Santa Fe Page #2

So are the men.

My husband. Dave tells me

he knew you through the war.

You were in Major Baxter's regiment.

You must have known Tony.

No, ma'am. You see, l...

I wasn't exactly with Major Baxter.

Our uniforms were

of a different color.

Canfield.

- Now I remember.

- I don't understand.

Tony was killed in the war,

Captain Canfield...

...at Parsons Creek,

in the charge that you led.

I'm sorry. Deeply sorry.

Sorry? Tony and Dave

were very good friends.

They dreamed of the railroad

along with Colonel Holliday.

Tony was to have been

Dave's assistant.

They planned together

to cross the prairies...

...mountains, build bridges.

Bridges that Tony will never cross.

Mrs. Chandler, the war's over.

It doesn't do any of us any good

to personalize it.

I'm sure you feel if it weren't for me,

your husband would be here now, but...

He would be, wouldn't he?

I'm sorry you feel that way.

Now, here's what we're up against.

Along this 300-mile strip

is a 2-million-acre land grant...

...that's coming to

the Santa Fe Railroad...

...if we reach

the Kansas-Colorado border...

...by next March 1 st.

We must have that land grant

to finance the road...

...and unless we reach the state line

in time, the Santa Fe's dead.

Then, Dave, we'll just have to

get there in time.

All the men are paid

and accounted for.

- Sorry there's no money left.

- We certainly could use it.

By the way, Judith, I've just promoted

Britt here to be my assistant.

Assistant?

Congratulations, Mr. Canfield.

Thank you.

I'll let the men know what's ahead.

What's the matter?

Don't you approve of my choice?

Of course. Only now he's doing the job

that Tony would have done.

Judith, somebody has to take

Tony's place with the railroad.

Somebody has to take Tony's place

with you. And that's where I come in.

Not yet, Dave. We'll have to wait.

- Why?

- I just feel that way.

When a woman feels that way,

there's no point in arguing with her.

Just don't make the waiting too long.

- What's up?

- Nothing new.

Whenever that pay train rolls in,

'tis booze they smell.

- Well, it's 20 miles to a town.

- And so it is.

But some smart operators have

set up a saloon and gambling camp...

...about a mile back there

in the woods.

They've been following along

behind us for two or three weeks.

Tomorrow, what with all the headaches,

we'll not get 200 yards of track done.

Swede, I thought I told you to throw

that fellow off of railroad property.

Hey, you, come here.

By golly, I did throw him off once.

He's the dirty dog that's been

passing word on to the crews...

...telling them how to get

to that gambling camp.

Oh, he has, has he?

There's a good time waiting

for all you men just a mile away.

Go up till you see a red rock.

Follow your no...

Get away from this camp,

and keep away.

Britt! Britt!

- Trouble!

- What?

Indians.

Anybody know

what he's talking about?

I do. Says he wants to talk to you.

Well, ask him

what he's got on his mind.

He says the iron horse spits fire

and frightens his people.

Ask him if he's afraid.

He says, Of course not.

He's the greatest chief that is.

He's afraid of nothing.

If that's true, he can prove it

to us and his tribe...

...by driving the iron horse.

You've put him on the spot.

He won't dare lose face.

They're holding you hostage till

the chief gets back safe to his people.

Me?

He's good.

This engine don't run,

except on the tracks.

Stop this thing.

How do you say stop in Indian?

Try!

You were all right, chief.

Maybe someday

we'll name a train after you.

Well?

He's telling them that the Indian pony's

much better than the iron horse.

The iron horse

has to stay on one trail...

...and the Indian pony will

take them hunting anywhere.

He's gonna let the railroad alone.

Well, let's get back to work.

We can't make state line standing here.

- Dan.

- Yeah, yeah.

Ask him where he got

those bells on the tomahawk.

He said they was given to him

by a saloonkeeper.

Same fella that

gave him the whiskey.

Told him the iron rails

and singing wires was bad medicine.

I wonder who'd want to feed

these Indians lies about the railroad.

Yeah.

I wonder too.

Yes, sir.

Gambling hall and a saloon

right in their own wagons...

...following behind us

every time we move.

Half the crew are here.

There won't be a paycheck left.

They sure aren't helping

the Santa Fe any with this setup.

How about it? I feel lucky.

Like to buck the tiger?

Gamble? Not me.

Don't know the first thing

about gambling.

Thanks, Britt.

Where'd you find them?

You guess.

My brothers,

feeding liquor to the Indians.

When we split up, I didn't think

it'd be this far apart.

- What makes you think we had...?

- You're quite a man now, aren't you?

Big saloonkeeper and gambler,

just like your brothers.

In that letter you sent me, you said you

came out to get in on the land boom.

This is surer profit. Quicker.

For you, maybe,

but not for the Santa Fe.

We've got to reach Colorado

by March 1 st to get a land grant...

...or there won't be any railroad.

And we're not going to be delayed

just so an outfit can sell more liquor.

I'm through trying to run your lives...

...so stay away from the Santa Fe

unless you want to work on it.

Tell that to your boss.

Why not tell me yourself, Canfield.

The name is Sanders. Cole Sanders.

Yes, l... I've already met

your chief salesman.

- Got a thing to settle with him.

- Crake.

Canfield, you're in

the railroad business...

...and we're in

the entertainment field.

Now, if you want to come in

and buy a drink...

...or gamble a dollar or two,

you're welcome.

But don't try telling me

how to operate.

I'm telling you to keep away

from the Santa Fe.

- Lf you're looking for trouble...

- That's exactly what I'm looking for.

Where are you going?

This is a private fight.

What's that?

Oh, probably one of them

drunks celebrating.

There she is, me boys.

- Good work, Moose.

- The state line.

- We made it!

- With less than 48 hours to spare too.

Now I know why railroaders

turn gray young.

And the land grant is ours.

No more financial worries,

for a while.

All right, boys.

A week's holiday for everyone.

The train leaves for Topeka

in the morning.

Thanks, sir!

Thank you.

What's this?

Thought you said

you never gambled.

Oh, these? Oh, I just carry them

around to tell my fortune with.

Oh, you should know something

about card games, Dan.

How would you like to have me

teach you how to play poker?

Oh, would you, Luke?

Don't think it'd be fun for you.

Forget it.

You're my friend, aren't you?

I'm glad.

My daddy told me you never

play cards with strangers.

How many?

I'll take four.

Mind if I cut them?

I'll play these.

Well, Mr. Plummer,

how much do you wager?

- I'll check.

- I'll bet all I got.

I think I'll raise.

Next time I play poker with you,

you're gonna have gloves on.

Luke! Dan!

Come on, fellas. We got bad news.

What's the matter,

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