The Cowboys Page #2

- Got a name?

- Cimarron.

That's half a name.

What's the rest of it?

There's no more name.

l'm a mistake of nature.

That was a pretty good ride you made.

But l'll have to think you over.

You having difficulty

seeing the board?

Homer, Bob, why don't you

take these slates and pads...

... put them underneath

the board and raise it up...

-...so that everyone can see

the lower lines. - Yes, ma'am.

There, that's much

better. Thank you, boys.

When you've copied your assignments

for the week you may all go home.

l'd like to talk to these boys before

class breaks up, if you don't mind.

Do you wish to address

the young ladies, as well?

No, l don't think so.

l've nothing to say to young ladies.

Then we bow to the fact that it's

a man's world and leave you to it.

Girls.

l don't expect to get to...

... Belle Fourche with

one single head of beef...

... but l'm cornered...

...so l'm taking you on.

Now this is the way it's gonna be.

l'm a man and you're boys.

Not cowmen, not by a damn sight.

Nothing but cowboys,

just like the word says.

And l'm gonna remind you of it every

single minute of every day and night.

This is the Double-O.

This is Belle Fourche.

ln between is 400 miles of the

meanest country in the West.

And the only way we're

gonna get through is if...

...you take orders.

- ls that clear?

- Yes, sir.

Bring a bedroll...

...a couple of good ropes...

... horse, if you got one.

You'll get the best

food in the territory...

... no rest, and damn little sleep.

And 50 big silver dollars...

... if we make it to Belle Fourche.

Now you'll show up at my place...

...first Monday after

school's out, at 5 a. m.

And come with grit teeth.

Because, gentlemen, that's

when school really begins.

Mr. Andersen?

Yeah?

All of us?

Come here.

Anybody that tall.

They must've rode all over the territory

to get that many brand new hats.

You know...

...you're gonna have to feed

these kids till my cook comes.

l don't mind.

l like the sound of boys.

Next one of you pulls

a knife in this outfit...

...you're gonna learn better

at the buckle end of my belt.

Now, what happened?

You.

What went on here?

He said something about his mother.

What'd he say?

- You understand Spanish, Mr. Andersen?

- l understand.

So does Slim.

Clear out.

Get on your horse and clear out.

All right. There's plenty of road.

Give me back my gun.

l'm not in the habit of

throwing kerosene on a fire.

lt cost me $30.

Send me a bill.

You're gonna get it, mister.

All right, everybody

packing iron unload it.

Throw it over here in this buggy.

And l mean anything that shoots.

Anybody holds out so

much as a pea shooter...

... may find himself hanging by

a tie-rope 70 foot up in a tree.

You ever fire that thing?

No, sir.

This hardware'll be locked

up in the chuck wagon.

You got anything to settle

between you, butt heads.

Now get rid of those bedrolls and...

...get mounted and we'll

see how much you don't know.

All right, turn him loose.

Bring in the iron, Charlie.

Been smelling that for 40 years.

Never could get used to it.

- You.

- Yes, sir.

What's your name?

Hardy Fimps.

Go rope one.

You'll do.

l've seen them fight all

day, from dawn to dark.

Sometimes the young one

wins, sometimes the old.

Young one's got more muscle.

Old one's got more experience.

That's the old one

still standing there.

- Keep his nose out of the water.

- Watch out!

Hang on to that line!

Steady, steady. Pull!

Slow, Weedy!

Watch out for those horns.

You got him.

Now hold him right there.

Pull his nose back now.

Keep his head back.

All right, take him out!

Pull!

Get him out of there!

You need some help?

Nah, they're doing all right.

Mr. Wil Andersen?

What can l do for you?

Well, l think there's something

that we can do for each other.

My name's Asa Watts. How are you?

This here's Henry

Williams and Red Tucker.

They both ride with me.

We heard in town that you was going

on a drive, needing some hands.

You sure heard right.

Well, sir, we're the very best.

You fellas aren't from around here.

No, sir, we're not.

We're from Denton County.

We've been on the Ruby River the

last few weeks panning for gold...

... like every other damn fool.

These last 22 days you know all we got

was $2 worth of dust and nothing more.

Ain't that pitiful?

Now we're ready to get back to

what we know, and that's cows.

What outfits have you worked with?

Well, sir, we've worked for every big

outfit in north Montana. You name them.

No. You name them.

Alrighty. There's Oscar

West at the Triple-D...

...and George C. Thompson

over there at McNeil...

... Dillard Fant at the Santa Rosa.

How long were you with Fant?

Well, sir, the last eight years.

What a lovely old gentleman he is.

lf we weren't three of the damnedest fools

you ever saw we'd be there with him now.

And if you were,

you'd be in a pine box.

Sir?

l was pallbearer at his

funeral five years ago.

Well, l've been caught

at it, haven't l?

Mr. Andersen, l'm

sorry. l lied to you.

l got all them names right out of

the Stockmen's Association brand book.

You see, we're fresh out of

jail, the three of us, and...

... l don't know, you tell that to people

and they just turn a deaf ear on you.

Well, l'm afraid l can't use you.

How do you mean you can't use us?

l won't use you.

You-- You mean you're gonna

be like everybody else...

...and not give us a chance?

l don't hold jail against

you, but l hate a liar.

You're a hard man, Mr. Andersen.

lt's a hard life. l got work to do.

Sir, before you get back to your work, l'd

like to ask you one more little question.

What are you gonna use for hands

on this drive of yours, huh?

Them little-bitty boys down there?

Come on, you know better than that.

You know what you'll need to

trundle them boys across the prairie?

A baby carriage.

Well, whatever l need l'll get.

l bet you will.

Good luck to you, Mr. Andersen.

Get mounted!

There's your saddle band.

They've been living wild all winter.

We'll finish breaking them on the drive.

We'll pick our strings

by age. Who's the oldest?

- l am.

- Get yourself a rope.

All right.

And here.

- May l have some more, please?

- Sure.

You eat that much at home?

We've been branding cattle all day.

Can't be that hungry.

They're showing off.

Good afternoon, mister.

Were you looking for me?

Who are you?

Name's Nightlinger.

Jebediah Nightlinger.

l was expecting a white man.

Jim Wheeler. What happened to him?

Well, he got drunk on

Sunday and married on Monday.

l came in his stead.

l told him the fix l was in. He

promised he wouldn't let me down.

He doesn't even wash his hands

before he puts them in the pot.

l do.

Can you cook?

Apple pie.

Green apples sliced thin.

Lard, flour, salt, water to bind.

Sugar, cinnamon, a dab of butter.

Three slashes on the

crust, one for steam...

...and two because your

mama did it that way.

Good afternoon to you,

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