The Ballad of Cable Hogue Page #5

and I aim to do just that.

And quit changing the subject.

I think he's after me, Cable.

- He's gonna kill me.

- Then keep moving.

- I'm serious.

- So am I.

She was not a sister in purity.

I found her weeping by the stable. Clete

had taken to drink and left the child.

- And?

- Well, I consoled her for days.

Lovely days and nights.

He returned, the woman went to him...

...confessed and begged for forgiveness.

- So?

He never forgave me.

He swears I won't leave this desert alive.

- Good luck, preacher.

- Every moment we argue...

...death rides closer. We're in trouble.

- We? I never diddled nobody's wife!

To err is human, brother,

to forgive is divine.

Somebody's coming.

You better hide yourself.

- Don't go in the bedroom, Hildy's there.

- From Deaddog?

That's the one. And you better behave,

or I'll come gunning for you.

Morning, Preacher Sloane.

Good morning, Hildy.

- Can I help you, mister?

- Yeah, whose horse is that?

- Which one?

- The one that's all lathered up.

Oh, that.

That's mine.

- What's its name?

- That? That's...

Old Alexander.

I will protect you.

The violence might spread inside.

Joshua, what the hell

do you think you're doing?

Funny name for a mare.

Well...

...like the lady said to the sailor,

it all depends on how you look at it.

Yea, I will protect you as a shepherd

protects his flock.

Yeah, well, I heard about

them sheepherders...

...and you ain't sticking my feet

in your boots.

You listen to me.

I want that son of a b*tch.

I'll pay a hundred dollars in gold,

wet or dry, dead or alive.

A hundred dollars?

- If I see him, you'll get him.

- I better.

So long, fella.

- Don't forget.

- I won't.

You better not.

Preacher! I told you to stay

the hell out of there!

Thank you, Cable, for sanctuary.

- My dear, this smells delicious.

- Thank you, Joshua.

- It is good.

- Hold up there, preacher.

- That'll be 50 cents.

- Oh, that's hardly fair.

- Not fair? He should pay me double.

- Why? You haven't charged me nothing.

That's because you

haven't charged me nothing.

Oh, brother, you really are

a true Samaritan.

Don't push your luck, Josh.

- Wouldn't you like to say grace?

- Not over my food.

Very well, then, I'll say grace.

Dear Lord, we thank thee

for all this good food...

...and that we can share it as one.

We thank thee for thy goodness

and thy mercy.

Bless this food, O Lord...

And bless this house.

- Amen.

- Amen.

Amen.

Thank you, Hildy.

Hogue...

...I'll be leaving tomorrow.

- Tomorrow?

You knew I was only gonna stay

one day, maybe two.

It's been over three weeks already.

- It can't be.

- Has, though.

Guess I got used to your cooking and all.

It has been nice hearing you sing.

I admit, I thought a lot about staying.

You treated me like a real lady, Hogue.

You were good to me.

Not good enough?

Maybe too good, I don't know.

I just can't handle it.

Thank you very much for everything,

but I'm leaving.

Excuse me.

Sort of lost my appetite.

I better find you

a place to sleep, preacher.

No need.

That bed in there will suit me

just fine and dandy.

It's fine and dandy, but it ain't yours.

Well, isn't a guest

entitled to bed and board?

A paying guest.

Oh, stop it. Both of you

gonna sleep outside tonight.

Outside, both of you.

- Good night, Cable.

- Good night, Josh.

Morning, brother Hogue.

Sleep well last night?

Nope.

- Is Hildy up yet?

- Left early.

- How do you know?

- Well, you know how it is, Josh.

Funny thing...

...it doesn't matter how much

or how little you've wandered around...

...how many women you've been with.

Every once in awhile, one of them...

...cuts right through.

Right straight into you.

What do you do about it?

I suppose maybe when you die

you get over it.

So long, Cable.

So long, Josh.

It's me!

Cable Hogue!

Right here!

Waiting.

Right here! Waiting!

Come on, boy. Get with it.

Come on, Blackie! Get in.

Get in there, boy.

Whoa, boy.

Don't feed them, we're just staying

long enough to water the horses.

- And we're running late.

- All right, Ben.

Welcome to Cable Springs.

It's out in the back, ma'am.

I was wondering and worrying if you got

out of there all right. Glad you made it.

Howdy, Cable.

Hogue.

Come on and have a drink of the

best damn water for 50 mile around.

I found it where it wasn't.

- How long you had this place?

- Three years and a half.

Pretty big layout.

Well, I owe it all to you boys.

When I come out of there, I found this

water hole and just went into business.

Looks like you done real well.

Big, fat bankbook, huh, Cable?

Hogue in a bank?

You don't know him better than that...

...you don't know him at all.

Here you go, Cable.

Another month paid in full.

No, no banks for me.

I'll just put this in the old sock,

and I got it well hid.

- We're glad to hear you're doing so well.

- If I was doing half as good...

...I'd be a rich son of a b*tch

instead of just a poor one.

All right, folks, let's go!

All aboard for Deaddog!

Well, I owe it all to you boys.

Now, you come back

and see me, now, you hear?

- We will.

- One of these days.

Now, you can count on it.

Blackie, get out of there. Come on, boy.

Get out of there.

- See you, Hogue.

- So long, Ben.

Taggart and Bowen

As quick as you please

Took all the money and left for the trees

Hey, Cable?

We come for that visit.

Cable!

I don't think he's here.

No, I don't think he is.

You check inside.

Come on, get up there.

We'll drink all your water, Cable.

We'll drink your well dry

Water goes good with a bottle of rye

Bowen. Bowen!

Just lookie what we got here.

Another one.

What do you think?

Well, we found the copper.

Gold and silver gotta be next.

Why in hell don't we just wait

till he comes back?

- Let him do the digging?

- Suits me, boys.

- You heard that.

- Shut up.

Come on out.

With your hands up, fellas.

Think it over.

I got lots of time.

What's he doing?

Well, I ain't gonna poke my head

over the edge to find out.

Hogue?

You know you ain't got no guts.

Why, last time you had a gun on us

you didn't use it.

Yeah, now, of course that's a fact.

You said I was yellow.

Wanna try your luck again?

- He's bluffing.

- Yeah, yeah.

Sun's kind of hot, ain't it, fellas?

Of course you could enjoy it

if you had plenty of water.

And that's what I got, plenty of water.

- Get over. Right up there.

- Right there.

I ain't running this time, fellas.

- Staying right here.

- Your gun.

- Sooner or later you gotta come out.

- Three count. Ready? Ready?

One, two...

...now!

- We got him.

- He might still be alive.

Take a look.

- You're sure?

- Damn it, take a look.

Give me a boost.

Easy and up we go.

Little higher, Taggart.

- Get up there.

- No. Just easy.

Easy.

Put me down.

Put me down, damn it, down!

- We never touched him.

- Where is he?

Well, why in the hell

don't you take a look?

Now what's he up to?

Hey, Taggart.

Oh, my God. Taggart, help me.

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