Tall in the Saddle Page #4

---

Fine.

Now, Pat, I'm giving you first call

on my services.

There's a lot of other folks

looking for a good man, too, you know?

So if you want me,

better hurry and speak up.

I ain't got no time to...

Excuse me. I'll be right back

to find out when to start.

Where you heading for?

- Riding for the Topaz.

- What?

- Have you gone plumb loco?

- It's good money.

There ain't money enough

to make it worthwhile...

to work for that woman.

When she gets going, she can be meaner

than a skillet full of rattlesnakes.

She ain't gonna forget

the way you made a fool out of her...

in front of the whole town.

- Dave!

- Yeah, I'll be right there.

- It's poison, that's what it is. Just plain...

- Dave!

What do you want

to hang around here for anyhow?

$60 a month.

Be right with you.

- How do you do, Mr. Rocklin?

- Howdy.

It's a lovely afternoon, isn't it?

I reckon it is pretty nice.

- So you're moving in on the KC?

- Not exactly moving in.

- You see, we're...

- Clara, do you have to discuss...

our private affairs with every ragtag

and bobtail cow person we meet?

Just passing the time of day, ma'am.

We can do very well without it, thank you.

Besides, you're keeping

your lady friend waiting.

I thought maybe

you'd changed your mind again.

Nope.

Tala will show you the bunkhouse.

I'll talk to you about your duties

in the morning.

How far is it to the line camp at Tabletop?

10, 15 mile.

I'll be moving up there

first thing in the morning.

Harolday's orders.

Care to show me the way?

I will show you.

The trail is straight ahead.

You'll find everything you need

in the cabin at the top.

Tala, it appears you don't like me.

- That's right. I do not.

- Why?

Permit that I offer you a cigarette.

Thanks.

It is not your fault

that your shadow is black.

But you will only bring unhappiness

to my Arlita.

I do not blame you...

but I feel I must hate you.

- Hi, there.

- I see you found a new job.

Yeah. I haul freight for old Pat Fosler.

Got a letter here

for that crazy galoot Rocklin...

from that little Cardell gal.

You know, she seems to be

mighty took up about something.

Made me promise to deliver it personal.

- But Rocklin is not here.

- You ain't telling me he's quit already?

- He's on the way to Tabletop.

- Doggone it!

And I've got a whole load of stuff

to deliver to Gopher Flats.

Maybe you can take

the old road to Tabletop?

- Is it still open?

- Yes, I think so.

Here I go, then. So long.

Have you seen Arly?

No, sir, I didn't see Miss Arly today

but I seed her last night...

and she sure was mad.

Plenty mad.

Morning, Clint.

You must be feeling pretty good

this morning.

Say, Arly, about that poker game

night before last...

- Forget it.

- Forget it?

Tala!

- Well?

- Say, what is this?

- What do you mean?

- What do I mean?

Good morning, Arlita.

Good morning, Tala.

You have made yourself very pretty today.

See what I mean?

Have my horse saddled

and sent around right away, will you?

And have that Rocklin bring it.

Well? What are you grinning at?

Rocklin is not here.

He quit?

- He has gone to the line camp at Tabletop.

- What?

It was Mr. Harolday's orders.

Why do you make your heart heavy

with thoughts of him, little one?

- He's not for you.

- Be quiet.

He has made the choice, Arlita.

With your own eyes, you saw it yesterday.

And she, too, has opened her heart to him.

Already she has summoned him to her.

What do you mean?

Dave of the white beard

carries a letter to Rocklin. It is from her.

How did you know that?

I met Dave, and he tell me.

So now he rides to Tabletop.

- Little one, why don't...

- Leave me...

Good morning, Arly. Good morning, Tala.

Say, fetch my briefcase, will you?

It's on the desk.

Get it.

Looks like we're getting that land

we were wanting along the river bottom.

I bought the mortgage

on the Hardman ranch.

It's due today. I'm on my way

over there now.

Did you send that Rocklin to Tabletop?

- Why, yes, I did.

- Let's get things straight.

This place was my mother's,

now it's mine and Clint's.

You've helped out,

but the way things are going...

we'll be able to pay you back

every penny we owe.

Meanwhile, I'm running this outfit,

and I expect to give the orders.

You generally do.

Why did you send Rocklin to Tabletop?

It seemed like a good idea,

what with all this rustling going on.

Who'd be driving cattle over Tabletop

unless they were crazy?

Now, I don't agree with you.

At any rate, if you must have it...

I'd no intention of engaging a man

at foreman's wages...

just to gratify the whims

of a jealous woman.

You take care what you're saying.

No, it's you

who should take care, my dear.

There's one man that you can't rawhide

into jumping the way you want.

You made a fool of yourself over him once.

You better watch out

you don't do it again.

Thanks, Tala.

Darn funny, that storm quitting

about the time I get here.

No funnier than you slogging through,

to deliver a letter from a woman.

The older I get, the dumber I get.

When we gonna get around to reading it?

Thought I'd wait till morning.

Might be bad news,

and I wouldn't be able to sleep.

"Dear Mr. Rocklin...

"forgive me if this letter

seems a trifle incoherent...

"but I am terribly worried and unhappy. "

Who wouldn't be,

living with that old screech owl?

Go ahead, go ahead. I can't read anyhow.

"I am desperately in need of help

and advice...

"from someone whom I feel I can trust.

"I heartily dislike and distrust

Judge Garvey. "

Smart gal.

"But my aunt seems to have suddenly

revised her opinion of him...

"and now wants me to place all my affairs

in the Judge's hands and return east.

"Such is certainly not my wish. "

Kind of looks like

she's formed an attachment.

For the locality, I mean.

"I wanted so much

to give ranch life a trial...

"but fear circumstances are against me.

"Especially in view

of the recent Indian trouble. "

Indian trouble? Why, there isn't been

no Indian trouble around here...

You want to hear the rest of this?

Might as well. Come this far.

"I want to apologize

for what took place this afternoon...

"and I am returning the $150...

"because I feel it is rightfully yours.

"You must take it.

Faithfully yours, Clara Cardell. "

Well, what do you make of it?

Somebody's sure busting

to get her off the ranch.

Indian trouble.

Got to admit, though,

I feel a mite sorry for that young 'un.

Nice little tyke.

Too nice for this country.

She sure is a pretty little thing.

Dave, what do you know

about Garvey and Cardell?

Cardell? Salt of the earth.

Cantankerous old cuss,

but a real tall man, believe me.

He was a big feller,

tall in the saddle, like yourself.

Fact is, you could pass for blood relation,

come to think of it.

- Were Red and the Judge friends?

- Yeah, that's what you'd say.

They were regular drinking partners,

played poker together most nights.

Red always got the worst of it.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes