The Great Man's Lady Page #3

like a buffalo.

Well, not exactly.

You're crying.

Here.

May I keep it?

Yes.

To take with me?

Something of you.

Oh, Ethan.

Take me with you, too.

Storm a-coming.

For the good Lord

strikes asunder what man

would join, yea verily.

I can't find

the place.

Just read the high spots.

Rain's almost here.

Maybe I can do it

without the book!

Do you take this woman

to be your

lawful wedded wife?

I do.

And do you...

...take this man to be

your lawful wedded husband

till death doth you part?

I do.

Then let no one put asunder

whom God hath joined.

I pronounce you man and wife.

Plain one's two bits,

pretty one, a dollar.

Of course, the only difference

is the flowers and things.

I'll take

the plain one,

please.

Flowers fade, anyway.

Yes, flowers fade.

Name?

Ethan Hoyt.

All right. Let's go.

Come on.

We've got to

find shelter.

Forgot to

kiss the bride.

"Forever," the man said.

That's right, forever.

This looks like a good place

to camp for the night.

But, Ethan, it's only

three more miles.

Look, Hannah.

There's something

I've got to tell you.

Won't it wait?

Well, I mean,

you take the morning.

Things look brighter.

What do you mean?

Hoyt City.

Oh, don't worry about that.

The way I feel right now

Hoyt City will look

like Philadelphia almost.

That's what I mean.

You mean, it won't.

Well, not exactly...

Well, I don't expect it to.

But just imagine.

A real bed to sleep in.

People, lights,

hot water

and clean clothes.

I know, Hannah,

but...

A home on the hill

overlooking the city.

A public square

filled with fountains

and trees.

What kind of trees, Ethan?

Well...

Oh, don't tell me.

I like surprises.

That's fine.

Hoyt City.

Oh, I can't wait.

Come on, Ethan.

Well, here we are.

Everything

has to start

somewhere.

I'm sorry, Hannah.

I wanted to tell you.

I know how it

must have sounded,

like I'm just

a plain liar.

A great city

can grow here.

You really think so?

We'll build it, Ethan,

you and I.

You bet we will.

People will help us.

That's how I meant it,

what it can really be like.

A city glittering in the sun

with towers

like silver and gold.

And people, Ethan.

Thousands of people

building something

all new and shiny.

Just like you said.

It wasn't

all talk either.

Look.

That's where

we're going to live.

There's a start.

Hoyt City is nothing

but a jumping-off point

for the gold fields.

But if the railroad

came here...

My dear Mr. Hoyt,

railroads cost money.

Can you raise any?

No.

So, you see...

Yeah, but I'll get

the money somewhere.

I'm afraid

that's not enough.

Then what do you want?

Hoyt City.

A fair share of it.

Say three-quarters

of the land.

But you can't.

It's mine.

Sit down, Mr. Hoyt.

You're in no position

to argue.

Now play fair with us.

Take my advice.

Three-quarters

or nothing.

No, I can't.

Why not?

Indians?

My wife.

Rabbits again

for dinner.

Look here, Hoyt.

You'll make money

on this deal.

My wife won't

listen to it.

Well, what's that

got to do with business?

She owns half.

Then get her

to see it our way.

It's to

her own advantage.

Now listen, Hoyt.

I happen to know her father.

Fine man.

Fine Philadelphia home.

What's she becoming

out here?

A crack shot,

among other things.

She deserves better.

Give her back

what she had.

A real home, clothes,

social position

like my wife and daughter.

Get her to

sign over the land.

You don't want her to

turn into one of these

prairie women, do you, Hoyt?

Hannah, this is

Mr. Frisbee.

Howdy.

Got to clean these

here rabbits, Ethan.

Uh, Mr. Frisbee

wants you to sign this

little paper, dear.

Uh, let the

rabbits wait, dear.

This is important.

Nothing ain't important

as vittles, Ethan.

You see?

Please, dear.

Stop this foolishness.

It's just a matter

of signature.

It's a land transfer,

Hannah.

You mean

you want me to

sign it, Ethan?

Yes.

But I forgot

how to write.

Well, here.

Just make your mark

on the paper there.

Oh.

There you are.

Hannah.

Well, I must say.

Scat!

Go on. Get out.

Get out and stay out,

you miserable, little, sneaky,

little, stuffy, little...

You rabbit!

Now he'll never

come back.

You mean

you really wanted me

to sign it, Ethan?

It's not a matter

of what we want.

It's a matter of fact.

Hoyt City's a failure.

I don't believe it.

Don't believe what?

That you can

change like this.

Give up so easily.

But it's not me, it's...

Look.

Oh, I don't mind.

I want to fill it

with diamonds and gold.

Ethan.

Yes?

I had a dream.

So did I.

No, I mean

a dream about gold.

Oh, maybe it sounds silly,

but I really did.

A misty sort of dream

about a mountain of gold.

A black mountain

with a sunny peak,

like a beckoning finger

in the sky.

But I thought

you said...

I've changed my mind.

You mean we'll go?

Tomorrow.

Hannah.

But, Ethan.

Yes?

We'll come back.

With our pockets bulging.

Gold flowers for your hair.

No, I mean to Hoyt City.

To finish what we've begun.

You bet we will.

We'll come back and lick

Dawson and Frisbee and the

whole Western Railroad crowd.

I'm off.

Where?

Down to see the boys.

Get things organized.

What's up?

We're off.

Where for?

California.

How much gold

you need, Ethan?

Fifty, maybe

a hundred thousand.

Dawson and the railroad gang

got millions.

Then make it a million.

Million-dollar Hoyt.

A mountain of gold, boys.

Well, it takes money

to get there.

How much you got?

$100.

Right over here, friends.

Try your luck

with Steely Edwards.

Turn your dollar

into 100.

Turn your 100

into 1,000.

How much did

you say you had?

Got $100.

Here's your chance.

I got to get home, boys.

Get things organized.

We could use that $1,000

he's talking about.

Turn your 1,000

into a million.

You can't lose

without trying.

It's all in the cards

three-card monte,

gentlemen.

I want your money.

The game's crooked,

the cards are fixed.

You can't win.

But who's got the money?

I take no bets from widows,

paupers, orphans or cripples.

Now, who's got the money

to bet on the ace?

The winning card,

the ace of hearts.

Watch closely,

the hand is quicker

than the eye.

And you're beaten

before you start.

Come, come, gentlemen.

Who's got the money?

I got $100.

Eye on the ace, friend.

Watch closely.

Here it is.

Now here. Here.

And now where?

I told you,

you can't win, friend.

Try it again.

For what stakes?

My horse.

Eye on the ace,

friend. Watch it closely.

Here it is.

Now, here, here.

Now where?

Two horses.

Two cows.

Six pigs.

Chickens.

Hannah Hoyt.

I wasn't counting

on you, madam.

But I assure you after

I get the animals bedded

down for the night...

I didn't come here

to talk nonsense.

You better be careful.

That thing might go off.

It might.

You're a very

frightening young lady.

I want everything back.

But a very lovely one.

You heard what I said.

Naturally.

But that's contrary

to the sport.

Sport? You call it sport

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