Big Jake Page #4

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the edge of the small

broken branch.

Son, that's over 400 yards.

Nearer five.

Well, if you can shoot

that far,

quarter of a mile straight

along the edge of my nose

is a mountain buck.

Shoot it.

I don't kill to make

a point, Father.

Michael,

there's two reasons to kill:

Survival and meat.

We need meat.

Oh, it's too late.

That's good shooting.

Not bad.

Father, you want

to try a shot?

Scope's set

for 500 yards.

Son, I couldn't

see that far.

Sam?!

Give me a hand

packing that mule.

Michael, let me see

that hand gun.

That sure is something.

Damn.

Something wrong, Father?

Well, I can sleep cold,

eat raw meat, even raw fish,

but, come evening,

I sure miss my hot coffee.

Open me up a can

of them peaches.

Hey... quite

an improvement.

I'll bet you could almost get

that fancy gun

out of that fancy holster

before some fast gentleman

with an old-fashioned six gun

blew a hole in you.

Blew a hole in you.

- Oh...

- You know what I think?

A spring... a spring at

the bottom of the holster.

It might work.

Sure spending a lot of time

with this thing.

Michael, do you

really think

that Little Jake

is still alive?

What did you call him?

He called him

Little Jake, Father.

Mom insisted.

Well, I'll be damned.

You didn't know he was named

after you, did you?

No, I didn't.

Well, I guess it's

kind of hard to keep in touch.

I mean, you run out

on your family that way.

You never hear that at home.

You're short on ears

and long on mouth.

Will you ever learn

to can it, James?

Well, you sure are respectful

of his feelings,

I'll say that for you.

Me?

He was right.

Yeah.

That's the trouble.

Oh, thanks.

What's the boy like,

Michael?

He's like you

and James, Pa.

Like me and James?

Still four or five of them?

Yep, but they

haven't closed in yet.

They're being real quiet.

How close?

Maybe another hour.

There's one closer, though,

right behind your head.

I don't know whether

he's with them or not.

He... sits his horse out there

about 200 yards.

He waits. He listens.

Wonder what he wants.

I could kill him, Jacob.

Real easy.

In cold blood?

Oh, you're squeamish, are you?

Well, between your brother's

love of pretty toys

and your high moral tone,

I hope you don't get killed

before this thing's over.

We'll wait.

You won't have to.

He's coming in.

James, come on.

Hello to camp.

Can I come in?

Come on in and welcome.

Well...

I was hoping for

a cup of coffee

but you're running

a cold camp here.

Yep.

How about a peach?

No, that's hurts my teeth.

Well, I got hooked on these

when I was a younker.

Could never get my fill.

Oh, hell, mister,

you don't need that.

I'm not a damn fool.

I know you got

three or four men

out there watching me.

Can I move my hand?

Go ahead.

That's my bona fides.

Well, I hope that boy

don't catch a cold.

That would cause me

great annoyance and displeasure.

Mister, that just scares

the hell out of me...

the thought that you

might be annoyed.

I'm glad to hear that.

Now, did you come here

to give me a message

or just to pass the time of day?

From here you go to Escondero.

You wait there

till you hear from us.

You've been following us two,

maybe three days.

Why did you wait so long?

I haven't been following you.

I've been waiting right here

just like the map says.

Oh?

Hey... that the money?

Open her up.

I'd like to look at it.

Help yourself...

just as soon

as you bring in the boy.

Who are you?

Just say I work

for the McCandles.

The boy mean anything to you?

Never laid eyes on him.

But I'm being paid to bring him

back alive or you dead.

Each and every one of you.

Now, I'd rather

bring the boy back.

That's easier.

But when it comes

right down to it,

don't matter to me.

I'll earn my pay

one way or the other.

Now, how about you?

Are you the Big Chief

or one of the little Indians?

Oh, just a little Indian.

Just a messenger boy.

Well, you've delivered

the message.

That's all.

There's more.

I'm in here alone.

You've been followed

like you think.

You best stay

right on your toes.

You be real tough, real loose.

What you got in that box

is too big to keep a secret

and the thing is this:

You got to deliver that box

to us.

You got to put it

right in our hands.

You understand?

Good intentions won't buy you

nothing but that boy's corpse.

It's just as

simple as that.

Somebody takes that

box away from you

we won't be understanding, we

won't wait, we won't try again.

I'll just send that boy's body

back to you in a basket.

You understand?

Mister, I said,

do you understand me?

I understand.

Jacob...

What's the matter?

I make big mistake.

In that stand of trees,

there's two men.

They'll have heard

where we're going.

Kill 'em.

Dog, go with him.

Bring in the horses

and get that stuff packed.

Hyah!

Hyah! Hyah!

Well?

I'm gettin' old.

There were two men,

I killed one.

Damn.

That means they'll get us

at Escondero for sure.

Escondero.

Where have I heard

that name before?

Boom town. Oil.

Well, that cuts it.

Yeah, must be a celebration.

Town will be loaded

with strangers.

Ain't this

a little showy, Pa?

I mean, that big red box

and all the guns out?

I hate secrets.

Never knew one to be kept.

They've all heard

what's in that red box

and they all want it.

What we're doin'

by this ostentatious display

is telling them

they can't have it.

Hell, we may... may be savin'

some poor miscreant soul's life

by doing this.

Maybe even our own.

Go unpack that piggy bank

and the rest of our gear.

Hey, Jamaco!

Lleba los caballos.

Si, Seor.

Man, when they fiesta

in this town,

they really fiesta.

What's the matter with you?

He's the one

got away, Jacob.

Want me to get 'im?

No.

But keep an eye on him.

Probably a lot more.

Dog.

Oh, this is heavy.

Feels like

it's full of rocks.

I'm going to get me

a big private room

with a big soft bed...

One big room

and one big bed

for all of us.

Money doesn't

grow on trees.

Give us a room.

The dog is all right, but,

uh, we do not allow Indians.

He's with me.

No Indians.

No Indians?

I'll sleep in the barn.

The Jacob McCandles?

That's right.

My apologies, Mr. McCandles.

I thought you was dead, sir.

Dead?

Next man says that to me,

I'm gonna shoot, so help me.

Dog.

Bring it up.

Put it over there

in the corner.

Oh, don't tell me

it's that heavy.

It sure is!

I never knew money

could weigh so much.

What time is it?

I can't believe

I got two sons

who don't own a watch.

Nor a window

to throw it out of.

Pretty near dark.

Yep. 5:
00.

Man! Take a look

at Babylon.

They're going to have themselves

a real party tonight.

I wish I could dance me

a jig with a pretty lady.

Why not?

Oh, because of the box.

Yeah, and the men

who followed us in.

We're walking into trouble.

What do you do

when cockroaches

get in the woodwork,

Michael?

Smoke 'em out?

That's right.

Why not wait until

they make a move?

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