Cattle Empire Page #2

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George Washington...

Thomas Jefferson...

Getting worse

every time you set foot in it.

Like every place in town, waiting

for the undertaker to bury it.

Whiskey.

Cork the bottle!

You're not drinking in my saloon.

They aint no trouble, Mr Grainger.

They just came in.

Cork the bottle. We're fed up

with your troublemaking.

I'm having a drink with my friends, Grainger.

Maybe we'll have another. Then I'll leave.

Now listen, Cord...

Wash off the warpaint, Grainger.

You were once glad to have his trail

herders spend their wages here.

That was before he let his

drunk men ruin us all.

A trail town should be able to

protect itself, wouldn't you say?

Yeah. Yeah, ld say.

I heard you were back.

Glad to see you.

Hello, Garth.

Set up a bottle for my old cooks.

Join me, I've something

to say to you.

They roughed you up a little, huh?

That what you had to say?

Did you turn Hamilton down?

Maybe.

I suppose he told you

I'm moving herd tomorrow.

He mentioned it.

We rode a lot of trails together,

I learned a lot of things from you.

You can forget em.

Some things a man doesnt forget

- like John Cords rule for herd drinking.

"Carry a keg of whiskey

for the men to drink in camp.

"It keeps them from wrecking

an innocent town."

No-one seemed to remember that

at the trial.

If my herd gets to Fort Clemson,

Hamilton and the town are ruined.

Are you asking my help?

I believe in buying insurance,

plenty of it.

What do you say?

There's no end to it, Cord.

Between us we can build the biggest

cattle empire in this country.

I'm not interested in cattle empires.

But the Fort Clemson drive,

you got yourself a trail boss.

You can write your own contract.

I'm not interested in money, either.

Let's invite the boys over

to celebrate the partnership.

No. I want to keep it quiet.

We move tomorrow.

I'm not leaving with you.

What are you giving to me?

I'll join you in three days.

The trail boss rides with the herd.

Head for Horsethief Creek tomorrow.

I'll stay behind

to see we have no competition.

Fair enough.

You going trail herding again?

LOOK OUT!

Don't turn around, John Cord.

You're gonna get it where

your men gave it to my daddy...

in the middle of the spine.

I squeeze the trigger, and

I'm the biggest hero in Hamilton.

Johnny ain't got a gun!

Keep pouring for 'em.

I'm gonna pick up my horse

at the sheriff's. I'll see you.

Who's there?

It's Cord.

You got yourself a trail boss, Ralph.

What changed your mind?

Sounds like youre following

a coffin, Douglas.

Garth's moving his herd.

He was supposed to.

We got a trail boss that can feed a

herd on tumbleweed, water it on mud,

...and get us there with more cattle

than we started with!

That OK with you, little brother?

How many men have you got?

Ten good men on the ranch.

Well need some for homebodies.

I'll need all the men I can get.

Well line up some vaqueros.

I want these men to ride with me too.

My husband doesn't read any more!

Let's hear the list.

Tom Powis. Rex Cogswell. Jim

Whittaker. Paul Corbell. Dan Quince.

The men who dragged you

through town. Do you want revenge?

I want those men.

Some of them were good

men on the trail, Douglas.

When Tom Powis had both his arms...

Cord's your trail boss!

Do as he says.

If you want them, we'll get 'em

- it's their herd too.

I want you, too, Douglas.

You're making a big mistake,

Mr Cord.

Cos I got both arms and both eyes,

and I'm still young.

I want you to ride with us, Ralph.

I shouldve shot you

when I had the chance!

No, I think it's an act

of great kindness.

I don't want long months

waiting here for news.

I'll ride. I may even be

some use riding night herd.

Darkness is a great equaliser

for a blind man.

Cord...

- Youre going too.

Can we be ready in three days?

Three days?!

Weve got to get there first, Cord!

Is this my show?

It's your show.

To the herd, to the drive...

...and to John Cord!

Mr John Cord.

What are you two doing here?

Uncle John, don't you know me?

Ain't she growed some?

Sandy Jeffrey!

You might grow into something

to interest a man after all!

Something to interest you?

Remember you promised to wait

for me to grow up?

Didn't you boys think

it was too late for a drive?

With you we'd go in winter!

We can't leave my granddaughter

in Hamilton.

I can carry my weight on a drive.

Blackmail! Take her on cook's louse.

But I'll eat dust all day

and ride the drag!

I got somebody pegged for that job.

Still fond of horses? You can work

in the remuda with the wranglers.

Just like old times, Little John.

HOLD IT!

Down there.

Do as he says.

Cord?

Here.

All the men you wanted.

Douglas?

The boys from our ranch

and Aruzza's vaqueros.

I am Juan Aruzza, Senor Cord.

My men and I will ride with you

and follow your orders.

I know your people. They'll do.

Gracias, senor.

And these are...

- I know, the pride of Hamilton.

You know the rules of the trail...

I'd like to say something, Cord.

On the trail my men call me Mr Cord!

I've not put in my bedroll, Cord.

Say your say, Powis.

We agreed to ride with you

for Mr Hamilton's sake.

It's easy to see why you picked us

but we'll take anything you hand out

...as long as you do your level best

to beat Garth to Fort Clemson.

If you have any other notions...

Finish, the day's short.

If you have any other notions,

we'll kill you.

Is that all?

Anybody else

itching to make a speech?

All right, let's get going.

Bedrolls in the wagon,

line up for work orders.

Mr Cord?

Ma'am.

Will you give me my assignment now?

You've got your assignment -

taking care of your husband.

Butcher that one.

That's one of the best in the herd!

He's a stampede maker.

Let the chuck wagon have him.

That's the lead steer for us.

A most majestic animal, senor.

I take him up to point.

Get ready to move.

One moment, son.

You've forgotten something.

I didn't forget.

All right, get it over with.

Almighty God.

Thou knowest these men

who bow their heads before Thee,

hard working, God-fearing.

They beseech that Thou go with them

on this arduous journey.

We ask for guidance and blessing

for man and beast. Amen.

All right, Thomas Jefferson,

let her roll!

ONE HUNDRED!

A HUNDRED IT IS!

You drag riders, tighten up the gap!

Want us to choke to death?

Get up where you can head off trouble

We got 'em off to a good start.

Have your riders trim the flanks,

it's widening out.

He expects us to ride drag

and eat dirt all the way.

We'll eat dirt one way or another.

Maybe he just remembered that

both of us used to ride point.

Uncle John!

All my life I've dreamed of riding

trail with you, all grown up.

Riding with me means doing your

job - you belong with the remuda.

Forget the "Uncle" -

you're too grown up for that.

All right!

Mr Cord!

What is it, Mrs Hamilton?

It's Ralph - he insists on riding.

Why shouldn't he? A man needs

to feel the wind and sun on his face.

Is that all?

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