Western Union Page #3

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Too bad.

Herb was a real nice fellow.

-He isn't dead yet.

-No, but I got a week's wages'...

...says he will be before morning.

-I'll take that bet.

Right.

-Pat, did they get all the cattle?

-That's what they say, Sir.

I can't figure this out.

This is Pawnee country...

and Pawnees don't go after cattle

when there's plenty of buffalo.

-Well, do you think it was rustlers?

-Don't know. I'll go have a look.

-How many men do you want?

-None.

You don't expect to bring back

the cattle alone, do you?

I don't expect to get

an Indian war started either.

First thing we gotta find out is what

sort of game we're sitting in on.

All right.

-Double the guard tonight, Pat.

-Yes, Sir.

Come on, Homer.

I want you to call Fort Kearney.

Shaw!

Wait a minute.

-You going after them?

-Yes.

If you don't mind,

I'd like to go with you.

Sorry, but this is one job we don't

trust to a tenderfoot...

no matter how good he is.

How is he, Doc?

Better luck next time, Doc.

Reach and turn around slow.

Vance!

Jack.

-Howdy.

-Hello, Vance.

Howdy.

We knew you'd come back

sooner or later.

Well, we kind of missed you since

that little affair at North Platte.

-Where you been? Missouri?

-No, Omaha.

-Omaha? Wasn't that a little risky?

-Not very much.

My face isn't

as well known as yours.

What're you doing out here?

Working for Western Union.

I came to get

those cattle you rustled.

What do you mean, "rustled"?

We're soldiers now,

fighting for the Confederacy.

Them clothes you got on

don't look like no uniforms, to me.

Course not. We're guerillas under

orders from General Moseby.

Did he order you to dress up

like Indians and steal cattle?

As far as you're concerned, yes.

These here are my raiders,

just like Moseby's got.

I do whatever I think'll help

the cause along.

You might help the cause by going

down south and joining the army.

You talk like you forgot where you

was born.

You come from Missouri,

same as me.

Are you going against

your own people?

When they turn against

their own country...

...they ain't my people any more.

-Well, they're mine...

and they don't want

this Yankee wire strung.

And as long as I'm alive,

it ain't gonna to be.

You wouldn't be making

a little money out of your fighting...

...would you?

-Why, sure, there's money in it.

We sort of combine business

with pleasure, so to speak.

I want those cattle, Jack.

You know what you're going to have

to do to get them, don't you?

-You win, for now.

-Wait a minute.

How do I know you won't tell

Creighton about us?

You don't.

-Supposing I don't let you go?

-Why don't you stop me?

Go ahead.

Adis, Jack.

What do you think he'll do?

What can he do

the way things are?

-Mr. Creighton

-Yes?

Those heathen savages

sure cleaned us out.

What am I gonna tell the men

when they start yelling for dinner?

Herman, tell them we'll get some

more beef just as soon as possible.

That's a mighty indefinite answer

to give to a hungry man.

They'll have to tighten up

their belts for a day or two.

Did you ever try telling that

to a fellow...

after he'd sat down to the table

and tied his napkin around his neck?

I did. Just once.

-Unsaddle and feed him, Joe.

-Want him rubbed down?

I'm gonna do that myself.

-Did you find any traces of them?

-They're up the river twenty miles.

-Indians?

-Yes.

-We'll get some men together and...

-I wouldn't.

They're a bunch of Dakotas

a couple of hundred in the party.

I talked to them.

Don't they know they're inviting

trouble by stealing our cattle?

They know there's no cavalry

around here.

I tried to reason with them,

but they wouldn't listen.

My advice is to charge the beef off

to Indian good-will and let it go.

As I was boss of the herd, I reckon

it's my fault they were stolen.

The best thing I can do is quit

and clear out.

That's nonsense, Shaw.

You can't be held responsible

for something like this.

Besides, I need you.

You're the boss.

-Sue!

-Hello, Ed.

-Hello, Mr. Shaw.

-Howdy, Miss Creighton.

-Hello.

-Hello.

What in heaven's name

are you doing out here?

Why, I'm the new operator

you sent for.

Are you responsible for this?

Well, I telegraphed Omaha...

but I didn't know

who they were going to send.

I'll bet you didn't.

Seems very much as if

nobody wanted me.

Driver, when does

that eastbound stage pass here?

ln an hour or two.

You're going right back to Omaha,

young lady...

and you're going to stay there

until I really send for you.

I can't help it if you send me back...

but it was worth the trip

just to see you.

Now, now. None of that.

I'd like to show you

our thriving metropolis.

You really need a guide

to get about, you know.

Very nice of you, Blake, but I want

you to go ahead with the wagons.

-But...

-Shaw, you'll be responsible...

for Miss Creighton

while she's here.

and seeing that she gets safely

on the eastbound stage.

It'll be a pleasure, Sir.

Well, I must be off, it seems.

-Goodbye, Miss Creighton.

-Goodbye, Mr. Blake.

-I'm sorry you couldn't stay.

-So am l...

but then that's

the telegraph business for you.

Sue.

-Is he responsible for this?

-No, not altogether.

I just wanted to see you.

Honest I did.

We're going to be in Salt Lake

before you know it.

-Oh, I hope so.

-I've got to go now.

The men are waiting

at the head of the line.

So soon?

I've a thousand things to ask you.

And I've got

a thousand things to do.

-Goodbye, dear.

-Goodbye, Edward.

Remember, the next time

I pay you a visit...

that I'm your only sister

and that I love you.

Yes.

I think he's a great man.

The whole family's sort of great.

It's coming.

What is it?

It's message from my brother

at the end of the line.

He says "Haven't you gone yet?"

-What did you say?

-"No."

Thank you.

It's beautiful.

My brother says it looks like me,

but, of course, he's prejudiced.

No, ma'am, not this time.

This way.

Sort of quiet

with Western Union gone.

It'll be fifty years before Sinking

Wells has so much excitement again.

Like me, after the stage leaves.

I hope I haven't said anything

I hadn't ought to.

You haven't.

I know I haven't a chance against

somebody like Blake, but...

Hadn't you better let me

decide that?

I should've met you

a couple of years ago.

Why?

Since then

I've made some mistakes.

Mistakes can be corrected.

Not always.

Does this here stage connect with

the railroad that goes to St. Joe?

-She sure do, Partner.

-Mister, you got a passenger.

How's about you and me taking a

little walk to work up an appetite?

But I don't feel like walking

and I don't feel like eating.

Just the same,

that's what you're gonna do.

I may not be seeing you again.

Don't say that.

We'll meet in Salt Lake.

Maybe.

Anyhow, I'll be thinking of you.

This might help you.

Goodbye.

Goodbye, Sue.

Get up.

Shaw!

Looks like we got company.

Mount your horse

and warn the others.

Hurry! Jimmy! Eddie!

We're moving back

to the main camp! Indians!

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