Man Without a Star Page #3

- I'm sorry it went so badly.

- So am I.

- Why did he act that way about the wire?

- I don't know.

I just don't know.

Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Hey, Demps which way we heading?

- Straight north.

- How do you know?

Just take a star and follow it.

Of course, you gotta be

sure it's the right one.

Oh, I guess I'll never

learn to pick the right one.

Yes, you will.

- Everybodys got a star to follow.

- Which one's yours?

Me?

Never got around to

picking one from the south.

Guess, I'm sort of like the cattle,

drifting north where the grass is.

What makes you drift north?

Isn't there anymore grass in Texas?

Lots of it, kid.

Tall, sweet and it's real good.

Stretching out from

the Pecos to the Sabine.

Then they brought in the wire.

You know it was all open

ranges far as you can see.

As far as a man could ride a horse

or drive cattle, there

was nothing to stop you.

Nothing to drag it out.

That's why you came up here?

Yeah.

Now the wire's

catching up with me again.

You know, kid? You and I

may just wind up in Canada.

Well I've put the herd up

on the lake, like you said,

but have you seen the

grass in that section, lately?

- No.

- Just about it all.

- Anything wrong?

- Not exactly.

- Something more we can do?

- Yeah.

Stick around till the

rest of the boys come in.

You're going to

meet the new owner.

Oh, he's here, huh?

- Say, did he use it yet?

- I wouldn't know.

- Put him up for me, will you?

- Sure, Demps. Come on.

- You're going to a wedding or a funeral?

- Neither.

- What you all prettied up for?

- Oh, personal reasons.

Going to the ranch house.

Gotta cook for the boss.

Hey, you got that thing I sent for?

Oh, inside.

Right by the door, real pretty.

Thanks.

Don't you know a man can

get himself killed doing that?

Got on him, kid.

Better wear this.

- It's for me?

- Well, it ain't for me. I got one.

Put it on.

No, you're a lefty ain't you?

Oh, thanks.

- You shouldn't have done it.

- Why not?

Like Idonee said, a man

can't walk around here naked.

Say, looks pretty good.

Come on.

Let's learn how to use it.

Here, load.

Alright kid, break it up.

I meant the bottle.

Well, I shot at the bottle.

Look, when you were a kid, I mean,

even younger than when you are now,

your mother ever tell you,

it was rude to point?

Sure.

Well, when you're using a gun,

you're down right rude. So point.

Point.

Point!

- You get the idea?

- Hey.

Ready? Try it on this.

Hey! Wait till I get clear!

No, no.

This time from the draw.

I'll call it.

Go!

- Oh, I'm sorry.

- Don't be, that's a good, fast draw.

Let's try it again, and this time

slow down. Now, watch me, look.

As the gun clears the leather, you

thumb back the hammer and point.

- Get it?

- Uh huh.

Do it.

This time you gonna hit

that can plumb centre.

Ten dollar says he doesn't.

Say.

- I can use that.

- What did you say?

I can use that ten dollars.

Start shooting kid.

- You've just lost ten dollars.

- From where I see it, it's worth it.

Do you shoot as cleverly as you talk?

Better.

Then why not win back your ten.

Okay boys, whoa.

Settle down you

boys, settle down.

Keep away, I can handle him.

Whoa boys, settle down there.

Not bad with horses.

I'm not bad with anything.

Say, who are you?

I'm Reed Bowman

and you're impolite.

You're the owner.

Now I know why Strap

said he never seen you use it.

Use what?

If you're looking over

the ranch, I'll drive you.

I've already looked it over.

From what I've seen, I

don't like. Including you.

That's a lot of woman,

wouldn't you say?

I was taught not

to say about women.

What's the matter with you?

You didn't have to make such

a fool out of me in front of her.

Nobody can make a fool out of you,

kid. You got to do that to yourself.

Why don't you give that gun to

cool off, and you do the same, huh?

- Encie Joe Toole.

- How are you, Joe?

- Little Waco.

- A pleasure, ma'am.

- From Waco?

- Yes, ma'am.

- Baldy Lewis.

- Baldy.

My top hand, Ladigo.

- Pleased to meet you, Ladigo.

- Howdy, ma'am.

- Dempsey Rae.

- We know each other.

- Do we?

- The Texas kid.

How do you do, Texas?

- Chuck King.

- Chuck.

- Hammer, my blacksmith.

- Glad to meet you ma'am.

Nice to know you.

The rest of the men

are out on the ranch.

They're riding the line camp, I figured

you wouldn't want to call them in.

No, not if they're busy.

I have only one thing to say.

I bought this ranch to make money.

I pay good wages but expect good work.

Any questions?

You gonna be a

working boss, or absentee?

Say that again.

All over Wyoming and Montana

we got absentee owners.

Folks that live in the East but

make their money on the West.

I was wondering which

one you're gonna be.

Well, stop wondering,

I'll be here.

And there may be times

that when you wish I weren't.

Well, I guess that's about all.

Strap, you gonna have dinner with me

tonight. I have some things to talk over.

And you too, Ladigo.

Thank you, ma'am.

Anybody else?

No.

How does it feel to

be put in your place?

I wouldn't know.

Why don't you try putting it there?

Now you're in your place,

I'm gonna keep you there.

Oh, you're asking for it.

Say, pardon ma'am,

didn't mean to block you.

See what I mean kid?

Never turn your back.

You're short of one man for dinner.

Well, in that case, be my guest.

- Some wine?

- Why not? I can't get whiskey.

- Strap?

- Thank you, no.

To the new boss of

Triangle and the cows.

- All ten thousand of 'em.

- Fifteen thousand.

The count was ten. If you paid

for more, you got cheated.

I didn't. There's a new

rig coming up from Texas,

they should be here within one month.

A lot of beef, how much

they charge you for?

The price was right.

I know cattle.

Then you know you're bringing in

too many. The grass won't hold 'em.

There's enough grass in Wyoming to

hold a million head, perhaps more.

True, but it ain't all yours.

- I'm afraid he's right.

- Why be afraid? It open range.

Yeah, but who's gonna

tell Cassidy and other owners?

- Aren't you?

- They are friends of mine, ma'am.

I got no quarrel with them.

Neither have I, as long

as they let me alone.

Yeah, but you ain't

leaving them alone.

Ten thousand head on the ranch

now, and five more coming in.

It just ain't right.

Suppose you let me worry about that.

Shall we go to the living room?

But where you gonna find

the men to work these cattle?

You gonna worry about that too?

- We'll find the men when we need them.

- Where?

Then why not hire the men to

bring the cattle up from Texas?

That seems like a good idea.

Well, that depends on the men.

There are two kinds

that drive the trail.

Them that knows cows

and them that knows trouble.

He means men that

are handy with a gun.

I know what he means.

That might not be a bad idea

to have a few of those around.

Not while I'm foreman.

We'll see about that later.

Thank you, Ma'am.

Good night.

It doesn't look like Strap is

going to be quite strong enough

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