Man in the Saddle Page #3

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- Now lookie here.

- You lookie here.

I'm not gonna have you

panhandling off of Skull.

You'd send me away?

My own daughter?

I'm now Will Isham's wife.

And you'll not keep me from

having the respect and dignity...

that he expects me to have.

After all I've done for you.

- The way I raised you.

- The way you raised me?

I saw Mother work like

a horse to keep us alive.

I saw her die, out of shame, mostly.

What'll I do, daughter? Where'll I go?

Go back south where you used to live.

You won't starve. I'll send you money,

but you've got to stay away from Skull...

and from Will Isham.

I've got a chance to be

something the Bidwells never were.

And you're not gonna

ruin it. Goodbye, Dad.

- Pay, would you like some brandy?

- I don't drink.

I'm going to buy your ranch tonight.

You aiming to threaten me, Will?

If you are, I'm too grown up to scare.

I'm gonna make it so worthwhile,

you can't afford not to sell.

I'll give you $50,000 cash.

It ain't worth nigh that.

There's a small lake, a waterhole,

that straddles your land and mine.

Well, what of it?

There's more than enough

water there for both our herds.

You don't get the idea.

I'd only own half a lake.

I never own half of anything, I

own it all. Lock, stock and barrel.

That goes for anything.

Whatever I have is mine and mine

alone. I'll share with no one.

You're a strange man

to figure, Will...

but I reckon you can't be beat.

I'll sell.

If a man like Owen Merritt wouldn't

fight for what belonged to him...

I reckon I'm too old to try.

What belonged to him, Pay?

Pay, you're my guest

and I'll say nothing.

But when you ride off Skull tonight,

don't ever come back on my land again.

I'll pick up the papers at the

bank and give you your money.

What happened to your father?

He's going away on a trip.

He won't be back to Skull.

You're a smart woman, Laurie. I

was very pleased. You've got tact.

You know how to handle people

and make them feel good.

Thank you.

That's what you want.

What is it you want, Laurie?

Nothing more than I'm getting now.

You know my family, what I came from.

I'm grateful to you, Will.

And I'll never let you down

on my part of the bargain.

Remember that.

I'll play the part

you want me to play.

Is this nothing more than

a bargain with you, Laurie?

Nothing more?

Did I ever give you the

impression it would be otherwise?

No. I'll give you credit. You didn't.

Good night, Laurie.

Good night, Will.

Help yourself to the whiskey.

Thanks, boss.

Here's to you.

- What about it? - Skull is now

up against Owen Merritt's line.

What's wrong with that?

In spite of what he said, you

don't trust Merritt a bit, do you?

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