Deliverance Creek

- Hey. - Nice shiny blade there.

- Stand easy. They're ours.

Stand easy!

Looks like you claimed

another easy victory for the union, major.

Where's your regiment from?

- Kind of a ragtag bunch from all over.

- Well, lookee here, this one's still alive.

Just finish him off, cyril.

- Well, now, where is the fun in that?

- Don't kill me. Look, I know something.

We're going to pick up our pay.

It's coming all in gold-- six union regiments' worth.

Where?

- Uh, deliverance creek, missouri.

When?

- Ah, I don't know. I didn't hear that part.

You didn't hear that part.

Well, then I guess you don't need

both these ears of yours, now, do you?

And look, see,

I could use another pair for my collection.

- No, please! Don't! Stop! Aah!

Forward!

- Come on, boys, let's move out!

Toby!

[Children speaking indistinctly]

- I'm gonna get you. I'm gonna get you.

Oh.

You have the worst timing.

- Oh, come on, I'm one of only two deputies left.

When I saw you riding up,

I thought you was harlan coming home.

- You know, you want me to stop coming by, belle,

just say so.

No.

I want to see more of you, nate.

In fact, I don't know what we're waiting for.

I haven't had even a letter in over two years,

and if that don't make me a widow...

- Don't sit right--me being with another man's wife,

but I couldn't have stopped this even if I tried.

So, when the time comes, will you marry me?

Yeah.

But you're not saying we have to wait until then,

though, are you?

No, ma'am.

I'm off duty sunday. You can be back before sunup.

Now, come on...

Let's go scare the hell out of those kids of yours, huh?

- Jeb. What do you want?

- Oh, just making sure everything's all right

over here, neighbor.

Thank you for checking in on us, but we're making do.

You'll have to excuse me. I have supper to fix.

Well, now, come on, now.

I see deputy cooper riding up here all the time.

Why accept his help when I'm right next door?

You're drunk.

Go on home and sleep it off.

Yeah?

You goddamn bitch!

Oh!

Get off my ranch!

You're gonna regret this.

- Give my regards to your wife.

Where have you been?

- I went over to tell belle barlowe

her calves got mixed in with ours.

She went off hollering.

I shouldn't even have to deal with that woman.

That land should be ours, cordelia.

- That burr in your boot have anything to do

with that handprint on your cheek, jeb?

- You even listening to me, woman?

I'm telling you what's what.

Well, go clean up for supper.

You got to leave tonight.

It's true.

- You know I don't know what it says.

- Slave auction's coming here monday.

This was on master's desk with a list.

You and the boys are on it, moses.

There's peppers to throw off the dogs

and enough food to last till you get there.

- Wait. You're not coming with us?

- Little edward's still poorly. - Kessie.

- Master thinks I'm down here making a mustard plaster.

If I leave now, he'll know five minutes after I've left.

- Then we'll wait. We go together.

- You go now. He won't even notice you're gone till morning.

I'll pick my time and go.

It's okay, baby. We're gonna be together real soon.

- Kessiah--kessie, master's looking for ya!

I'm coming, alma!

They'll leave you at the schoolhouse

in deliverance creek, missouri.

- I know all about the underground railroad, ben.

- I just want you to be aware, now, that's all.

- You spent all summer trying to talk me into this, ben,

and now you're trying to talk me out of it?

Don't--now, hattie gatlin--

- what's this, just wanting to use my schoolhouse

but not have me pick them up?

- You heard what happened to those quakers out in fayette?

- I understand the dangers, ben.

But I've never felt so right about anything in my life.

Oh, hi.

What are you doing here on a saturday?

Don't you know that there's no school?

Hey, where's your mama at?

- Hi, aunt hattie. - Hi, caleb.

What a wonderful surprise.

Hi.

- All right, go play. - Run along.

- Hi. - Hi.

- Pleasure to see you, mrs. Barlowe.

Why, hello, ben.

- I'll be seeing you ladies at church.

- Awfully early to come a-courtin'.

- You ride all the way out here to give me a hard time?

Can you come stay sunday night?

I can be back before sunup.

- Are you and nate passing the night together?

This war's not gonna last forever, belle.

What if harlan finds out? - Harlan is dead.

- You don't know he's dead. - I know he's dead.

- People around here are gonna figure it out.

- Tongues wag no matter what I do.

Belle...

Is it that crazy to think

maybe this time I can choose who I love?

- I just hope all this turns out like you want it to.

Thank you.

Benjamin?

Yes, aunt cordelia.

Why didn't you tell me

belle barlowe is behind on her payments?

- She makes a little payment each month...

Same as most other widows in town.

- She's not a widow, last I heard.

A war widow.

- How's she gonna round up her cattle alone?

She's only got little ones.

Why do you defend her so?

I...

Go nail this

to belle gatlin barlowe's front door.

One, two, three.

What's wrong, ma?

Nothing.

You up for branding some calves?

Thought maybe we could take a few to auction this week.

- Yeah! -

Ma, come here! Look!

That thieving son of a bitch

branded all four of our spring calves.

Jeb?

- How many other thieving sons of bitches do we know?

- You're not gonna shoot an unarmed man

coming out of his privy.

- I do whatever I goddamn please.

Isn't that what you do, jeb?

Jesus!

- You missed your mark, or are you asking him to dance?

Haven't rightly warmed up yet.

What are you up to, belle?

- Well, clearly not as much as you two!

See, jeb here's been branding my calves

while you've been leaving love notes for me

on my front porch!

- I run a bank, belle, not a charity.

- Stop jawing and get my gun, cordelia.

Jeez! You could've blown my knee off!

What do you want?

You owe me four--

five-- five calves! You hear?

- Five? I'm pretty certain that--

All right!

All right, all right, all right! All right! All right!

Son of a--

fine. We'll bring 'em round.

No, we'll take 'em now.

- You heard her, boy! Get those calves.

Yes, master.

- I'm pretty sure if jeb hadn't just visited the privy,

he'd have wet his pants for sure.

- How we feeling, master edward?

Let's have a listen.

- Okay. - All the way up.