The Rebel

Good morning!

Man about 50 come into town,

wears glasses, maybe buckskins,

probably smells like a Mescalero wakey up.

My name's Clair Dainer.

Oh well, yes sir.

No sir he ain't.

The bridge from Yarburg's down

if he come that way he'd be about nine hours late.

Well thank you.

Me and my uncle John Sims are going fishing.

Uh huh.

Yeah, you get a late winter here.

Johnny Reb?

Well my name's Johnny.

Trying to tell me you stole that cap?

No sir, I earned it fair and square.

I swear I know you.

I swear I know that pinched face of yours.

No sir, I don't think so.

You fight at the Battle of the Wilderness?

I fought at Chancellorville.

Any name, any name you want.

You was there though huh?

Yes sir, I said I was.

You were there the day Lee led the third Texas?

General Lee wanted to but he was dissuaded.

May fifth 1864 you were with Lee.

Yes sir.

We almost turned the war that day.

Thought I had killed you.

Save it, stay still.

You were brave alright.

My but you were brave.

Sitting up on that big horse of yours

with a five shot cavalry pistol in each hand

mowing down the foot soldiers carrying single shot muskets

that were 25 years old.

Cutting 'em down like they were rows of wheat.

It was a hard war mister.

But I never saw you before in my life.

First a brother, now a son.

I didn't wanna kill him.

This place you live in is a fly spec

at the edge of the world.

Whatever it is, it belongs to me and mine

and you live by the sufferance of me and mine.

Campbell for Campbelltown.

Who holds out his hand to this man I will kill.

We have to live here mister.

I'm sorry for ya sweetie.

Do you believe I can understand railroad code?

Whatever you say mister.

Yes sir.

When does the train get here from Yarburg?

About four this afternoon.

That late?

It's got a two hour layover in Millburry,

take on a load of freight.

How long by horse?

It's eight a.m. now around noon.

Alright, write this down.

Uncle John Sims care of Yarburg station master.

Am in Campbelltown, am hurt, need help.

But don't come in like Jeb Stewart, Johnny.

Did you really kill George Campbell's brother in the war?

Send it.

Then you're taking me to a doctor.

What do you want here old timer?

Why?

Just answer him old man.

I wanna catch a train.

Catch a train huh?

Say what do you do?

A drummer.

A drummer?

Well you sure don't look like one.

You don't smell like one either.

Where can I sleep?

Oh down at the saloon maybe.

What is it?

A lynching?

A hanging?

Jailbreak?

I saw two men silhouetted in the hills,

and one of them stalked me about oh three miles out

and now you two.

Hey, you're just plain nosy ain't you drummer?

Purely nosy.

No I guess I'm just getting old.

10 years ago I would've killed you for saying that.

Yeah, I want a room.

You come from the west?

Yeah.

The two men at the jerkwater let you past?

That's right.

Five dollars for the night.

Hey, where's the boy with the rebel cap?

Where is he?

At the doctor's house.

The tan house, across the street.

Thank you.

Thanks mister.

Doc Raydon.

Thanks doc.

That fella isn't a very good shot is he uncle John?

All I wanted to do was go fishing.

Today I saw my godfather John Sims

for the first time in almost a year.

He's changed some since we hunted and killed the Apache

renegade Masi who had murdered my aunt Emily.

Uncle John seems more gentle now.

This Campbell he believes I killed his brother,

I can't even give the lie to him I don't know

cause I had to kill his son.

It's now about three in the afternoon

in one more hour we'll have to take the train outta here,

either that or nothing.

They're waiting in the street and they mean to kill us.

One hour, doctor.

In one stinking hour.

Now you just lay still there, just lay still

and maybe you'll live.

I do feel close to that boy doc,

and you kept him alive.

Who cometh to your door you heal,

who pleads for your help

to him will you hold out your hand in mercy.

Yeah.

Are you sure that train is gonna be in around four?

Huh, would you say?

4:10 yes sir, it should be.

Mr. Sims, I sure would like to get outta here.