Horizons West Page #4

- You've been out of town?

- Yes.

You tagged onto the money

you seem so eager to make?

I think I've just begun.

Mr. Hardon was wondering about you.

I just paid Mr. Hardin off.

Good for you.

- You staying at the hotel?

- As of this morning.

We stay here whenever

it's too late to go back to the ranch.

Look us up sometime.

I don't think he'd approve.

Perhaps I'd have something

to say about that.

I don't think I'd approve.

I see. Convention.

Well, good luck to you, Major.

Alright Edward.

Alright, Hammond,

up with them.

Start riding.

- What are you talking about?

- Jack, check the brand on the cattle.

Ok Hammond, move. Move.

Who's in this with your brother?

Give me the belt.

Take over, Ed.

Let's start over.

You and that brother of yours.

Lorna.

- You're home early.

- You're a brave man Cord.

Maybe you'd like to see

Dan Hammond in there tomorrow.

Perhaps you'd like that better.

Come in!

You're certainly inviting gossip

Mrs. Hardin,

breaking into a man's room'

like this.

Your brother's in trouble, Dan.

They've got him at our ranch.

You've got to believe me.

Why would I come here?

That's what I was wondering.

They're beating him within

an inch of his life to find out about you.

They might kill him.

Dan.

They may be expecting you.

Be careful, will you.

Thanks.

Reach!

Get off that horse.

So Mrs. Hardin did pay you a visit.

Interesting.

Where's my brother?

We're not after your brother,

but the man who rustled my cattle.

You saved us the trouble.

Get his gun.

Drop your guns!

Don't any of you move.

- Where's Neil?

- He's not here.

I'll give you five seconds

to produce him.

Al. Get him out.

Alright Hardin.

Now you're gonna take it.

You.

- What's your name?

- Ed Tompkins.

- You his top man?

- I took his orders, Mister.

- Major!

- Major.

- You tell the truth about this.

- He'll tell the truth alright.

- Sy, get these men out of here.

- Let's go.

- How about him?

- Cover him up.

Dandy.

Stick around here until I get back.

- Neil, I'm sorry. Sorry as I can be.

- Thanks for the rescue.

Hardin already had something on you.

You don't have to believe

everything you hear, do you?

No. I'm thinking of the folks is all.

Nothing's gonna happen.

I'm not running away from anything.

I'll report this to the authorities.

Let's go.

I'm truly sorry, madam.

But before I can take this case

to the grand jury

I thought we ought

to meet here informally

to determine whether it was murder.

Mr. Tarleton, excuse me.

As Major Hammond's attorney

I can assure you he'll answer

frankly any question you put to him.

Thank you.

That's very kind of the Major.

But it's fair to inform you

that my office is aware that

Mr. Hardin strongly believed

your client had rustled his cattle.

How could that be possible?

A man in my position has enemies.

Mr. Hardin was a man

on horseback around here.

I was fair game for any

accusation he wanted to make.

May I be allowed to say something

Mr. Tarleton?

Yes Mrs. Hardin.

Major Hammond

is innocent of everything

and he would not be here now

except that I went to him and

told him my husband and his men

were torturing his brother.

Did you kill Hardin?

Yes.

- Was it premeditated murder?

- It was not.

My brother killed Hardin

in self defense.

- There was no way to avoid it.

- I'll swear to that too.

In any court. Yes sir.

I'll swear that.

As Prosecuting Attorney

I don't see any case

against Dan Hammond.

Major Hammond, madam.

I was rather expecting you.

So I see.

- Thank you for this afternoon.

- Was there ever any doubt?

Sit down.

Major, what are your plans?

- That's very simple

- Money?

Money.

A few years ago I had an idea money

could buy everything in the world

that's why I married Cord Hardin.

Didn't buy me anything worthwhile

except hate.

He was the meanest,

cruelest man I've ever known.

Anything else you might want Dan?

- You're very beautiful Mrs. Hardin.

- Thank you.

Suddenly

I want very much to be beautiful.

I've always wondered

what it would be like.

If I were a free woman again.

- Now you know.

- No. I don't.

I thought there would be

nothing that would keep me here.

I'd be free to go wherever I cared.

Now I know I can't go anyplace...

without you.

Did it ever occur to you

that you never kissed me?

It's something I've tried

not to think about too much.

Until now.

The Conventional Major Hammon.

You have rather

a strange code of honor.

You break every rule in the book

but one.

Perhaps I've even admired you for it.

I'm pretty much of a fatalist.

But I knew from the first moment

I saw you that someday...

And you look like such an angel.

I'm gonna have land

and the land will be covered

with cattle and cotton.

I'll have lumber mills,

grist mills.

And when the railway comes in,

I'll have a piece of that too.

- How do you aim to do that?

- You're gonna help me get started.

- You're gonna dig into files and...

- Discover loop holes in land titles.

- And errors in official surveys.

- There's dozens of them.

You'll get info on everywhere

staggering under accrued taxes.

I'll see that you can

grab them for practically nothing.

- You can make everything legal.

- Legal and above board.

But you might have to back up

some of the grabs with force.

- We've got that.

- We've got everything.

This reconstruction period

is made to order for you.

No Texas Rangers,

very little law.

Sam, you old thief, you told me

once you didn't have the savvy.

I been waiting for someone I trust,

someone strong like you.

The Major will make

a rich man out of you.

I'm gonna have me clothes,

rich cigars, best liquor

tastiest vittles...

I'll pick money off bushes like

I used to pick beans as a kid.

You don't have to reach high,

just soft and easy.

You said it just right Dandy.

I'll have judges, lawyers,

peace officers.

They'll jump traces, cut circles,

follow the word.

They'll see nothing happens

to what I'm building,

'cause I'm building an empire.

And when I'm on the top Sam

People will swear

that I've done nothing wrong.

Nothing wrong at all.

You know, Dan,

I'm not one for tossing compliments

but I'd say you were on the way.

Sorry.

Thanks Sam.

So far it's been slow but sure.

But from now on I don't want

it to go that slow.

Come here.

Here's the spread

Snyderman Ranch, 6500 acres, here.

Dorf Holdings here, Cooper X-B

about 4000 acres here.

- And that's just the start.

- A word of warning, Dan.

I can't go in for

too much skullduggery.

You can't back out now.

You're in too deep.

I got enough on you to hang you.

Dennis!

Dennis!

Get out here!

I got a mandate for you.

The Hammond Land Company has bought

your property for delinquent taxes.

Unless you vacate

within three days

you'll be faced with proceedings

and forcibly removed.

As Marshall of Austin,

I advise you to obey this order.

Marshall Clawson,

if you try it they'll be shooting.

We can make trouble for you...

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