Cattle Empire Page #3

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Mr Cord...

...do you think we'll make it?

Who can tell?

You sure picked a cosy spot

for our midday rest.

We'll bed down here.

We've hardly done half a day!

If I'm not back by dark, see that

they don't scatter or crowd too much.

Just how much time are you planning

to donate to Garth?

Aruzza, take charge till I get back.

Excuse us, boys.

Sit down.

Missed you.

I've been looking for you all day.

The Hamilton herd's

three days behind you.

Who's taking them?

I am.

You?

Roping two saddles at once! Aren't you

spreading your influence a little too far?

Keep going east and you'll hit

Horsethief Creek in ten days.

Where are you taking them?

Northeast.

Isn't Dismal River bone dry?

No. They'll be able to smell it but it'll

be too thin to plough and too thick to drink.

Those cows will go berserk. A sight

a man would enjoy seeing, eh?

You stick with your herd,

and I'll join you after the Dismal.

# As I walked out

in the streets of Loredo

# As I walked out

in Loredo one day

# I spied a poor cowboy

all wrapped in white linen

# All wrapped in white linen

as cold as the clay. #

What lies ahead, John?

Go northeast.

The herd seems peaceable.

They still like my voice.

John, I...

I was wondering...

Is it a starry night?

Yeah, there's plenty of stars.

The moon's coming up.

You'd better put this on

- it's getting cold.

Good night.

Good night, John.

# Oh, beat the drum slowly

and play the fife lowly

# And may the dead march

as you carry me along

# Take me to the green valley,

there lay the sod o'er me

# For I'm a poor cowboy

and no' have done wrong. #

Wrangler.

WRANGLER!

Looks like he's been ridden hard.

Feed him.

He's covered a lot of territory.

Then rub him down.

Wrangler...

Is that you, Little Johnny?

What are you doing up at this time?

Waiting to see if you're hungry.

No, thanks.

I put your bedroll over there,

George Washington built you a fire.

You being off on your own,

we figured you'd need it.

You know, John, there's nothing much

we wouldn't do for you...

What's the matter, Thomas Jefferson?

We'd stick by you

till hell froze over.

But if you're aiming to lead

them fine steers to ruination...

...we're walking out, so help me.

When I need a preacher,

I'll send for him.

What are you doing out here?

I want to talk to you.

Everybody has something

to say to me tonight.

John, it was a mistake

for me and Ralph to come.

I want you to send us home.

Why?

I'm afraid.

I'm beginning to...

to remember things.

What's wrong with remembering?

Seems you're always with the cattle.

Seems they're better to be with.

Sounds like the old John Cord.

When will we get 'em to water?

You've been avoiding me.

There aren't enough hours in the day.

Is that the only reason?

Is that why Sandy was complaining?

She's in love with you.

Sandy? That's hero worship.

She'll get over it.

When are we gonna tell Ralph?

When the time comes.

It's because of John Cord.

We've had enough of John Cord.

We're finished.

We cut out our cows. We're leaving.

We thought you oughtta know.

- What are you getting at?

Our few'll do better at home, alive.

John Cord will get to Fort Clemson.

His herds always make it.

He lost the race before we started.

And he won't catch up.

He will.

Never been a trail boss like him.

He took the job to get even with us.

He's out to ruin us.

Maybe. But he won't do that.

Trail driving is his life.

It's what he was born for.

It might be in him to destroy us,

but not the cattle. Not them.

If you believe that, Mr Hamilton,

you stay with him, but we're going.

ARUZZA!

ARUZZA!

Hold it! Nobody cuts out

without my permission.

If you lost your stomach, go home,

but the cows stay.

I signed to deliver 4, 000

head of cattle, with or without you.

Aruzza, get those cows

back in the herd!

The food stays with the drive.

You want us to starve?

You want to go, that's your business.

We can't spend the day eating,

we got a herd to move.

Little Brother, take charge.

Head due north.

North? We...

- Keep on till midnight and drive them.

Don't get too comfortable tonight -

we start tomorrow before sunrise.

That's a good way to get shot!

We were to meet at Horsethief Creek.

I'm not joining you.

Something up?

I'm going to do my best

to beat you to Fort Clemson.

What changed your mind?

I can't lead 5,000 cattle

to their death...

...no matter how I feel

about the owners.

That's mighty noble of you.

Someone can write ballads about you.

And what am I supposed to do?

Fold my arms and let you pass me?

If I can pass you fairly, I will.

From now, it's up to each of us.

You've no complaints. The head

start puts the odds in your favour.

You still heading for Dismal River?

There's no water there. We're headed

for Horsethief, like you.

Thanks. Thanks for telling me, Cord.

We could ride out and cut him down.

Doesn't matter if he gets back to

his herd. He said all I need to know

Notice how set he was

on us going to Horsethief Creek?

Yeah.

He joined me in the first place

to make sure we headed there.

He came tonight to make double sure.

You know what I think? I think

he knows Horsethief Creek is dry.

All right,

we're heading for Dismal River.

First we crawl, then we gallop.

It makes no sense.

We should have quit this afternoon,

like you said.

He'll kill us all, the cattle too!

On the trail, he's the boss.

I'd like to string him up

and relieve him of the job.

You flaunt a good deal of courage

behind my back, wrangler.

Are you calling me a coward?

Read your own meaning.

We hit the trail in three hours.

Aruzza! I checked the Dismal, it's

dried up so we'll go to Horsethief Creek.

He's lying.

He didn't go to Dismal

or Horsethief.

He's cooking up some deal with Garth

- I know because I followed him.

Next time you leave the herd

without permission, don't come back.

That all you got to say, Mr Cord?

No, there's something

you need to understand.

The tough herding is ahead of us. If you think it's

been hard up to now and you want to quit, speak up.

I've had all the Cord herd-drive

I want.

Thomas Jefferson,

get him his bedroll.

When you get to Hamilton,

tell my wife...

Hamilton's dead. I'm going to

Fort Clemson for a new start.

At least one of us will get there.

You were working into a good man.

Let him go.

Anybody else?

Could be I was wrong. Maybe that gun

I saw in Garth's hand wasn't an act.

Maybe it wasn't.

A beautiful sight, senor.

Have we two days to give 'em?

I don't know. We gotta get the herd

to Fort Clemson.

There's no sign of Garth

watering his herd here.

If he took them to the Dismal after

my warning, we got two days and more.

Isn't she beautiful?

Very beautiful.

What are you gonna do about it?

We'll talk at the end of the trail.

Cord? I'm getting

to know your horse.

Something's worrying you.

Worrying me? No, nothing.

A man could be worried

about the plains and not be ashamed.

The cows will get you to the Pecos.

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