These Thousand Hills Page #6

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Mr. Lat. I wrote it.

- You?

- She ain't got nobody else but you to turn to, Mr. Lat.

She's gotJehu.

I'm out of her life now.

Mr.Jehu-

He's just trash.

He come here early this afternoon,

and he was feelin' ugly.

Him and Miss Callie was

in the parlor here, drinkin'.

She's been drinkin' bad, Miss Callie.

Won't stop for nobody.

I was outside on the back steps

just gettin' a little air...

when I heard Mr.Jehu cursin'...

so I run in,

and he's beatin' her.

She's up there with the door closed,

and she won't come down.

She ain't made a sound up there.

Ain't nothin' to blame anybody for.

Just maybe it would be better

if she left this town...

'cause it ain't brought her

nothin' but bad luck.

Callie?

Callie, I wanna talk to you.

You didn't have to come all the way

down here to get my vote.

Don't worry.

I'll vote for you come election day.

Happy said thatJehu hit you.

Sure he did.

Why not?

Callie, open the door.

He said they-

they hung Tom Ping.

- Did they?

- Yes.

- Were you there?

- Yes.

- And I said Jehu was a liar.

- Callie-

- He didn't like being called a liar.

- Callie, open the door!

Callie!

- Where you goin'?

- To find Jehu.

Don't. You don't owe me anything.

You paid off the loan.

Lat, what happens to me

doesn't matter.

AfterJehu,

it'll be some other man.

I'm not worth risking anything for.

Go home where you belong.

No, Callie. I-

I can't go home yet.

Evenin', Lat.

- Reckon we're gonna have some rain?

- Maybe.

They tell me up in Helena

they got the streets all paved.

- Is that right?

- That's what they say.

Got an opry house,

too, and gaslights.

Sure gonna be a different life

for you and the missus.

You'll be up there

with the high and the mighty.

I'll never forget the first time

you rode into Fort Brock.

You and that fella from Texas.

What was his name?

- Butler.

- Yeah, Butler. Yeah.

- And all you owned was a horse.

- That's right.

Well, a fella has to make up

his mind what he wants...

and just go right out

and get it.

That's all that counts-

gettin' there.

That's what folks in this town

admire you for, Lat.

You got there.

So I'm a success.

Is that it, George?

That's it.

People don't go around admirin' failures.

There's too many ofem.

And don't you worry none about my vote.

It's as good as cast

and in the ballot box.

Night, Lat.

Good night, George.

- Where you going?

- In there.

- I have something to settle with Jehu.

- Don't be a fool.

Joyce is at my place with the boy.

Come home with me.

That woman isn't worth

whatever you're thinking of doing.

- Isn't she?

- No woman of her kind is.

It's hopeless to think

you can do anything for her.

You'll only be ruining

your own life.

If she's in trouble,

give her some money.

Money?

- That fixes everything, doesn't it?

- You're a man with a future...

but if you go in there,

your political chances are finished.

All you'll accomplish

is your own destruction.

Maybe.

For the last time, Lat,

come home with me.

No.

Howdy, Senator.

Just lookin' for a sucker.

Take a hand?

- What's the game?

- Stud.

Deal me in.

Pour the senator a drink, Swede.

Not out of that bottle.

Something wrong

with my whiskey, Senator?

I don't drink out of the same bottle

with a man who beats up women.

- King high.

- Open for a five.

I'll call.

Senator?

I'm in.

Is that your own money, Senator...

or a tramp's dowry?

- Deal me out.

- Me too.

Swede, pour the senator a drink...

out of that bottle.

Come on! Hit him!

Stop it! Stop this!

Stop it! Oh!

No! Oh, stop! Whoo!

Oh, Lord!

Get him good!

Come on!

I'm trying to understand.

I guess I need educating,

like your cows.

Only with me,

it might take a little longer.

I told Link Gorham

I'm gonna testify at Callie's trial.

- It's not gonna be pleasant.

- Will it help her?

Link thinks it will.

- Will it be the truth?

- Yes.

Then you testify.

You're cold.

Come in the house.

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