Track of the Cat Page #4

No, he's probably waiting on that, too.

Frisky, ain't he?

Well, what do you say, Joe Sam?

You think it's the black panther?

Joe Sam!

What say?

That's better.

You speak quick when you're spoken to.

You think it's the black panther?

Snow come.

Much snow.

Just plain snow

is all he's got on his mind...

and here I was hoping it was the cat.

Don't you play the fool, Curtis.

If it starts to snow then you get

yourself home fast as you can.

You wouldn't want me to come home

without a present...

for Gwen 's wedding bed, would you?

I'm gonna shoot him right in the eye,

so as I won't spoil the pelt.

Now, what's on your mind, kid?

Tell him, Harold. Don't be afraid.

Tell him.

Ain't a thing on his mind.

The mare must've thrown him.

Must've spooked and threw him.

Come on.

He waited on that rock.

He jumped him from the rock.

Boo, Kentuck.

Easy, boy.

It's Art, boy.

Now hold, you hear?

The cat-stink's on him.

Is that it, boy?

Boo, Kentuck.

Boo, boy. Boo, now.

Boo, boy.

Boo, now.

Boo, boy.

Boo, boy.

Get on home, now! Get!

I'm gonna get him, Art.

I'm gonna get him.

It's Curt!

- It's not Arthur. It's Curt.

- Get back to the house.

It's Curt, Mother. It's Curt.

No, it's Arthur.

Mother, get back to the house.

Mother!

Where's Curt?

Why didn't Curt come?

Take his feet.

Put him in the north bedroom.

I gotta lay him out proper.

You better let me help, Ma.

No.

You go along.

And you better take the whiskey

out of the cupboard.

Your pa's drunk enough.

Gwen will fix you some supper, Dad.

No hurry. No hurry at all.

A very attractive,

young woman, Gwen.

You're a lucky boy

to get such a woman.

Harold!

His neck's broke.

There are claw marks on his shoulders.

Where's Curt? It's dark out there.

He should've come home with Arthur.

You'll have to hole up, too.

I'll get you in the morning.

Mother.

Come on out and get some supper.

It's so cold in here.

You better put on your shawl.

Fetch me my Bible.

He used to talk such foolishness.

I was always letting it go in one ear

and out the other...

like you got to do

with Curt's swearing...

knowing it don't mean a thing.

But Arthur did mean something,

didn't he?

It was mostly Curt and me.

Just the two of us against him.

The rest of you was always going

along, letting him fight your fights.

Him alone...

against us.

He was a strange son

for your pa and me to have.

Like the Lord put something in him...

that wasn't in either of us.

I been trying to pray.

But it don't come right.

How's Grace?

She just sits there.

She was so foolish fond of him.

Curt come home yet?

He wouldn't even try in this snow.

He probably holed up somewhere

till it's daylight.

He must've got a long way out...

a long way.

Hello.

Let me alone, please.

This morning,

I think I hate the Bridges.

Especially that old man over there.

The things he said to me.

What did he say?

What did he say?

He's worried about Curt, that's all.

It doesn't matter what he said.

Yes, it does! What did he say?

He thinks I'm to blame for Arthur

dying, for Curt not coming back.

He said

none of it would have happened...

if I hadn't made eyes at Curt.

Harold!

He's so drunk,

he doesn't know what he's saying.

You better go in to your mother.

Is the snow gonna stop?

It's let up some.

Is there enough boards for the coffin?

The lumber Curt got for the tack room.

There's the grave to dig yet.

Curt?

You young fool, chasing out

after panthers in a blizzard.

And was it black?

Would you like some breakfast,

Mr. Bridges?

Who is this woman?

What's she doing in my house?

It's Gwen, Dad.

- Gwen?

- Gwendolyn Williams.

I have no recollection of a Gwendolyn.

Her name strikes no chord.

Oh, yeah.

Lou Williams' daughter.

She's a charming girl.

I'm surprised at you, Curt,

letting a young whippersnapper like...

Where's Curt?

You know where he is.

Where's my bottle?

Thieving women.

The place is crawling with them.

Curt's out hunting. That's where he is.

He's a great shot.

I remember once,

when he was only a youngster...

thirteen, fourteen,

somewhere around there...

down on old Jay Haley's ranch

on the Carson River...

he won a turkey shoot!

You should have seen old Jay's face.

Always gets what he's after, that boy.

Never gives up till he's got it

right there in his hand.

That's a thing for you

to keep in mind, Miss Williams.

I beg your pardon, young woman.

I apologize.

Inexcusable, absolutely inexcusable.

It's all right, Mr. Bridges.

You hear that, Curt?

It's all right, she says.

You're a lucky boy, Curt.

You know,

I keep forgetting he's not here.

He's out hunting.

A panther killed Arthur.

Only I thought it was Curt.

Why did he take Curt's coat?

You keep things from me,

hold secrets in my own house. Why?

I know.

I saw him on the bed in there.

A black panther.

Dad, why don't you go to bed?

Yes, indeed.

And get some sleep.

Only first, a drop to keep me warm.

Please.

Next thing,

you'll want to carry me upstairs.

Poor, little fellows.

I wanted to go, and you stopped me...

all by yourself.

Nobody did it for you.

Why don't you do that in everything?

You'll kiss me if

I make the first move.

You'll be alone with me

if I lead you by the hand.

You keep standing back with me...

with your mother, and with Curt.

Arthur used to speak up for you,

but Arthur's dead now.

What do you want?

Isn't there anything

you want enough to ask for it?

Are you afraid to ask Curt

for what's rightfully yours?

There wouldn't be any ranch

if it wasn't for Curt.

Squatters would have

taken it away from us a long time ago...

but he drove them out.

It was all finished

by the time I grew up.

He did it all by himself.

It just doesn't seem fair for me

to get married and move in on him...

and demand my share.

He's got to offer it to me.

Gwen?

Gwen?

Joe Sam, take that end.

Joe Sam!

I seen you up there with her.

I couldn't help seeing her forcing

herself on you, right there in plain sight.

And your brother ain't in his grave yet.

Little mucker's brat!

And that ain't the least of what she is.

I never been one to mince words, but

I wouldn't dirty my mouth naming her.

You bring her into this house

knowing what she is.

I'd send her packing this minute...

- bag and baggage, only I won't...

- Take me home!

Harold!

You'll do no such thing.

You'll finish the coffin.

With Curt gone,

you'll dig the grave, too.

She can make the...

Never mind.

I'll go, and I won't need his help.

Mother, you're making

a filthy lie out of nothing.

What's she done, anyway?

You're always talking

as if you were God around here.

Don't blaspheme!

Me, blaspheme?

This house is rotten with

the gods you've made.

Yours and Curt's.

With pride and money and greed.

See here, Grace.

You can squint your eyes at me,

but you can't frighten me.

Think how happy Curt was

when he found Arthur out there.

He's been robbing him for years...

taking his share,

time after time with your blessing.

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