Run for Cover Page #3

Pretty soon now.

I feel great.

What more do you want?

Enjoy it while you can, son.

Couple of days behind a plow,

And you'll wish you were back

in a nice, soft bed.

When I get outta here,

It won't be to end up

behind a plow.

Best way in the world

to build up your strength.

Great for the legs.

May I see you a minute?

Well, how you doing

with the new batch?

Take a look.

What do they think I am?

"A Romance of Flowers... How

to Grow Them in Your Garden."

"A Young Girl's Dilemma...

Should She Marry for Money,

Or Listen to the Dictates

of Her Heart?"

I forgot to tell you,

these were sent over

With the compliments

of the ladies' sewing circle.

You'll probably get

"Five Little Peppers and

How They Grew in the Morning."

Matt...

What's the matter?

I just told her that,

That leg isn't going to be

any good to him.

You mean it's going to take

a little while.

It'll never be right.

How bad is it?

Might be able to get around some

after he gets stronger...

Get around some?

He's a kid,

not an old man.

What kind of a doctor are you?

Can't even fix a broken leg.

Not the way

that one was broken.

Why didn't you

say so before?

Why'd you lead him to believe

he was gonna get well?

I wasn't sure

till I took the splints off.

What makes you so sure now?

You were wrong once before.

Not this time.

It's a miracle

he lived at all.

Miracles don't come in pairs.

What does he know about it?

He's been ready

to call in the buzzards

Ever since he got here.

Think nobody ever had

a broken leg before.

(Glass breaking)

Matt!

My leg!

I can't walk!

Oh, you poor boy.

Get up.

I can't.

Get up!

Matt, leave him alone.

Get out.

Matt, you can't force him.

Matt!

Why didn't you let me die?

I'd rather be dead.

You're not dead.

So get up.

Grab hold of that.

Pull yourself up.

Leave me alone.

I'll leave you alone,

when you're on your feet.

Get up!

You heard me, get up!

There's nothing wrong

with your arms. Pull!

That's the last time

I wanna see you crawl.

What am I supposed to do,

Carry a chair around with me

the rest of my life?

Lots of fellas live and die

without ever having to find out

How much of a man they are.

You could be as good a man

as anybody in town.

If you are, you'll know it

and take pride in it.

And they'll know it, too.

You all through?

Then you get out.

Get away from me.

You and your big talk.

Get outta here

on your two good legs!

Get out!

You better go help him.

I heard what he said

to you.

He didn't mean it.

You were right,

and he was right.

I shouldn't

have bullied him.

You were only

trying to help.

I was a big help.

DAVEY:

Matt! Quick!

Watch.

How was that?

Fine, son.

Just fine.

Let's see you try

by yourself today.

Come on, cowboy.

How does it feel?

Don't ache as much.

Ever hear of a cowhand

walking when he could ride?

If you've got a horse

and a saddle, you'll get around.

Glad to see you

up and around, Davey.

We all know how you both feel

about what happened.

That's why we're here.

Yes, we realize this town

owes you a debt, Dave,

And as mayor, the folks want me

to do what we can to pay it off.

Now, we're not rich people,

Dave, you know that.

If we were, we'd make

a settlement on you.

We've talked it over

and decided

The next best thing to do

is to give you

The security of a good job

with good pay

As long as you want it.

I'm not asking

for any job.

I'm not asking

for any more handouts.

You shot me up good,

but you didn't kill me.

So from now on, I think

I'll take care of myself.

We were just trying

to make it up to ya, Davey.

Give me back one good leg,

and we'll call it square.

That's the only settlement

I want from any of you.

MAYOR:

Maybe you can talk to him.

We know how the kid feels.

He's not a kid.

He's a man.

We've got something

to say to you, too,

If you'd hear us out.

Yes, we figure this town

could do with a new sheriff.

It'll pay $1,000 a year

and all fines.

That's a little high for

a slight scalp wound, isn't it?

This isn't charity.

We need a sheriff.

Why me? You don't know

anything about me.

You were the only one

that kept his head that day.

And we know what you've been

doing for Davey, too.

We've had enough gunslingers

wearing badges.

We figured it's about time

we had a man

With some character

in the job.

I'll take it

on one condition.

That I run the job

and name my own deputies.

I approve.

And you can put lynching down

as part of your past history

And turn all of your nervous

posse-men out to pasture.

Congratulations, sheriff.

Here's your badge.

And a little advance

on your salary.

We've got a room for you

in town, too.

I'll be in tonight.

So you're the new sheriff.

Yep.

What's that for?

A decent burial.

Where I come from,

all the peace officers

Carry around

their own burial money.

Custom of the country.

Suppose you need

that chamber?

I'm not that fast.

If I haven't hit

what I'm aiming at

By the time I squeeze off

the first five,

I'll be needing a pine box

instead of another bullet.

What did you take the job for

if you're not fast enough?

'Cause you'll be

my deputy.

Remember the time

you drew on that hawk

Down by the railroad tracks?

Yeah.

You hit it.

Oh, well, I can generally hit

what I'm shooting at.

But I'm not likely

to get in the first shot.

You beat me by,

oh, I would say,

A full three seconds.

Yeah, but you said...

Look, the way I figure it

is this.

It doesn't matter how slow I am.

You'll be with me.

Do you really think...

Oh, you don't think

I'd be fool enough

To take this job alone,

do you?

In fact, I am pretty fast.

I used to practice a lot.

Well, start practicing

some more,

'Cause we're in business.

Take care of the horse,

deputy.

I heard

you and the men outside.

Too bad

this had to come up,

Just when I was getting the hang

of being a dirt farmer.

Perhaps you didn't like it.

I didn't think I would.

At first I was doing it

just to pay my keep.

Then I got kind of

interested in it.

Working the land and getting

something useful out of it.

Most peace I've had

in a long time.

If you feel that way

about it, why...

Too good an offer

to pass up.

Besides, I couldn't go on

living here.

Not with Davey

up and around.

What's going

to become of him?

He's going to be my deputy.

So that's why

you're doing it.

$1,000 a year and fines?

That's reason enough.

And Davey?

He's fast with a gun.

I can use him.

You're a very bad liar.

You're kinda tough

to lie to.

Let's keep it

in the family, huh?

Don't live his life

for him, Matt.

Not even if he were

your own son.

I'm not trying to.

All I wanna do

is give him a chance.

Make him feel like he's doing

a man's job.

You think putting a gun

in his hand

Will cure

what is in his heart?

What do you mean?

The way he talked to them

when they came out here.

I was watching him.

It wasn't just

the anger of the words.

There was a look

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