The Ride Back Page #3

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when I get back.

Man, a bed's sure going

to feel good tonight.

What are you going to do?

I need sleep. I need it bad.

I know I won't get any...

but I don't want to worry about

you, so I'm gonna tie you up.

Come on, not tonight.

I don't trust you.

Here, put this through your feet.

I could save the law a bother by

throwing you to the Indians right

or killing you myself, but you're

going to stand trial.

If I have to drag you back at the

end of a rope...

you're gonna stand trial.

All right, lead him out.

Come on.

What's the matter?

- There's one over there, by the

woodshed. Where?

He ducked behind it now.

We're going to help you out.

Look, kid.

We're not going to hurt you.

We're your friends.

You know, for a minute, I...

Me, too.

Twins, I guess.

They ain't here now.

They've gone.

What's your name?

- What's your name, kid?

- Don't be scared of him.

What's your name?

I'm your friend.

Do you know my name?

My name's Roberto.

That means "Bob."

Come on.

Cat got your tongue or something?

Come on.

Can't you talk?

I don't know...

- You suppose she saw what

happened? - Probably.

It's a bad thing for a kid to see.

I wish she'd talk or

cry or something.

What'll we do? Three of us can't

get out of here on the horse.

- You can't leave her here!

- I know that!

Come on, have a biscuit.

Is that nag of yours any good?

He came back, didn't he?

If we hitched him to

the buckboard...

you put her in the back, and you

drove, do you think he'd pull it?

What have we got to lose

except my horse?

Come on.

All right, get some

things for her.

Here, this is for you.

Come on. You put it on.

I'll get you something to eat.

Come on!

Come on, baby. Here.

You're going to need this.

Gets cold at night.

Hey, look.

Come on.

- Hurry it up, Kallen.

- Coming.

All right, kid, you stay down.

We can't go on like this.

We'll have to drop this wagon.

I don't get it.

Why didn't they follow us when

we first left the cabin?

Why should they?

How far can we get, like this?

We're out in the open anyway. At

least we can see them coming.

I'm not worried.

You shoot real good.

I want to make some cover

before night.

Come on, let me have it.

- I gotta feed the kid.

- Feed her.

Look, kid.

Will you eat something?

Come on. You haven't eaten

for two days.

It'll make you grow big.

Come on. Get it inside her.

She ain't no hog! You don't

feed a kid like a hog!

All right, feed her then.

Kid, please eat something.

Come on, come on.

Eat this! I don't want it wasted!

Now eat it.

You have a nice way with kids.

I'm taking my problems

out on her, I guess.

Come on, now.

Will you do it for me?

It tastes real good.

Come on. That's it.

Come on, eat it.

That's a girl!

Come on. I'll let you

ride my horse.

That's it.

Tastes good?

All right.

Now, you lead him.

Go on.

Come on.

Standing still really stalled

that leg up.

Come on, boy.

How much longer you want to go?

About an hour on, there's

better country.

He's limping pretty bad.

That leg don't look good.

It's really festered.

Loan me your knife.

Got to drain it.

Easy, fella.

Easy, bo y.

There.

That'll be better now.

Kid, you gotta give him a rest.

Come on.

It'll be cold tonight. I wish

we had a fire.

Not with those Indians out there.

She has to live.

Somebody will take her in when we

get back to Scottsville.

How far, after tonight?

Like we've been going,

tomorrow night.

With the kid and all,

I almost forgot.

Things haven't changed. You've

still got a trial coming.

For what? A murder I didn't do?

How come you run?

I'm a stranger.

- They got me already hung.

- You'll get a fair trial.

I wish I could believe that.

- Things might be different.

- How?

I'd...

stop all this drifting around.

Go back to Cerralvo.

It's a nice place.

Marry Elena.

Make the priest happy.

You're going to get a fair trial.

I promise you that.

We've been traveling together

four days...

I don't even know your first name.

Chris.

Chris?

Yeah.

Go on, get over by the kid.

Here, use the key. Unlock them.

I'm gonna shackle you to the tree.

Get over here.

- You don't have to do that, man.

- I'm sorry. Come on.

I know how it's been

with you and me...

but what would you have done?

Probably the same thing. Now get

your arms around it.

Don't you believe in nothing?

Nobody?

No.

What's eating you?

Why're you taking me back?

For the $20, $30 they pay you?

I'll tell you why I'm taking you

back. I'm doing it for myself.

That's why.

It's not the law, it's you?

That's right.

It's me.

I'm gonna tell you something.

I've seen an awful lot of you

in the last few days.

I'd just as soon change shoes

with you right now.

That's right.

You want to know why? 'Cause you've

got a girl that loves you.

You've got friends who would've

killed me for you.

See that kid. She hates me!

And you...

I told you before I got a wife who

couldn't have any more kids...

who didn't want me to

come down here?

She hates me, too.

I've never been a success at

anything I've tried to do.

I've been a failure. And that's

all. A plain old failure.

But I'm not going to be, this time.

I'm going to make this one. I'm

going to do this right.

That's the reason you're going

back to stand trial.

Because of me. You understand?

Because of me.

You're better off dead.

Kid.

Kid, wake up.

Kid. Look at me.

You know that man?

He's a bad man.

He wants to hurt me.

You wouldn't want that, would you?

Now look.

Easy.

Easy, now.

Easy, kid.

Don't wake him up. That's it.

That's it. Slow.

Bring it back to me.

Drop the gun.

Don't listen to him, kid.

Bring it to me.

Hear what I'm telling you.

Drop it.

Bring it back.

Drop the gun.

If you don't want the kid hurt,

you tell her...

to drop the gun, and I mean it.

Drop it, kid!

You're a big man, hitting a kid.

Yeah?

Kid, come back.

What's wrong with you,

running away?

You should get your

bottom smacked!

Don't you know you might have

been caught by the Indians?

I didn't mean to slap you,

back there. I'm sorry.

Will you forgive me, please?

Please?

All right, come on. I'll take you

back to your friend.

We'll make a fine target

if they're up there.

Why don't we go around?

I want to make Scottsville

by nightfall.

We can, by cutting through here.

Come on. Get off that horse.

Give me your hand.

- You hit?

- Yeah.

Get behind that rock!

They're on this wall.

You hit bad, Hamish?

Give me your gun.

We ain't got a chance

if you don't.

Here.

You stay with him.

Go on.

Kid, come back!

They won't bother us anymore.

I got my hat back.

Give me the gun.

You give me the gun, because

we're going to go on.

You give me the gun.

You give me the gun.

Let me look at that.

Easy, man.

I got to tell you the truth.

That don't look good.

If anything happens to you,

I'm through.

I ain't got a chance in Scottsville

without you.

I'm going back to Cerralvo.

Give me the key.

Last night, you said you've never

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