" A little late, Dutchy." " Ain't it so?" "Sener." "Buddy." "Mornin'." " Wow." "Looks great." " Hi, Mr. Roedel." "Giver of all spiritual grace... the author of everlasting life, send thy blessings... upon these, thy servants - this man and this woman whom we bless in thy name - that as Isaac and Rebekah lived faithfully together... so these persons may surely perform and keep... the vow and covenant between them made." "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here " "What's tickling' you?" "Do you smell somethin' funny?" "Fool." "It's the cologne my ma slapped on me this mornin'." "...signifying unto us the mystical union " "What brings you so late to Sister's funer " " I mean wedding." " My pa had me workin'." " Huh." " Son." "Let him speak now or else forever hold his peace." "Do you believe all those men are necessary, Horton?" "We can take no further chances, Asa." "You and I both know it'll soon be war between us and the Yankee aggressors." "With that black republican Abe Lincoln in the White House..." "Missouri's no longer safe from the depredations... of Jennison and his Kansas Jayhawkers." "They've yet to strike this deep into Missouri, Horton." "Lawrence, Kansas, and its abolitionists are a long way from here." "There are Union men even here amongst us, Asa." "Schmitz and his Germans form a militia at Independence... and his Lawrence cohorts have eyes and ears amongst us." "Even here." "If you refer to us Bowdens, Lee, you are sorely mistaken." "We may be Union men, yes." "But we are Southerners too." "Now, you know very well we'll have no hand in jayhawking... or abolitionist provocations." " I did not imply it, sir." " I believe, sir, you did." "Now, gentlemen, my home is no place, and this is no time for political quarrels." "We are all old friends here." "Asa Chiles, you have spoken truly." "My apologies, Horton." "Well said, sir." "Horton." " Bye." " Take care now." "I've been thinking, Jack Bull." "A wedding is a peculiar thing." " It's no more peculiar, Jake, than slavery." " That's certain." "That's why I've often wondered for what cause those Northerners... are so anxious to change our Southern institutions." " Hmm." " From both North and South... men are every day enslaved at the altar, regardless of their state or color." "Well, there's a type of subjugation." "We shall avoid it, Jake." "Happily my poverty ensures my freedom from such a fate." "Oh, no." "Not if my mother can help it." "I heard her singin' your praises earlier to the sister of the groom." " Good day, Mrs. Chiles." "Sir." " Father." "Please give our regards to your father, Jake." "You know he's always invited." "He's more comfortable workin'." "You must at the least bring Mr. Roedel some of the cake." "I will, ma'am." "Thank you." "Guten Abend." " Guten Abend, Herr Meyer." " Guten Abend, Ja." " Guten Abend." " Guten Abend." "Father, Mrs. Chiles sends her regards." "A piece of the cake." "You are to see tomorrow Mrs. Kreuzer." "The war - it is sure to come now, with the secession." "Mrs. Kreuzer's husband will take you in Saint Louis." "Pa, I told you." "I'm not gonna huddle with all the other Lincoln-lovin' Germans in Saint Louis." "It is safer." "For us, this is no war." "Pa, you may have borne me in Germany, but I was raised here." " These are my people." "And if it gets hot " " Your people?" "No, Jacob, this they are not." "You will always be a Deutschman, a German to them... no matter with who you are friends." "Promise me you'll go to Mrs. Kreuzer." "All right, come on!" "Get 'em all out!" "Where is he?" "Where is he?" "I got him!" "I got him!" "Oh, no!" " Where's your boy, Asa?" " My son's gone." "Where's your boy?" " Jake." " Jack Bull." "He told me to run, Jake." "He told me." "Did you see who they are?" "Jayhawkers, Jake." "Lawrence men." "Father!" "Come on!" "Don't you die here too." " Find the boy." " Let's go look in the mill." "You men find the boy!" "Asa!" "Oh, my God!" "Ted?" "Riders." "Gentlemen." "Captain Henderson, Company D." "You boys have rid a bit far from home." "Hell, spent two nights tracking' this bushwhacking bastard... and his Confederate friends through the Sni-A-Bar." "What are you boys doin' this far into Missouri?" "Just rooting' out rebels and conscriptin' chickens." "Been through all Cass and Lafayette Counties." "Killed our share." "Not much action in Lafayette." "We got four Sunday last." "Stretched their necks." "They're still hanging." "Hey, George." "Fetch that busthead out there." " So you men were in on Lafayette?" " Yes, sir." "But we're tiring' of chasing' these rebs into the bush." "Can't trust none of these locals." "They're all hiding' 'em." "I wish we had a real army to fight." "Not these sneakin' bastards." "Battles and armies - it's all back East." "Down here in Missouri, you just have the people to fight ya." "Ted." "Ted!" "So you were in on Lafayette, huh?" "Bushwhackers!" "Doin' business with the Yankee invaders, huh?" "No." "They forced me." "He's dead." "You killed him." "Shoot me too, please." "We don't hurt women, ma'am." "We took her man." "We should leave her the store." "Come on, Jake." "It's gettin' hot in here." "Enough of this, boys." "Let's load up!" "Black John." "George Clyde." "Yep." "Well met, my man." "Well met." "Hey, boy." "Watch that man." "He's a cheat." "Jack Bull." "You boys will love riding with George Clyde." "Makes Yankee killing' as entertaining a pastime as greasing' ganders." " Who's guns are those?" " Even Holt over there." "You'll get used to him." "That's Holt." "That's George Clyde's pet nigger." "Don't call him that in front of George though." "George don't like that." " He carries those?" " Yep." "He's a damn fine scout." "George tosses him a gun a good Yankee kill or two." "You know, him and Clyde growed up together." "When Jim Lane's boys come for Clyde, Holt there sent three of them to heaven." "So he rides with us now." "'Cause them Yankees want to kill him real bad." "Yeah." "Well, a nigger with guns is still a nervous thing to me." "We're lookin' for the Dorr's place, ma'am." "It's just up the road." "Who are you?" "Why, we are Southern men, and hungry." "You don't look like Southern men." "How do I know?" "Woman, my name is Crawford." "One of the Six Point Creek Crawfords." "Do you know me?" "I knew the father." "Well, come on." "Eat as what we have." "Ma'am." " You alone here?" " Yes." "Well, no." "My man's at Arkansas with Shelby." "My son's in the barn." "Is he grown?" "He was." "Gave up a leg at Wilson's Creek." "I keep him hid away." "Union Jayhawkers would kill him." "He should ride with us." "Oh, no." "He won't fight." "He's done with that." "Hello inside." "Show yourself, Clark." "We're friends." "Bushwhackers." "I could have killed you both." "But it ain't even loaded." "Not no need of that." "We're friends." "Oh, you suppose so, do you?" "I don't." "You were at Wilson's Creek." "Who with?" "Why, with General Price." "The fat glory-hound rebel himself." "Didn't see that one comin', huh?" "Oh, I saw it comin'." "I saw it rollin' past the little piles of meat and bone which I once called my friends." "I watched it roll right up to me." "If you saw it comin', couldn't you have dodged it?" "Well, nature bore me smart." "That changes things." "I wanted my foot broke so's I could head home." " Damn little cannonball was rollin' slower than a fevered rabbit." "You are a fool." "Cannonball will rip your leg " "Well, General Price is a good man." "Why don't you have us fetch you something to eat." "I have a mother for that." "I don't eat anyway." "Tryin' something different." "You'll be killed anyways." "Jayhawkers or militias - someone or the other - stop here and kill you." "Oh, they already been here." "Burned the barn." "I wouldn't even move to put it out." "Ma done it." "Likely you boys will kill me now." "I don't much care." "You wanna die?" "Perhaps you choose to die now." "I have some experience in the killing line, Clark." "I could do you a fair job of it this minute." "No." "No, Ma has her heart set on me livin'." "You sure of that?" "I'm here now loaded." "I don't believe so." "Your mother's a fine enough woman." "You could help her out some, don't you think?" "Get yourself a stick to lean on, walk around a bit." "That could be next." "That could be the very next thing." "You're an interestin' foreigner, Jake." "Why is that?" "I hear your pa's a Dutchman." "But you're loyal to here, not the North." "It's uncommon." "Nah, Jake may have been born a Dutchman... but my ma and pa practically raised him." "He's as Southern as they come." "Where's the other one, you devil?" "Speak up now, and maybe you'll live." "I'm alone." "That's my daddy's horse." "He was shot off it three days back." "He's lyin'." "Let's parole him to Jesus, and right now." "Jake, get in here!" "I'm gettin' the horses!" " Damn!" "They took my pinky!" " You boys, cover outside!" "Holt!" "Damn!" "Go on over there!" "Go over there!" "Holt!" " Ah!" " Turner, cover the women!" "Please, ma'am." "Ma'am, get over there!" " Ow!" "Damn!" " Don't fret about that now!" "Cease fire!" " Cease fire!" " Hold your fire, boys!" "I said, cease fire, goddamn it!" "Control your fire!" "Do you kill women?" "There's women in here!" "You know we don't kill women!" "Send 'em out now, and they'll be safe passaged!" "Please, ma'am, you and your daughter got to go." " Come on." "Come on." " We are goin', son." "You best believe it." "There ain't no way we're not goin'." " You'll have to come out!" " Fire!" "Ray!" " You gotta trust me." " We can't hold 'em from here!" "Get back, Lewis!" "We'll kill them yet!" "We'll just have to take our chances running!" "They'll riddle us down!" "There ain't so much as a stump out there for cover!" " Whoo!" " Come on, men!" "Let's go to it!" "Let's go." "Holt." "Go!" "Go!" "Go, Ray!" " Come on!" " Let's go!" "Come on!" "I'll get Ray!" "Come on!" "Hold your fire!" "Hold your fire!" "Split up, boys!" "Head for the woods!" "Split up!" "We'll meet at the place!" " Where's my brother?" " Don't know." " Did you see my brother?" " Black John." "With him alive." "With Black John?" "Alive?" "Whoo!" "That was sure enough hot!" "They left us hurtin', that's certain." "This way, boys." "Come on." "Turner." " Jake." " Well, Jack Bull." " Taylor." "You're alive." " Jake Roedel." "Well, Alf Bowden." "You sure are in a fix." "Seems so." "Surely does seem so." " Do you know this man?" " Certainly." "His daddy's place is just downriver from the Chiles'." "Hemp growers." " Jack Bull." " Alf Bowden." " News of home?" " No, no, no." "It all just goes on." "Some may have died, not most." "What of my mother?" "Well, now - Well, she is watched." "All the secesh are watched." "And my father?" "He comes and goes." "He's a Union man." "He ain't bothered by no one." "You must know that." "You must know the whole town talks about you boys out here black-flaggin' it." "Some friendliness may be lost for your kin." "You been fed?" "Not so as you'd notice." "I'll look into it." "Roedel." "Now, take this down." "Itis forthe Lexington Union News." "So do it fine, the way you do." "Gladly." ""Dear Citizens:" ""Mistakes are most common these days and deadly for it." ""The Federals are to hang William Lloyd and James Curtain..." ""two fine sons of Missouri." "'But by a provident cut of the cards..." ""four Federals have been dealt to me." ""And it is their hope that Lloyd and Curtain are not hanged... 'as they would provide the sequel to these murders." ""However, if our boys are released..." ""I will, as a gentlemen..." ""release these unfortunates." ""The choice is yours, citizens, so make it wisely." ""Signed, John Ambrose and George Clyde..." "Command of First Irregulars. "" "That's good." "Put a note on it that says..." ""Where you think we ain't, we are." "Remember it. "" "Who will deliver it?" "There are Federals all over Lexington." "We could slip a man in there." "We done it before." "Oh, I reckon a citizen could be pressed into service, if one could be found." "That might be a job, for citizens are cautious hereabouts." "You got some better idea, Dutchy?" "Maybe you should volunteer yourself." "Well, there is a way we could prove more things than one." "If we send a prisoner, it would prove we have prisoners." "And also he can attest to our intentions." "It seems to me he could get more quickly into town as well." "And time is short." "Lloyd and Curtain will be hanged right quick, I would think." "It is a good idea." "There are some fine touches to it." "You know, you should speak up more, Roedel." "You're not near so dumb as you let on." "Now go put one of them Federals on a horse with that letter." "Convince them to see this deal through, Alf." "We're only askin' to be treated like the soldiers that we are." "We shall do the same for your companions here." "Do your best." "What are you lookin' at?" "What is it, Jake?" "I hear you ruminating' louder than a cow chewing' in my ear... and it's keepin' me from my sleep." "Do you think Alf Bowden's made it back to Lexington as yet?" "There was a minute there when I saw him riding' off " "I thought maybe you and me could join him." "That we could all ride home together." "Just ride back home." "What have you left at home you're so anxious to ride back to?" "Nothin'." "Just a passel of memories." "Mostly memories of you and me." "Of your father, old Asa Chiles." "We'll stick together, Jack Bull." "We'll get all of it back." "Then you're a black magician who can raise the dead, are ya?" "No." "My father's under the dirt to stay." "Like that's gone to stay too." "My finger?" "Well, so it is." "And it makes me notable by the loss." "You sound pleased, as if that finger had been pestering' you for rings." "No." "It was a fine finger, and I'd rather have it still." "But it was took from me, and it's been et by chickens for sure." "And I say, what is the good side to this amputation?" " And there is one." " Name it, Jake." "Well, you say one day some Federals... catch up to me and kill me in a thicket." "Well, they would riddle me and hang me... and no Southern man would find me for weeks or months." "And when they did, I'd be bad meat, pretty well rotted to a glob." "You're scientifically accurate, I'm afraid." " I've seen it." " I'd be a mysterious gob of rot." "People would say, "who was that?"" "And surely someone would look up and say..." ""Why, it's nubbin-fingered Jake Roedel. "" "And then you could go and tell my father I was clearly murdered... and he wouldn't be tortured by uncertain wonders." "And that's the good of it?" "Yes, sir, that's the good." "Go to sleep, Jake Roedel." "Get over there!" "They hanged and quartered Lloyd and Curtain last night." "Seems those bushwhackers are not real soldiers." "Had it with you, boy!" "Not fit for trading anyhow." "Hey, Jake, what are you knowing?" "I feel I'm knowin' too much." "Ah." "Well, forget it." "Throw it down." " We could've merely shot them." " Well, that was not the plan, Jake." "Might be no rhyme to it, but that was just plain old not the plan." "Jake." "Black John says you're lettered." "It's Union mail." "Wants you to look it over, tell him if there's anything to learn." "All right." "Well, it's just stuff from up north." "There's no military intelligence in here." "Yeah." "Well, maybe you could read it to us just the same." "Read us this letter, Dutchy." "That's someone else's letter." "Was." "I wanna hear you read it." "I don't think I care to." "Oh, is that so?" "Well, I think that if you think a little bit more, Dutchy... you'll think you do wanna read it me." "Right now too." "How do we know there might be secrets in it?" "Read it at us." "Yeah, come on, Dutchy." "All right." "This here is from Mrs. Mary Williams of Bear Lake, Wisconsin." ""Dear Sons, No word of you in so long..." ""right past first frost of the year last." ""Your father is better, but his feet are still bloating'." "He won't walk right on them. "" "That's thicked-up blood does that." "Thicked-up blood bloats the feet." "'Fire hit the old church." "Burned down." ""The new one was just ready, so no great trouble was had of it." ""Margaret is married since the frost of this year last." ""You wouldn't know it, for how could you?" "Her husband is Walter Maddox." "'He is out of the war, with one arm busted at New Madrid." ""But it works fine enough." ""The dirt was turned over, and the smell and deepness gave me heart." "It is just black rich." "You boys know how that is. "" "My daddy was up there." "He was up there way before they hung him." "He said the dirt was so rich you could've ate it like porridge." "They have very good dirt up there." "Short grow season." "Yeah, sounds like real good dirt to me." ""That girl Dave got sweet for is in town and still single and about." ""She asks of you, but I have no news since first frost of the year last." ""Without news, I cannot answer her." "You are both missed here." "Your mother. "" "Sounds like my mother - that old woman does." "One mother's very much like another." "Remember one thing." "Her boys will kill you if they can." "It is time for our winter hibernation." "I have gathered the names of loyal Southerners who shall provide for us." "We'll group in fours." "I'll send word the beginnin' of spring for where to rendezvous." "We shall to the Evans farm, boys." "Their place is about half a mile from the Willards'... where there resides a certain Miss Juanita... to whom, if I do not flatter myself... my attentions are not unfavorably regarded." "You mean to say we're to spend the winter in Lafayette... solely on account that you're sweet on Juanita Willard?" "Ach, it's as good a reason as any, Dutchy." "Nolan's brought some news from home." "Hank Pattison is murdered." "Our old neighbor Jantzen got him with his gang of militia." "That is sad." "He was a good Southern man." "What of Thomas?" "Oh, he is murdered too." "And Sally Burgess married a Federal from Michigan." "Her whole family hides their faces." "And " "Well, Dutchy... that Federal Alf Bowden " "he rode straight from here and killed your father." "He shot him in the neck down by the river... then booted him along Main Street till he died." "I spared Alf Bowden." "You all know it." "You taught him mercy, but he forgot the lesson." "My father " "My father was a Unionist like all the Germans." "An unconditional Unionist." "Well, yeah." "But he was mainly known as your father, Dutchy." "You got a reputation now." "Hello there, boys." "Good day, sir." " Gabel Evans." " George Clyde." "Sorry we can't all be of proper hospitality, but with the Federal patrols " "We're much obliged." "May I ask after Mrs. Evans?" "My wife." "Well, she's as well as can be expected." "Our other Mrs. Evans - that's Sue Lee " "Well, she was a Mrs. Evans for but three weeks... until my son joined our Confederate forces." "He was killed in the fightin' at Independence." "We're sorry to hear of it." "Yes." "Well, you boys lay low." "We'll come by from time to time with provisions... such as there are." "We're much obliged." "It's been a while since we done work." "Somethin' soothing' to it." "Yeah, well, work has never been my main ambition." "Ah, we've done much work." "I think I've spied an easier way to riches." "Spell out this miracle." "You just ride on up and take it." "Ah, good old rule." "A simple plan." "It's a workable method." "That is proven." "Now, George... you got mud in your eye." " Rider comin'." " Oh, let's go see our visitor." "Just me!" "Don't shoot or some dumb thing like that." " Whoa." " Well, how do?" " You must be Mrs. Evans." " I brung you some supper." " I'm, uh, pleased to meet you, Mr. " " Chiles." "Mr. Jack Bull Chiles." "This is Jake Roedel." " And " " George Clyde, Mrs. Evans." "Mr. Evans wishes me to apologize for not havin' sent you food sooner." "The Federals have been on the move." "And don't you call me Mrs. Evans." "My name is Sue Lee Shelley." "It's a good one, and I am a widow now." "Reckon I'll go back to it and use it." "Please pardon me." "Won't you come in?" "It's not much to gaze upon... but I reckon we could assay some hospitality." " George." " After me, ma'am." " Right this way, ma'am." " Excuse me." "Thank you." "Damn." "What are you smilin' at?" "I'll see to that mule." "Wait a second." "What did you say?" "I say I'll look to him." "You better go on in there." "Let that woman see your face." "Damnation, Holt." "I think I know best how to handle my personal affairs." "Now, you see that lady's mule while I check on what she brung to eat." " Excuse the mud." "We'll just " " There you go, ma'am." "My!" "Well, aren't you bushwhackers the gentlemen." "We try to make the effort when possible, ma'am." "Do you think manners should be dropped in times like these?" "No." "But I don't think horse sense oughta be dropped either." "It's cold." "You're so kind to think of us, ma'am." "You men think of us more." "You do the good work." "I know it's dirty and it's dangerous." "Those are good words to hear, ma'am." "It's" " It's not always we hear them." "Well, I really should be goin'." "Mrs. Evans will worry if I don't." "Uh, ma'am?" "We're awful sorry about Evans Jr." "Gettin' killed." "Well, we all suffer." "But he suffers no more." "He was a good husband to me." "For three weeks he was a good husband, but he didn't last." "What's he doin' here, inside?" "Oh, ma'am, this - this nigger's with me." "His name is Holt." "Well, wouldn't he be more useful off in a field plowing'?" "Oh, no, I reckon not." "No, ma'am." "That's, uh, one nigger I wouldn't try to hitch behind a plow." "No, I wouldn't try that." "Well, now." "Oh, I almost forgot." "Mr. Evans asked that you come to the house tomorrow evening' after dark." "He's up on the latest Federal movements, and he could post you on 'em." "Why, we'd be honored." "Um, I'm not sure about him." "Mr. Evans " "You ain't got nothin' to worry about on that score." "You needn't worry about Holt." "I'll be takin' Holt with me to the Willards' tomorrow." "We won't be comin' to your dinner." "Mr. Clyde, honestly..." "I didn't mean to speak ill of your nigger." "He's not my nigger." "He's just a nigger who I trust with my life every day and night, that's all." " That's very high praise." " Yes, ma'am, it is." "I see." "Well, gentlemen, I really must take my leave." " I hope the food'll please you." " It looks wonderful." "Why, thank you." "Now good night, all." " Good night." " Good night, ma'am." "Holt, the lady said good night to all." "Now touch your hat and say good night." " Chiles, you don't tell him nothin'." " He's bein' rude." " Gentlemen, please." " He don't need no tellin', Chiles!" "It's all right, George." "Good night, missy." "Good night, Holt." "I'll see the lady to her mule." " Holt." " It weren't no hardship, George." "Well, let's eat." "This smells good." " Be careful." " Good evening." "Holt, you want my bacon?" "I could eat more." "Go on then." "Appreciate it." "Roedel... you want my bacon?" "Yes, I could eat it." "Well, I'll shit it out by the oak tree in the mornin'." "You can just go and help yourself." "And why, if you do not mind my asking'... did you not join the regular army?" "Army?" "Well, we thought of it." "I suppose we decided this fight's got to be made in our own country... not where some general tells us it should happen." "It soon will be everywhere." "My family and I, we will be quittin' this house in the spring." "As soon as the roads are clear, we're gonna be tryin' for Texas." "About half of Missouri has went to Texas." "Well, the whole state's thick with invaders." "We cannot drive them away." "We have different thoughts." "I still wanna fight." "Reckon I'll always want to fight them." "Always." "Have you ever been to Lawrence, Kansas, young man?" "No, I reckon not, Mr. Evans." "I don't believe I'd be too welcome in Lawrence." "I didn't think so." "Before this war began, my business took me there often." "As I saw those Northerners build that town..." "I witnessed the seeds of our destruction being sown." "The founding' of that town was truly the beginnin' of the Yankee invasion." "I'm not speakin' of numbers... nor even abolitionist trouble-makin'." "It was the schoolhouse." "Before they built their church even, they built that schoolhouse." "And they lettered every tailor's son and every farmer's daughter in that country." "Oh, spelling' won't help you hold a plow any firmer." "Or a gun either." "No, it won't, Mr. Chiles." "But my point is merely that they rounded every pup up into that schoolhouse... because they fancied that everyone should think... and talk the same free-thinkin' way they do... with no regard to station, custom... propriety." "And that is why they will win." "Because they believe everyone should live and think just like them." "And we shall lose because we don't care one way or another how they live." "We just worry about ourselves." "Are you sayin', sir, that we fight for nothin'?" "Far from it, Mr. Chiles." "You fight for everything that we ever had." "As did my son." "It's just that we don't have it anymore." "Mr. Evans, when you get back from Texas... it'll all be here waitin' for you." "Jack Bull and me, we'll see to it." "Well, yes." "Thank you, son." "Well, enough of this war talk." "Let's have the ladies join us and think nobler thoughts." " Lydia!" " Fine idea." "Some company would be splendid." "Jack Bull, we should be thinkin' about gettin' back." "Federals could pass by anytime." " Sue Lee!" " Oh, put a gown on, Jake." "It's too cold." "They'll all be in front of the fire examining' their plunder, huh?" "I, um, have it in me to sing." "Shall we have a sing-along?" "Oh, yes." "I like those the best." "My voice is not what it should be these days... but it was once rumored that I could carry a tune." "And you, Mr. Roedel?" "I believe I won't sing." "Young ears are present." "Well, I bet you sing lovely." " You would lose that bet." " He really does sing very poorly." "But he imitates the turkey first-rate." "I'd best do my gobbling' out of doors." "You folks go ahead and sing along." "I'll keep my eye on the road." " Do you really think that " " Good man, Jake." "I'll relieve you soon." "Clyde back?" "I believe he's, uh, fixing' to pass a few more hours with Miss Juanita." " Jack Bull?" " In the company of Mrs. Sue Lee Evans." "You mean Sue Lee Shelley?" " Roedel." " Yeah, Holt." "What's that?" "I've been keeping 'em." "Nobody ever learned me letters." "When you were readin' the mails out loud... it was somethin' the likes of which I'd never heard." "Got me thinkin' you might sometime try it again." "So you packed those and kept 'em all this time?" "Well, it might not be too amusing'." "It might just be a bunch of boring' thoughts from one stranger to another." "That one you read from the mother was fine." "You recall it?" "Yeah." "Mmm." "She say things I enjoy to hear." "All right." "Here it goes." ""Dear Brother, I must write this right quick..." ""'cause I say good-bye to Massachusetts and our home in one hour." ""Yes, Danny, I've joined the fight..." ""and a difficulter decision never before was made..." ""as I've been just about the only eligible bachelor to dance with..." ""at Parlan's this past year." ""Without my favorite brother, it is not the same..." ""although the beer has been free..." ""as I've been drinkin' it with one of the Parlans' daughters." ""Which one, I will not tell." "Here's to you, Danny, and keep your head low out there." "Bill. "" "It could come to where you could maybe like that man." "Yeah." "In other times he would not be so bad." "I think though I like the one from the mama best." "Holt... where is your mother?" "Uh, Kansas or Kingdom." "I don't know." "I know she was sold into Texas." "I reckon she in Texas." "How was that?" "Was that George that sold her?" "No, sir." "George and me, we growed up neighbors." "It was George what bought me out when Master Henry passed, but... he didn't have no means for my mama or my sister." " So Clyde owns you?" " No, sir." "Not in greenbacks and coppers nohow." "No, he don't own me that way." "Nope." "He made of that a gift." "It's me." "Hey, Jake." "Your aim is wild." "You splattered poor Holt." " Well, it surely is." " Oh, no." " Whoa, mule!" "Settle down there!" " Mule? "Whoa, mule"?" "Just calm down." "Well, do I look muley to you?" "Why, no." "Well, does that look like a mule to you?" "Does that look like the rear end of an animal that hee-haws in the night?" " Looks like it might could be." " Jack Bull Chiles!" "Just 'cause I'm a widow don't mean that you can get that familiar with me." "Pardon me, ma'am, but I believe it was you that shoved your rump into my face." "That was only just to make a point." "You made it." "I'll always know your rump from a mule's now." "Several differences." "Don't know how I missed 'em before." "Well, don't be mean." "I can't tolerate meanness." " Is that too mean?" " No." "It's really not too mean at all." "Oh, for cryin' out loud!" "We're sittin' right here." "Show us some mercy." "He really is quite right." "Mmm, I better get back to the house." "Cover your tracks in the snow too." "You'll be leadin' curious Federals right onto us." "Don't be rude." "You have no reason to be rude." "There happens to be a war goin' on... everywhere but between your two ears, you dumb ox." "Dumb ox, am I?" "Sorry, Jake." "My leg just did that on its own." "No thought behind it." "I hear you." "I hear you." "But Holt and me ain't dyin' just so you could be kissed." "Leave Holt out of this." "Holt ain't even here." "Holt ain't nowhere near here." "I don't think anybody's about to die from my kiss." "In fact, she seems to be doin' tolerably well." "Well enough to get goin' too." "Good day." "You reckon George Clyde'll ever join up with us again?" "Or do you think Juanita Willard will be his only cause and comfort from here on?" "Ah, George is efficient when it comes to comfort." "This thing with Sue Lee and you - Will it go on?" "I would reckon." "Well, that's good for you." "Yep." "I believe I'll marry her." "I believe you should." "Sue Lee'll be by this evening." "Oh, good." "It's been near a week since I've seen her." "Yeah, all this warmth has the Federals out for jaunts." "It's kept her home." "It won't be long before we join them out there." "No, it won't." "That's why I want to ask somethin' of you and Holt." "Name it." "Well, there, future best man, I'd like to ask you for some privacy." "Oh, you would, would you?" "It's not much to ask." "And what are Holt and me to do?" "Anything you'd like." "Throw walnuts at squirrels." "Play mumblety-peg." "I reckon we could come up with a better use of our time than that, eh, Holt?" "It's possible." "Howdy." "I, um, brung you two something'." "Try this bread, boys." "Why, thank you." "Did you make it?" "No." "Mrs. Evans's sister lives in town." "She's a Federal, but a sister still." "She gave us two loaves." "Well, that's kind of her." "You thank her for us, won't you?" "I don't suppose I'll tell her where it went." "That might not do." "Well, this good weather has me and Holt... wanting' to fling walnuts at mumblety-peg players... or something along those lines." "All right." "Now have fun." "Jake." "One hour, please." "'Dearest Ruth Ann..." ""I trust this letter will reach you before winter." "'Here it is always a sort of winter, as folks are so cold now." "'Rebels are out of the city as far as armies go... 'but there are copperheads around performing misdeeds." ""So much cruelty goes on." ""Gratiot Prison is full of rebels, and they are left to waste away so pitifully." ""They are traitors, but also human." ""If you looked in on them, you would not believe that they were..." ""for they so resemble scarecrows now." ""Father believes the war will go on and on..." ""but is ever more committed to the... struggle." ""He manages to send ever greater numbers of slaves up north..." ""to freedom and away from the grasping hands of their masters..." ""who even in the midst of all attempt to lay claim to them." ""The Confederates claim that we strike at their liberty and rights..." ""but what kind of liberty is it that takes away the liberty of others?" "The war will end. "" "Has it been an hour yet?" "No." "Ain't no hour passed yet." "Roedel... you know my name?" "It's Holt." "No, my whole name." "My whole name is Daniel Holt." "Daniel." "Like that lion's den man." "You know his story?" "Of course I do." "They throwed Daniel to the lions... but he won't never ate." "Daniel." "That's what my mama named me." " Is it an hour now?" " Nigh on to " "That's the Evans' place." "Got to be." "Jake." "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" "Gunshots at the Evans'." "I heard 'em." "Holt!" " Jake." " Sue Lee, you stay put." "There's gonna be a fight." "Holt!" "Does Clyde have his guns?" " What do you need?" " Bring her in!" "Bring her in!" "Jack Bull, let's go!" " Boys, they killed him!" " How many were there?" "They killed him!" "He's dead!" "He's dead!" "What will I do?" "Heard the fracas all the way from the Willards'." " Thought you boys might be in a spot." " How many?" "I don't know!" "A dozen or less." "Well, shit, then let's get 'em!" "Come on!" " Hyah!" " Roedel!" "Run, you bastards!" "Ow!" "Damn!" " Jake!" " Jack Bull, hit 'em!" "Get them, Holt!" "Jake!" "Oh, shit." "He'll be all right." "He'll be okay." "Come on." " That fire's got to go out." " We're heating' water!" "Heat it quick." "They'll come back with more men if they got 'em." "We can't have 'em smelling' that fire." "That arm's gonna have to come off." "He's gonna need it." "We can heal it." "Dutchy, we got no medicines or doctor sense amongst the whole group of us." "And I can't go shanghai a sawbones neither." "Federals will likely be on us by sunup." "I'll mend him." "I can" " I can nurse him with Jake." "As you say." "But you watch out green rot don't get started on him." "'Cause once it does, it's over." "That look none too good, Roedel." "Goddamn it!" "Don't nobody say that again!" "We're gonna burn the wound closed." " No!" " No." " Holt." " No." "There's men on the road." " How many?" " More than a few." "But they ain't comin' into the woods." "Keep the watch." "I want to fight away from here if we got to fight." "What came of Mrs. Evans and Mary?" "The Willards took them up." "They all headed out of here." " Willards too?" " Said they was goin' south, clear roads or no." "Maybe I should try to find us a doctor tonight." "Where from?" "There's one in Kingsville." "You can't make it there and back in one night." "I know that, Dutchy." "I can lay up near there and try and drag one back the next night." "If I can't find a doc..." "I'll head on to Captain Perdee's." "Holt'll look after you and the widow." "I wish you luck." " That arm done for." " Oh, I know it." " I hoped it wouldn't be." " It's done for." "Well, maybe George will bring the doctor." "He may see something we don't." "You know good as I, George Clyde done rode straight to Captain Perdee's." "It's just us now, Roedel." "And it's time." "The longer you wait, the harder it gets on the man." "Oh, hellfire!" "Will you shut up on that, Holt?" "Please, just give me peace for a while." "Jake." "Jack Bull." "You look sad." "We're taking care of you." "You'll be mended." "We're fixin' it." "I always knew we'd be killed." "One or both of us." "You recall the pies on Mother's sill?" "Of course I do." "Those were good eatin' times." "That they were." "I always thought it'd be you, Jake." "I'm dyin'." "I was certain I'd have to bury you." "I wish you were." "Me too." "Sue Lee." "I'm right here." "Good." "That's good." "Them veins is blackening' all the way up to his armpit." "We've got to do it now." "Can you do it?" "If he screams too loud, we may all die." "Put that stick in his mouth." "Don't let him scream too loud." "Keep his jaw clamped down on that stick." "Holt, you hold him down whenever he starts to flop." "No!" "We should be gettin' to Captain Perdee's." "We gotta head south first." "Sue Lee, you'll need a place." "We'll go to the Browns' farm." "Those are Cave Wyatt's people." "They're far away from all this." "You're not to worry, young man." "She'll be just fine." "Just give us time." "Jake." "The war hasn't come down here yet." "I'm" " I'm sorry." "I'm sorry too." "Holt and me " "Well, George Clyde should be missin' us." "You don't have to go back, Jake." "Mr. Brown says you boys are more than welcome to stay here and work the farm." "He could use you." "You'll do all right here." "Holt and me will come by again just as soon as we can and see to it." "Who goes there?" "Who the hell do you think we are?" "You smell like a couple of piles of fine Southern shit." "Welcome back to hell, boys." "While you boys were sunning' yourselves down at the border... things have turned rather interesting here." "Federals everywhere." "Welch and his boys got caught down in Pattonsburg." "Heads... cut off." "Some of us still ride - Anderson, Pitt, Todd." "Scalpin' every nigger they can find." "Except, of course, our own." "But there's still riches to be had, right, boys?" "That the man we were supposed to kill?" "Somebody must have got him recent." "I'll look up here." "Holt, we ever been in this house before?" "We've been everywhere before." "Mmm." "I smell bacon." "You know, we were here with Jack Bull." "Man danced a jig right there." "You writing' a letter?" "Who I got to write to?" "What about that Sue Lee gal?" "Write to her." "Let her know what we've been doin'." "It ain't worth writing' about, is it?" "# That ol' king crow #" "# He was a blackened thief, I know #" "# And he never says nothin' but #" " # Jenny, fetch your hoecake # - # Boy, don't bother me #" " # Jenny, fetch your hoecake # - # Said it ain't done #" " # Jenny, fetch your hoecake # - # Boy, don't bother me #" "# Fetch another hoecake when we're done ##" "Best to stay clear of Black John right now." "You know, when that women's jail collapsed in Kansas City... his womenfolk were in it." "Three of 'em done in by the Federals." "He's been acting kind of itchy, if you know what I mean." "Word is Black John called for Quantrill and his boys to come join us." "Quantrill?" "There's some crazy talk in the air." "Quantrill's planning' to ride into Kansas, is what I hear." "Maybe that." "A raid into Kansas?" "We might get over there, sure, but gettin' back would be suicide... once the Kansas Fifth gets on our tail." "You got that, Roedel." "But why not?" "It's suicide sitting' in these woods waitin' for them Federals to pick us off anyhow." "I am short on cash." "Will these do?" "That's two nigger scalps?" "I'll see you with one Dutch scalp." "I'm out on this one." "I just got money." "Don't worry, Turner." "We'll take your money." " Get him, Jim." " Good job, buddy." " Come on!" " Get out of my way!" "Get out of my way!" "Come on!" "Get him!" "Holt." "Come on over and share some whiskey." "I" " I got work back here to finish." "Well, when you're finished up then." "Well, lookee here." "You two sure got to be pals, now, didn't you?" "I mean, ever since you boys come back, you been clapping' your gums together... regular as crones." "George." "My boys, today I am a sad man." "I am sad because I mourn... for our sisters and mothers... who slept in that Kansas City jail." "Who slept until the walls fell down around them and they died." "I am sad, boys." "And I am tired." "The best of us are dead." "And now we're just dogs chased into the woods." "I am sad, boys... but I am vengeful." "And I shall not sleep " "I shall not sleep again until I stand upon Mount Oread... and I look down upon the abolitionists of Lawrence." " Yeah, kill those thieving Jayhawkers!" " Kill them Red Legs!" "I shall ride through Kansas to get there, boys... and meet any Yankee army put in my way... because I will fight them myself if I have to." "But I shall reach Lawrence." "That's right." "I will fight them all myself." "Unless there be any men among you..." "who would ride with me." "I'll ride with you." "So I'm asking - are there any men here who would ride with me?" "Then, hell, boys!" "Ride with me to Lawrence!" "To Lawrence!" "Let's ride to Lawrence!" " Down to Lawrence!" " All right!" "Yeah!" "To Lawrence!" " The battle's at least two miles ahead, sir." " Well done, Colonel." "All clear!" "Mount up!" " Come on, boys!" " Get on your horses, men." "Let's move." "All right, boys." "Join up and get back in this column." "You men, fall in line." "Fools." "Those farmers and puffs wouldn't be able to fight a herd of cattle... let alone the Kansas Fifth." "No more fools than you and me, Roedel." "Come on, men." "I wanna see you awake!" "Wake up!" "We'll make it before sunup if we ride now hard!" " Move it!" " Come on!" "Pick it up now!" "Sweet dreams, Dutchy?" "Go back to sleep." "You just may wake up in Lawrence tomorrow." "Let's ride, men." "Come on now." "You and the boys take the river north and east." "Mackeson, I want you scoutin' up toward the west." "Make God's work of it, boys." "We'll wait for first fire." "Head out." "I want your boys to be settin' up a post on Mount Oread." "Watch the road from Fort Leavenworth." "Any dirt kicks up..." "I want word sent down straightaway." "Here's the death list." "We shall cross off every name." "Jackets off, boys." "Let 'em see who we are." "What's all that noise?" "It's a little early for that." "Sorry?" "It's a little early for that, huh?" "Let's move." "A little early for maneuvers, huh, Sarge?" "Kill!" "Kill, boys!" "Make no mistakes!" "The Bushwackers are comin'!" "Get inside!" "Get inside!" "No!" "No!" "No!" "No!" "Let him go!" "Let him go!" "Let him go!" "Red Legs, we got us a jayhawker!" "From the top!" "Find George Carpenter." "Bring him back here." "No!" "Was I right?" "Who was I not to know... this town is full to brim of Northern abolitionaries?" "I am sickened, yes, but - But now real Southern men is coming... and I say "Hooray," as I am Southern man at heart." "Perhaps you-you join for whiskey." "I have here in office." "Whiskey?" "Yes." "Come on!" "Come on!" "Come on, peckerwood!" "I'll give you something to write about." " Goddamn lying' bastard." " Stay there, boy." "Put this in your newspaper." "Old man!" "Old man!" "Where's your army?" "Who are we to fight?" "Who are we to fight?" " You are cowards, all!" " Send him to hell!" "Tear it down!" "I'll blow your head off right here!" "Oh!" "You killed him!" "Oh, let me keep his picture!" "No!" "Sure, that Jim Lane - he steal the slaves." "But he just sell them again another day." "Me, yes, I always do what I can for the cause." "It's just me and Granny Esther." "All right, Rocky." "Young reports Lane " "We had thought this would be a real fight." "It's just bad-luck citizens finding out just how bad luck can be." "They ought not to murder the young ones." "Pups make hounds." "If it was your pup, you'd feel different, son." "Holt?" "Let's get us some eggs." "Yeah, Roedel." "Let's get us all the eggs they got." "And some ham." "Hey, boy " "Hey!" "Hey!" "This man's with us, you fool!" " Huh?" " That's George Clyde's nigger, you fool!" "See that pipe there on the end?" "And some tobacco." "And this one." " You were makin' breakfast there?" " Yes." " What were you makin'?" " Potatoes." " And coffee?" " Yes." "Let's have us some breakfast then." " Mister " " Shut up." " Thank you, ma'am." " More coffee, if you please, ma'am." "Jake Roedel." "Pitt." "Bring those two outside." "I wanna show 'em somethin'." "We'll see to them once we've had our vittles." "Why, you little Dutch son of a bitch, you do what I tell you, or I'll kill you." "And when you figure to do this mean thing to me, Mackeson?" "Is this very moment convenient for you?" "It is for me." "Let's just take him out." "Nope." "That won't work." "The hell with it." "There's plenty more of them Jayhawkers to kill anyhow." "I'll see you back in Missouri, you tiny sack of shit." "You know where to find me." "That's Pitt Mackeson, ain't it?" "I hear he'd soon as kill a man as mash a tick." "My, what a scary fella he is." "I like you, son... but that bastard will have your scalp if you ain't careful." "Thank you, mister." "Thank you." "There ain't enough thanks in the world " "Oh, you go to hell!" "Now, now, boys!" "Federals comin'!" "Eight miles out." "Let's go!" "Mount up!" "Let's go!" " Come on!" "Get on your horses!" " Thank you, ma'am." "Have a good day." "Get those horses and mount up!" "We got a Federal army approaching!" "So long, little man." "You are a Southern hero." "I will always, uh, remember our Southern friends, eh?" "Good friends, huh?" "Yes." "Thank you." "Good morning." "What?" "We're too slow, men!" "Drop that damn piano!" "Let's go!" "Jake Roedel." "I heard disappointing words on you, Roedel." " Is that so?" " Are you a traitor, Roedel?" "You know I'm not." "Well, you spared, boy." "I told you not to spare." "Don't think you are a good man." "That thought will spoil you." "Federal troops, sir." "Closing from behind." "This is it, boys!" "This is our last stand!" "I'll do what I can for you." "Remember your families!" "We shall avenge their deaths!" "They're right behind!" "Goddamn it!" "Mount up!" " Battalion, halt!" " Halt!" "Run into line!" "Fall back!" "Fall back now!" " Let's go!" " Fall back!" "Regroup!" "Stand firm, boys!" "They'll be coming!" " Ride on through!" "Ride on through!" " Pass 'em through, boys!" "Fall in and form a line." "Give the signal to the right flank!" " Secure your horses and form a line!" " Let's cover the left." "Secure your horses and form a second line!" "Form a line!" "Stand strong, men!" "Hold your fire till we feel their hooves!" "Hold your fire!" "Stay with me, boys!" " Come on now!" " Take aim!" "By company!" "Fire!" "Dismount!" "All soldiers to the rear!" "All soldiers to the rear!" "Form a line!" "Form a line!" "All soldiers to the rear!" "Reload your weapons!" "Fall back!" "Fall into the circle!" "Come on!" "Come on!" "Aim for their belt buckles!" "Holt!" "Wait!" "Wait!" "Fire!" "Holt!" "Holt!" "Come on, I got you!" "George." "George." "Oh" " Oh, George." "Hold on now, George!" "Hold on!" " Come on, George!" "Come on, George!" " Holt!" " George!" " Jake!" " Hold on!" " Holt, we gotta go." "Come on, Holt." "Holt, come on!" "Holt!" "Come on!" "He's dead!" "Pull back!" "Pull back!" "George!" "Goin' back with Anderson to the front line!" "George!" "Pull back!" "Let's go, Holt!" "I'm gonna kill you!" "We'll make for the Brown farm." "Are you gonna make it?" "Yeah, you're gonna make it." "I'll set you boys up in the parlor here." "Much obliged, Ort." "Ort, who is that?" " Well, take a look." " I'll just be stayin' the night." "Is that my little Cave?" "Aunt Wilma." "Aunt Wilma." "Oh, it's good to see you, Cave." "You look just like your father." "Are you hurt again?" "Well, yeah." "But I didn't do it to myself, you know." "Holt and me, we been shot." "Well, you should have expected it." "I hear you sayin' it." "Whose is that?" "Well, it seems " "Well " "What do you think of her?" "Ort, you'd best explain it to Cave here." "Come on." "Come on, Cave." "Let's go out back." "Her name's Grace." "Grace Shelley Chiles, as far as I'm concerned." "Okay." "Looks all right to me." "Here, I'll change her." "Oh, Grace." "There you go, sweetie." "Come on now." "Let me take a look at your bad spot, Jake." " I wanna make sure it's clean." " Oh, yeah." "It's clean enough." "No, Jake." "Clean enough ain't good enough." "You should know that." "And you too, Holt." "Let me take a look." "Remember, when you're fixed up, you can come down, join the Regulars with me." "Maybe that." "Uh, Ort tells me when you brung that girl here... she was already pregnant." "You better marry her, boy." "It ain't right not to." "Me?" "Yeah." "No, no." "Not me." "I don't gotta marry nobody." "Is that right?" "You're that kind of man, Dutchy?" "Well, I will take care of her, Cave." "It'll be took care of somehow when it can be." "That's all I ask. 'Cause everybody likes her real good, you know." "Ort and Wilma there - they already think of her as somethin' of a daughter." "Well, that's good to hear." "How's your rib?" "None too good." "How's your leg?" "Same." "I have a thing or two to say to you, Jake." "Well, speak up." "I think I'll take a walk." "What's this trash I hear about you bein' my fiancé?" "Well, so you've heard that." "Well, that was sprung on me by Cave." "You see, they all seem to think you was carrying my kid, 'cause, uh " "Well, after Jack Bull, I brought you here." "So, do you figure I ought to be married?" "Yeah, if you want to keep fingers from wagging' in your face." "That doesn't bother me." "Well, it's also another thing, Sue Lee." "See, they got a name for kids without daddies." "You know, it ain't a good one." "I know that." "So, do you want to marry me?" "No, not too bad." "Good." "That's good news... 'cause I wouldn't marry you for a wagon load full of gold." "I bet you wouldn't." "I wouldn't marry you even if you weren't some runty little Dutchman... with nubbin for a finger." "Fine." "That's damn fine." "I wouldn't want a wife that didn't know how to keep her place." "Anyhow, it's a proven thing that being your man is just plain bad luck... and I don't need to marry any of that." "Well, it's true." "Guess it's true." "You're not bad luck." "You just had bad luck, is all." "I need convincing' you mean that." "I need convincing' that you were right." " Thank you, ma'am." " You're welcome." "I believe I'll catch some air." "Well, breathe some for me." "Perhaps you boys can watch after this little one while I'm at my chores." "Yeah, maybe it's best you talk to him about that particular line of work." " Who, me?" " That's right." "About time we have some help around here." "Be back around noontime." "Sue Lee, wait a second." "Oh." "Come on." "Oh, come on." "Ooh!" "Hee!" "Hi!" "Ooh!" "I knew that nubbin would be good for somethin'." "Where you been?" "She's been screamin' for hours." "Sweet thing wants some sup, but Mama's been busy." " Here." "I'll feed her." " No, you won't." "I just got this thing taken care of." "She needs to be suckled, Jake." "Well, hell." "It's okay." "It's okay." "Yes" "They're all busted up." " Quantrill?" " Headed to Kentucky." " Anderson?" " Dead, I've heard tell." "Thrailkill, Clement - most of 'em dead." "Pitt Mackeson." "He's got himself something of a gang." "But these days, they spend most of their time robbing' for plunder." "And they don't care whether they take it from Southern folks or Federals." "Anyone gets in their way, off comes their scalp." "Anyhow, they don't ride much in Jackson or Cass Counties anymore." "Word has it they're headin' south." "Probably make you a visit." "Word is, they're makin' a plan of it, Jake." " Can't sleep?" " No." "These quilts are too heavy." "They make me sweat." "Mine too." "You know, Holt..." "I probably got one more fight in me." "I'm gonna kill Pitt Mackeson... either when he comes here, or when I can get up to find him out." " You know that, Holt?" " Yeah, I know it." "What you gonna do after you kill Pitt?" "You gonna join up with them Regulars?" "Fight for the cause." "What about you?" "You really asking' me?" "What cause you think I got, Roedel?" "When them Yankees come and kill George daddy... and his brothers and all his people, I stood with George Clyde." "Yeah, he was as good a friend to you as Jack Bull was to me." "Yeah." "And they's both good and dead now, Roedel." "Just as dead as they can be." "Where does that leave you and me, huh?" "Where does that leave me?" "Right here, Holt." "Yeah, I knowed we was right here." "This ain't nowhere for me." "I reckon I just don't understand it." "That day George Clyde died... it changed me." "I felt something that day I ain't never felt." "You felt that loss." "That hollow feeling." "No." "What I felt was... free." "I thought that's what George gave you when he bought you out." "That weren't really his to give, now, was it?" "And, George Clyde - I believe I loved him." "But bein' that man's friend... wasn't no different than bein' his nigger." "And, Roedel..." "I ain't never again gonna be nobody's nigger." "How you feelin', Dutchy?" "Oh, not so bad." "You look like you feel right good." "You feel good?" "I don't feel too bad." "Ah, you seem about all healed up to me." "Ah, it still hurts some, my leg does." "I gotta go to Hartwell today." "Be back by night though." "You want me to come along?" "No, you go on." "Finish healing'." "I'll take Holt with me though." "He's a handy man with a gun, I hear tell." "That's right." "You always gonna stare like that?" "Long as I can." "Well, you're pretty near well, so won't be much longer." "Reckon you and Holt will be off to get shot by some different fellas here pretty soon." "Maybe I won't." "What'll you do then?" "Oh, I don't know." "Maybe trek me on over to California... and catch me a sailboat to somewhere sunny." "Is that right?" "What grand spot have you got in mind, Jake?" "Sparta." "In Sparta, they have olives." "I got that out of a book." "I could eat me some olives." "Olives." "What are olives like?" "I don't know firsthand." "I never had one yet." "But I've had a bushel of walnuts... and nothin' could be more trouble to eat than them." "I wonder about me." "I ain't goin' sailing' nowhere, and I know it." "You'll do all right." "A chicken, Wilma?" "It ain't Sunday even." "What's with the special favors?" "Well, nothin'." "I know Orton will be mighty tired tonight when he gets back from his ride." "I intend to feed him well." "That the man?" "That's him." "Dutchy Roedel." "What is this?" "This here is the Reverend Horace Wright." "You're gettin' married today, Dutchy." "You're gettin' married or you're gettin' out." "I'm what?" "You heard me." "You're all healed up." "I just wanted to make sure you didn't die slow on me before I did it." " I can't have it in my house the way it is." " It's time." "Holt, saddle my horse." "We're gettin' out of here." "No." "You should do right, Roedel." "What on earth does that mean?" "Let's talk." "Come on." "I do believe that is a roasting' chicken I smell." "Are you goin' to or not?" "It's bein' shoved down my throat." "If a thing has got to be shoved, I like to do the shoving'." "Okay." "Then get in there and shove, Jake." "I thought you said you wouldn't want me... for a wagonload of gold 'cause I'm a nubbin-fingered runt of a Dutchman." "I remember you sayin' that." "Well, I guess I lied." "Are you lyin' again now?" "No." "I wouldn't lie to you, Jake." "You just told me you lied to me before." "Well, that's different." "That was romance." "And now's what?" "The truth." "This here now is the truth." "So you, Jacob Friedrich Roedel... bein' the man, take you, Sue Lee Shelley Evans, bein' the woman." "So, by the power vested in me, the two of you is right married." "Ain't it so." "Well, that was sure a fast ceremony." "Well, I reckon that man would marry stones to stones... if there was a chicken at the end of it." "Ah, that's neither here nor somewheres else." "He just done made you legal, boy." "Good night, boys." "Good night, Ort." "So you a family man now." "How you feel?" "I feel the same, Holt." "Hell, it's only words." "No, that's an oath." "Those words you gotta back up." "Yeah, I know that." "I reckon we'll be hauling' her and the kid with us now." "Where to?" "I don't know." "What do you think of California?" "Boy, what is you doin'?" "What am I doin'?" "Have you gone blind?" "I'm goin' to sleep, Holt." "I'm fixin' to get me some sleep." "Roedel, I gotta tell you this?" "Tell me what?" "You're supposed to sleep with the wife, Roedel." "Great day in the morning, you got to know that much." "You're supposed to share her bed." "That way, if some other man do that, you shoot him." "Yeah, I know all that." "You bet I know that." "But, hell, this ain't some regular marriage situation." "What, you don't like her?" "You gonna sit up there and tell me you don't like her?" "I like her." "She's pretty enough and all that." "It's just this marriage thing has swept up on me kind of all of the sudden." "Yeah, well, it is over you, Roedel." "I mean to say, you done the milking'." "You might as well have the cream." "Jake." "Hey, take your clothes off." "You don't come to bed in dirty duds, Jake." "That's a rule." "Just how many rules is it you got for me, girl?" "Don't get mad." "Here." "I'll help you." "Are you a virgin?" "I've sinned plenty." "But have you ever bedded a woman before?" "Girl, I've killed 15 men." "Come here." "Holt." "Roedel, I do a lot for you, you know that?" "You know I do." "It's equal." "Yeah" " Don't say it." "I got a thing to say." "All right." "Uh" " Look, now I'll travel with you and yours till we get past... them Pin Indians and riffraff in the Nation, and then I got to go off somewhere." "Where is that, Holt?" "Well, I ain't decided that to a definite aim, but I'm goin'." "I'm goin' to find my mama." "I believe she was sold to Texas, so that's where I'll commence to lookin'." "If she was sold there..." "I'll go there and pay to buy her freedom." "Holt, you done already paid more than enough to buy " "Yeah, I-I hear you sayin' it." " I wish you well." " Well, it ain't yet." "I ain't leaving' you till your little narrow Dutch ass... is past Pitt Mackeson and them Pin Indians." " Didn't I just through telling' you that?" " Yeah, you did." "All right." "Good-bye, Bushwhacker curls." "There you are, Dutchy." "You look 21 again." "I'm just now 19, Ort." "That so?" "Well, you'll never look that young." "I said I wouldn't cut my hair till I was finished with the war." "And you didn't, Roedel." "You didn't." "Militia find those, you're not likely to get further than the nearest hangin' tree." "Ah, hell." "Good luck, y'all." "Giddap!" "Yes, sir!" "Yes, sir." "Why, Dutchy, I didn't expect to see you no more." "Howdy, Pitt." "Turner." "Howdy." "Water's boiling'." "Want some chicory?" "I think I will." "I think I'd like some chicory, Dutchy." "How are you, Holt?" "Fairly well." "You two alone?" "Just us now." "We've been on the run." "How's Black John?" "That's a big question, Dutchy, 'cause the man is dead." "Black John is dead." "Hell, who ain't?" "They got him at Dover." "Put his head on a pole." "Paraded him right down the street." "Put a picture of it in their paper." "Quantrill too." "Over the river." "It's been rough times for them who stuck it out." "Yeah, the war is lost." "No shit, Dutchy." "Who the gal and kid belong to?" "That's my wife." "Well, if that don't beat all." "You got a wife, Dutchy." " Where you headed?" " Newport." "Hell, man." "There's 200 Federals in Newport." "We just rode through 'em." "You can't go on in there." "Wrong, Dutchy." "I am goin' in there." "I'm for certain sure goin' in there." "I want a drink, and they have drinks in Newport." "They'll kill you." "You best stay clear out of there." "I don't think so, Dutchy." "I don't reckon I'll clear out of where I was born." "You see, that there was my hometown." "And I reckon I'll go on in and have me a drink there." "Turner, you too?" "They'll kill you sure." "What a horrible fate." "Oh, what a horrible fate." "Oh, boy." "You got me now, Dutchy." "Oh, boy." "You got me now." "Jake." "Come on, Turner." "You gonna shoot him?" "So long, boys." "We'll raise our glasses to you in Newport." "All right." "It ain't right, and it ain't wrong." "It just is." "It's now?" "Are you certain you wanna ride with your gun like that?" "Let me wake 'em, Holt." "No, Roedel." "You let them sleep." "I ain't too much for good-byes." "But, uh, maybe I'll just tip my hat." "All right." "Daniel Holt." "Jacob Roedel." "# Turn to me with frozen lips #" "# Your hands are icy cold #" "# Your eyes burn bright against the frost-lit sky #" "# You never seemed more lovely than you do #" "# Tonight #" "# Pale on the horizon #" "# Like leaves frozen in the snow #" "# Our two shadows merge inseparably #" "# Will time stand still if it's pierced with cold #" "# The more I live #" "# The more I know #" "# What's simple is true #" "# I love #" "# You #" "# There's a warmth in my heart #" "# It haunts me when you're gone #" "# Mend me to your side and never let go #" "# Say, Time knows nothing #" "# We'll never grow cold #" "# The more I live #" "# The more I know #" "# What's simple is true #" "# I love #" "# You #" "# Twilight descends on our silhouette #" "# How soon spring comes How soon spring forgets #" "# I wanna hold time Say it'll never begin #" "# Old Man Winter, be our friend #" "# The more I live #" "# The more I know #" "# What's simple is true #" "# I love #" "# You ##"