The Tall Men

Looks like we're getting close to civilization.

I wouldn't give half an acre of Texas for the whole Montana territory.

- Howdy. - Evenin'.

We, uh, need some feed and a couple stalls.

That'll be $16 overnight, gold or silver.

We ain't aimin' to buy you out, mister.

Ain't aimin' to sell. It's still $16.

- In advance. - That's yankee talk.

Never mind. My brother don't know the war's over.

You got $16?

Uh, we're a little short of funds.

Then you boys better be on your way.

I figured you might be in a tradin' mood.

For instance?

Well, uh, one genuine yankee saber.

Oh, and this fancy timepiece.

Solid gold. Used to belong to a live general.

And a fine pair of field glasses.

You with the reb army?

In a left-handed sort of way.

- Quantrill's raiders. - Mighty tough outfit.

So I've heard.

How, uh, far these things reach?

Oh, four or five miles.

I'll trade you the whole kit and caboodle for $50 over your 16.

- Might give you 20. - Thirty.

Twenty-five. That's my limit.

Mister, you just bought yourself a parcel of yankee souvenirs.

Well, gents, help yourselves to the feed and stall space.

You want your horses before sunup, just come and take 'em.

Door's always open.

- Never mind the saddles. - Reckon this'il be a quick one, huh?

Could be.

Take a look around the back.

- Come on, craps! Craps! - Eight! Eight!

- Aw, come on! - Pay off! Pay off!

Come on, seven! Pay off.

No way in or out back there.

A lot of action inside.

Craps again.

Never saw such a herd of hard-rock gophers in my life.

Gold's what they grow here, not beef.

Clint. You need remindin'?

Nope. We're here on business. Lots of iookin', very little drinkin'.

- And the war's over. - Yep. The war's over.

- What'll it be? - What do you drink in Montana, friend?

Too blamed much. Fractured, or all of a piece?

A couple of snorts.

That'll be $8 in greenbacks, five in silver or a pinch of dust.

Mmm. Expensive, iivin' hereabouts, huh?

If you call it iivin'.

Sure ain't slept in a barrel long.

Nothin' gets a chance to age in a boomtown, mister.

Not even the people.

Mild as milk juice.

How's about another snort?

Easy, boy. Let's not foul this up.

You're callin' the turns in this deal, Ben.

Make way, gents.

Take a look. The fancyjasper.

Looks real prime.

Fat as a June grouse.

- Howdy, Nathan. - How are ya?

- Evening, Mr. Stark. Buy you a drink? - My pleasure. Gus.

Hear you're ridin' to butte tonight, Mr. Stark?

Yes. After I leave, set 'em up for the boys.

Long as it lasts.

Sure thing. Hope you'll be headin' back here soon.

I will, one of these days.

Hank.

Hank!

Get your hands up, Jasper.

Keep 'em up.

Now peel off that money belt.

Freeze it.

Thought I raised you neater than that.

Now you can unfasten that money belt and pass it over real slow.

Is that all?

Or do you want my watch too?

Keep it. We're travelin' now.

We're real taken with your company, Mr. Stark.

I'm afraid I can't say the same.

Fact is, we're so taken that we can't leave you.

Can't have you rousing out those vigilantes on a cold night like this.

If you're gonna kill me, get it over with now.

Move over a shade, Ben. Allow me to accommodate the gentleman.

All I said was, we didn't want to leave you here.

I'm hopin' we don't have to.

You comin', mister...

Or stayin'?

You're dealing.

- I guess I'm riding. - Saddle your horse.

We bunked here night before last.

Quiet as a graveyard, ain't it, Mr. Stark?

Sit down, Mr. Stark.

Hate to lose a man who talks like a college professor,

but we've brought you far enough.

Tomorrow, Clint'll pick up some supplies.

You can take your share and hightail it back.

- Minus my money? - Yeah, minus.

Would you, uh, care for a cigar?

Thank you.

How about you?

If you open that belt,

you'll find nothing but mint-fresh hundred-dollar bills.

The kind that crackle? That's what I like.

Spending them won't be easy.

You'll leave a trail so wide,

the pinkertons'll be on you like buzzards on a dead mule.

And who's to tell the pinkertons? You?

You're making it tough on yourself, Mr. Stark.

I'm not trying to make it tough. Only tempting.

Never could resist temptation.

Will you answerjust one question?

Ask it.

What were steers selling at when you left Texas?

We haven't been home in four years.

Three and four dollars a head and no takers.

- Of all the stupid, stallin'... - What are you driving at, mister?

What we buy in Texas, we sell for $50 a head in Montana.

You mean you'd drive a herd 1,500 miles, all the way from Texas to mineral city?

- I had meant to. - He's loco, Ben.

I was planning to go to Texas, but I'm no cattleman.

I knew I'd need a trail boss.

Now, ain't that too bad.

But it's not too late. My offer still goes.

We split 50-50 on every cow we bring into Montana alive.

- Ha! - Can't you see how big this is?

I'm offering you half the chips

in the biggest game you ever had the chance to sit in.

A chance for big money... honest money.

More than you could ever make in a lifetime.

And against that, what have you? Spending a few thousands and then prison.

Or hanging.

It's dealer's choice, hermano.

A chance to make something for ourselves.

With him holding the joker.

I don't like the game, Ben, but you call it.

Do you realize there hasn't been

a mouthful of beefsteak in Montana since before the war?

We'll gamble. Give him back his money belt.

You carry the bankroll, Mr. Stark. We'll carry the guns.

A man couldn't ask for better protection.

What do we do now?

We short-cut it straight across.

Pretty rugged. Only an Indian could get through that.

We ain't mentioned it afore, Mr. Stark, but me and Ben is quarter-blood comanche.

Well, get down. Don't just sit there.

Get yourselves some shelter. Henry, put the horses up.

Make yourselves to home. I reckon we got a little coffee left.

Thanks, grandma.

Grandma?

Here, drink some of this. It'll warm you up.

Well, go ahead. I ain't gonna bite you.

I don't know. Those teeth look pretty sharp to me.

Well, they oughta be.

They haven't had anything to eat in three days.

What?

Well, take a look for yourself.

Them folks are starvin'.

From the looks of you, you ain't doin' any better.

No. We lost our packhorse.

Maybe you're not as empty-handed as you think.

You ain't thinkin' of butcherin' one of our mules.

That's no mule, grandma. That's a Missouri elk.

You just start settin' the table.

How we gonna get our wagons out of here without mules?

You starve to death, you won't need any wagons.

Mister, you're talkin' my language.

Oh, just so you won't have to keep confusin' me with your grandma,

my name's nella. Nella Turner.

I'm Ben Allison.

Mr. Allison, we're mighty pleased to have you stay for supper.

We're having Missouri elk.

Yes, ma'am. Coming right up.

Well, how you two human icicles standin' the thaw?

Now that we got some real, live heat, things are perkin' up again.

Ben's my brother. I'm Clint. Clinton Allison, ma'am.

Free and single as a skunk at a Sunday school picnic.

Probably for the same reason.

Now, don't go honey-fussin' me, ma'am, just cause I'm rich and handsome.

Look, junior, why don't you run along and help papa cut up the nice mule.

Mama's hungry.

Anything to please a lady.

You don't talk much, do ya?

No. These others are not your people.

You askin' or tellin' me?

Merely an observation.

It figures.

You know, for a fella who doesn't do much talkin',

you got real busy eyes.

It's not that I mind bein' stared at. That's part of bein' a female.

But I don't like bein' weighed, measured, and counted.

I'd call it 130 pounds.

Pure gold in the rough. Just needs a little refining.

Don't shortchange me. It's 135.

And just to show you how unrefined I am,

why don't you get off your dead end and go out and get us some firewood.

Your servant, ma'am.

We oughta make bent's trading post by noon