Arizona Page #4

Sure, we'll all stay,

and we'll get soldiers here to protect us.

The Union don't want us,

but there's somebody does.

Jeff Davis and

the Confederate States of America.

How about it?

How about right here and now...

Arizona declaring its allegiance

to the flag of the South?

I'm for it.

At least we'll be treated like human beings.

I don't care who we declare for

so long as there's an Arizona Territory.

Are we staying?

Yeah!

That's what I wanted to hear. Come on, Sol.

Let's have a cheer for Jeff Davis.

For the Confederates.

For the flag of the South.

Well, I guess they have a right to do that...

when the North's run off

with the only flag we know.

The Union can't be blamed, Phoebe.

Using soldiers to hold the country together

is more important...

than just watching over

a few venturesome souls in Arizona.

I'm not blaming anybody

but it gets my dander up...

to see how a doggoned war

can mess up the plans of people...

who want to mind their own business.

- Well, there's troubled times ahead.

- Yeah.

Wars don't last forever.

We'll have to work twice as hard

and think twice as fast.

Lots of us are staying here...

but later on, there's going to be plenty

that's decided to pull out for safer country.

Let them.

And I'll buy their land

with every dollar I've got.

When good times come back...

I'll have a ranch

you can't ride across in two days.

Sol, this is a territory to invest in

for the future.

I never said it ain't.

We're going to have our hands full

getting freight through.

Freighting?

Phoebe, do you know that

even stagecoaches won't run after today?

People got to have food just the same...

and things to wear,

and we're going to bring them in.

We ain't hauling a pound of freight till

I decide there's a chance to get through...

or till there's soldiers again in this territory.

- I say we are!

- I say we ain't!

Phoebe, don't you understand?

It's not that I'm afraid.

I never ran away from a fight yet.

But now is the time to sit tight...

until we see what's going to happen.

I know how you feel, Sol,

but I don't think that way.

I'm starting tomorrow night

for Fort Yuma with all our wagons...

and I'm bringing them back loaded.

Are we still partners?

No, Phoebe...

I'll have nothing to do

with sending drivers to be murdered.

Suit yourself, Sol.

Can I use your share of the outfit?

Thanks.

No hard feelings?

Of course not.

It'll be what I haul

that'll keep your store open.

Who asked you in my office?

- Office?

- No man comes in here unless I want him to.

And no man stays in Tucson

if I don't like him.

I'm here and I'm staying in Tucson.

Sit down.

I know all about you, Ward.

Yeah?

- Where are you from?

- Poor but honest parents.

- Is that a joke?

- You're the joke.

- Listen here!

- You listen.

My name's Jefferson Carteret.

I heard you in the Plaza.

You and your smart talk...

Anybody with sense would know...

the Confederates can't spare

enough soldiers to handle this territory.

Why, in two months the Indians'll have us

barricaded in and starving to death.

You have a freighting business.

Right now there's a fortune to be made

and you're stealing pennies.

- I was doing all right.

- All right.

But now with nobody

to keep the Indians in line...

Get them on your side.

How many guns can you lay your hands on?

- Why?

- I said how many guns?

There's eight cases of Sharps rifles

I'm supposed to haul to Tubac.

- Ammunition?

- Yeah.

Who's the head Indian around here?

- Mano.

- How can we talk to him?

You're crazy.

You mean make a deal with Mano?

- The soldiers are gone, aren't they?

- Yeah, but you...

This country is wide open

for the Indians, isn't it?

Well, what do the Indians need most?

Guns and ammunition.

To blow our heads off?

Not our heads.

We'll supply the guns and ammunition

on condition...

that Mano doesn't bother

our freighting wagons.

Our wagons?

From now on, I'm your silent partner.

And, Ward, you needed one badly...

- Because you're just a downright idiot.

- Nobody can say that about me.

I said it.

Why?

That woman who spoke in the Plaza,

Phoebe Titus.

What were you doing

while she built up that freighting outfit?

I done everything a man could.

It's all so simple.

Hire her good drivers away from her

and from anyone else in the business.

Pay big wages that no one else can meet...

and add it on to the cost of hauling.

Yeah, I can do that. That's good, ain't it?

I'll show you how to run this town.

Get word to Mano that you want to make

a treaty with him, and do it right away.

- Now look here, you...

- I'm talking.

And get those guns and ammunition

loaded onto a wagon.

And remember this...

As far as the people of Tucson

are concerned...

I despise you just as much

as does any other decent citizen.

Never speak to me in public.

- Never mention our partnership.

- I don't care who you are.

You ain't going to come here

and start ordering me around.

- My freighting business belongs to me.

- I don't play, Ward.

Either you take me into partnership

or I'll run everything alone.

And you won't be around.

80 guns...

and 16,000 rounds of linen cartridges...

down there in the wagon, and more later.

Here's the mark we'll use on our wagons,

a black cross.

Those are the only wagons you let through.

What you do, not make treaty...

but take guns away, kill you?

I come to Mano

knowing of his great name and honour.

Yeah, me, too.

Give me your guns,

I let your wagons go through.

Well, good.

- Thank you, Chief.

- Yeah, that's fine.

You're the only real teamster

we've got, Terry.

- Keep those wagons in line ahead of you.

- I'll do my best.

- Well, did you get to Mano?

- Yep.

That wagon train

will never get a mile out of town.

What did you tell him?

Like you said,

that they wasn't only going for supplies...

but to get soldiers from Fort Yuma.

Ward, what happens tonight

will throw the whole freighting business...

- Right into our laps.

- Yes, sir.

This territory is too important

to be abandoned for long.

It's the link with the Far West.

Whoever controls it will have a big job

on his hands, and a big reward.

- That's me, huh?

- Yes, officially that's you.

Stupid.

- I heared you.

- Oh, all right.

You "heared" me.

And don't follow me.

- Phoebe!

- Yes, Sol?

I know what I said yesterday was right

about this being crazy...

but I sure am sorry

you wouldn't let me join up.

I know that, Sol, but you belong here to

keep this town running till we get back.

Be praying for you.

- Good luck.

- Thanks.

Don't let them leave while I'm gone.

Take care of yourself.

Indians! Indians!

The Indians are coming! Indians!

Warner, Indians are attacking

Phoebe's wagon train.

Hang on to them, Ed.

Have the Indians attacked

so close to town before?

It's those troops leaving.

- You all right, Phoebe?

- Yeah.

Well, I asked them to stay.

Now it looks like they'll never be able

to leave, let alone get in supplies.

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