"Somepeople heartheir own innervoices with greatcleamess." "And they live bywhatthey hear." "Such people become crazy, orthey become legends ..." "Tristan Ludlowwas bom in the moon ofthe falling leaves." "Itwas a terrible winter." "His motheralmostdied bringing him into this world." "His father. the Colonel." "broughthim to me." "I wrappedhim in a bearskin andheldhim all thatnight" "As he grewinto a man, I taughthim thejoyofthe kill." "When the hunter cuts outits warm heart   setting its spiritfree." "ColonelLudlowhad three sons." "but Tristan was his favourite." "I'd hadsons. too ..." "Butthey were gone now..." "Forever." "Itwas a verybad time." "The Colonelhad tried to help thepeople." "Butitwas no use." "So he decided to go his own way." "He wanted to lose the madness overthe mountains. he said." "Begin again." "Lose the madness. he said..." "Andso we lived formanyyears, and the boys grewstrong." "Alfred was the olderbrother." "old even forhis years." "Samuel was theyoungest" "There was nothing these brothers wouldnotdo forhim." "They watched overhim like a treasure." "Oneyear..." "lam an oldman, I cannotremembertheyear." "Itwas the moon ofthe redgrass." "lsabelLudlow. theirmother." "wentaway forthe winter." "She said the winters were too cruel forher." "She saidshe was afraid ofthe bears." "She was a strange woman, anyway." "Thatspring, though, she didnotretum." "Andafterthat she didnot come much to see us." "Alfred wrote hermanyletters, but Tristan refused to speak ofher." "His world was here ... with me." "Everywarriorhopes a good death will findhim." "But Tristan couldn'twait He wentlooking forhis." "Tristan!" "Tristan!" "Was it a bear?" " Yes. sir." "Was it a bear?" " Yes. sir." "Can you breathe?" "Take your hand away." "You're a stupid, half-bred jackass." "Did One Stab put you up to this?" "You deserve to be dead." "God knows how you've lived so long." "Ihave these letters." "Read them." "They are from all ofthem." "Ludlow..." "Isabel..." "Samuel." "The whole family." "The whole story." "Itis all written here." "April 13th, 1913." "Dearlsabel, lam notfool enough to tryto altera life already lived." "Butl feellhave notdone well raising oursons in this wildplace." "Whatdidlknowofchildren?" "I was trained to leadmen." "This is infinitely harder." "Dear William, you take too much responsibilityon yourself." "Oursons can find their own paths." "They are willful, certainly,   butwho are we to complain ofwillfulness." "Ihave news ofSamuel." "Ata Harvard tea   he metMiss Susannah Finncannon." "lknowitwill surpriseyou greatly, butthey are engaged." "This summerhe will bring her to Montana to meetyou all." "So behave yourselfandbe as charming as onlyyou can be." "There he is." " Howthe hell are you?" " Good, and you?" "Samuel." "Good to see you, boy." "Father." "this is myfiancee Susannah." " Miss Finncannon ..." " l'm pleased to meet you." "And this is Alfred." " Here's your dog." " lt's a horse." " That's a strange-looking animal." " Finn is a champion." "An exotic dog, Miss Finncannon." " Yes." "Mr. Ludlow." "Call me Susannah." " He'sjust plain old Alfred." " Shut up." "Where's Tristan?" " He's off somewhere." "He'll be here tonight, or I'll knowthe reason why." "Miss Finncannon, please." "Did you have a good journey?" "She is a lovely creature, William,   butshe has a certain fragility afterthe loss ofherparents." "Attimes I thinkshe feels veryalone in the world." "Butshe has founda newfamily now." "The German military is ready." "The entire civilized world could be plunged into ..." "The word "civilized" has no place in the affairs ofthis world." "Our mother has told us of your sympathyforthe social reformers." " You make it sound like a disease." " No, I'm in agreement." "Your mothertold me of One Stab." "She said he was a great warrior." "He has a bag of scalps somewhere to prove it, but don't worry,   he and father are devoted to each other now." " Can he speak English?" " Stab?" "Speak English?" "He wouldn't lower himself to speak English." "Would you, Stab?" "But watch out." "he understands it perfectlywell." "Hey, there's Tristan." " Don't theyfeed you up there?" " Not much." " You smell." " Miss me, did you?" " Still hungover?" " Still drunk." "Isn't she amazing?" "So this is Tristan." "And does he speak English?" "Miss Finncannon." "it's a pleasure to meet you." "I hope you and ugly here find every happiness together." "Don't mind my brother." "Your dog has more breeding than he has." " This is Mother's room." " lt's lovely." "It's a pleasure to meet you, Pet." "Argemonia albeflora, Langifolia ..." "Angelica arguta ." "Which one's that?" "It's this one." "Angelica Susannah." "Hello." "You must be Isabel Two." "I've already met your mother and father." " How old are you?" " 13." "When I was 13." "I was sent awayto boarding school." "I hated it." "May I help you?" " You're going to marry Samuel." " That's right." "I'm going to marry Tristan." "Then we'll be sisters." " l see you two have met." " Isabel Two is letting me help." " Rest now." "You must be exhausted." " No. not at all." "This is so refreshing." "All this grandeur." "This unexpected gift from God." "It doesn't seem like much of a gift four months into a hard winter." "Where's Samuel?" " He's inside with yourfather." " You're very generous." " No ... just happy." "Alfred!" "Stop mooning over Miss Finncannon." "Tell Samuel about the new calves." "Come on." "Excuse myfather." "It makes him feel young and powerful to treat us like idiot children." "Forthis and all his other blessings, may God's name be praised." "Amen." "Tell Father what you were saying about Vienna." "The Kaiser." "He won't stop them from annihilating Serbia." " No talk ofwar at the table." "All England is mobilizing." "We're stuck out here." " Thank God forthat." "We're evading our duty." "Are you?" "Excuse me for being late. I packed so carefully I couldn't find things." "Thank you." "Dearlsabel, howstrange to have a cultivated woman in the house again." "lntoxicating." "Ihave all mysons with me again." "ltfills me with such deep, quiet satisfaction thatl thank God." "Hey, Stab!" "There's a friend of yours." "I've got a dollar that says he brings her back." "Nice work!" "You guys look like a bunch of ice cream cones." "Go easy on him, Susannah." "Alfred, you take over." " You've disgraced our name." " Nice shiner." " Yeah. I hit her back." "She's got me spinning." "She's got these ideas and theories ..." " She's ..." "What?" "Nothing." " How did you break the mare?" " Oh no ..." "She's what?" "She's sort of passionate." " Is she a virgin?" " Good Lord!" "Of course she is." "Are you?" " Yes." " Gonna wait till you get married?" "She says ..." "Susannah thinks that ..." "No." "We're not gonna wait." "And you're afraid you won't meet her expectations." "I guess I am." "Sort of ..." "I don't know." " Should I be?" " God bless you." "You are good at everything you tryto do." "Fuck her." "We're talking about myfiancee." "Why not fuck her?" "I'm planning to bewith her." " l recommend fucking." " You're impossible." " Tristan's gone hunting." "We're not here for Tristan." "This is John T. and James O'Banion." "they own the new mercantile store." "Good morning, Alfred." "We're looking for a man who might be around here." "Name of Tom Cullen." "I have a likeness here." "What did this fella do?" " Do you recognize him?" " Yes." "We've got him, James." "This fella passed by here four years ago." "He did some work." "He was on his wayto San Francisco." "He hoped to sail forAustralia." " Orwas it Hong Kong?" " l think it was Hong Kong." "What is he wanted for." "Sheriff?" " That would be of a private nature." "A private nature?" "That's a public office you hold, isn't it, Sheriff?" ""There came a low hiss. and Rikki Tikki Tavi jumped back."" ""Then out ofthe grass rose the head and spread hood ..."" ""lt was Nag the big black cobra ..." Don't you like this story?" "The Germans broke through." "The British are trapped in Belgium." "And this paper's a week old." " l speak German. I'd be an officer." "And lead boys to the slaughter." " Your men worshipped you." "And theywere damn fools!" "This is a turning point in history." " Father, you taught us ..." " l taught you to think clearly." "And to defend what's ours." " Yes. what is ours !" "Don't talk at me, boys, as if I've never seen a war!" "Not a war like this, you haven't." "They said that about the Indian wars." " That's howthey sell newspapers." "We're fighting naked aggression." "There will be no more talk ofwars in this house. damn it!" "I'm sorry, Susannah." "I'm going to Canada to enlist." "I'm going with him." "I'm sorry, my love." "I know you'll understand. lt's the only honourable thing to do." "What's that?" " lt's a book myfatherwrote." "He tried to alterthe government's policies towards Indians." " Samuel won't change his mind." " Change it for him." "What happened between them?" "Father says she never liked it here." "I think they loved mostly the idea of each other." "Please, don't let him go." "I'll take care of him." "I'll take care of him." "October14th. 1914." "My dearlsabel, today oursons are leaving home   to defendan England they have neverseen." "lam unable to stop them." "Ihave tried to shelteroursons from all the madness." "Andnowthey go to seekit" "Be careful." "You don't have to go." "Alfred ..." "Goodbye." "Don't worry, Father." "Take care. now." "Samuel ..." " l'll get you the Kaiser's helmet." " Just get yourself back." "Tristan ..." " Take care of Samuel." " l will." "ColonelLudlowtoldme:" ""Ride with them to Calgary." "Bring back the horses."" ""Damn fools."he called them." ""Damn fools."" "The Colonel wouldnothave his sons ride offto waron oldnags." "Damn fools ornot" "Come on, let'sjoin them." "Bring your plate." "Maywejoin you?" "Sit down." "We're feeling lonely in there." "What's her name?" " Lady." "Tristan's Lady." " Tristan's ladywas Isolde." " You knowthe story, don't you?" "You're in need of education." "She can read and write." "School might be awkward for her." " l'll teach her myself." " May I help?" "Literature, history, mathematics ..." "With your permission, Decker, and yours, Pet." "What do you think?" "What good is her education?" " She'll live a richer. fuller life." " She's a half-breed." " Not in this house." " Tristan calls me a half-breed." " Does he?" "He says I'm half gopher and half hawk." "After her chores. then." " To us all." " To you, sir ... and miss." "And to the boys." "And the boys." " Get back to your unit." " Those boys are boring." "I'd rather have you watch my back." "Here you are, mate." "February3rd, 1915." "DearSusannah. the horror ofthis place is indescribable." "Nothing is as I thought" "Tonight as lprayed forthe souls ofthose who've diedso terribly,   lalso prayed forpersonalglory." "is itwrong to wantto distinguish myselfin combat as myfatherdid?" "Tristan andAlfred watch overme." "so lmay nevergetthe opportunity." "Are you hit?" " lt'sjust a scratch." "lsee nownotthatmyfather was right butthatl was naive." " Let me get up!" " Stay down!" "Ourbodies are in God's keeping." "We go into battle honourably." "Confident His name on ourlips." "We're pinned here." "We'll wait." "Susannah, I tryto guard againstdepair,   butatmoments itseems all human decency has gone." "Alfred will recoverfrom his wounds." "He and Tristan have driftedapart I cannotunderstandit I miss you more than you can imagine." "You're all that's clean and coolandpure." "I close myeyes and fix mythoughts on you." "lnowregretthat we agreed to waitto marry." "lregretthatwe were nevertogether as we planned to be." "Please stay on atthe ranch and waitforme." "Don'tletFatherworry." "God will protectme, aided considerably by Tristan." "He seems to have come to France purely to nursemaidme." "Be well, mylove." "Yourown Samuel." " l have to translate this." "Alfred will want to see you." "I'll be there." "Go on and go." "Alfred ..." "Where's Samuel?" "He's translating." "He'll be here." "Vino?" " Put that away." " You'll be getting a medal." " Yes, they're sending me home." " l'm glad for you." "An officer belongs with his men." " Horseshit!" " Orwhat's left ofthem." "MacKenzie's here." "His leg's turned bad." "He said ..." "What?" "What is it?" "Your brother volunteered to take his place on the reconnaissance." "I told you to staywith him!" "I told you to staywith him!" "Samuel!" "Samuel!" "Samuel!" "Tristan!" " Tristan!" "Tristan!" " l'm here!" "I can't see!" "I can't move!" "Samuel, I'm coming!" "I've got you." "You're doing good." "We're going home." "God damn you, God!" "Tristan ..." "Tristan!" "Tristan. it's me." "March 20th. 1915." "DearFatherand Susannah." "Ihave been discharged, butl cannotcome homeyet I'lljoin GrandfatherLudlow in Comwall andgo to sea." "As forourbeloved Samuel." "all I can sendhome is his heart" "Alfred will bring itback." "You knowwhere he shouldbe buried." "Up in the box canyon." "Yourson." "Tristan." "Well ..." "He certainlywas the best of all of us. wasn't he?" "Goodnight." "Goodnight, Father." "Alfred ..." "What you sawthat night before Samuel left ..." " Please. don't ..." " No. I want to." " lt was Samuel I loved." "All right." "Tristan will be back someday." "Yourfatherwill be pleased." "Susannah was to retum to Boston on the moming train." "Buta northerblewforthree days, andsnowdrifted overthe tracks." "The Colonelinsisted she stay on until spring." "The house was too empty, he said." "This was still herhome." "he toldher." "He shouldhave lethergo." "Buthowcouldhe have known whatwouldhappen?" "She was notto blame." "She was like the waterthatfreezes in the rockandsplits itapart ltwas no more herfault than itis ofthe water  when the rockshatters." " when the rockshatters." "Susannah ..." "You know how much ..." "I loved Samuel." "And I think you know ..." "Out of respect for him, I wanted to say it here. I think you know   I'm in love with you." "From the first moment I saw you." "Like in a novel." "That's my mother's romantic imagination coming out in me." " You're not making this easy." " Sorry." "is there any hope that you could learn to love me?" "Not the way you loved Samuel, of course. but ..." "We could make a life together." "A happy life." "I don't think so." "Alfred." "It seems like you're not sure." "Maybe there's a chance." "I think I can only cause you pain." "Why don't you let me be thejudge ofthat?" "I didn't break it." "but I can fix the wheel myself." "Go take a nap." "Colonel!" "Look!" "I'm going into town, if ..." "Welcome home. son." " l couldn't save him." " Of course you couldn't." " l couldn't save him." " lt's all right." "Did you have a nice ride today?" "Excuse me." "Father." "Tristan ..." "When are you planning to be married?" "Morning." "Damn you, Tristan." "You will marry her." " Make an honest woman of her?" " Yes!" "God damn you to hell." " l'll marry her, if she'll have me." " lf she'll have you?" "Do you love her?" "Or did you seduce her just to spite me?" "What about Samuel?" " Samuel?" " You tell me." "We all loved him. but he's dead." "How convenient that is for you." "Because you love her, I will forgive you forthat." "Once!" "You saythat again and we're not brothers." "Once!" " You know you can't make her happy." " l'm gonna try." "You will fail." "I'm going to be leaving today." "I do wish you both all the best." "I do wish you both all the best." "Goodbye, son." "Good luck." "September7th, 1915." "DearMother, I thinklmay have foundmyplace in this world." "Helena is a city tumedmodem ovemight it's bursting with the energy and vitalityofourtimes." "I feelalive here." "There is much opportunity foranyone willing to work." "Already lhave a reputation forhonestyand fair dealing." "Andsome ofHelena's most influential citizens are myfriends." "They are determined to see this citygrow, as am I." "Mother, thankyou foryourletter." "You knewmyhopes." "You understandmydisappointment Thatis a greatcomfortto me." "Everynightlpray forthe grace to forgive Tristan." "lknowyou understand." "Yourloving son Alfred." "Quit it!" "Goddamn it!" "Goddamn it!" "Ifwe have a boy, I'd like to call him Samuel." "And if it's a girl, Isabel." "I'll still love you." "And you'll tolerate me because of how much I love you." "Tristan ..." "Nothing." "I heard from your mother." "Alfred has hooked up with the O'Banion brothers." "He's doing well." "Alfred will always do well." " Except when he's here with us." "That's myfault. I couldn't bring Samuel home alive. either." "Don't you dare saythat!" "That was in God's hands." "Was it?" "Colonel. we found a dead calf." "It might be a grizzly." "My grizzly?" " You take him." "Tristan." " You're damn right I will." "I don'tknowwhy Tristan didn'tkill thatdamn oldbear." "They say when a man andan animal have spilled each other's blood,   they become one." " l said four beers." "Mr. Sachtleben." "And I said no Indians." "He's quite civilized, I assure you." "Give him a beer." "Myfather said four, didn't he?" "We'd reached an understanding." " Give him a beer!" "Stay out of it!" "You're a fool spoiling for a fight with a man that outweighs you." "He's sure to have weapon at hand." "Right, Mr. Sachtleben?" "He'd split your stupid skull and kill you stone-dead!" "I want four beers ..." "Now!" "The owner doesn't want to serve any Indians." "Get back!" "You see this man?" "Do you?" "His name is One Stab." "He's an elder ofthe Cree nation and a warrior." "He's ourfriend and he's thirsty." "He's ourfriend and he's thirsty." "I thinkitwas the bear's voice he heard deep inside him." "Growling low ofdark, secretplaces." "Were you going to say goodbye?" "Tristan?" "How long will you be gone?" "Not long." "Afew months." " l can make it betterfor you." " No." "Ifwe'd had a child   or if I were pregnant, would you still be going?" "Yes ..." " Just give me a chance." " Don't do that." "Look at me." "Please. look at me." "I'll wait for you." "However long it takes." "I'll wait for you forever." "Will he come back?" " l don't know." "Stab says yes." "April 20th, 1918." "DearTristan ... lthas been months now andstill no word." "lknowyou're alive." "We had a tatteredparcel from NewGuinea." "Itwas covered with strange writing." "Inside was a native bracelet" "Meantforme, lpresume ..." "Perhaps not" "Do you still care to know whatis happening here?" "Cattleprices continue to fall." "The winterseems never- ending." "Whydon'tyou write?" "Are you nevercoming back, andafraid to tell me?" "Alfred continues to do well." "His business has expanded to Chicago and Washington." "He wants to sendlsabel Two to school. butshe won'tleave." "I thinkshe. too." "is waiting foryou." "Ihave nowhere to send this letter." "Andlhave no reason to believe you wish to receive it" "I write itonly formyself." "I'll hide itaway with all the other things leftundone between us." "December12th. 1919." "DearSusannah." "Ihave become a hunter." "Tell Stab there are creatures here thatcannoteven be foundin books." "Andlhave killed them all." "Susannah. all we hadis dead  as lam dead." "Marryanother." "Colonel." "it looks like we've got compnay." "Father. I have come to ask for your blessing." " You see, these gentlemen ..." "And a great many others." " Theywant me to run for office." "What sort of office?" " The United States Congress." "We hold your son in high regard." "Well ..." "Alfred." "And what do you gentlemen hope to get out ofthis?" "What do you want for yourselves, should my son be elected?" "I don't think these gentlemen ..." "Do you think these men back you out of patriotism and admiration?" "Father, I am no longer a child." " Congress ..." " l worked forthe government once." " The issues that we ..." " Indians!" "Indians were the issue in those days." "There is nothing so grotesque as the meeting of a child with a bullet." "We slaughtered entire villages." "That was the government's resolution on that issue." "And I doubt, since then, that they have gained in wisdom or humanity." "Myfather, forwhom I have the greatest respect,   says that the government has neitherwisdom nor humanity." "I therefore consider it my duty, as myfather's son,  to bring both wisdom and humanity to the United States Congress." "I thank you for your blessing, Father." "Gentlemen, would you mind waiting for me in the cars?" "Are you all right?" "What's wrong?" "All we had is dead." "Marry another." "I don't knowwhat to say." "Tristan's always been wild." " You love him forthat." " Do I?" "Yeah, I suppose I do." "He does love you." "Alfred!" "She's to be your brother's wife." " You better remind him ofthat." " He's not here to defend himself." "No, but I see you are here to defend him." "Even though he's abandoned her and you!" "And you knowwho else he abandoned." "Don't you blame my son for Samuel's death!" "Samuel was a soldier." "He was sent to his death by men in government." "Parasites like you!" "Damn and blast you!" "And damn you, too!" " Leave her out ofthis!" " Get out of my house." " Because I aim to serve my country?" "Or because, like you, I love a woman who doesn't love me?" " He used her and he deserted her." "Alfred. don't ... I loved her." "I love her still." "He stole herfrom me." "He stole herfrom Samuel before the war!" "God help me, I'll kill you." "Here." "read your darling Tristan's letter." "Susannah   you deserve to be happy." "Late thatnight we found the Colonel on the floor." "He couldnotmove." "His hair tumed white ovemight He became an oldman." "Afterthat Tristan sentno more letters." "As theyearspassedby, we'd hear someone hadseen him on a ship." "Sailing forsome place that no white man hadbeen before." "Stories came to us." "Strange stories." "And then foryears there was nothing." "He was lostto us." "Thatwas all we knew." "Buteveryyear in the moon ofthe falling leaves   l would dream thatthe bear's voice inside him hadgrown silent." "And that Tristan mightagain come to live in the world." "Butthen the winterwould come ..." "and then anotherspring." "Andstill he stayedaway." "What the hell is he doing now?" "Tristan!" "She's a mean old bitch." "but she's yours." "Welcome home." "Hey, old man!" "Where's Father?" "Stab?" "He had a stroke some years ago." "He can't talk now." "He wants to celebrate." "AM HAPPY" "I'm happy, too." "Father, this is for you." ""Colonel William Ludlow." "from his son Tristan."" "I didn't know." "Stab. these are boar's tusks." "made by a Javanese warrior." "He, too, was a great man." "Decker ..." "Pet." "I have otherthings, too, for Mother and little Izzy and Susannah." "What is it?" "Tell him." "Alfred and Miss Susannah were married several years ago." "Your brother's a congressman now." "They have a big new place over in Helena." "It's as it should be." "Cattle prices dropped afterthe war ended." "The Colonel didn't care much." "He lost everything he had." "We'll make it back." "On horses, or something else." "We'll make it back." "He says your brother voted forthe Volstead Act." " Should we try bootlegging?" " There's good money in it." " Screwthe government!" " Screwthe government!" "Foreverturned out to be too long, Tristan." "I know." "Here. I don't want it." "Theytold me that this was magic." "That whoeverwore it would be protected." "Keep it." "Don't you want to see Alfred?" "It's probably betterthat I don't." "Tell him hello ..." "and congratulations." "He likes you." "Welcome home." "Isabel?" "I want you to have him." "I have something for you, too." "I brought it back." " lt's from Ierapetra in ..." " Crete." "I knowwhere it is." "Yourfather taught me European history." "A little girl." "That's me, right?" "Thank you, Tristan." "Itwas then that Tristan came into the quietheartofhis life." "The bearinside him was sleeping." "Itis hard to tell ofhappiness." "Time goes by and we feelsafe too soon." "I heard the oddest news." "Tristan ... is back." "Yes. I know." "You know?" "How do you know?" "I saw him." "You mean he came here just to see you?" "No." "He wanted to see you, but he thought you'd get upset." "I think he might be right." "What did he ..." "What did he say?" "He said to say hello and congratulations." "Silly me." "He told you the news, did he?" "Well, what do you think?" "Come on, it's perfectly absurd." "Marrying Isabel Two." "She's practically our sister." " She can't be more than 19." " 20." "What the hell is Deckerthinking of to allowthis?" "Perhaps he's thinking of his daughter's happiness." "Happiness?" "With Tristan?" "You of all people should knowthat's impossible." "I'm not Isabel Two." "June 2nd. 1921." "DearTristan." "I was so pleased to hear ofyourcoming marriage." "Yourfathermustbe veryhappy." "Isabel Two is a daughterto him." "Being namedafteryourmother,   itseems as though itwas always meantto be." "Damnation!" "Samuel Decker Ludlow." "Dearest Tristan ..." "We were delighted to hear ofyourson's birth." "We hadhoped fora child ofourown, butofthatl despair." "Alfred thinks ofyou often." "Ihope we shall all meetone day." "Yourson bears aproudname." "lknowhe will live up to it" "Give mylove to Isabel Two and to yourfather." "Yours always, Susannah." "Yours always, Susannah." "Yours always, Susannah." "Evening, gentlemen." "We have to talk about things." " By all means." "As you know, we handle the liquor around here." "You've been what we call a small-time operator." "But lately, your shipments have been getting a little fat." "And my patience is getting thin." "The next time you get in ourway   will be the last time." "Perhaps you're wondering why you're not dead already." "Your brother is Congressman Ludlow, and that's it." "Kenneth ..." "Thomas ..." "Hello." "Alfred." "Hello." "Tristan." "Who's this young man?" " Samuel." "Hello." "Samuel." "She's beautiful." "Hello, Izzy." "Let me see." " Samuel?" " Hello." "Who is this lady?" "I'm yourAunt Susannah." "I used to know your Uncle Samuel, who died in the war." " l think you look like him." " That's what Grandpa says." " He was very brave and very good." " Grandpa says that, too." "Soon I can have Uncle Samuel's gun." "Will you can come and see it?" "I'd love to ... sometime." " He's a fine boy, Tristan." " He is." "How's Father?" "is he well?" "As well as can be expected." "I wish ..." "Pardon the intrusion." "We're readyfor your speech." " l'll be there in a minute." "We'll meet again soon." " l'd like that." "Kenneth ..." "Watch this." "Go and get Tynert." "I think you missed a bump, Stab." "We have information that you might be transporting illegal goods." " l have some whiskeyfor myfather." " You have to give it up." "He'll be disappointed." "Hold him down." " Let's get out of here." "We may as well open his pocket." "My brothertold you to stay out of ourway." "Pick him up and put him in the car." "I don't want to see him." "I'm sorry. I'm so very sorry." "Fatherwon't see me. even now?" "He blames the government for Isabel's ..." "There's something we have to talk about." "The officer you beat, he almost died." "Everyone understands   but they saythat you're gonna have to serve 30 days." "And the one who shot off his gun?" "He was ... reprimanded." "And the O'Banions?" " Nothing." "You have to let it go, Tristan." "It was a terrible, tragic accident." "Listen to me." "You let this go now." "You got in over your head." "I'll need a minute." "I'm so sorry." "We all loved her." "How are you?" "We never get to see you." " l gave a speech the other day." " You did?" "Myfirst public engagement." "It was ... lt was on ..." "It was on the responsibilities ofwomen in ... lt's good to see you." "I'm sorry ... I still sometimes dream that I'm the mother of your children." "I wanted herto die." "Maybe I even wanted Samuel to die." "You had nothing to do with Samuel's death." "And you had nothing to do with Isabel's death." "Didn't I?" "Go home." "Go home to Alfred." "Where were you?" "Out for a walk. I needed a walk." "What are you doing home?" " You had a doctor's appointment." "I called to remind you, but you weren't here." "I feel verytired. I'm going to bed." "You have won her." "I'm bringing herhome." "Alfred." "I followed all the rules." "Man's and God's." "And you ..." "You followed none ofthem." "And they all loved you more." "Samuel." "Father ..." "Even my own wife." "I'd like a moment alone with her." "Tristan." "When Samuel died ..." "When Samuel died. I cursed God." "Did I damn everybody around me, as well as myself?" "No." "You are not damned." "Tristan." "I won't allowthat." "You are not damned!" "This is a gentleman's gun." "It's smaller, butjust as powerful." "You can have one when you grow up." "Samuel!" "Samuel. come here!" "Run along." "Go to Pet." "Get him in the house." "He's a fine boy." "You know we're not here to arrest you." "Take me to the woods." "I don't want my boyto see." "Let's get on with it." " Colonel Ludlow!" "What's going on here?" "What's going on here?" "You knowthey're gonna come after you forthis." "Alfred ... I want you to watch over my children." "Watch over Samuel." "Brother. it will be an honour." "Howmuch I wanted to take scalps, butitwas notmykill." "Thatnightwe buried the bodies." "We dumped the caring a deep pool in the upperMissouri." "lrememberwhen he was a boy." "I thought Tristan wouldneverlive to be an oldman." "I was wrong aboutthat I was wrong aboutmanythings." "Itwas those who lovedhim most who diedyoung." "He was a rock they broke themselves against   howevermuch he tried to protectthem." "Buthe hadhis honour anda long life,   andhe sawhis children grow andraise their own families." "Tristan diedin 1963 in the moon ofthepopping trees." "He was lastseen in the north country, hunting." "His grave is unmarked, butitdoes notmatter." "He hadalways lived in the borderland, anyway." "Somewhere between this world and the other." "It was a good death."