Original subtitles

In the beginning, there were the mountain men who pushed deep into an

wilderness and by so doing marked the trails that millions were to follow.

But hard on the heels of these fierce and solitary giants came another breed

men of equal courage and perhaps greater vision.

Men who saw verdant valleys and sweeping prairies and dreamed dreams of empire.

Men who before the West was mapped or land titles thought of set their mark on

huge sections of wilderness.

and decided it was their own.

For decades, there was no one to challenge their claims.

Then came the settlers, who refused to accept the right of any man to claim

a million acres, merely because he had seen them first.

The conflicts would follow, as fierce as any the West had known, or to last half

a hundred years.

Get out there, boy!

Come on, go!

You're gonna hang, boy!

Almost get the feeling he don't want to be hung.

Oh, no.

Don't do this, please.

My God, please don't do it. Bring him along, Dave.

Let me go.

Let me go.

Let me go. Let me go.

Let's do it, Corey.

Get that rope around his neck.

Think so, Ma.

Now you know what could happen, will happen. We gotta come back here again.

You sure are brave with widders and children, ain't you?

Mr. Cole's been real patient with you. That man's offered you top money for

homes. He doesn't own the whole valley.

He know our rights.

Wrong, lady. This valley's part of the coal spread.

You've been told enough.

You listen to me and you listen good, woman.

Mr. Cole's patience is just about all weighted out.

So it'd be a good idea for you and your pig litter just to pick up and get.

We're gonna burn you out.

Might be a good idea for the McKay hands to keep their noses in their own

business, too.

Goodbye, Mrs. Ferguson.

Goodbye, Kathy.

Goodbye, Laura.

How can some folks be so mean?

I think their meanness comes by the natural.

Mr. Coe hires people like that.

I heard you say you liked Mr. Coe.

I did like him at one time.

There's a writer coming.

You know who it is?

Uh -uh.

Afternoon, ladies.

What do you want?

I'd like to water my horse.

How's that boy doing?

He'll be all right.

How'd... You seen him?

Up on the ridge.

He's too far back to help.

Looks like they was throwing a scare.

Yeah, scare enough.

They want us out of this valley.

Fully in scum.

It'd be a different story if my husband was alive.

You can get out now if you want to.

Thank you.

Oh, so pretty, ain't he?

Kathy, no matter he can't hear, besides Laura McCain, I saw you looking at him.

I was not.

I saw him looking at you, too.

I wished a man would look at me like that.

He isn't bad looking.

How'd you like a cup of hot coffee?

That'd be right neighborly of you, ma 'am.

Kathy?

Yes, ma 'am? Get a cup of coffee for the gentleman.

I told you he was pretty.

Go on, girl.

Get out of this rain.

Ma 'am, that sure was good.

Ladies?

You know, I was just wondering.

Laura's got to go home alone.

And it's clear the other side of the valley.

Close men out there.

That's all right, Mrs. Ferguson.

I don't need... Miss Laura, it'd be my pleasure.

Now, never you mind.

I'll feel a lot safer if somebody else is with you.

I'm much obliged to you, Mr... Grayson.

I reckon by your expression back there, Luke must have mentioned me.

Care to tell me what he said?

Oh, just that you met once and it almost came down to a gunfight between you.

That about covers it.

Do you feel you're Luke's enemy?

No.

His friend?

I'm not sure that I have enemies.

Oh, friend.

Oh, now don't they look nice and ripe.

Thanks, Aunt Molly.

Supper's ready, Josh.

Hello, Laura. I was wondering where you got to.

Aunt Molly, this is Mr. Grayson. Mr. Grayson, this is my Aunt Molly.

Mr. Grayson.

Aunt Molly.

There was some trouble at the Fergusons, and Mr.

Grayson was kind enough to escort me home.

Well, that was very nice of you, Mr. Grayson.

In fact, we're just about to sit down to supper. Would you care to join us?

Well, if it's no bother, then.

No, it's no bother.

In fact, you'll find some fresh hay for your horse in the barn.

Thank you.

Grayson. Grayson. Now, that name has a very familiar ring to it. It should.

It's the same Frank Grayson who set out to hunt Luke down.

Wanted to kill him.

But I thought I remember Luke saying that that ended in a truce between them.

did, Aunt Molly.

What I'm wondering, what's he doing here?

We thank thee, Lord, for this food we eat and for thy guidance and love, which

is the only true protection we receive under your name. Amen.

Amen.

What happened today over at the Ferguson place, Laura?

Something happened?

Not during supper, Josh.

I think after supper may be too late.

What do you mean?

Well, I mean if it happened that close to this ranch.

And it was bad enough for Laura to need Mr. Grayson's help here. I want to know

about it.

In case that bonehead Coe shows up here.

Josh, don't call Mr. Coe a bonehead.

Disrespectful.

You want me to be respectful about a man who's trying to run everybody out of

this valley?

What I want you to do, Josh, is eat your supper. And don't bother Mr.

Grayson with our problem.

I'm not bothering him.

Am I, Mr. Grayson?

Your name's Frank, Josh.

Are you sure those men were Coe's?

Yes. Do you know Mr. Coe?

We've never met.

You know, Frank, sometimes when I watch Luke practice the fast draw, you know,

he's so quick, it's a blur.

I mean, you can't even see his hand move.

Luke was telling me there's nobody faster than you.

Oh, there comes a day when you find a man who's just a hair faster.

Will you be around for a while?

It's possible.

Well, Aunt Molly says you're always welcome here.

Well, I'll remember that.

Of course, if I do come back, it wouldn't just be to see Aunt Molly.

That berry pie would take a ribbon in any fair.

And then the one called Corey threatened to come by here if the McKay hands

interfered.

Well, I say let him.

Yeah, let him.

When they start any trouble around here, they're going to get more than what

they bargained for.

But, Josh, you don't really believe that Mr. Cole would use force against us.

I don't know.

But if he does, he's going to have Luke and he's going to have Uncle Zeb to

contend with, too.

Except for the fact that Uncle Zeb is out scouting for the fort and Luke's up

the mountains helping Mr. Hanson with his horses.

Aye, that's true.

Zebulon might be weeks away.

But you know, the Hanson Mountain pasture is only a half day's ride.

Well, I could ride out there and fetch him.

But I don't like the idea of leaving you women here alone.

Oh, I don't think we're in any immediate danger.

Don't worry, Josh.

We'll be all right. Yes, of course we will.

You know, if you were to leave at sunup, you and Luke could be back here by

tomorrow night, possibly even sooner.

I'll leave right now.

Right now, but... Yep.

I saddled up.

I'll be back with Luke tomorrow morning.

Sure, they grow up so fast.

He's here, Mr. Crowe. Just coming into town.

Yeah.

All of you.

Bring me another glass, a fresh bottle.

Mr. Coe?

Frank Grace?

You're late.

I took supper.

Sit down.

Frank? I think you better hear what I have to say first.

I'm here to pay a debt, Mr. Cole.

The man I work for, Buck Julian, has been like a father to me.

And he asked that I come up and look into the problems you've been having up

here.

Well, let's just say it's a couple of old friends returning favors.

Speaking, that puts you in the middle.

Well, I've been in the middle on more than one occasion.

Just what are my services to be, Mr. Cole?

Them sodbusters out of my valley.

Your valley?

My valley.

My blood mixed with its dirt.

My heart pounding through its rivers.

My soul whistling on its wind.

while pigs were spouting it up for me.

Bye, Manny.

There's one thing.

I work alone, Mr. Cope.

I don't work with any hollow -gutted range baits throwing scares.

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

Three of your men playing out a mock hanging with a boy who's hardly old

to shave.

A hanging?

My boys?

Couldn't be.

Could and was.

Were? At the Ferguson place.

The Nielsen brothers.

Are them your kind of rules?

If they are.

Dead or no dead.

Contract's off.

You hear me.

I want them squatters off my land.

That's all I care about.

All I want is a free hand.

You got it.

I've made arrangements for you to stay at a boarding house across the street.

Just a short ride to my ranch.

Said you done already ate your supper, huh?

At the McCann's.

The McCann's?

You friends with the McCann's?

Man in my business, Mr. Cole.

Comes by a few friends.

Then? The eldest girl was at that hangin'. Mrs. Ferguson said she oughtn't

ride home alone.

What about the McCann's?

I see what's on your mind now.

But you see, I've known Seb McCann for over ten years, and I just ain't about

lock horns with him. I don't have to.

His ranch is set way off up in the corner of the valley.

I just ain't interested in it right now.

Right now?

Meaning when I clean out this valley, the McCanns will move on.

Ain't no way they can get their stock to pasture land. I'd set them across my

valley.

I'll buy them out then.

What if they don't want to sell?

I'll sweat on that when the time comes.

Everything clear to you now?

There's one last thing.

The man that owes you, Buck Julian, he's the man that I'd give my right arm for.

So don't prod me too hard.

Maybe I'd assume give that right on.

Don't think I won't shoot.

Hold on there a minute, lady.

Maybe you ought to talk to Lady Corrie.

Lady, look, we really ain't out to make no trouble for anybody, but you know

what... Aunt Molly!

Aunt Molly, are you all right?

I'm fine, thank you.

Yes, Luke.

But our garden isn't.

Ain't too neighborly.

What?

I had a mistake.

The horses just got smooth.

That's a lie.

They did it deliberately.

Horses don't shoot tomatoes.

Josh, take Aunt Molly and the girls inside.

Ladies.

You two got a reason for being here?

Yeah, we brought you another offer from Mr. Coates.

Well, I told you before we're not interested in selling.

You ain't heard the price.

At any price.

Reckon we'll be going then. You just hold up here.

Drop your guns.

Well, think I might...

hair faster, friend.

You'd be dead.

Come on. Gun belts on the ground.

Now your boots.

What are you talking about?

Your boots and socks.

Get them off.

Of course, I could shoot them off.

But you might lose some toes.

and horses.

You betcha.

If I was you, I'd do less talking and more moving.

Coe's Ranch is 12 miles.

No matter how long it takes, McCahan, we'll even this.

Hey, you got rid of them in a hurry.

For now.

You think they'll be back?

This might be Aunt Molly, Henry Coe's starting to look our way.

Oh, dear.

Come on, I'll ride into Teton, telegraph the fort.

See if they get word to Uncle Zeb.

Simple. Damn!

Didn't I tell you I brung Grayson in here to cut out all this cuffing and

scuffing?

I'm responsible for the men who work for me.

Can't you understand that?

You make fools out of yourself, you make a fool of me.

Hassling the McKayans.

Didn't I tell you they wasn't none of your concern?

Well, we just thought we'd swing down by there and we'll see if they've been

thinking over your latest offer.

You ever act on your own again, embarrass me, I'll whoop the skin right

back.

Get the hell out of here.

Now you see why I needed you?

your skulls, but I got this crazy Luke McCahan to do you with.

Man's a wild case.

Causes trouble wherever he goes.

Wanted down in New Mexico for killing a judge.

Except he didn't kill him.

How would you know that?

That judge was shot in the back.

That's not the way I know McCahan I ever met.

Seems like you know a powerful lot about a family you ain't even friendly with.

Meaning?

Just hope it won't influence you none when it comes time to run a squad or

something.

It won't.

Just hope it won't be too long before that time comes.

Wheaton's a game I never dealt aces in.

Patience, Mr. Coe.

Patience and timing.

Them's your hole cards.

Without them...

Comes down to the gun every time.

We don't want that.

Do we?

back after I get the telegraph off. All right, there's no hurry.

Morning, Laura.

Good morning, Mr. Peter. How are all the McKay hands lately? Well, they're just

fine. We've got a list here of the things we'll be meeting.

All right, I'll head and fill for you, Jessica.

All right.

Mr. Grayson. Good morning, Miss Laura.

The way this town is all decked out here, it looks like it's going to be a

wing being come Saturday.

Will you be in town for the celebration?

Will you?

Of course.

Well, then, I'll see to it.

It's amazing what a buried body does to a man's traveling instinct.

Well, if that's true, maybe now you'll accept Aunt Molly's invitation.

Have supper with us again?

Well, I could consider that question if I knew that it was coming from you.

I think you know it does.

Then I accept.

About supper, I'll let you know what day.

How do I reach you?

Stay in your old town.

Fine, maybe sometime next week.

Fine. Luther, our order should be ready.

There's something I can do for you?

Yeah.

Stay away from my sister.

I see.

Let me ask you something, Luke.

Don't you think your sister's old enough to make her own decisions about who she

talks to?

Frank, I was older than Laura when I took a dead man's horse to get myself

from the Battle of Shiloh.

If I had any idea what taking that horse was going to cost me.

I'd still be walking.

Meaning he didn't know what you're getting into.

That's it.

You will leave her alone.

No, I still say the decision belongs to the lady.

Maybe you ought to talk to her.

I'll do that.

You're angry with me, aren't you?

For talking to Mr. Grayson?

Just think you could show some better sense.

Well, why?

I mean, what has he done?

Laura, you can ask me that.

I know he's a gunfighter, but so... But what?

A lot of people consider you a gunfighter, too, Luke.

But you're not.

Not really.

Well, maybe it's the same with Mr. Grayson.

Laura, there is a big difference between me and Frank Grayson.

His gun is for sale to the highest bidder. Mine isn't.

And sooner or later, any man whose gun is for sale has to kill or be killed.

Let's go. It's getting chilly.

Come on.

They near hung my boy.

I've been having nightmares ever since.

All of us been sore put upon.

Threatened. Just ain't right none of it.

God created this land, not Henry Cove.

That's true.

The question is, what are we going to do about it?

Wondered if somebody's going to put a flame to our homes or hooves to our

fields? Fight us, what do we do?

Kill the first co -man you see on your land.

Killing won't solve anything.

Killing begets killing.

It's Grayson.

Who? It's Frank Grayson.

He's a gunfighter.

I've heard of him.

What's he doing here?

Coz men over there.

Every one of them.

Grayson's working for Coz.

Are you riding with them saddle tramps or coves?

Gosh, Josh.

My

name's

Frank Grayson.

Come to give you a message.

We're not interested in any messages.

Especially from Henry Cole.

Well, you better listen to this one.

No, you better listen.

We know who you are. Know your reputation, too.

But it ain't gonna work this time.

There's too many of us here.

Oh, that's right.

You can't kill us all.

Not before one of us kills you anyway.

That's true.

The difference is, are you ready?

Ready?

To die.

You see, that's what I'm paid for.

Diane's as much a part of my business as planting as yours.

You're wasting your time trying to scare us, Mr. Grayson.

We've traveled too far, suffered too much to scare now.

That's good.

Does that go for the wives and the young 'uns, too?

Which room you want to see left without a man?

Which?

This is just business.

All of it.

Is it going to be unpleasant business or pleasant?

Which?

He ain't bluffing me.

He don't want to die no more than the rest of us.

courage, mister.

But only a fool draws against a stacked deck.

Now, all of you, you got exactly a week to pack up and leave this valley.

All squatters.

Squatters by whose definition?

The beating's over.

It's one more matter of business, Frank.

What's on your mind, Luke?

You're getting out of here and leaving these folks alone.

This ain't no picnic, and you weren't invited.

Well, I always figured a man had a right to move about as he pleased.

So do they.

They've got a choice.

Move or get buried, that it?

That about covers it.

I was giving you the same choice, Frank.

Now get out of here.

Think twice, Luke.

I was hoping you would.

Give me that gun, Aunt Molly.

No, Luke. I am not going to let you kill that man or be killed.

Aunt Molly, I am telling you. Give me the gun now.

No, Luke.

Violence never solved anything and it won't solve this situation.

Look what violence has done to your life.

Has it helped you? Has it helped anybody?

They need to keep the punch on it.

I am not without thunder, Mr. Grayson.

You can catch yourself lucky Luke got stopped.

Mr. Grayson!

A man as low as you gets his pleasure out of hurting folks.

Seeing them crawl, making cowards out of themselves.

And I mustn't forget you get paid for it, too.

You get paid for doing other men's filth.

Remember, folks, you got one week.

Are you sure now you won't take a shawl, Laura?

Yes, I'm fine.

Well, don't be too late at the Ferguson's, but have a very nice time.

And drive carefully, dear, won't you? It looks like there might be a storm

brewing. I'll be fine, Aunt Molly. Now, may I please go?

Ha!

I hate to say this, Aunt Molly.

But with the way that she's been snapping at everybody lately, I'm glad

her out of this house.

It's been three days, Mr. Cole.

Three days.

Since Grayson told them what for.

Not a one of them sod jabbers is making a move to get.

Where's Grayson? He ain't out moving them squatters along, that's for sure.

Nichols saw him in town earlier.

Mr. Cole, if you'd just give me and Glenn the word, we'd be glad to do some

coaxing that'd make you real proud.

You know I can't do that.

I done give Grayson my word he'd have a free hand.

I wouldn't haze the little folks no more.

Now Luke McKinnon's out there giving them some backbone.

There's just some way we can think of to bring him down.

I figured the rest of them would move on with their tails twixt their legs.

Yeah, but I thought that was supposed to be Grayson's job.

Yeah.

But you see, he likes the McCanns.

He keeps telling me it ain't gonna make no difference in the end, but... I ain't

too sure of that no more.

Luke Cahan's the one who made Corey and me eat dust, boss.

Yeah.

Sure was him, wasn't it?

Mr. Cole, I think your problem is close to being over.

Oh, hold there, gal.

Whoa there.

Cory, will you stop the horses?

Wait for me now.

Yeah, pretty.

That wasn't so bad, was it?

Luke, I'll kill you for this.

That Luke get all riled up. He knew we was messing with his little sister,

wouldn't he?

You don't let me go. There won't be a rock flat enough for you to hide under.

Rock? Who said anything about hiding under any rocks?

We want him to know about this.

We're even going to send this here wagon home just to get his attention.

Your brother, uh, he showed us a little trick about boots.

And we ain't forgotten it.

Get him off, lady.

That knife twist gonna be a sorry sight, Ferdy, if you don't get up.

Meaning you walk or you get dragged.

up, Ernie.

You don't want these folks to see you begging, do you?

You just make Steph real comfortable there, Purdy, while we wait on your

brother.

How are you figuring on taking care of McCann?

Well, Corey here is going to pretend he's just having a drink.

Well, I'll be hiding back for the robbery.

Randy, what the hell do you think you're doing?

You've got no right to interfere in a plan of ours.

You got two choices.

You either die in here or out there.

Now, hold on.

Which?

Please, Frank.

We didn't know how you felt.

She ain't hurt.

Just wet and foot sore, maybe.

Mr. Grayson, please don't kill them.

Please, Frank, don't.

All right.

The lady just saved your lives.

Go on crawl into that mud. That's where you belong Now

roll around it keep rolling till I tell you to

quit

Now

crawl Please Frank

Hey. All right.

Get on your horses.

Both of you.

And ride out of this town.

I never want to see your ugly faces again.

Yes, sir.

We're going. Ride away. We're going.

Come on. Let's get out of here.

It's our wagon, all right. Where's Laura? I don't know.

Go saddle my horse. I'll tell Aunt Molly.

Luke, somebody's got to stay here and look after the women. Just keep them

inside the house until I find out what's going on. I

called you a lot of ugly things.

Now you've helped me.

Why? You're very pretty when you're mad.

Frank, be serious.

All right, if you're truly serious, will you tell me why you work for a man like

Coe?

I owe somebody.

I work for a living.

It's people like Coe who hire me.

But he's trying to steal other people's land.

Well, Laura, if I go into the rights and the wrongs of what I do, there are

squatters on Henry Coe's land.

Well, if you come to think about it, even Mr. Coe was a squatter once.

Except in one thing.

He was here first.

I guess for a hundred years, that'll never be resolved.

Those first see in the land, and those coming later, who has the right to work

that land.

You know, Luke has told us quite a bit about you, but somehow I

just... Don't seem to know you, if that makes any sense.

Yeah, because there's not a whole lot to know.

I had a brother. He's dead now.

You know about that.

We grew up alone.

Mostly.

Beating on each other.

That's about it.

That's about it? What... About being a gunfighter?

I'm sorry.

There are a few parts of my life that I don't share with others.

Especially Laura McKay.

I'd better be getting home.

Would you stop, please?

I want to ask a favor.

Not to mention what happened tonight to my family.

My brothers would, uh... Well, you know how brothers are.

They'd set out tracking those two men and try and kill them.

won't hear it from me there's something else the mckay hands

well we're not going to sit by what co -drives all our friends out of this

valley go on so where does that leave you

Laura, get out. Now, Luke, what happened here is not Frank... Mr. Grayson's

fault. I got caught in that storm.

Save it till we get home.

Now, listen, Luke. Do as I say. Get out off of there, get up on your horse, and

wait up ahead for me.

Good night, Mr. Grayson.

Thank you for helping me.

I don't like you seeing Laura.

But I reckon I'm obliged to you for taking care of her.

You needn't be obliged.

Even so, I am.

But you ought to know.

This don't change a thing.

Those settlers are our friends, Grayson. You push them, you push the McKayans.

I told you to wait. I didn't choose to.

You're not my father, you know.

I'm not trying to be.

What are you doing wearing men's clothes?

It's none of your business.

You order me about, treat me like a child.

Stop acting like one.

Maybe I won't.

And when the storm broke, You couldn't see a foot ahead of you. The horses were

shy and they were trying to break free of the wagon. But, Laura, where did you

get the clothes?

Mr. Grayson.

You talked to Frank Grayson?

After what happened at that meeting?

No, no, you two, please. Let Laura go on with her story.

There's really not much to tell.

I got caught in the storm.

and lightning jumped the horses at the edge of town.

Well, I lost control. I had to jump off.

And that's when Mr. Grayson helped me.

How do you mean he helped you, dear?

Well, I was wet and muddy, and my dress was torn, so he gave me these clothes.

Where?

In his room at the boarding house.

You were in Mr. Grayson's room?

He was a perfect gentleman.

That's about it.

He was bringing me home.

And that's when Luke ran into us.

Lord, it's... Aunt Molly.

I'm really tired.

Could we please talk about this in the morning?

Yes, of course, dear.

With all the excitement and everything, I'm sure we're all tired. We should go

to bed.

You asleep?

No.

I just wanted to thank you.

For what?

For not saying what you saw.

It's like you said, I'm not your father.

You're old enough to do what you want.

I know.

But I still love you for not saying anything.

Enough for me to speak my mind?

Yes.

Look, Laura, Uncle Zeb says that a family should be proud of each other.

And I am. I'm real proud of all of you.

But most of all, I think I'm the proudest of you.

Me?

Laura, God gave you so much, and we all want so much for you.

And I think we'd...

We'd all be pretty hurt if you decided to throw away your life on a man like

Frank Grayson.

I know Frank's everything you say he is.

But there's another side to him, Luke.

It's a kind, a warm, a gentle side that he keeps locked away.

It's almost like he's afraid to let anyone know it exists.

That doesn't change what Grayson is, Laura.

A hired gun and a man I don't want my sister falling in love with.

Thank you for caring.

I'm really very tired. I've got to go to bed.

Luke, no girl ever had a better father.

We have so much to do to get ready for tomorrow.

Now, no dilly -dallying and don't go hanging around the popcorn stand,

Josh, I think you could probably help Mr. Potter pull out the picnic tables.

Hey, Lou! What else?

I'll be up the street in a moment.

All right, Luke. Oh, dear, there's so much to be done.

Had us a little argument about how far away the glasses should be. You sure

ought to know.

About 25 feet.

I'd say it's very distant for a handgun.

How about 30?

In the air.

One glass, in the air, at 30. How about two?

Luke.

for three it's the next best thing to do easy shooting luke you can do a

blindfolded hey charlie

Luke can shoot six.

That covers it, Luke.

Why don't you go out back to Mr. Potter's, dear?

Mr., do you think if I keep practicing enough, you think I could shoot like

that?

Only if you're unlucky, son.

Thinks I'm a vengeful man.

Ain't true.

Come on.

Can't hurt to listen.

Come on, Lurk. We need you.

Go on.

We're listening.

I first come here back in 42.

There wasn't another white face within 10 days' ride to this valley.

Didn't bother me none, because I knew right then some hell or howling

this was where I was going to spend the rest of my days.

Well, hell did come.

I fought Indians, woes, hunger, but I never gave up. I didn't quit.

What are you trying to say, Joe?

What I've been telling you all along.

My valley.

Listen to me, folks. Listen to me.

What I'm trying to tell you is... I know how you feel about this valley.

On account of that...

I'm going to double my offer.

Where do you land?

You heard me true.

I'm going to pay you twice what I offered you before.

And remember, that was a more than fair price.

All of you.

Don't listen to him. Double the price? Think I'll listen?

Now that kind of money I can buy other land. Good land.

Better even than what I got now.

Pull up!

I'll give you all one very good reason for not leaving.

Because you're being forced to leave.

You're being told to tuck your tail between your legs and get, or Henry Coe

make you get.

It's my valley.

Get out. Right now.

They had a week.

I'm saying I'm losing my patience.

Now, the only way you're going to stop being pushed off the land that you

and that you built your homes on is to fight.

You stand up to the Henry Coes. Make them see that you can't be pushed.

You're going to stay no matter what.

All right.

I don't already have my say.

Now, he's having his.

But you've got my final words on it.

Out of my hands.

Another lightning storm coming.

While you folks are here hanging fancy doodads, could be lots of barns burning.

Maybe even houses.

You best be thinking where you'll sleep tonight.

I'm afraid.

But Luke?

He won't give up.

He can't.

Yeah, I know.

Well, sooner or later, it's going to come down to you or him.

Well, Laura, that's nothing that I'm going to bring about.

Would you do something for me?

I'm tempted to say anything, but I've got to ask what it is.

Would you leave this valley, please?

If I leave this valley, will you come with me?

What about the decorations?

The folks are all heading back to their farms.

I don't think there's going to be any celebration.

Let's go.

Maybe we'll have that celebration.

of the day

I don't take no pleasure in what we're going to do today.

Like I said, I ain't a vengeful man.

Burning, killing, take my way.

I'd much rather bottom out.

There just ain't no other way.

The men are ready, Mr. Cole. Just waiting for your orders.

I'll be right out.

Religious man, Grayson?

Yes, sir.

Guess that's the way it is with me, too.

You know, religion's a funny thing.

Most folks don't ever use it until they get scared or want something.

Doing something wrong.

It sure is gonna boil into a real war, so any of you ain't up to it, better

your rages now.

I done already sent for the other boys. They're going to meet us in Old Town

about noon. Then we'll ride for the McCahans.

McCahans.

Coe, you said you weren't interested in the McCahans.

That is before they brung us on their selves.

Coe, that's a wrong move. You're going to have open warfare in this valley. The

McCahans leading the squatters.

That the only reason you don't want to ride on the McCahans?

You got another one?

I have.

Laura McCahan.

When did they get back?

Well, just maybe we never left.

You knew about this all along, didn't you?

About what they did to the girl?

I heard about it.

You ordered it, maybe?

It ain't none of your business what I ordered.

Who rides with me, clear?

Coe, I told you once before, don't prod me too hard.

Roger all I please. You better get used to it.

You're outnumbered, Grayson.

I ain't one of your skeer -bellied sod -busters you can bluff near.

You ride on me, Grayson, I'll kill you!

you before I'm down, Cope.

You'll be first.

Get out.

My brother's dead, Mr. Cope.

You want us to go after him, Mr. Cope?

No. To McKeon's I won't.

Let's ride.

Come too late, Zeb.

Too late?

Molly sent word to the fort two weeks ago to let you know what was going on

here.

Well, I ain't been by the fort in over a month. I've been up with a survey

party. I just come here straight from Bowie Peak.

Well, the way I figured, it wouldn't matter much anyway.

There ain't no one man can stand against cold.

Luke tried it. Miss Ferguson.

And maybe you better just start from the beginning, tell me the whole story.

Cole.

He's been leaning on all of us since a couple of days after you left.

Almost hung my boy. He's got his hired gunfighter out there. It's threatening

kill any of us. It won't pack up and leave.

You say Luke tried to stop him?

Why, there was nothing he could do.

He'd got himself killed, hadn't been for Molly.

Mr. McCain, they even dragged Laura... Shh.

Wait a minute. What's that about Laura?

I want to hear about that. Go on.

Luke don't know about that. I told you he near got himself killed trying to

all of us.

If he'd know what happened to his sister.

Miss Ferguson, I'm not Luke.

And I want to know what happened.

Getty?

Well... We heard they dragged Lower Barefoot through the mud, Mr. McCain.

All the way to Old Town.

Who dragged her?

I don't know, sir. Just two of Coe's men.

Miss Ferguson.

Your man, Jethro.

He killed himself building what you just left there.

I suppose when you turn this here wagon around, head back home.

I appreciate your concerns, Ed.

This is one battle even you can't win.

Tim.

Goodbye, Mr. McCain.

Giddy up there.

thought you'd never get here.

How are you, gal?

I'm fine.

I heard about the two men that drug you.

How did you know that?

Well, that ain't important. The only thing that's important is who they were.

Uncle Zeb, I'm not hurt.

They were just using me to get back at Luke.

I know, honey, but I'm gonna need their names.

Uncle Zeb, Luke doesn't know.

None of the family knows.

No, and as far as I'm concerned, they don't have to. I don't want them knowing

any more than you do.

All I have to have is the two names.

No. Now listen to me, gal.

The world I was brought up in, the lowest form of life would be a man that

struck a woman.

The world may have changed, but I ain't.

I gotta have those names.

I can't.

All right.

Then I reckon I'll have to get it from Henry Cole.

Uncle Zeb!

Now, look, honey. I know you don't want your brothers mixed up in this any more

than I do.

So just make sure that they don't know I've been here.

or where I'm headed.

A little misunderstanding.

Mr. Cole.

Come on. I'll get you in the car. That's very kind of you. I don't think that I

can make it that far.

How bad is it?

Went through. I'm lucky.

Where's Luke?

He and Josh are moving horses.

When are they getting back?

They'll be back any time. Why?

Listen. Coe's men are going to hit this homestead.

What?

How soon?

As soon as he gets his men together.

Most of them are in Old Town right now.

Oh, my God.

Uncle Zeb.

Zeb? He's gone to force Coe to tell him who the two men were who dragged me

behind that horse.

If Zeb follows Coe into Old Town, he's going to be facing a dozen men, all of

them primed and ready to fight.

I've got to tell Aunt Molly.

I'll be right back with some bandages.

What else does it need?

Well, when Laura comes with the milk, we put a drop in. I'll put another egg in

anyway.

Jessie, get a horse. Go find Luke and Josh and get them back here as fast as

can. Laura, what is it? Uncle Zeb's in terrible danger.

Uncle Zeb isn't even here. He was here just a little while ago. Jessie, I have

time to explain. We'll just find Luke.

I'm gone.

Laura, what is this about? We need bandages.

Bandages? Fred Grayson, he's in the barn. He's been shot.

My God, there's hot water on the stove. Bandages.

But Mr. Cole not here, Mr. McCann.

Where is he?

He go to old town.

When? Oh, maybe one hour, maybe little more.

What's all this about Uncle Zeb being in danger?

I lied to you that night about what happened to me in the storm.

Two of Coe's men dragged me to Old Town behind a horse.

Well, somehow Uncle Zeb found out about it. Now he's gone to find Mr. Coe.

You said he was in danger. He can handle Coe. Luke, you don't understand.

Mr. Coe is planning on attacking this ranch.

He's gathering all his men in Old Town. Now Uncle Zeb is walking into a trap.

Hold on.

How do you know all this?

Frank Grayson, he's in the barn.

He's been shot.

He came here to warn us, Luke.

I'm afraid for Uncle Zeb.

Will you go?

Josh.

Luke!

This is the damnedest family I've ever seen.

Somebody fetch me my horse.

Deb McCahan's coming.

Close enough right there, McCann.

I'm all done talking, if that's what you come for.

That ain't what I come for, Henry. We can do that later.

Right now, I'm looking for a couple of your men.

hauled my niece out on into the street and dragged her through the mud.

I aim to return the favor.

You just don't do that all by yourself, are you?

Nobody lives forever, Henry.

Much like the thought of going by myself, so maybe I'll just take you

me on that road to hell.

I don't want to kill you, Zeb.

Don't feel like killing you neither, Hank. Always admired your style.

Up to now.

My valley.

Not no more, it ain't. Maybe once.

Ain't no room anymore for old bufflers like you and me.

Maybe our breed is dying.

But if I'm an old buffalo, I'm gonna die by the wolves.

I'm damned if I'm gonna be pulled down by them squash bugs out there ripping up

the land I bled for.

We can talk about that later.

Right now, all I want's them two men out here.

How do I get them?

You and I start bleeding each other right now.

We'll let them be your ones, then.

Down again, Mr. Cole.

Still poor odds, McGeehan.

I don't know about that, Coe.

I figure between the four of us, we'll take most of you before anybody even

clears leather.

Think about that, Henry.

A lot of men gonna die here.

All over a couple of worthless skunks that had to drag a helpless woman

the dirt.

What?

You ain't gonna give it to him, are you, Mr. Cole?

Get out here, mister.

I said get out here, mister.

We done it all for you, Mr. Cole.

We done it all for you.

Hold your fire.

Stop. Stop your shooting.

Live in this valley or you can live in some other one.

That's up to you.

Frank?

Oh, you're bleeding again.

It's your son of life.

Here.

This is the first time I've realized that a good side to getting shot.

Thank you.

I was wrong.

Benefits aren't what I thought.

Meaning?

That was a sisterly kiss if there ever was one.

No. It was a let's be friends forever kiss.

It's the same thing.

Listen.

You came by to tell me about seeing your sister again.

It's all right.

She just told me goodbye.

I'm really grateful to you, Frank.

All of us are.

Well, I guess that's no consolation.

Come on.

We got to get you back to the ranch where we can take care of you properly.

Well, thank you.

Well, Zeb, I'd like to tell you something.

Considering my occupation, I've led a reasonably quiet life until I met the

McCain family.

I don't think I've drawn a peaceful breath since that time.

All right, boys, it's time to go home. Let's put him in the wagon.