01x11 - The Devil's Children

[bunniefuu]

These were tight
as a fiddle string
when I left them.

Look at that.

I guess I can stop
wondering what I'll
be doin' tomorrow.

And the next day,
and the next day,
and the day after that.

One way to get out of
doin' something twice

is to do it right
the first time.

.30-30.

Close.

Looks like we lost him!

Yeah, looks like
he's goin' downhill!

We can pick up his trail
down on the flats!

Hey, will you help me
with this one?!

Ow!

Tabby!

Stop it!

You're a big girl
now, Tabby.

Start acting like one,
or I'll bend you
over my knee

and paddle you good.

You just try.

You may be a girl, Tabby,

but you got more claws
than a wildcat.

You dragged me
off my horse.

You wait.

Just wait till my daddy
hears about this.

Fine. We'll all
ride over and tell him,

and then we'll
come back and show him
the steer you shot.

I thought it was an elk.

You're lying.

You couldn't mistake
a steer for an elk,

not out in the open.

I thought
it was an elk.

You thought
it was an elk.

All right, we'll
let it go at that.

But it better not
happen again.

And I don't want to
see you on this ranch
again, ever.

Get on your horse
and go home.

Now.

You sure handled that
real nice, didn't you?

What do you mean?

First she kills
one of our steers,

then she comes along,
claws me up one side
and down the other,

and you come
and give her a little
pat on the head

and send her on home.

What do you think
we ought to do?

We should've
took her home
and told her folks.

She says it's an elk,
we say no.

Who do you think
Tucker McCallum's
gonna believe?

You want to be
the one to ride in
and tell old Tuck

his darling daughter's
killin' our beef
just for the fun of it?

Who, me?
Yeah.

Oh, no. I'd rather
go hunt a grizzly
with a broom.

There's something
wrong with that girl.

Yeah.

Yeah, it's the way
she looks at you.

It's the way
she thinks.

Spends all her time
dreaming up meanness.

Everyone's her enemy,
and that's just the way
she likes it.

Why?

So she can have the fun
of gettin' even.

What are you doing?

I just came in, Pa.

And I was goin' out
just for another ride.

You were gonna
take Buck?

Well, I didn't think
you'd care.

You know doggone well
I told you to
keep off him.

He's stove up.

He wouldn't carry you
ten miles.

You were gonna leave
your horse like this?

Saddled

Look at him.

You must've run
his legs half off.

I couldn't help it, Pa.

A bear spooked him.

I had to let him run.

And I was gonna
wipe him down
and cool him off

and put him away
before I left.

I ought to wail
the tar out of you.

You know that,
don't you?

I ought to.

You've done it enough.

And don't think
I won't do it again
if you need it.

You can bet
your shirt on that.

Now, you take care
of that horse.

Then you get
in the house.

You ain't goin'
no place else today.

You suppose
he's after my hens?

I don't think that's
a real coyote.

That's my gal
come calling.

Tabby McCallum?
Mm-hmm.

I might've known.

Well, ask her in.

There's no sense in her
standing out there

foolin' around
like a wild Indian.

I'll ask her.

I'm over here, Dan.

Evening.
Not now.

Come on.
No, Dan.

Tabby...
No.

No, Dad, no.
Not now.

What's the matter?

Ma says I should ask you
to come in the house.

Did you have to
tell her I was here?

Why not?

We're gonna be gettin'
married pretty soon,
aren't we?

Aren't we?

I suppose so.

But I wanted
to talk to you alone.

I wanted to ask you
a favor.

What?

Will you loan me
a horse?

A horse?

You mean to tell me
you walked all the way
over here?

I didn't want anybody
to know I'd left.

Oh.

Will you loan me
the horse?

Hmm...I guess so.

But wherever
my horses go,
I go, you know.

No, Dan.
Mm-hmm.

It's a nice night.

What are you
gonna do, anyway?

Go get the horse.

I'll tell you
when we get there.

Right.

Tabby, what kind of
a trick can you play
on Judge Garth?

He ain't even here.
He's back east.
You know that.

The Virginian's here.

What are you
gonna do?

Just wait and see.

If you don't like it,
you can go back
to the horses.

Well, I don't like it,
but I'm not going back.

Then wait here.

I'll only be a minute.

Come on, let's go!

What did you do?

Never mind.
Come on, hurry up.

We've got to get
out of here.

I want you to tell me
what you did.

I said, never mind.
Come on, run.

Tabby, you've got to
tell me what you did.

No! Let's go!

No, you've got to
show me what you did.

No!

Let go of me!
Let me go!

Let me go!

No!

Let me go.

You--

Come on, we've got
to get out of here!

Fire! Fire!

The barn's afire!

Fire!

Come on!

Hey, stop!

Stop! Hey, stop!

Who was it?
Somebody runnin'.

I tried to scare 'em
into stopping.
They just kept going.

Cut those horses loose!

Dan! The barn's
powder dry!

Danny, listen to me!
We've got to save
what stock we can!

Get the blindfolds
on those horses!

Hyah!

Move the wagon
out of there!

Hyah!

Steve!

Get around back!
Take what stock you can
out through the corral!

Betsy, don't come
any closer!

Hyah!

Todd!
Yeah!

What about the Judge's bay?
Who brought her out?

She was in the box stall
at the north end.

I put her in there
this afternoon,
she's about to foal.

Sam, I thought you said
that end was clear!

Forget the box stall.
I'll go get her.

No, you don't!
It's too hot! Get back!

Hey, the kid's
goin' in!

Where's the Virginian?
Still in there.

Trampas!

Virginian,
where are you?

Trampas! This way,
over here!

Hurry, get him out!

Put him
in the bunkhouse!

All right, men,
gather round!

Let's get
a bucket brigade goin',

see what we can save!
Come on!

Ohh, give me the towel.

Heh heh.
That felt good.

Here.

Better get in line
if you want to wash up.

Oh, no hurry. I--

Hey.

Fine crop of blisters
you got there.

Just a minute.

I don't know
how this salve
works on people,

but it's sure great
for horses.

We'd have lost
every head of stock
in that barn

if it hadn't been
for Ben.

Yeah, and somebody
would've been hurt
for sure, too.

Boy, the way a horse
screams when it's
caught in a fire--

you can't stand it.
You've got to try
to do something.

How does it feel
to be a hero?

Can't talk, huh?

Soar throat?
I know what you mean.

I do, too.
All that smoke.

It was lucky
you saw that fire
before it got goin'.

How'd it happen?

What were you
doin' around here
that time of night?

A little late
to court Betsy, wasn't it?

Or were you planning
on serenading her?

Here's a prime
example

of what young love
can do for
the country.

Save a barn
full of horses.

Danny, you seen anybody
around that barn

before you seen
the fire?
No.

I seen someone runnin' away
when you hollered us out.

I didn't see anybody.

Thought maybe
you saw who it was.

No, I didn't see
anybody.

It's funny you didn't.
I didn't!

I didn't!

Danny, that's all right.

I--I gotta go home.
My ma's--

Why don't you boys
put your shirts on?

Danny, we think a lot
of you around here.

We owe you a lot, too.

You can talk to us.
Any man here will listen.

Just try us.
Something on your mind?
Something bothering you?

Look, I--

I don't know
what you mean.

I told you,
I didn't see anybody.

Well...

I guess you're right
about your ma worrying
about you,

you being out
so late and all.

We're sure obliged
for what you did.

Go on home, now.

I reckon I'd better.

Come back tomorrow
and tell me
the truth, huh?

What do you mean?

'Cause you're lying
to me now, Danny.

You saw who it was
that was running away
from that barn.

I don't know who
you'd cover up for,

or why you'd do it...

but I do know
you'll come back

and tell me the truth
about it tomorrow...

after you've had time
to study it out.

Go home now, Dan.

Aren't you makin'
a mistake?

I don't think so.

There's a good chance
that boy had
something to do

with settin' that fire.

Oh, come on, Trampas.

There's no sense
hiding from it.

Bad blood's got a way
of showin' up.

Bad blood's got nothin'
to do with it.

The young come into
this world brand new,
inside and out.

Some folks don't
agree with you.

What's bad blood figure
to do with this kid?

His pa was
a cattle thief.

They had to
hang him for it.

We'll have to take out
that whole back wall.

It's all gotta be replaced.

Tucker. Bruce.

Fire's about
the worst thing that
can happen to a man.

Yeah.
Lose any stock?

No, just the barn.

That's a blessing.

Takes longer
to raise horses
than it does a barn.

Yeah.

We're looking
for Tabby.

She didn't come home
last night.

Thought maybe she
might've stayed here
with Betsy.

No, we haven't seen her.

I told you
we should've gone to
the Flood ranch, Pa.

We'll get there.

Why the Flood ranch?

Dan Flood's been
hanging around Tabby.

Told him to stay away,
but he don't hear
so good.

He'll hear me
this time.

Hold on a minute, Tucker.

Sam, that fella
you shot at last night--
which way did he go?

He was headin'
over the hill
back of the bunkhouse.

Go get your horse.
We got some riding to do.

Sure.

Over here!

There was two horses
tied up here.

Look at the boot tracks.

There's a handprint.
Must've fell down.

See? Knee hit
right here.

Small, woman-sized.

Somethin' else.

I know, I saw it.

Some more up there.
Blood spots.

I aimed to fire high.

I must've fired
too quick.

We'll find out.

Whoever it was
must've finally
got on right here.

Tracks leadin' up
that way.

Come on.

Pa?

Stay where you are.

Shoulder wound.

She bled to death.

She didn't need
to die.

She wouldn't have
if she had any help.

You wound an animal--
a deer or an elk--

any four-footed thing--

you don't just leave it
to crawl away and die
in misery.

No.

You track it down,

no matter how long
it takes.

You do that
for an animal.

But not for my daughter.

We didn't know
she was hit.

You didn't know,
or you didn't care?

We didn't know.

You let her
crawl away to die.

I didn't mean to do it.
I swear I didn't.

I'd never sh**t a woman,
no matter what she'd done.

You'd say that now.

Sure he would!

You k*lled Tabby,
and now you're trying to
back out of the blame.

A wild shot,
150 yards in the dark?

Sam didn't know.
He couldn't know.

You didn't track her down.

Sam thought he missed.
He tried to miss.

It was black dark,
and we had a barn
goin' up in flames!

Get Tabby's horse.

They're lyin'
to you, Pa!

Maybe, maybe not.

When I decide which,

then I'll know
what I got to do,
and I'll do it.

Get the horse.
No.

Not until I give Sam here
another chance

to show how fast he is.

I said, get the horse.

Tabby was runnin'
from the fire,

and him that set it.

That much I'm sure of.

We don't know
who set the fire,
if it was set.

Dan Flood set it.

That's just a guess.

No better than his father.

It's my thinkin'
that he had as much to do
with killin' Tabby

as if he'd pulled
the trigger himself.

Maybe more.

The k*lling was
an accident, Tuck.

Not in my eyes.

It was m*rder.

And somebody's
going to pay for it.

If you feel that way
about it, there are
courts, you know.

I don't need no courts.

I square my own accounts.

Sam's a friend
of mine.

So is Dan Flood.

What you do to
either of them,
you do to me.

Make no mistake
about that, Tucker.

I square my own accounts.

And I bury my own dead.

I'd be obliged
if you'd leave us now.

I didn't set fire
to the barn.

No, but
Tabby McCallum did.

And you was with her.
It's the same thing.

It's not the same thing.

I don't think Tabby
did it on purpose.

She--Well,
she lit a match
to see in the dark,

and she dropped it.
That's what happened.

The fire got out of hand.

The only thing she could
think to do was to run.

She done it on purpose.

Why would she do
something like that
on purpose?

Because she's
an evil girl,
that's why.

The devil's
in her, Dan.

You can see him
lookin' right out
of her eyes.

Ma, just a minute.
Before you say anything
more about Tabby,

I think you ought to
know something.

Tabby and me are figuring
to get married.

Married?

Mrs. Flood.

I was comin' over
to tell you about
the barn.

Honest, I was.

I just wanted to tell
my Mom about it first.

Well, you can see
how she is.

I didn't want to
leave her like this.

It's a thin door, Dan.

Don't worry,
Mrs. Flood.

Dan?

We found out
that it was Tabby.

She was runnin' away
from that fire last night.

The shot
that Sam Hicks fired

was lower
than he thought.

He hit her.

Tabby's dead, Dan.

I'm sorry.

It'd be best if
he rode in with me

and talked
to the sheriff.

Oh, please. No.

With Tabby dead,
there's got to be
an inquest.

It's only reasonable
that they'll want
to talk to Dan

about the fire.

He might even have
to stand trial.
I don't know.

They'll send him
to prison.

I don't believe so.

I'll ride in with him
and speak up for him.

He stayed and fought
the fire with us.

We owe him a lot.

First my husband...

now my son.

You're not alone,
Mrs. Flood.

You've got
a lot of friends,
you and Dan.

I brought
one of 'em along.

Betsy?

This is a sorry time

to be seeking solace
in a bottle.

Bruce better be goin'
for the preacher

if we're gonna have one
to read the words.

No preacher.

I can read from the book
as good as any man.

Be a kindness to me
to have a preacher.

I'd feel easier
in my heart.

No preacher.

I'll want that
patchwork quilt.

The one she liked
when she was a yearling.

And a down pillow
for her head.

She was my daughter, too.

Is it too much to ask
for a Christian burying?

Will you go
in the house, Sophie?

You're not thinking
about Tabby.

You're thinking
about more k*lling.

And if I am?

What happened
was the Lord's will.

Shot down for no reason?

Left to bleed and die?

That's the Lord's will?

Not for no reason.

Bruce says
their barn was burned
to the ground.

If you found
your barn afire,

and somebody
runnin' away,

I expect you'd sh**t.

The doc says
you're not to get
yourself upset.

You keep goin',
you'll come down
sick again.

It's not me that's
bothering you.

It's what you know
and won't admit.

Tabby set that fire.

Dan Flood
was there.

How do you know
he didn't do it?

Dan never hurt
a living thing,
man or animal.

Tabby was using him,

the way she used
everybody else

to get
what she wanted.

She hurt everything
and everybody

she ever touched.

She k*lled the first pony
she ever had.

That was
a long time back.

She didn't
change.

She set that fire.

You can't deny it.

I won't admit it,
neither.

Our fault--
yours and mine.

Maybe if the Lord
had sent 'em to us

before were so far
along in years

and set in our ways,

it might've been
easier for all of us.

Kindness
and understanding

helps to raise
young'uns.

But you didn't
hold with that.

You reached for
a tug strap every time.

Whatever she done...

they let her bleed to death
like a shot coyote.

Somebody's gonna
pay for that.

We're payin' for it,
husband.

You and me.

I want you to promise me
there'll be no more k*lling.

Go in the house,
Sophie.

Promise me, husband.

I promise you nothin'!

Now, get out of here!

Saddle up.

Your ma wants a preacher
for Tabby's buryin'.

You changin'
your mind?

What do you mean?

When are we goin' after
Dan Flood and Sam Hicks?

When I decide.

Not until.

Now, do what
I tell you.

Tabby's lyin' dead!

Sam Hicks pulled
the trigger!

Dan Flood same as
k*lled her,

and they're walkin'
around, free as air!

If you was half the man
you used to be,
they'd pay before this!

Say another word
to me, boy,

and I'll take the hide
right off your back!

Now, get!

As foreman
of this here jury,

I think I ought to
have the strongest voice
in the deliberation.

Your voice
is no stronger than
any other voice.

It is only louder.

Then why am I foreman?

Because you trampled
over Fred and Alva

to get to the foreman's
chair first.

It ain't gonna
do you no good

to get smart
with me.

Either now or later.
I won't forget it.

And it won't do any good
for you to threaten me,
Mr. Pingree.

I know you can
get me fired,

but I can find
another job.

Here's the way we've
got to look at this.

There ain't no worse scum
on the face of the earth

than a firebug, right?

And that kid's a firebug.

I don't care
what you say,

what the Virginian says,
what anybody says.

He and that McCallum gal
set fire to that barn

just to get excited.

Once they do it,
they'll do it again.

That's why I say we ain't
go no choice in the matter.

We've got to see to it
that he's put away

for a good, long time.

It's our duty!
You're right.

Now...

let's take another vote.

And, gents...

let's make it the last one.

Guilty?

Same as before!
Same as this morning!

Ten of us were
puttin' him away
for a good, long time.

And you and Horace
are lettin' him go.

For goodness' sakes,
Emmet, Mr. Pingree's
got the right idea!

I got chores to do!

You ain't the only one
with chores, Will.

But there's something
bigger than chores
at stake here.

A boy's life's at stake.

No one's going
to hang the boy, Horace.

Though it might save time
in the long run,

seeing as we had
to hang his father.

How am I gonna
get you to listen
to reason?

When you become reasonable.

In times past,
we've convicted men,

even hanged them,

for no better cause
than hatred and fear.

That time has passed.

Now sense and reason
must prevail.

Mr. Pingree
owns a lumberyard.

The thought of arson
scares him out of his wits.

The voice of reason
will tell you

that Dan Flood had
no responsible part
in setting that fire.

Clear your mind of
the fact that his father
was hanged as a thief.

Disregard Mr. Pingree,
and you'll hear that voice.

You're setting
yourself up to be
the voice of reason?

The voice of reason
was the Virginian's voice

when he said
he couldn't believe

that a boy
who gave the alarm,

who stayed and helped
put out the fire,

almost lost his life at it,

had any real part
in setting it.

But, since the Virginian can't
be here to say it again,

I'll be the voice of reason
in his place.

And you, gentlemen--

you'll stay here
until you hear me clearly.

We're doin' a lot of
talkin' here.

But we ain't gettin'
anywhere!

Let's take
another vote.

Right!

In view
of your conduct
during the fire,

I'm taking into
consideration

the jury's
recommendation
of leniency.

I'm giving you the
minimum sentence.

30 days in jail.

Court's adjourned.

Tabby's in her grave,

Sam Hicks goes scot-free,

and the boy gets
30 days in jail.

That's how they
do things today.

That's the way
they even things up.

You're not gonna
stand for it, are you?

You're gonna show 'em
what happens

when you g*n down
a cattlewoman,
aren't you?

Pa, they let her
bleed to death!

I always keep a pail
of buttermilk
in the well

so it's nice
and cold.

Thought some
might taste good
right about now.

You thought right, ma'am!

Oh, oh, oh.

Ahh! Never had
better buttermilk.

I never poured for
more deserving men.

You're not meaning
to include Steve
in that remark, are you?

Why, may I ask,
should she include me
in the honor roll?

'Cause anybody can do
more work in an hour

than you can do
in a whole day.

Oh, you two.

Why, you know
that this farm

would've gone
to rack and ruin

if it hadn't been
for what you men
have done.

And with Danny
comin' home in
a couple of days,

everything is
just about perfect.

Oh.

What do you think
you're doin'?

I, um...

I come to say
good-bye to Tabby.

Well, now,
ain't that real sad?

Her gettin' k*lled
was your fault,

and here you are,
saying good-bye to her.

It wasn't my fault.
It was an accident.

It was cold-blooded
killin'.

What worse,
she didn't die right off.

Naw, she bled to death.

Look, I don't want
any trouble with you.

Aah!

Let me be!

Now, you get
out of here.

Don't let me catch you
around here again.

What'd you pull me
off him for?

Hey! What'd you
pull me off him for?!

I was only doin'
what had to be done.

You'd have
k*lled him.

And then the posse
would come.

You'd be lyin'
right here beside Tabby.

Go on home, boy.

Well, somebody's gonna
die for killin' Tabby.

I promise you that.

Somebody's gotta die
for killin' Tabby.

Looks like
it's gonna be you.

I swear I didn't mean
to k*ll her.

I don't suppose that makes
any difference to you now.

I'll give you the same
chance you gave her.

None.
It was an accident.

Yeah. Like this is
gonna be.

You know any prayers?

Now's the time to say 'em.

I ask you decently
to let me go on my way.

Try beggin'.

I might change my mind.

I ain't never
learned how.

I don't aim
to start now.

Hyah! Hyah!

Hyah!

Hey, wait!

That's Sam Hicks,
a man who works for
the Virginian.

Found him
on the road, dead.

All right,
that takes care of
everything, Pingree.

All right, let's go!

The rest of you,
break it up!
It's all over!

Come on, move along.

Where's
the Virginian?

Probably in the barn.

Sam Hicks got shot!

He's dead.

Ken, I need
a couple of men
for a posse.

See who you can find
along the street.

You wouldn't be
takin' a posse

if you didn't think
the kid was guilty,
same as I do.

I don't need a posse
to bring in Dan Flood,
guilty or not.

But that
McCallum outfit--

it's an entirely
different breed.

The McCallums?

Have you forgotten
the name of the girl
that Sam k*lled

was McCallum--
Tucker's daughter,
Bruce's sister?

You think one of them
done it?

They had just as good
reason to do it
as Dan Flood.

Far as I know,
they're the only three
that had any reason.

I'm gonna bring 'em in
and ask 'em some questions.

And I don't expect
that Tucker and Bruce
will like the idea.

No reason I couldn't
go along...

if you're shorthanded.

All right, Pingree.

It'll give you
a chance to see the way
we do things now.

Without a rope.

Ohh.

I'm miserable.

Aw, that's too bad.

Now, that's just
too bad.

Gonna have to wait
till the Virginian
or somebody

gets to worry about me
and comes after me
in a buggy.

I could never
ride home.

You stay.
You're welcome.

Well, a lot of sympathy
I get from you people.

Well, it's
your own fault.

It's not my fault.
It's your ma's.

She didn't make you

eat that third piece
of pie, you know.

No, but she
offered it to me.

Now, who could that be?

It's, the, uh--
It's the sheriff...

Ken Bower, Mr. Pingree.

A couple of others.

Mr. Pingree
and the sheriff.

What on earth for?

Now, Ma, stop it.

Nothin' to worry about.

Evenin', Sheriff, men.

Light down, come on in.

Plenty of coffee
left from supper.

Won't take me a minute
to hot it up.

That's right kind
of you, Dan.

Some other time,
I'll take you up
on that.

This evening,
I'm here on business.

Where were you today
around 1:00?

I was out all day
along Willow creek,
hunting strays?

I got as far as
Rocking Chair Butte.

Anybody with you?

No, alone.

Afraid I'm gonna
have to ask you to
come with me, Dan.

What do you want
him for, Sheriff?

I'm not arresting
your boy, Mrs. Flood.
I just want to talk to him.

Comin' with me, Dan?

Sure, Sheriff,
if you say so.

What do you want
to talk to him about?

No need for you to be
upset, Mrs. Flood.

You tell me,
Sheriff,

or he won't go.

He's not of age yet,
and I'm his ma.

Sam Hicks was k*lled
this afternoon.

Shot riding along
the Shiloh road,

about an hour
out of town.

He left at noon.

Sam?

Because his shot
k*lled Tabby.

That right, Sheriff?

You think Danny did it
on account of Tabby?

I don't know who
did it, Mrs. Flood.

I have to question anyone
that might have a reason.

Unless he was standing
in the middle of a crowd
at 1:00.

But you all
came after Dan!

Danny's only one.

Tucker and Bruce McCallum
are two more.

I'm going there next.

No, Sheriff. No.

It's all right.

You go on
in the house, Ma.

No, Danny.

I said, go on
in the house.

No. No, you're not
gonna take--

I said,
go in the house!

Sorry about your ma, Dan.

I didn't do it,
Sheriff.

I'll tell you that
right now.

But I'll go along
with you.

I'll get my hat
and saddle the horse.

You ain't gonna
take him, Sheriff.

Ma, no!
No, sir. No, sir.

We know we're
going to be met with a g*n
at the McCallums'.

But we didn't expect one
here, Mrs. Flood.

It was men like you
that come and took my man

and hanged him
for next to nothin'.

Now, you're not
takin' my boy!

We're not gonna hang Dan!

This is a sheriff's posse,
not a lynching party.

There was a sheriff
when they took
my husband.

And he never even
showed his face

and raised a hand
to stop 'em!

That was another time
and another man.

A thing like that
can't happen now.

It can happen now!

As long as men
like killin'.

Now, Danny ain't
k*lled nobody.

And you get out
of here, Sheriff...

before I start
killin'.

Ma, let me have
the shotgun.

No, you just get
behind me, Danny!

Ma, listen to me!
I ain't lettin' go

until them men
get out of here!

Go on!

Get out, Sheriff!

Danny!

It's gonna take me
a few minutes to get
ready, Sheriff.

Why don't you go on
to the McCallums'

and I'll meet you
on the way back.

All right, Danny.

I'll be lookin' for you.

Thanks.

You hear me, Sheriff--

I say no.

I ain't ridin' out
with you.

Neither is my boy.

I wish you'd go
in the house,
Mrs. McCallum.

You've got
a hangin' in mind.

I can smell it.

You got Pingree with you.

He's the one
that fixed the rope
that hung Paul Flood.

That's a lie.
You can't prove
a word of it.

I don't need no proof.
I heard it said often enough.

This is a posse,
Tucker.

There'll be no lynching
as long as I'm here.

The least
you can do

is tell us why
you want my men
to go with you.

Sam Hicks was shot
and k*lled about 1:00
this afternoon.

I'm takin' in everybody
that might have a reason
to want Sam dead.

Tucker, Bruce,
Dan Flood.

You think one of us
done that?

Ohh!

Oooh!

Doc said
no excitement.

If this don't k*ll her,
it ain't your fault.

What can I do,
Tucker?

Just keep
out of the way!

I knew Sophie was sick.

I was afraid something
would happen.

I can tell by
the look on your face

you know about Sam.

Yeah. Petey rode out
and told me.

I was coming
to tell you myself

as soon as I had
Tucker and Bruce

and Dan Flood
safe in jail.

I know how much
Sam meant to you.

He was a good man.

More than that, Stan,
he was a good friend.

Well, I've got to
take 'em in,

but I can't
do it today.

Not in the shape
Sophie's in.

If I even tried,
somebody else
would be dead.

Tucker, Bruce,
Sophie, one of us.

No, I'll have to
come back tomorrow.

You won't have
to do that.

I'll see that
they get to town

first thing
in the morning.

Undamaged?

That's a promise.

Husband?

I've got to know.

I've got to know.

Sophie, I didn't
k*ll Sam Hicks.

From dinner on,
I was cuttin' firewood.

You could've heard
the hammer on the wedge

if you'd have listened.

It was in my mind
I'd heart it.

But I couldn't
rightly recollect
just when.

Bruce k*lled him,
Tucker.

No.

You're hiding
from it, Tucker.

Dan Flood
could've done it.

He was set
on marryin' Tabby.

You're a coward,
husband.

Sophie...

Bruce is our last
young one.

A blight was on me,
husband.

I gave you children
of the devil.

Don't say that, Sophie.

I could've put Tabby
straight, given time.

And I can
straighten Bruce.

Not the devil's
children.

For Bruce...

it's got to be...

a hangman's rope

or a lawman's b*llet.

No.

No, Sophie. No.

Don't be a coward,
husband.

Don't be a coward.

I was...

waitin' to hear
how Ma was.

You k*lled her, boy.

Oh, no. No,
it wasn't my fault
they come yesterday...

and scared the life
out of her.

They shouldn't have
done that to her.

You shouldn't have
shot Sam Hicks.

How was Tabby
gonna rest easy

with him
walkin' around?

Her old man, too,
yellin' to do
what had to be done.

It didn't need doin'.

Now it's done,
you ain't runnin'
away from it.

I ain't stickin' around
to let them string me up,
that's for sure.

You're stayin'.

I'm handing you over
to the sheriff.

First, I'm takin'
the hide off you

for what you done
to your ma.

You murderin' whelp!

What happened, Tuck?

Bruce.

Cracked me
over the head
with his r*fle,

run off.

Know where he went?

He'd head out
for Montana.

We got kin
up that way.

I'm goin' after him.

You'd better let me.

Killin' him
is the only thing
that'll stop him now.

It's up to me to do it.

No, Tucker.

I could've k*lled him
yesterday if killin'
was the answer.

But all this is...

not for me and you
to decide.

It's got to be done.

Tucker!
Tucker, look out!

I've got to go on.

You can't.
I've got to.

It's God's will, Tuck.

You weren't meant
to k*ll your own son.

I'll go on
and bring him back
for the law to look after.

God's will.

Maybe.

It is.

The horse--

I just put
new shoes on him.

He'll be easy
to track.

There's no need
to hurry.
Why not?

He's riding
my bay gelding.

He's got a split hoof.

He'll pull up lame
before he goes ten miles.

Well, I'll get on, then.

You get back and tell
the sheriff about this
as soon as you're able.

You get on back!

I got you outgunned!

Do you hear me?

I can pick you off
with this here r*fle

before you'd get
halfway close enough

to take a shot
with that there p*stol!

I don't want
no trouble from you!

You get on back!

If you leave me be...

I'll leave you be!

Do you hear me?

Don't k*ll me!
Don't k*ll me!

Don't!

Come on out of there.

Don't sh**t.

On your feet.
We're headin' back.

Dan?
Yes, sir?

You can come out
of there, son.

All right, Ken,
take him in.

I was beginning
to wonder

when people in this
part of the country

were gonna understand
what the law was for

and stop trying to
settle things themselves.

You feel a little surer
of us now, Stan?

Can't say I feel easy
about the boy's father.

You can go, Dan.

I wouldn't worry
about Tucker.

He'll hold his peace.

We'll see.

**

Here!

Oh, thanks.

Well, it looks
like somebody's
playin' favorites.

I wouldn't
say that.

Just rewarding
great ability.

Oh, come on.
I can paint more
by noon Monday

than any other man can
all week long.

You know, I'm glad
to hear you say that.

Here, now you can
really get goin'.

That's my trouble.
Everybody believes
everything I say.

Look.

I've come to help,
if you'll let me.