Montana Sky Page #5

We found a carved-up horse

in the shed over there.

- Pretty skilled job.

- What direction was Pickles hit from?

That's interesting.

An assailant armed with a knife

usually comes from behind...

...but the victim faced his killer

head-on.

Allowed him to get close.

It happened very quickly

and with a huge amount of force.

The killer was somebody

Pickles knew.

Unofficially, yes.

Which means

it was somebody we all know.

Maybe you ought to get her home

for now.

I got a blood sample I need you to ID

over here.

I sent him out here, Ben.

It's my fault he's dead.

No, someone's turned to murder.

You didn't cause that.

Somebody either hates Mercy Ranch...

...or they want it so bad

they're willing to kill for it.

So I know I'm computer illiterate...

...but I can't find a Jesse Carne

listed anywhere in Mexico.

I'm getting help from Virginia

and the Feds.

They aren't turning up anything.

I've interviewed all your hands

including Adam.

Thanks. Adam?

If you were to forfeit the ranch,

it would go to the Conservancy.

Back to Adam's people.

Maybe he'd like that.

Nate, that's crazy.

Well, Willa,

I'm just turning over every stone.

We also got a second confirmation

from the Feds on the murder weapon.

Four-inch fixed

Western skinning blade.

Well, hell, every cowboy in Montana

has one of those.

- You're grasping at straws, Nate.

- Yeah, but he's out there.

And one of those straws is him.

I'm freezing, damn it.

Haven't you ever heard of heat?

Fire?

- One of the four elements?

- Great, just what I need.

A science lesson from Madonna.

Careful on that ladder, Ham.

Okay, buddy.

Why don't you come down now?

I can handle it. Just stiff in this cold.

No, Ham. We'll get

one of the hands to do it, okay?

- Get down now.

- I'm already here, I'll finish it.

Ham, down, now.

There you go.

Jack never had no trouble

with my work.

Anytime you think I can't do the job,

you can have my paycheck ready.

I can't afford to lose you. Ham.

That's great.

That's great.

What if he goes and gets a gun?

Don't be an idiot. I know my men.

Yeah? Well, I don't.

There's a murderer running around

Mercy Ranch...

...and you have no idea who it is.

Thought you had to be tough

to work in Hollywood.

No wonder you can't sell

one of your scripts.

I can't sell one because I'm a thousand

miles away stuck in this hellhole.

They probably don't even remember

who I am.

Not my problem.

Jack Mercy left me this ranch

and the guts to run it.

I'll be damned

if I'm gonna let him down.

I'll tell you what is your problem,

Willa.

You're spending your life

trying to please a dead man.

You can't even see him

for the bastard that he was.

You know what?

Finish off these stalls.

Then I suggest you wash that crap

off your face sometime before dinner.

What?

Great, a Montana facial.

Fresh caught. Ice fishing.

Please, make yourself comfortable.

Take your coat off.

I love visitors at 10:00 at night.

Ken needs your signature

on this insurance form for Pickles.

You eat?

Not yet.

You keep working and not eating,

you're gonna end up flat on your face.

Your face isn't half bad.

Appreciate your help.

Now, if you don't mind?

Why are you so jumpy around me?

Because, Ben, you irritate me.

I'm seducing you, Willa.

That's what it is.

That's what you're afraid of, huh?

That I could and I will.

You're not gonna be able to do

a damn thing about it.

- I'm not afraid of you.

- Prove it. Right here, right now.

- I can't breathe.

- All right, we gotta finish this.

Come to my house with me.

No. No, I don't wanna do that.

Just because you've talked a dozen

women onto their backs...

...you can talk me onto mine?

What do you mean, a dozen?

It's, like, 10 or 11.

Come on, it's a joke.

Willa, you got the wrong idea.

I don't sleep around.

Well, neither do I.

But when it happens, it's special.

It's when I want it

and with who I want it.

Well, obviously,

I mistook your feelings.

Yeah.

And I apologize.

- Good night.

- Okay, bye.

Let me just say that you were doing

a pretty good job of kissing back...

...for somebody

who's not in the mood.

There you go.

It's a good horse.

It's got good withers, good hips...

...straight legs, neck reined.

When I was a kid, I had red hair.

They used to call me the Red Hammer.

- Why'd they call you that?

- You can figure it out.

Easy now. Whoa, easy.

You all right?

Yeah, I don't know what got into her.

Thanks.

- Hey.

- Hey.

Aren't you supposed to be out

feeding cattle with Jim?

I was there. I'm going back.

Excuse me for having a life in between.

You know,

you ought to put more clothes on.

You're asking to get a sunburn.

I'm not your problem, Miss Green Eyes.

Why don't you just ask him to dinner?

A movie, a Roman orgy, just do it.

And turn into you?

Whatever.

I'm having dinner

with the sheriff tonight.

- What's your plan?

- Nate asked you to dinner? Where?

His place, my invitation.

But, hey, you know what?

You and yourself

have a great love life so...

I don't know what I was thinking.

You're doing great.

- Hi.

- Ben, brought you something.

Baked you a rhubarb pie.

Keep it covered.

Don't want any flies on it.

Well, look at that.

Maybe I'll split that with you.

- She's been avoiding me lately.

- Well, she prefers cowboys.

Well, what the hell am I?

You're upper management now,

McKinnon.

You still handle a horse

pretty good, though.

Well, thank you.

From one cowpoke to another.

Well, Willa always was

a bit of a tomboy.

Jack never let me forget

he wanted a son.

Well, the crazy part

is he did have one.

- Jack Mercy had a son?

- It's a family legend.

Well, this woman showed up

one time.

She was ragged out on alcohol

or dope or something.

And she had

the cutest little boy with her.

She was claiming that it was Jack's.

- Was he?

- He refused to see the boy.

I mean, he thought it was

some kind of con or something.

But you could have

another half brother somewhere.

Probably to hell and gone by now.

Jack just paid off that floozy.

Paid her off and kicked her out

to Idaho or someplace.

Kind of warms the heart, doesn't it?

- Nate.

- Tess.

- Hey there.

- Come on in.

- I'm sorry I'm late.

- No, we have lots of time.

- Let me take your coat from you.

- Thank you.

- Sure.

- Thanks.

I've ordered Italian from Generro's.

But they'll be a while yet, I imagine.

- Yeah.

- Your house is trs chic.

Well, I inherited it from my folks...

...and I've been living here

since I got out of the Navy.

I love the cut of that shirt.

What's that label?

Large.

I got you something.

Thanks to online shopping.

Something to remember me by.

Truth is, Tess...

...I manage to think of you

without visual aids.

I don't usually have sex

at my desk, Tess.

I'm not really prepared for this.

You know, I'm not really sure whether

to be flattered or terrified here.

Consider it a challenge.

Tess. Tess, please. Tess, stop.

- Stop.

- What?

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