Rooster Cogburn Page #4

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I guess you can't cook either.

'Course, that's just a guess.

It appears I don't measure up.

That's a mercy.

You got more backbone

than femaleness, that's a fact.

Yeah, Marshal,

I would say that is a fact.

Out here in the territories,

we prize a dead shot

more than a lady's charms.

Then I've come to the right place.

So, men out West don't mind if

a woman out-shoots, out-smarts them?

If they're quiet about it.

We value a spirited woman

almost as much as a spirited horse.

Almost as much, eh?

Yes, Ma'am. Almost as much.

Not quite. But almost.

Hawk.

Hawk,

I don't think I can make it.

Leave him. We ain't got time for

diggin'. Let the buzzards have him.

Marshal Cogburn, I'm curious.

What is it that you're doing?

I'm busy tryin' to follow

Uncle Sam's regulations.

That gentleman'll have his fee sheets

just and correct, or he won't pay.

You're recording expenditures?

Somethin' like that. Without a deputy

to help, it's the Devil's own work.

Without any schoolin', you're up

against it in this country, Sister.

Perhaps I can help you.

- Well, I'd be obliged.

Now, these forms are ruled

with places for entries.

But your handwriting wanders

into places it should not go.

I'll rub out your chicken tracks

and work them over.

What's this entry? "Important words

with blue, 2 dollars."

That's the soldier boy

that tipped me on Hawk and his gang.

And he charged his government

for the information?

Not exactly. I can't remember

the details of every transaction.

"Travel rations for Miss Goodnight

and Indian boy, Wolf, 3 dollars."

But we brought our own food.

They don't know that.

- They may be smarter than you think.

From now on, you must

have approximate dates...

Alcohol on an empty stomach

kills more men than outlaws' bullets.

You don't say.

My stomach ain't empty.

It's full of corndodgers.

Balls of hot water cornbread,

made by Chen Lee, my friend.

Must be near 50 in there.

- Why are they called corndodgers?

Dodgin' corn whiskey

in my innards, I guess.

You'd be better off dodging it too.

A drinking man is half a man.

You cannot give weight

to the words of a drunkard.

Don't tell me you stand in judgment

of a man who pulls the cork sometimes?

I do. It's a weakness

that indicates a lack of character.

You know more about the Lord

and His Good Book than about men.

My good fortune. I know enough

about men to steer clear of them.

I had no hankerin' to have

one of my own.

And no desire to produce more.

Wolf.

Yes, sir?

- She's frightening.

Look.

I got me a 22 pepperbox here.

This thing shoots 5 times,

sometimes all at once.

It is called a Lady's Companion.

That's what it'll be when I'm gone.

In Fort Smith, there is

a sportin' lady named Big Faye.

She was shot twice with this thing,

but she dressed out at 290,

so none of the bullets

found their way to the vitals.

But against ordinary people it gives

good service. Protect Sister with it.

Thank you, sir.

I shall guard Miss Eula with my life.

It'll likely be the other way around.

But you take good care of her.

She is somethin'.

You wait here for Dakota.

- I could use a drink myself.

I only drink with friends.

Good shot.

You're hitting more than missing.

Them I Ain't hittin',

I ain't aimin' at.

If you're not careful, Hawk's men

will hear and be looking for you.

If they ain't careful,

they'll find me.

Hey, Wolf,

chuck up two of them things.

Your equitation teacher do that?

Marshal Cogburn, we're ready to go.

Shooting cornbread

in a meadow is not taking us anywhere.

And my father's murderers ride free.

Well, Sister,

I was just celebratin' a little.

Celebrating what?

Bein' alive, Sister.

You're shooting your own food.

Whiskey is making you silly.

Why do people wish to be silly?

Why do people wish to be sober?

Life ain't a easy game. Won't hurt

to make a fool of yourself sometimes.

Yes, sometimes.

But not more often than not.

Marshal Cogburn,

you're in a sorry state.

You're unsteady, untidy,

rank with the sweat and spirits.

Did you forget cleanliness

and abstinence are next to Godliness?

No, I ain't forgotten

a woman's naggin' and schemin'.

You figure you can take

my bottle and give me soap.

Give me a Bible for my gun.

Well, it ain't gonna work.

I am what I am. That's what I am.

Wolf.

I'm fine.

I'll tell him.

You made good time. Where's the wagon?

That's why we came so soon.

We lost the wagon.

A posse of Marshals ambushed us.

They got Nose and Emmett.

Whiskey.

You'd run from a jackrabbit.

Rooster Cogburn ain't no jackrabbit.

Cogburn?

Cogburn aced ya?

Yeah.

Let's go.

You'll never take him, Hawk.

- Yeah?

Yeah. I rode scout for him 3 years.

And I know.

You take my money,

and you wear my brand.

Got it?

Get your butts in the saddle.

We're ridin'.

We'll make camp early.

This is a likely spot.

Is it safe to stop overnight, sir?

We got to rest the horses.

Unhitch 'em.

Anyway, I ain't worried

about them roadrunners.

They'll be in Goldstrike

lickin' their wounds,

consortin' with lewd women.

They'll start after us tomorrow.

Boy, am I thirsty.

I'm gonna fetch some water.

Drinkin' water.

Washing water I'm a stranger to,

and will leave you two to draw.

Marshal Cogburn, I'm sorry

if I offended you with my remarks

regarding your personal habits.

I didn't realize

you were such a sensitive nature.

My hide is tougher than boot leather.

But no man likes to be called

high-smellin' and low-down.

Ayah, true. But unpleasant things

are best said right out.

A sharp knife

cuts quickest and hurts least.

And aught to be left in the scabbard.

You're a flash of lightning, Marshal.

- No. I just follow the thunder.

Well, I'll follow my own advice

and retire to the stream

to perform my ablution.

Her...

Her what?

Her...

Hey, Sister.

Be careful movin' out there.

Everything that grows

in this country'll either

bite, stab or stick you.

Will she be alright?

Any varmint that crosses

her path has met it's match.

You, too, Marshal?

She'll never get the best of me.

You can bet on that,

Do Indian women

want to change a man too?

Yes. Miss Goodnight would be

regarded as highly as a brave warrior.

No man wants to put his boots

under a warrior's bed.

I heard some

flappin' noise back in them trees.

Soon as we get camp set up,

let's go huntin'. Get us a turkey.

Surprise Miss Eula with a good meal.

I would like that very much, sir.

- Good.

Here's where they waylaid us, Hawk.

There was Marshals all around.

They can't be far.

That wagon's too heavy to move fast.

And too risky to move by night.

Breed. How many?

Tracks are hard to read.

Sure as Hell ain't no posse.

What? Hear that, you stupid bastards?

He tricked you.

You listen to me, all of you.

I ain't goin' away without the nitro.

I'll kill Rooster for it,

and I'll kill each one of you,

you show yellow again.

Here, drink yourself some guts.

Hello. The camp.

We must've hiked 10 miles tryin'

to get a shot at a turk... turkey.

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