The Fighting Kentuckian Page #6

Here you are, penniless but in love.

On the other hand is Blake Randolph -

wealthy, also in love,

perhaps not so passionately,

yet enough to throw his important influence

on the side of my people.

Give me time, sir. I'll

match his influence.

In another place, under different

circumstances, perhaps.

But here and now, it is impossible.

Why is it impossible?

Why are you rushing her into this marriage?

Just a minute, Mr. Breen.

I'm not rushing her.

Blake Randolph met us

when we first landed in Mobile.

He and his friends entertained us lavishly.

His people, his boats,

helped us move upriver and build.

For the past year, he devoted himself

to our interests -

unselfishly -

when he could very easily have been

concentrating romantically upon Fleurette.

Against his record

Your sole argument is that a young

impressional girl kissed you and liked it.

General when you pulled that way I

Ah, maybe you're right.

Maybe I have been rushing her.

Maybe I should give her more time.

Maybe we should both give her more time.

I'm just doing what I believe is best

for the happyness my daughter

and the wellfare my people.

If you love her, love her enough to stop

what you are doing and leave Demopolis.

If you'd locked her up,

I'd know what to do.

I don't know how to fight

these other things.

My habit of obeying is too strong

after these last five years.

Perhaps I should take Fleurette.

I could, you know.

Yes, I think you could.

But you won't.

You won't see her or talk to her, will you?

No, I won't. At least, not tonight. But

don't you marry her off tomorrow either.

I can't very well postpone the wedding.

But until then, I'm willing to listen

to anything you have to say.

I guess that'll have to do for now.

But I'll be back.

Yeah.

Crown it.

I don't know why.

Maybe I am rushing her.

Maybe the General's right.

All those people.

But Blake Randolph...

Why am I supposed to be working for you?

Well, I don't know. Are you?

Randolph seems to think so, Sir.

Well that's funny. I was going to ask you

to do a little job for me.

Here's a copy of the grant for this land

and a letter from the man

who surveyed it originally.

"An act of Congress to set aside..."

When did you get this letter, Colonel?

About two days ago.

I was afraid that some of our people

might have settled outside the boundaries.

And well you been on the ground

You might save me time and expenses

if you'll check for me.

- But...

- We'll do everything we can, Colonel.

- Here, Willie. We'll get right on it.

...tell him.

- Good night, Colonel.

- Good luck, gentlemen.

Why didn't you let me tell

we're not surveyors?

That letter was written

by the man who original surveyt this ground.

I heard that... but we're not

- The Colonel received it two days ago.

- I heard that too but...

Are you beginning

to smell something, Mr. Paine?

Yes, Mr. Breen, and it don't smell like

a cabin full of burning surveyors either.

- Let's make a little call on Miss Ann Logan.

- Yes, Sir.

- It ought to be a big day.

- Sure, Sure.

I've got my mademoiselle

all picked out - that little Marie.

You packed, Annie? We'll have a day's start

while Hayden's busy at his french business.

Don't think we're shouldn't we see how it turns out?

- You know how it'll turn out.

- Come on, get going.

- Wait a minute, Beau.

We've stood it this long.

Blake Randolph paid off tonight.

There's a lot of money in that safe.

We can stand it another day.

Can't we?

- We can use that money, can't we?

- Yes.

$100,000, Beau.

London, Paris, New York, Mobile.

Just you and me, Beau.

All right, honey. You can have tomorrow

to get the money.

But tonight, let's concentrate on us.

Hold it, Beau.

John Breen!

Now, what about this business

with the French?

Don't do it, Beau.

She's making a fool out of us.

- Us?

- Sure. What do you think I'm doing here?

You don't believe him, do you, Beau?

Sit down, Annie. Leave him alone.

- What do you wanna know?

- Everything.

- What's the matter with the French?

- Don't tell him.

He won't shoot. Will you, John Breen?

Well, I don't know.

But now's a good time to find out.

The French are on the wrong land.

Hayden and his river men are

gonna moving in on tomorrow.

No more, Beau. Don't

tell him any more

Ann are you wasting my time

How that the frech get on the wrong land?

The stakes were moved.

Ann?

Ann?

Couple of you men, up here!

Hayden, Hayden!

I may need you.

Guess I'll have to leave you.

Willie!

Carter, Joe, couple of you men, come on!

Get Colonel Geraud

and bring him to De Marchand's.

The General is not at home, Sir.

Sorry to break in on you like this,

General, but you're in trouble.

- I am, huh?

- You French are on the wrong land.

Impossible, Mr. Breen.

The land has been staked out

by government surveyors.

Somebody moved the stakes on you.

Why didn't tell you this before?

I didn't hear about it myself

until a few minutes ago.

You gotta believe me, General.

You're in real trouble.

- Geraud? Colonel Geraud?

- Yes, sir?

Here, Mr. Breen claims

that we are on the wrong land.

- You mean all of us?

- Yes, sir.

The river men are moving in

on you in the morning.

- How do you know that, Mr. Breen?

- Beau Merritt told me.

Beau!

I'll handle this.

Evening, gentlemen.

- I'll take that, Mr. Breen.

- It's all right, General.

Haven't had time to reload it anyway.

Well, Mr. Hayden?

This man broke into my tavern

and shot a couple of my men. I want him.

Is that when he found out about tomorrow?

What's that?

Mr. Breen says we French

are on the wrong land.

- Where'd he get that idea?

- Mr. Merritt told him.

Do you say anything like that, Beau?

No. Breen is crazy. I caught him

in Ann's room and tried to get rid of him.

- Satisfied, General?

- Not quite.

I'd like to have your assurance

about the land.

- After all, Mr. Breen is a surveyor.

- Him a surveyor?

He's nothing but a rear rank private

trying to run a bluff.

Mr. Breen, are you a surveyor?

You satisfied now, General?

Well, Mr. Breen, are you a surveyor?

- No, sir, I'm not, but...

- That's enough!

Bring him along, Beau.

- The reason...

- Bring him along!

Colonel? Colonel Geraud?

Mr. Breen, I've tried to get you

to leave this country once.

Yeah, I remember. Same night

you sent Ann Logan to get me to stay.

Funny thing about that.

I didn't send her. Was her own idea.

- Turned out mighty good too.

- Yeah, it did.

You got Randolph's money.

Tomorrow you'll get the French land.

Beau told you all about it, didn't he?

Too bad you weren't five minutes later at

the General's. Might've convinced him.

Oh, don't worry about that.

I'll convince him for you tomorrow.

Good night, Mr. Breen.

- You mean I can go?

- Any time.

- What makes you think I will?

- Because that way you get a chance.

A small one, but a chance.

Well, never let it be

said I didn't take it.

Mind if I ride with you?

Not at all, not at all.

We're glad to have you with us.

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