Two Rode Together Page #3

for each captive I bring in.

If this is another joke,

I want to tell you...

...I regard it in extremely bad taste.

And you can consider that

my lowest offer.

- And you, sir, can go to the devil.

- All right.

Suit yourself.

Suit yourself, but just remember this:

Now, you can't send a troop

into Comanche territory...

...without breaking the peace treaty.

One false move, and you have

another Indian war on your hand.

- Wouldn't look good on your record.

- Never mind my record.

They'd bust you, major.

They'd bust you, and you know it.

In the meantime, you got congressmen

breathing down your neck...

...to do something about

those constituents there.

Now, what you need is a civilian to pull

the Army's chestnuts out of the fire...

...and you want me to work

for Army pay. Oh, no.

Those sodbusters out there

haven't $500 between them.

They've begged, borrowed, and

sold everything to get this far.

That's my problem,

that's not your problem. My problem.

Now, you just give me three hours

out there in that camp...

...and if there's any hard cash...

- He'll smell it out.

That's correct.

That's... I'll smell it out.

Now, are you gonna make

the decision for them, major...

...or are you gonna let them make up

their own minds like they should?

I don't know how the word got out

that I'd sent for you...

...but somehow it did.

And they've been

expecting a messiah...

...a Moses come to deliver

their children from bondage.

And I've got to send them you.

Get him out of here.

And leave the door open

to let in a little fresh air.

A pleasure to do business

with you, major.

Pleasure.

They burned up the whole place.

The boy, they kill.

We find him the next day.

But the little girl, she was just gone.

- How old was she?

- Freda?

Freda was 9 year old.

- That would make her 16 now.

- Yeah.

Yeah. The fourth of August, 16.

Go home, Mr. Knudsen.

Go home.

Give it up.

Go on back to Minnesota,

forget you ever had a daughter.

Forget? Forget l...?

The Comanche...

The Comanches mate

their women early.

If your daughter's still alive...

...she's probably got a couple

half-breed kids by now.

Oh, come on, McCabe,

that's a hell of a thing to say.

That don't makes no matter to me.

No, by golly.

She's still my little girl Freda.

I don't go back without her.

Please, mister, listen to me.

For seven years we wait...

...Mama and me. Wait for the Army.

The Army to beat them,

them dirty devils.

So we can come back

here again for Freda.

Seven long years we work and save.

I got $285, mister, for my Freda.

All right,

take the description, Mr. Wringle.

All right, Ole.

What colour was Freda's eyes?

Eyes was blue.

Colour of her hair?

Hair was yellow.

Yellow like corn silk.

Yellow like gold, it was.

Yeah, just like gold, $285 worth.

You don't need me for this.

Form your square!

Ready your partner!

Now corners off.

Of all the stupid...

Wait, you're breaking everything.

I give up! I give up!

Well, now, that's more like it,

Miss Marty.

Back home, I usually come a-calling

for my gal at the front door.

May I have the honour

of the first dance?

I'm claiming the first dance, Ortho.

Now, fair play, Greely.

I get to get the first dance,

Miss Marty.

You do?

Come on, honey,

I'll help you down.

Good evening, miss.

Well, boys, looks like

an early winter.

- You all right?

- Of course she's all right.

Just having us some fun is all.

You said, "Good evening,"

now you can say good night.

- Greely Clegg!

- Well, he knows the rules.

Ain't no soldiers allowed

in this camp after sundown.

- Sorry, but I'm afraid I'm here on duty.

- You ought to be ashamed.

After the lieutenant brought

Mr. McCabe here to help us.

We ain't asking for no help...

...McCabe's nor the Army's.

Just to be let do

the thing we come here to do.

But no. Mustn't rile the Comanches.

Sit tight, they say.

While you Yankee blue-bellies...

...go parading up and down

as big as you please...

...we're sitting here waiting

for you to find one man.

One man, mind you.

And he's supposed to do

what all us put together couldn't do.

Good evening, miss.

How much is he

paying you, Yankee...

...out of what he's claiming

to ransom our kinfolk?

There's only one way I'd like

to answer that question...

...but I'd have to be

out of uniform and off duty.

Right now, I'm neither.

By the way...

...if you'd like to repeat that question,

be at the post armoury at 4 tomorrow.

- I'll be there.

- And I'll be off duty.

Of all the contemptible,

mean-minded...

...ungrateful men I've ever met.

There you be, Greely.

You know, that fits you to a T.

Reckon now that means I get

the first dance, huh, Miss Marty?

Go wash your faces.

And your mouths too. Go on, scoot!

Now, Martha...

...stop torturing yourself.

Why don't you let me have that?

Let me give it away.

Or better yet, destroy it.

What did Mr. McCabe say?

Nothing much. Mostly, he listened.

I thought you'd be at the dance.

I'll tell you what.

You put on that pretty pink dress

of yours...

...and we'll go to the dance together.

It'd be good for you

to have some fun...

...mix more with the young people.

I'd rather not, Father.

Well, I think I'll turn in.

- Good night, dear.

- Good night, Father.

I won't have those people exploited...

...milked of every last dollar

to line McCabe's pockets.

He'll get chief scout's pay

and not one cent more.

- I thought you agreed to...

- I agreed to nothing.

The man's a scoundrel.

I'll use him and kick him out.

Mr. Gary, I'm placing you

on detached duty.

You'll take those settlers

as far as Oak Creek...

...the limit of our patrol area.

- Sergeant Posey will accompany you.

- Yes, sir.

Posey will remain with orders

to bring them back here...

...if you don't return in three days.

- Is that clear?

- Well, no. Not entirely.

Return from where?

I'm ordering you to volunteer

to go with McCabe...

...and meet with Quanah Parker.

Well, what about the treaty?

The department's orders?

They can scarcely apply

to a deserter out of uniform.

If you don't return, mister, that's

exactly what will show on your record.

If I don't return, it won't make much

difference what shows on my record.

When am I ordered to desert, sir?

I don't know

what you're talking about.

Get out of here.

Thank you, sir.

Good evening, Jim.

Where are you going?

To desert.

Hey, isn't that pretty heavy?

Better let me help you.

Oh, it's not too heavy.

Looks heavy enough from here.

There.

That's our wagon over there.

All right.

Oh, say...

...you picked a good spot too.

Out of the wind.

Far enough from the crick so you

won't get too many mosquitoes.

Near a dead tree

that'll keep you in firewood.

You're an old trail hand.

Well, maybe not too old.

Have you been in the Army

very long, sir?

The name's Jim. Jim Gary.

Yeah, about nine years.

What's the matter?

It was just nine years ago

that my brother was captured.

Oh, I was up north then.

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