"_" "Probably recover the bull wheel, all the pulleys." "A lot of lumber can be salvaged, too." "Just enough to build a gallows." "We gotta get another rig up and running." "Start making calls." "To who?" "We're not gonna get any money out of the banks." "Not after this." "There's oil underneath this ground, and I intend to get it out, even if it means the three of us digging our way to Hades with a pick and shovel" "Now figure it out!" "Well, we do have that orphan eight sections up by the Midkiffs'." "Are you suggesting we sell to Percy Midkiff?" "Just those eight sections." "That Bible-thumpin' son of a bitch?" "There ain't nothing up there but brush and ladino bulls." "You talk to me when you get serious." "Selling land ain't exactly Daddy's way." "I'll tell you one thing..." "We're about down to selling that eight sections or having the bank sell the whole ranch for us." "You don't have to convince me." "So, I guess you're just expecting me to fix everything?" "As usual." "I guess I better get to it, then." "What about that other thing?" "It's being handled." "By you or him?" "I got it covered." "Don't you worry." "Worrying is my job, little brother" "Morning, Mr. Sullivan." "Hey, there, honey." "You been out here a while." " Yep." " Making sure those bandits don't come back?" "Well, if they do, they sure gonna be sorry." "But the river's that way." "Isn't that where they'd be approaching from?" "Why, I wish I would have thought of that myself." "That better?" "Now why don't you go on inside and practice your piano?" "I know your granddaddy would love to hear you plink out "Red River Valley" one day." "That's boring." "Well, then some other dulcet tune." "Now go on." "Git." "Before I put you over my knee." "I think my daddy might have something to say about that." "_" "_" "_" "Maria. _" "_" "_" "Where do you think he is?" "I have no idea." "Hmm." "Okay, amigo." "I'm letting you down." "You destroyed my property." "I wanna know why." "Was it a reprisal for Armando?" "Suit yourself." "From what everyone says," "Cesar threw his lot in with a rough crowd." "You'd be surprised how often these sorts, they disappear for a few days, and then pop back up." "Now maybe he's blowing off steam in Mexico?" "Well, listen here, uh, here's a thought." "The one oil rig the McCulloughs had up was attacked last night." "I wonder if maybe Cesar was involved." "Might explain his sudden disappearance." "Well, that seems very unlikely to me." "But you are right that was something wrong happens around here, there's a tendency to blame men who look like Cesar." "Perhaps colonel McCullough was upset over the loss of his property and got the wrong idea about my brother-in-law." "Well, Eli is not exactly the type to go off half-cocked." "I'm sure you realize that most of the voters in this town are Tejano?" "It would be so unfortunate if word spread that you refused to investigate the disappearance of Pedro García's son-in-law." "I'd consider it a personal favor if you would speak to Eli McCullough." "Where are your friends crossing the river?" "Mm-hmm." "What are they hitting next?" "What town are they coming from?" "Could I get a word?" "How far you planning on taking this?" "There are consequences for a man's decisions... no matter what his last name." "Aw, shit." "Don't look at me." "Keep an eye on this situation." " You got it, boss." " Come on." "You should just turn him over to the sheriff." "Be done with it." "Well, we got to find out what we're up against first." "And the law is not gonna help us do that." "You beat a man long enough, he'll admit to crucifying the Savior." "Probably best to let me do the talking." "Ahh." "So, what'd you do with the Mexican?" "Which Mexican are we talking about?" "Eli." "I assume he got caught during that unfortunate incident at your drilling rig." "Those sons of bitches, they got away scot-free." "Is that right?" "Look, a man has a right to protect his property." "But I cannot have another incident." "Am I right, Pete?" "Oh, I've been saying that for a while." "Things need to simmer down." "They sure as hell do." "Pete, you heard anything about this missing Cesar fella?" "Only that he travels with a dangerous crowd." "God damn it, Eli, you know I wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for the election coming." " Mm-hmm." " And the fact is, you can't win anything around here without the Mexican vote." "That means a lot of cabrito come election day." "Oh, well, believe me, you have our support." "You know, the Midkiffs were generous enough to kick in $100." "Well, now." "Mark us down for $200." "Well, that is exceedingly generous." "Thank you." "_" "_" "_" "_" "_" "_" "_" "_" "_" "_" "_" "_" "_" "It's not just newspapers." "I found these in his desk, too." "Burn all this... and anything else you find." "Please." "Your son-in-law has disappeared." "He does that sometimes." "You knew." "You knew what he was doing." "Maria, I am aware of what goes on in my own home." "Do you share these sympathies with him?" "I share his belief that being born Mexican in this valley is very bad luck." "_" "_" "You know, amigo... the sun is gonna come up tomorrow, whether you live or die." "You got to start thinking about what kind of life your family is gonna have without you." "You have a new baby, right?" "Think about your boy." "All he'll ever know about you is that, one night, you up and disappeared without a trace." "He'll spend his whole life wondering if you're really dead or if maybe you just met some whore on the other side of the river." "He'll never know you're lying dead in a hole somewhere out in our pastures." "What else can I do?" "Tell me who's been stealing our cattle and where I can find them, and I'll drive you to the river, watch you cross over into Mexico." "Send for your wife and your boy." "You can start a new life there." " You'll never let me go." " I'm a man of my word." "Your last name is McCullough." "I'm not my father." "I'm done talking." "I need this, Fred." "Please." "Then use your God-given charms and get him to take a meeting." "Tell him to bring his checkbook." "All right." "Things all right?" "I dunno." "Are they?" "Yeah, we're gonna get another rig, and this will never happen again... even if I have to sit out there all night in my pajamas to guard it." "What is it, darling?" "Can I make a confession?" "Mm-hmm." "Sometimes I think we'd be better off if things didn't work out here." "We could sell this land, have plenty of money, and all live somewhere safe, be happy." "You are the rock of this family." " We all know it." " Stop it." "Well, if I ever gave up my calcified-bachelor ways," "I'd want a wife just like you." "Oh, God." "Sometimes I think I married the wrong brother." "Don't look nervous." "Just figure out a way to get us out of here." "Thank you for meeting me." "What's on your mind, old friend?" "All I've ever wanted was to be left alone... to run my ranch in peace." "Sounds like we want the same thing." "Unfortunately, my livelihood, my ranch, is coming under attack from criminals crossing your land." "Not even God himself can stop a few thieves from crossing a river, Eli." "The other night wasn't some drunk copper-belly running off with a slick calf." "That oil rig cost me an arm and a leg of borrowed money." "I don't want these bandits around any more than you do." "Believe me." "And still they ride... untroubled by your disapproval." "Here is the reason I wanted to meet with you." "Certain things have been brought to my attention about Cesar." "If I find they are true, then I no longer consider him a part of my family." "And I will consider this matter between us closed." "But in exchange for this, I need peace." "You leave my family alone." "You leave my men alone." "Do we have a deal?" "Well, that depends." "On what?" "Are you gonna replace my rig?" "Are you gonna replace Armando?" "How about Cesar?" "My daughter is now a widow." "And my grandson has no father." "I am trying to avoid a war here, Eli." "Nice talking with you, neighbor." "Hyah!" "Hyah!" "Huh!" "Hyah!" "Hyah!" "Hyah!" "We already ate." "A man that toils outdoors works up a big appetite." "You'd best remember that when you've got a husband of your own." "I ain't never getting married." "You aren't getting married, not "ain't."" "And a young lady pretty as you will soon be fighting off handsome young suitors" " with a stick." " Any suitors come around me, I'll shoot 'em." "You born around here?" "Curious, that's all." "I was born in Brownsville." "You miss it?" "Not really." "We had nearly two sections when I was born, but it was all taken." "We ended up picking cotton." "Hard way to earn a living." "We were in the fields six days a week..." "My father, two brothers, and my sister." "Papa thought he could save up to buy us a little rancho again." "But that never happened." "How come?" "One day, a few Rangers showed up in the fields looking for Emilio Sanchez." "Said he stole a horse." "Never mind my father's name was Emilio Lopez." "Never mind we had no horse." "They dragged him into the brasada." "We heard the shots." "Then they rode off like nothing happened." "A Mexican is a Mexican, right?" "They had to get someone." "I'm real sorry." "Thanks for the food." "I make him a drink every night before supper." "I thought it'd be bad luck to skip tonight." "Well, you're right." "He hasn't been gone that long." "I'll speak with the sheriff again tomorrow." "He won't do anything." "Nothing will happen." "I will still be here wondering where my husband is." "Well, whatever happens, we'll get through it together." "Will we?" "Your whole life you have come and gone as you pleased." "You're only here because you have nowhere else to go." "I know." "I know that when you're feeling better, you're gonna leave." "Ana." "But my husband will still be dead, and my child will still have no father." "Don't say that." "You don't know that." "I know what Cesar has been doing." "He didn't want me to know, but I did." "I knew the risks, just like he did." "Look, I understand you've got grievances." "I'd feel the same if I was in your position." "You would never be in my position." "You know there's a race war brewing here." "If these attacks keep up, the whites are gonna declare open season on Mexicans." "If war is what it takes to bring justice to the region, so be it." "What would be justice, in your mind?" "All you Anglos getting out of South Texas." "That's what every Mexican wants." "All the Mexicans I know, they... they want good jobs, good schools." "They want to feel safe." "They don't want a war." " You're wrong." " You know something I don't?" "This is a much larger movement than you understand." "A few weeks ago, a group of Mexican patriots gathered in secret to draft a manifesto." "It's been circulating among my people, published in papers your kind don't read." ""El Plan de San Diego."" "Made the English-language papers, too." "Probably did more to recruit people to the Law and Order League than anything else." "It doesn't matter." "Very soon, my people will rise up and take back our land." "From 100 million Americans." "From the United States Army." "How exactly you see that working?" "Go ahead." "Underestimate us." "We're counting on it." "I ain't selling to the Midkiffs." "Well, we may not have to." "I found us a lead in Austin." "We got a lunch meeting tomorrow at the Driskill." "Tomorrow?" "That's a 10-hour drive." "Time is of the essence." "You done good, son." "You find out anything?" "He's a real true believer, but I got him talking." "Well, did he give you any specifics?" "No, but he's loosening up." "Well, I'm afraid we're out of time." "Your brother and I are leaving for the city." "Wait." "Daddy." "No!" "Shh." "Who blew up my rig?" "Huh?" "Aniceto Pizaña." "Turn his head." "Now, where are they hitting next?" "T-T-They don't tell me." "This can go on for a long time if you want." " They don't tell me anything." " Hmm?" "Hmm?" "Please, I swear!" "I don't know!" "Please!" "Please, I swear." "I swear, please!" "I don't know!" "I don't know." "Ah." "Well, I reckon this son of a bitch is telling the truth." "Yeah." "_" "_" "There's nowhere to run." "The closest whites are 500 miles away." "This land kills you quickly." "I'll be fine." "I see the confusion in your eyes." "The four directions all look the same to you." "You'll die out there." "Just let me go... please." "Mm." "Do not beg." "It dishonors you." "These women beat me every day." "I'd rather die than be a slave." "From the dust of the four directions," "The Great Spirit Nanisuwukai created the first man on earth." "He was alone in this great new world he did not understand." "Soon he was starving." "He would stare all day at this tall plum tree whose branches were heavy with ripe fruit." "But Coyote was there, watching." "Every time the man reached for the plum," "Coyote said," ""Do not touch that, or I will bite you."" "So, what did the man do?" "Eat your plum, Eli." "Sometimes it's better to get bitten than to starve." "What the hell is wrong with you?" "I remember Aniceto Pizaña." "Tejano rancher." "Ran off his land last summer." "His boy lost a leg in the shootout." "I'm more concerned with the man who lost an ear in our goddamn shed." "What am I supposed to do with him now?" "Can't return a steak with a bite taken out of it." "Unh-unh." "No." "Those days are over." "You sound like a hayseed, son." "I understand things just fine." "No, you don't." "You've had it far too easy for too long." "We start killin' folks like the old days, it's gonna become a habit that spreads faster than a brush fire." " You know that better than anybody." " Hmm." "It's up to people like us to set the example, 'cause if we don't, this whole civilization slides backwards." "You say slides backward." "I say reverts to its natural state." "I know you've seen the worst mankind has to offer." "But so have I." "The only thing stopping my kids living through the same shit you and I did is deciding to make the hard choices instead of the easy ones." "It's deciding not to kill folks when there's no good reason." "The world is what it is." "You think that man in there forgives and forgets?" "Hell, he's already dynamited our property once." "Maybe the next time it's a bit of dynamite under Sally's car and Jeannie's school." "That a risk you're willing to take?" "I'm sure you're gonna do the right thing." "_" "_" "_" "_" "_" "_" "_" "_" "_" ""I was powerful glad to get away from the feuds, and so was Jim to get away from the swamp." "And we said there weren't no home like a raft, after all." "Other places do seem so cramped up and smothery, but a raft don't." "You feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a raft."" "Aw." "What happens next?" "You're gonna have to wait for tomorrow." "It was against the law to help an escaped slave, wasn't it?" "Sure was." "So Huck was doing something wrong." "Most everyone thought so, yeah." "I would have helped him, too." "Sweet dreams, honey." "Night, Daddy." "Get up." "Where are you taking me?" "Keep your voice down." "Get in there." " Can you swim?" " Yeah." "Good." "Let's go." "You're letting me go?" "Just like that?" "You can't ever show your face around here again." "You understand?" "When I'm halfway across, you'll shoot me." "Why would I do that?" "No mess to clean up." "My body would drift downriver, maybe all the way to the Gulf." "I told you..." "I'm not my father." "Okay?" "Okay." "You'll be able to make it across?" "Yeah." "I was trying to save you."