Ride the high country Page #2

Go get them, tiger.|You're doing fine. Just fine.

- What do you think, Steve?|- I think he's wonderful.

He'll do. He'll do just fine.

What's the matter, partner?|Your rheumatism bothering you?

I'm used to working with my brain,|not my backside.

- You think you can talk him into it?|- One way or another.

I'd just as soon we'd split it|two ways instead of three.

Kid, you've got an awful lot to learn.

- Good afternoon.|- Good afternoon.

Joshua Knudsen's the name.

This is Gil Westrum and Heck Longtree.

My name is Judd. Stephen Judd.

- I've heard the name.|- We're on our way to Coarse Gold.

Could you furnish accommodations|for the night?

I've got no room in the house, but I have|no objection if you wanna stay in the barn.

Thank you, sir. If you could spare us a|few eggs, we'd be glad to pay for them.

Well, one you can have. Because|the Lord's bounty is not for sale.

- The rest are a dollar each.|- A dollar each?

How do those short-legged chickens|lay eggs so high?

Levity in the young is like unto a dry|gourd with the seeds rattling around.

My daughter, Elsa.

- How do you do?|- Pleased to meet you.

Likewise.

- Go start supper. And change that dress.|- Change it? What for?

For the good reason I told you to.|Did you hear what I said?

- I think it's a real pretty dress.|- Thank you.

You can put your horses|in the corral yonder.

Supper will be ready in an hour.|No charge. The Lord's bounty...

- Is not for sale.|- Thank you, sir.

Think of all that going to waste up here.

Like the fellow said,|gold is where you find it.

And if it's not yours, don't covet it.

Don't worry, boy.|The Lord's bounty may not be for sale...

...but the devil's is,|if you can pay the price.

There's a lot of truth|in those words, Heck.

Yeah?

- Yeah.|- Supper's ready.

Gentlemen.

Heavenly Father, we thank thee|for the food on this table.

Teach thy children to be grateful|for thy goodness...

...to walk in thy path...

...that they may not suffer|thy wrath and thy vengeance.

Bless us, O Lord,|and these our guests...

...and forgive them the mercenary desires|which brought them here.

Amen.

Thank you for entering a plea on our behalf,|but what's this about mercenary desires?

You're on your way to Coarse Gold.|Them that travel there do so for one reason.

To traffic in gold.

Which to possess is to live in fear,|to desire, to live in sorrow.

But we're not trafficking, sir.|Merely transporting.

It says in the Book, Gold is a stumbling|block to them that sacrifice to it...

...and every fool|shall be taken therewith.

A good name is rather to be chosen|than great riches.

A loving favor|rather than silver and gold.

Proverbs, chapter 22.

Into the land of trouble and anguish|come the old lions...

...and they shall carry their riches|on the shoulders of young asses...

...to a people that shall not profit them.

Isaiah, chapter 30, verse six.

That mining town|is a sinkhole of depravity.

A place of shame and sin.

According to Father, every place|outside this farm is a place of sin.

- That'll do.|- You don't have to preach at everybody.

That will do.

You cook a lovely ham hock,|Miss Knudsen. Just lovely.

Appetite, chapter one.

Give me a towel, and I'll dry.

Thanks just the same. You hadn't better.

It must be pretty lonely living up here.

Sometimes I get to thinking there's nobody|left in the world but my father and me.

It's a crime. A girl like you|being stuck up on this old stump ranch.

A girl like you ought to|be living in the city.

San Francisco, say.

- You've been there?|- Plenty of times.

I never been anywhere.

He won't even take me to town|when he goes after supplies.

He says the men would stare at me.

Suppose on the way back,|I was to pick you up...

...and take you to San Francisco...

...or Denver.

- Chicago, even.|- Elsa, who you talking to in there?

To myself. You'd better go.

- I'll meet you outside.|- I can't.

I'll wait for you by the corral.

That boy you trained personally|shows a substantial lack of judgment.

Showing your age, aren't you?

Interfering with a young man's love life?

Well, I'm not paying him $10 a day|to go mooning after some girl...

...whose old man's about to hind-end him|with a load of buckshot.

- Know who she reminds me of, Steve?|- No.

Sara Truesdale.

There's no resemblance at all.

Oh, maybe not in the features,|but the way she smiles.

There's the same look in her eyes|when you talk to her.

The kind of look that makes you feel|you've said something real important.

You and Sara always looked|so right together.

I can't say I blamed her|for not marrying you.

Forgetting the lousy money we made,|what woman wants to sit around...

...waiting for her husband to be|brought home with his head shot off?

I wonder if I can get these fixed|in Coarse Gold.

I guess losing Sara is what you might call|a hazard of our profession.

That rancher she married...|Stacey, is it?

He's doing fine up in Idaho.|Got a big ranch there.

Raises blooded horses.

- And children too, I hear.|- Grandchildren now.

Three of them.

That right, Steve?

Yep, that's right.

Three grandchildren.|Think she's happy, Steve?

If my sleeping bothers you,|don't you bother to let me know.

Sorry.

Evening.

- You surely took your time.|- I shouldn't be here at all.

Well, why? Does the night air bother you?

If it does, come on up in the hay.

I love the night air.

The thing is, I'm what|you might call engaged.

- Sure you are.|- It's the truth.

His name is Billy Hammond.

He asked me to marry him.

Several times.

I said I thought I probably would.

You'll see him in Coarse Gold. He's a miner|at the strike and doing real well.

Well, if he's in Coarse Gold...

...and you're here...

...I don't see any harm in talking.

You! Get in the barn and stay there!

And you, go to the house.

The mouth of a strange woman|is a deep pit...

...and him that is abhorred|of the Lord shall fall therein.

- Won't you never learn any decency?|- We were only gonna talk. Talk.

- The likes of him don't stop at talking.|- The likes of him.

Every man I meet|becomes "the likes of him."

- He's no good. I see it in his face.|- That's all you see.

Billy Hammond came here twice.|You said he was evil. Sinful.

I'm your father.|I've got to keep the dirt away.

- Protect you from the wrong kind of men.|- That's everyone.

Every single man is the wrong kind|of man. Except you.

I promised the next time you hit me,|you'd be sorry for it.

For my mouth shall speak truth...

...and wickedness|is an abomination to my lips.

All the words of my mouth|are in righteousness.

Elsa, I'm sorry.

Receive my instruction and not silver...

...and knowledge rather than choice gold.

For wisdom is better than rubies.

In about 30 years,|you'll like the feel of it too.

Pick that up. These mountains|don't need your trash.

Dandy pair of boots you got here.

Juan Fernandez made those boots|for me in San Antone. Special order.

I had a hell of a time getting him|to put that hole in there.

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