Broken Lance Page #3

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Why wouldn't you to let one of

them take over for you in town?

Barbara, I think we should.

Let her alone, she's perfectly right.

Matter of fact, I think that

Ben could take over in town.

That means giving up part of

the control of the ranch to him.

And you don't like that a bit.

And what's more, I won't do it.

I tell myself he's not ready for it.

That's one problem when you

raise a flock of sons.

You must remember when some

man gains your hand in marriage.

Remember to have daughters.

Simpler...

...and much prettier.

I would be better advise in the

choice of who's to be their father.

The pepper was hotter than I thought.

What's that?

- Cold milk.

It's the only thing tha'll

cool that pepper.

They burn like a fire.

I thought my teeth would melt!

Heavens!

Now if the rest of me'd cool off.

- Shall we walk in the patio?

The wind's died down.

You don't have to be afraid.

Now...

...why should I be afraid?

I don't know.

They think that we'd turned

out to be quite a family.

That's way you came

out here, isn't it?

I suppose so.

Well, do we come up

to our reputation.

Your father certainly does.

Does he always act like that?

- Pretty much.

He's a bearcat, ain't he?

He's and old tyrant.

But you're crazy about

him, aren't you?

Why...

...yeah.

Yeah, I guess I am.

You're not afraid of him.

The rest of them are.

I don't know.

- I do.

Ben is, and so are the others. And

so is my father. It's ridiculous.

It was the peppers that

made you jump him.

He's stubborn and spoiled and mean.

You all let him get away with it.

- You like him too, don't you?

They said in town you'd turned

out to be smartest of the lot.

What else did they say?

That you'd inherited all his charm.

But I don't see it.

Look closer.

Was that to maintain

the Deveraux tradition?

No.

Maybe we'd better go back in.

Joe, I want you.

There's something

wrong with the herd.

Mrs. Deveraux'll show you the rooms.

- All right.

Take off that Sunday's clothes.

We're going to work.

Loco weed, maybe?

They'd be all swelled up.

The tongues looks funny though.

They got funny looking tongues

even when they ain't dead.

How may do you think?

Must be thirty eight or forty.

Pa!

This water smells funny.

What?

Tastes funny too.

Like when you was a kid and

one put a penny in your mouth.

Like copper.

They're dumping stuff in this stream.

That may be it. What do

they call that...

Whatever it is. They're dumping it

in my stream. Get your horses.

Where we going?

To the copper works.

Where do you think we're going?

Keep the cattle away

from this stream.

The copper mine!

- What of it?

We haven't slept.

- You didn't think of that...

...when you were in the east

range changing the brand.

All right, rest them.

Good coffee...

...with a stick in it.

What you aiming to do, Pa?

Stop them.

Big outfit.

- So we are. Are you nervous?

Nope. I just thought we might

get smart for once.

How?

Get some law in.

Law!

- Get an injunction and stop them.

They're on our land.

- Sure, that's right.

In the mean time we lose four

maybe five hundred head of...

What's the matter with you?

That was a wolf.

- He wasn't doing any harm.

He'll kill a steer.

- Only if he's a hungry.

I've told you...

- How long as he's around...

...a coyote won't come

within 10 miles.

They'll pull down an animal

just to be doing something.

The river's full of it.

It's from the mine all right.

Hold it.

Sorry boys, not today.

I'm Matt Deveraux.

I want to see McAndrews.

Not today. They're paying off

up there. I got my orders.

I don't care what you got.

I'm going up there. Stand aside.

You ain't going through

this gate, don't try...

Better get McAndrews.

Round up the other boys.

- Sure, boss.

Deveraux...

...good to see you.

You don't come here very often.

- I'm here now. I'll tell you why.

I lost forty head of cattle.

That stuff you're pouring

poisoned'em.

Poison!

That doesn't sound right.

A stream's supposed to purify

itself every few yards...

I don't know what a stream

is supposed to do...

...but it's killing my cattle

and want it stopped.

Where you going, boys?

I can see how you might be annoyed.

Tell you what you'd better do.

You keep your herds away from

the stream for a while...

...and I'll write to

the office in Chicago...

...and if they'll stand still for...

- Listen to me.

Don't worry about

writing any letters...

...or about my moving my cattle.

The river is on my land.

You're on my land.

You close this operation down...

...till you clean that stream

or I'll close it for you.

And just how do you

propose to do that?

The first thing I'll do...

...is get an injunction against

you in the Federal Court.

Then I'll get a Deputy

Marshal to enforce it.

That's a fair idea.

If you did that, you'd throw

all these men out of work.

They wouldn't like that.

- You're breaking our hearts.

Another thing.

Remember that the Government's

got contracts for our ore.

You think the court would

give you an injunction?

That's the second time I've wound

up with a busted head.

The first time when I forgot to

check the mineral rights...

...and the second, of course, when...

...I didn't realize that they

wouldn't send a fool in charge.

Coming from you, that's a

very pleasant compliment.

We'll just see who's right.

Now listen to me, you...

...pasty-faced Eastern tinhorn.

You close this operation down or

I'll pull it down around your ears.

I'll be waiting here for you.

You're right about one thing.

The company didn't send

me here to be buffaloed...

...by a loudmouth farmer with a

sqaw for a wife and a half...

Go ahead...

...pull it.

Draw and I'll blow your head off.

Cut it out, Joe. Put it away, Ben.

There's not going to be any

shooting. You've been warned.

Close it down or we'll be back. If I

come back I'll be looking for you.

Let's go.

Stay close to me. Walk slow.

Get them!

We ain't got a chance, Pa.

- Shut up!

Rush them, you fools! Rush them!

Shoot at their feet!

Make for the horses!

Wreck it! Tear it down!

Go!

All here?

- Some hurt, not bad.

Where'd you come from?

I think maybe trouble.

We follow you.

We wait, hear shooting, we come.

All right, go ahead.

They're not going to like that, Pa.

- I'll bet they're not.

They'll think twice before

they dump in my stream.

They won't think twice about

starting legal action.

That's not my worry.

Let Lawton about that.

Ride back to the ranch and tell him.

- Right.

If he's not there, go into

town and find him.

I'll ride in with you.

Me too.

- You're going to ride herd.

We got keep the stock

away from the stream.

Holy crow, don't he ever give up?

What're you doing here?

Looking at your horses.

Isn't it allowed?

You mean you were there with King?

He's a stallion.

He could kick your head.

You sound as if you wished he had.

He happens to know a lady

when he sees one.

Which is more than you can

say for the rest of us.

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