The Hired Hand

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Hey, harry!!

Come on, else Im going to fry up

some bread!!

Hey, harry!!

Goddamn, how long have we been

boiling these grounds?

Tastes awful sour to me.

Well, you can throw them

away after this.

We'll be in del Norte by noon.

We'll buy some fresh.

Hey, arch,

these fish aren't bad.

Needs some salt though.

Well, we arent got none.

That's something else

we're going to have to get.

You set on the coast, Dan?

What the hell?

We got nothing but time.

I'll tell you something.

That is where it's really good,

out there in California.

You got your --

You got your weather.

Your woman are half-Mex,

half-American.

You got your gold...

and oranges...

and the ocean.

They say that ocean looks

like a great blue prairie.

I am not never seen

that much water.

Me neither.

This here's the most water

I ever saw.

Hey, harry.

Did you leave the line set?

Well... never can tell.

You might have something.

He's all right, harry.

He's just young, full of piss

and vinegar, like you was.

Was I like that?

Sure enough.

He's always wanting to go

someplace he hasn't been.

You really want to

go to the coast, arch?

Good as anywhere.

Better than most.

What's your fancy, harry?

Arch! Harry!

Come here, quick!

Harry!

Let me go!

What the hell are you at, anyway?!

Hey, what does he think

he's doing,

Letting her float away

like that?

Been dead awhile, whatever it was.

What do you mean,

"whatever it was"?

It was a little white girl.

It's a little blonde white girl.

You'd be dumping pieces

in your hands

The moment you started

to pull her in.

Hi.

Hi.

You fellows know where I can

find a man to shoe my horse?

Threw a front plate

a mile or so back.

Uh, tell me something, boy.

You always ride around

in your combinations?

Well, I-I got wet

crossing the river,

Thought Id dry out.

Any of you fellows

a blacksmith?

Isnt no blacksmith

that lives here now.

You want any horseshoeing done,

You're going to have to

get it done yourself.

Well... much obliged.

I'm out.

Well, think Ill have a cold beer.

They arent got no beer,

And even if they did have,

it wouldn't be cold.

They got, uh, three kinds of

tequila and one of whiskey,

And they're all grain and bad.

Well, what kind of town is this anyway?

Isnt no blacksmith.

arent no cold beer.

Don't see no girls.

arent changed much,

that's for sure.

You mean

you been here before?

Yeah. Three years ago

we was here.

Arch had a bad foot.

Damned horse stepped on it

and broke all my toes.

You fellows made up your mind?

Yeah, give us a bottle of that

double eagle and three glasses.

One eagle, three glasses.

Arch:
well, here's to us.

Here's to the coast.

Here's to California.

I am not going.

How's that, harry?

I am not going to the coast.

Where are you going to go then?

Home.

Now, look, harry,

If it's because of me

being so touchy this morning...

am not to do with that, Dan.

Oh.

Maybe there isnt

no such color.

We get to the coast,

it won't be like this.

Where I come from,

There's a guy who knew a fellow

who was on the coast.

Said it was different

from anything you ever saw.

Home is just a place

you start from, arch.

There will be something there.

Think maybe your wife and your

little girl are still there?

Didn't know you was married,

harry, had kids.

Why don't you go to the coast,

make something, send for them?

You go to the coast, Dan.

And when, in three or four years,

You find yourself sitting here

drinking this ride lotion,

You remember how you thought

it was going to be.

The hell with him.

The hell, I say.

We don't need him.

We can go to the coast

without him, can't we, arch?

You know how long me and him

rid together?

I forget. Long time.

Seven years -- Year round.

Seven years --

It's a long time.

You mean you arent going to go

to the coast?

You're going to go with harry?

No, Dan, I am not going to go

with harry.

Didn't recognize this place

until I saw that peak.

Then I remembered.

Guess I decided then.

It's just a waste

living like this, arch.

It's been building up

a long while.

Well, Ill go on

with the boy.

Always wanted

to see that ocean.

Come on.

It's a real good one, Sam.

It's a real good one.

Let's have a look at that bottle.

Hey, boy...

there isnt hardly

a mouthful left in here.

Have to get another one.

Going to ride out

in the morning?

Not the way Im drinking

this whiskey, I won't.

How long is it going to take you

to ride back?

A week, there about.

How you know there's

anything for you there?

I mean, what if she's married?

Haven't thought on it.

Yeah.

Well...

you come on out to the coast,

Maybe we'll meet up again.

Maybe, arch.

Maybe so.

Well, looks like

Dans already been here

And got himself something else.

Well, what'll you have?

Same as your partner?

Well, what did he have?

Well, he had a bit of prime.

Three dollars worth

to be exact.

Well, I guess Dans

in tonight.

You might as well

give us a couple shots

Of that double eagle there.

Oh, mother!

Mother!

Is he dead?

You shoot him?

This is my wife.

I found him in our house.

He was attacking her.

I called him, and I thought

he went for his gun,

But I guess he was just

pulling on his pants.

I'll take care

of the burying'.

That's all right.

We'll see to it.

How'd he find your wife?

Well, I guess he just saw her

outside and followed her home.

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