Rocky Mountain Page #2

that ridge down there...

...seems to me

like I sort of heard that yell before.

Johnny Rebs, ain't you?

How you know we ain't Yankees?

Oh, shut up.

I don't know what you're doing

in Yankee territory...

...but naturally I know you be in a fix

if you get caught.

Speaks plain, don't he?

Personally,

I ain't got no stake in this war.

I'd be glad to disremember

I ever seen you boys.

Guess I must have

beat off them Indians single-handed.

Nice work.

What about that Yankee girl

you got with you?

I think she'd be glad to forget

that she was...

That doesn't make any difference.

I can't let you go.

Wouldn't be considered

prying into your personal affairs...

...if I was to ask you

how long you figure on holding us here?

Oh, not long.

I hope.

Captain Barstow.

There's seven riders up here

in the northwest...

...about 15 miles.

Can't see them,

they dropped behind a ridge.

But they was headed this way.

Fifteen miles, eh?

Well, they won't be here tonight.

If they wanna, they can.

You think it's Cole Smith?

It had better be.

So that's how they act

when they're peaceable, huh?

They wouldn't be a-stomping and

a- yelling if they aimed to fool with us.

They'd be a-crawling up this rock.

They ought to be long gone by morning.

Guess this will keep Cole Smith

scared away till daylight.

If it is Cole Smith out there.

If it ain't, our time's awful short.

Them Yanks will come looking

for their woman and we'll be up a stump.

I'm sorry to be such bad luck to you.

But I'm awfully glad

I'm not down there tonight.

Explain why your parents didn't have

the sense to keep you home...

...fianc or no fianc.

We've been separated for two years.

And I didn't want to wait another two.

What's the matter?

I was just thinking how pleasant it was

to hear a woman's voice again.

Even a Yankee voice, Captain Barstow?

- We're not fighting the women.

- Do you really believe that?

Do you think you can keep them out of it

just by words?

I understand how you feel.

With your fianc in the Army.

I had a brother in it too.

He was killed at the Antietam.

I was there.

We call that the Battle of Sharpsburg.

You were at the Sunken Road?

We called it the Bloody Lane.

It could've been you who killed him.

It could have.

Was that only three years ago?

Seems a lot longer.

Not to me.

Of course not. I'm very sorry, ma'am.

Captain, I didn't mean that.

Please stay a moment.

It just seems so...

So incredible that we can be here...

...2000 miles from the war...

...and I find that you and my brother...

There were a lot

of other brothers there too.

Husbands. And sons.

You sound as if you hate the war

as much as I do.

You don't have to like a war

to fight in it.

You just have to believe

in what you're fighting for, or against.

Do you really believe in it that much?

Back home, I had a plantation.

From the second floor, you could see...

You could see the river.

White cotton fields

going right down to the bank.

It was beautiful.

I didn't think there was anything on Earth

could ever make me leave that.

Here I am.

Here we both are.

That's one of the few compensations,

ma'am.

- Good night, ma'am.

- Good night.

One more washing

and I can use this shirt for a handkerchief.

You better get some sleep.

You relieve the lookout at midnight.

Plank, horses all watered?

How's the head, Jim?

It's all right, sir.

I've been trying to teach Spotty

how to sit up.

You've been trying that every night

for three months.

He does seem a little slow to catch on.

Just where do you think

you're gonna mail that?

This isn't a letter, it's a diary.

For my son to read.

I didn't know you had one.

I haven't.

But someday after the war

and I'm back in Virginia...

...I'll get married and have a son.

And one day when he's growing up...

...he'll ask me what I did

in the war between the states...

...and I'll let him read this.

Hope it has a happy ending.

If it doesn't, it won't matter.

Be no son to read it anyway.

Sure must be a restful feeling

to be neutral.

Heh. Next war let's try it, huh?

Rawlins.

- Where do you think you're going?

- Just stretching my legs.

Try stretching them the other way.

Thought I'd see

how the little Yankee's making out.

I told you to stay away from her.

Now, look, captain,

I'll take orders about fighting...

You'll take any orders I give you.

Won't you?

Yes, sir.

Lafe.

The Indians pulled away.

But them riders we was watching,

they camped about four miles out.

I seen their campfire

before they drenched it.

- Hmm. They won't be here till morning.

- That ain't what I called you for.

Beal?

He keeps moseying around our horse line.

What do you want me to do

in case he tries to vamoose?

- You know two things to do?

- Sure.

I can finish him

or I can just bring him down.

Don't just bring him down.

It's the same seven riders, all right.

But it sure ain't Cole Smith.

Know for a chance it could be?

Not unless he's joined the Union Army.

Four Yankee horsemen.

Three troopers and an officer.

- Other three is rag-head Indians.

- They're probably scouting for them.

Sure didn't take them long

to miss that stage.

I told you. The best Yankee bait

in the world's a Yankee girl.

Maybe they'll just take a look at the coach

and ride on.

Indian ponies made tracks all over.

They won't fool

them rag-head scouts none.

You better see to it they don't ride on.

One or two of them

is bound to get away from us.

You're a long way from home, soldier.

You can't afford to make mistakes.

- Lf you ask me...

- I didn't.

- Jimmy.

- Yes, sir?

Get down to the water hole.

Start a fire like you're making breakfast.

Put on coffee

and be sure that fire smokes.

- Yes, sir.

- Come on.

Lafe, you'll draw that patrol right on in.

We hope.

Kay, let me know

if they do anything different.

- Keep your eye on Beal.

- Yes, sir.

Be careful with that gun, sonny.

It might go off.

That's right. It might.

I wonder what they're up to now.

Look.

Whoever it is, they're heading this way.

What is it? Can you make them out?

Sure I can, Yankee uniforms and all.

I saw Captain Barstow and the others

going down the hill.

What are they going to do?

Now, what would you think they gonna do,

invite them for supper?

May I see a moment? Please.

It's very important.

Sure. Take a good look.

Pretty, ain't they?

All dressed up in those nice blue suits.

They'll never know what hit them.

They're not after you.

It's me they're looking for.

Now that's too bad,

because they ain't gonna find you.

Let me go.

Lafe.

They're almost there.

Pull back a little, Pap.

Let's get this over with

as quick as we can.

We ain't gonna fool them Indian scouts

very long.

Ow.

Hey, now.

Don't be nervous, Jim.

You're well covered.

I never was much good

at this play-acting.

You know, Jim...

...there's something

I've often wondered about you.

- What's that?

- Well, on your service record...

...your first initial is down as B.

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