Sue Lee, wait a second.

Oh. Come on.

Oh, come on.

I knew that nubbin would

be good for somethin'.

Where you been? She's

been screamin' for hours.

Sweet thing wants some

sup, but Mama's been busy.

Here. I'll feed her.

No, you won't.

I just got this thing

taken care of.

She needs to be suckled, Jake.

Well, hell.

It's okay.

It's okay.

Yes

They're all busted up.

Quantrill? Headed to Kentucky.

Anderson? Dead, I've heard tell.

Thrailkill, Clement,

most of 'em dead.

Pitt Mackeson.

He's got himself

something of a g*ng.

But these days, they spend most of

their time robbin' for plunder.

And they don't care whether they take

it from Southern folks or Federals.

Anyone gets in their way,

off comes their scalp.

Anyhow, they don't ride much in

Jackson or Cass Counties anymore.

Word has it they're

headin' south.

Probably make you a visit.

Word is, they're makin'

a plan of it, Jake.

Can't sleep? No.

These quilts are too heavy.

They make me sweat.

Mine too.

You know, Holt,

I probably got one

more fight in me.

I'm gonna k*ll Pitt Mackeson,

either when he comes here, or when

I can get up to find him out.

You know that, Holt?

Yeah, I know it.

What you gonna do after you k*ll Pitt?

You gonna join up with them Regulars?

Fight for the cause.

What about you?

You really askin' me?

What cause you think

I got, Roedel?

When them Yankees come

and k*ll George daddy,

and his brothers and all his

people, I stood with George Clyde.

Yeah, he was as good a friend

to you as Jack Bull was to me.

Yeah.

And they's both good

and dead now, Roedel.

Just as dead as they can be.

Where does that leave

you and me, huh?

Where does that leave me?

Right here, Holt.

Yeah, I knowed we

was right here.

This ain't nowhere for me.

I reckon I just don't

understand it.

That day George Clyde died,

it changed me.

I felt something that

day I ain't never felt.

You felt that loss.

That hollow feeling.

No.

What I felt was

free.

I thought that's what George

gave you when he bought you out.

That weren't really his

to give, now, was it?

And, George Clyde

- I believe I loved him.

But bein' that man's friend

wasn't no different

than bein' his n*gg*r.

And, Roedel,

I ain't never again gonna

be nobody's n*gg*r.

How you feelin', Dutchy?

Oh, not so bad.

You look like you feel right good.

You feel good?

I don't feel too bad.

Ah, you seem about

all healed up to me.

Ah, it still hurts

some, my leg does.

I gotta go to Hartwell today.

Be back by night though.

You want me to come along?

No, you go on. Finish healin'.

I'll take Holt with me though. He's a

handy man with a g*n, I hear tell.

That's right.

You always gonna

stare like that?

Long as I can.

Well, you're pretty near well,

so won't be much longer.

Reckon you and Holt will be off to get shot

by some different fellas here pretty soon.

Maybe I won't.

What'll you do then?

Oh, I don't know.

Maybe trek me on over

to California...

and catch me a sailboat

to somewhere sunny.

Is that right?

What grand spot have

you got in mind, Jake?

Sparta.

In Sparta, they have olives.

I got that out of a book.

I could eat me some olives.

Olives. What are olives like?

I don't know firsthand.

I never had one yet.

But I've had a

bushel of walnuts...

and nothin' could be more

trouble to eat than them.

I wonder about me.

I ain't goin' sailin'

nowhere, and I know it.

You'll do all right.

A chicken, Wilma? It ain't Sunday even.

What's with the special favors?

Well, nothin'. I know Orton will be mighty

tired tonight when he gets back from his ride.

I intend to feed him well.

That the man?

That's him. Dutchy Roedel.

What is this?

This here is the

Reverend Horace Wright.

You're gettin' married

today, Dutchy.

You're gettin' married

or you're gettin' out.

I'm what?

You heard me. You're

all healed up.

I just wanted to make sure you didn't

die slow on me before I did it.

I can't have it in my house

the way it is. It's time.

Holt, saddle my horse.

We're gettin' out of here.

No. You should do right, Roedel.

What on earth does that mean?

Let's talk.

Come on.

I do believe that is a

roastin' chicken I smell.

Are you goin' to or not?

It's bein' shoved

down my throat.

If a thing has got to be shoved,

I like to do the shovin'.

Okay.

Then get in there

and shove, Jake.

I thought you said you

wouldn't want me...

for a wagonload of gold 'cause I'm a

nubbin-fingered runt of a Dutchman.

I remember you sayin' that.

Well, I guess I lied.

Are you lyin' again now?

No. I wouldn't lie to you, Jake.

You just told me you

lied to me before.

Well, that's different.

That was romance.

And now's what?

The truth.

This here now is the truth.

So you, Jacob

Friedrich Roedel...

bein' the man, take you, Sue Lee

Shelley Evans, bein' the woman.

So, by the power vested in me,

the two of you is right married.

Ain't it so.

Well, that was sure

a fast ceremony.

Well, I reckon that man would

marry stones to stones...

if there was a chicken

at the end of it.

Ah, that's neither here

nor somewheres else.

He just done made

you legal, boy.

Good night, boys.

Good night, Ort.

So you a family man now.

How you feel?

I feel the same, Holt.

Hell, it's only words.

No, that's an oath. Those

words you gotta back up.

Yeah, I know that.

I reckon we'll be haulin' her

and the kid with us now.

Where to?

I don't know. What do you

think of California?

Boy, what is you doin'?

What am I doin'? Have you gone blind?

I'm goin' to sleep, Holt.

I'm fixin' to get me some sleep.

Roedel, I gotta tell you this?

Tell me what?

You're supposed to sleep

with the wife, Roedel.

Great day in the morning,

you got to know that much.

You're supposed

to share her bed.

That way, if some other man

do that, you sh**t him.

Yeah, I know all that.

You bet I know that.

But, hell, this ain't some

regular marriage situation.

What, you don't like her? You gonna sit

up there and tell me you don't like her?

I like her. She's pretty

enough and all that.

It's just this marriage thing has swept

up on me kind of all of the sudden.

Yeah, well, it is

over you, Roedel.

I mean to say, you

done the milkin'.

You might as well

have the cream.

Jake.

Hey, take your clothes off.

You don't come to bed

in dirty duds, Jake.

That's a rule.

Just how many rules is

it you got for me, girl?

Don't get mad.

Here. I'll help you.

Are you a virgin?

I've sinned plenty.

But have you ever

bedded a woman before?

Girl, I've k*lled 15 men.

Come here.

Holt.

Roedel, I do a lot for

you, you know that?

You know I do. It's equal.

Yeah Don't say it. I

got a thing to say.

All right.

Uh Look, now I'll travel with

you and yours till we get past

them Pin Indians and riffraff in the Nation,

and then I got to go off somewhere.

Where is that, Holt?

Well, I ain't decided that to a

definite aim, but I'm goin'.

I'm goin' to find my mama.

I believe she was sold to Texas, so

that's where I'll commence to lookin'.

If she was sold there...

I'll go there and pay

to buy her freedom.

Holt, you done already paid

more than enough to buy -

Yeah, I hear you sayin' it.

- I wish you well.

- Well, it ain't yet.

I ain't leavin' you till your

little narrow Dutch ass

is past Pitt Mackeson

and them Pin Indians.

Didn't I just through tellin' you that?

Yeah, you did.

All right.

Good-bye, Bushwhacker curls.

There you are, Dutchy.

You look 21 again.

I'm just now 19, Ort.

That so?

Well, you'll never

look that young.

I said I wouldn't cut my hair

till I was finished with the w*r.

And you didn't, Roedel.

You didn't.

Militia find those, you're not likely to

get further than the nearest hangin' tree.

Ah, hell. Good luck, y'all.

Giddap!

Yes, sir!

Yes, sir.

Why, Dutchy, I didn't

expect to see you no more.

Howdy, Pitt. Turner.

Howdy.

Water's boilin'.

Want some chicory?

I think I will.

I think I'd like some

chicory, Dutchy.

How are you, Holt?

Fairly well.

You two alone?

Just us now. We've

been on the run.

How's Black John?

That's a big question, Dutchy,

'cause the man is dead.

Black John is dead.

Hell, who ain't?

They got him at Dover.

Put his head on a pole.

Paraded him right

down the street.

Put a picture of

it in their paper.

Quantrill too.

Over the river.

It's been rough times for

them who stuck it out.

Yeah, the w*r is lost.

No shit, Dutchy.

Who the gal and kid belong to?

That's my wife.

Well, if that don't beat all.

You got a wife, Dutchy.

Where you headed? Newport.

Hell, man. There's 200

Federals in Newport.

We just rode through 'em.

You can't go on in there.

Wrong, Dutchy. I

am goin' in there.

I'm for certain sure

goin' in there.

I want a drink, and they

have drinks in Newport.

They'll k*ll you. You best

stay clear out of there.

I don't think so, Dutchy.

I don't reckon I'll clear

out of where I was born.

You see, that there

was my hometown.

And I reckon I'll go on in

and have me a drink there.

Turner, you too?

They'll k*ll you sure.

What a horrible fate. Oh,

what a horrible fate.

Oh, boy. You got me now, Dutchy.

Oh, boy. You got me now.

Jake.

Come on, Turner.

You gonna sh**t him?

So long, boys. We'll raise our

glasses to you in Newport.

All right.

It ain't right, and

it ain't wrong.

It just is.

It's now?

Are you certain you wanna

ride with your g*n like that?

Let me wake 'em, Holt.

No, Roedel. You let them sleep.

I ain't too much for good-byes.

But, uh, maybe I'll

just tip my hat.

All right.

Daniel Holt.

Jacob Roedel.

Turn to me with frozen lips

Your hands are icy cold

Your eyes burn bright

against the frost-lit sky

You never seemed more

lovely than you do

Tonight

Pale on the horizon

Like leaves frozen in the snow

Our two shadows

merge inseparably

Will time stand still if

it's pierced with cold

The more I live

The more I know

What's simple is true

I love

You

There's a warmth in my heart

It haunts me when you're gone

Mend me to your side

and never let go

Say, Time knows nothing

We'll never grow cold

The more I live

The more I know

What's simple is true

I love

You

Twilight descends

on our silhouette

How soon spring comes

How soon spring forgets

I wanna hold time Say

it'll never begin

Old Man Winter, be our friend

The more I live

The more I know

What's simple is true

I love

You