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| Episode No. | 2 |
| Episode Title | Home Ranch |
| Season | 1 |
| Guest Stars | Lee Farr - Steve Rowland - Harold J. Stone - Rodolfo Hoyos - Don Kennedy |
| Airdate | 10/07/58 |
| Writer | Sam Peckinpah |
| Director | Arnold Laven |
| Synopsis | Cattle baron Oat Jackford orders his two cowboys to run Lucas McCain and his son off their ranch. Our ranch is 4 miles south of North Fork. As we were arriving at our new 'Home Ranch,' two cowboys dropped by to pay us a visit. They wanted to make sure that we knew we were not welcome here. The cowboys were employed by Oat Jackford, who is use to having things his own way, and doesn't intend to give up any land that his cows have been grazing on. The cowboys made it clear that they are a big outfit and didn't intend on getting any smaller. When I refused, they lassoed me - then dragged me with a rope. Then they burned down our ranch. As the men rode out they took my rifle and left the message....."McCain's get out!" With our new home burned to the ground, Mark was upset and discouraged. "Pa.....it's just not fair!" "We ride half way across the country looking for the right place, and when we finally got it.....well look what happened!" "Looks to me like the Lord is 'dead set against us having our own place'!" Mark was practically in tears. I realized I must restore his faith in the Lord. I told him a story from the Bible about Job's trouble with the devil and how the Lord had blessed him for not losing his faith in him in times of trouble. "Help me saddle up boy.....I want to tell you a story. Come on....." "Along time ago in a country so far west, it's almost due east of here.....lived a big stock man with a beard so long it reached down to his belly button." "His name.....was Job." "Now Job had seven sons and seven daughters.....over seven thousand head of fine cattle and sheep. Not to mention a considerable amount of camels." "Now Job was top dog with the Lord because he was so hard working, righteous. The Lord never lost a chance to brag on him.....made a point to tell the devil about the old man.....about how he hated evil, temptation and most important.....how he never lost his faith in God." "Well the devil switched his tail and laughed and he allowed that Job was such a good man because everything was going his way. Just give him some trouble and he'd switch sides in a hurry." "Well the Lord thought this over.....and then he said he'd give the devil a hard dollar against a penny's worth of brimstone that Job would keep faith with his maker no matter what trials were put upon him." "Well the devil sent some rustlers on to the old man's stock Then he called up a big wind that knocked down his house and killed all his children. The old man's beard turned white with grief. But he held stead fast. So the devil reared back and saddled him all over with fester and boils. "Mark.....Job was a miserable as a man could be. He got himself a piece of broken jug.....sat out in the corral doctrine his boils and shaken ashes over his head and bewailing his faith.....wondering why the Lord has forsaken him until finally three of his friends came up, and they told Job that wailing about the situation only made it worse and it looked to them like he sinned somewhere along the line and why didn't he repent. Job jumped right back at them.....he said he'd repent when he had something to repent about. He knew he'd been good and righteous and while he might complain about his life, he not lost faith with the Lord. "Oh that my words were now written and printed in a book.....graven with chisel and granite rock forever.....for I know that my redeemer liveth.....and that he shall stand beside me later on.....that's how the old man put it!" "Well Mark.....the devil was plum wore out so he just tossed in his chips and quit the game. The Lord was so proud of Job that he restored all the old man's children and his house and his camels and sheep and he gave him over twice as many cattle as he has before. And Job lived a hundred and forty years happy as a birddog. And finally died being old and full of days," Mark though about what I had just said. "Makes our troubles look kind of piddlin' don't it?" I nodded. "But I guess if we were to come down with boils we'd know where to put the blame," said Mark. I laughed. "I don't think Jackford can go quite that far son." "I guess we're gonna keep this ranch!" Said Mark. I then told him....."Well I guess we're gonna try!" Mark knew then that we could overcome any kind of obstacles as long as we keep our faith in the Lord and faced them together. I rode out to track the men - sneaking into their camp and regaining my rifle. I quietly approached Billy and Sam and tied them up. I had them lie in their bedrolls so it would look like they were sleeping when the other men would ride in. Pablo rode into camp, and he wanted one of the men to relieve him so he could get some rest. He noticed Billy and Sam were tied up. I approached him with my rifle and tied him up too. Now all I had to do was wait for Jackford. Jackford and Clyde went looking for the herd. Jackford was upset, because the heard was scattered around and no rider. Clyde suggested maybe the herd got away from the others. "If those boys went to sleep and left my cattle drift, I'll nail their hides to the wall," said Jackford. Jackford and Clyde rode into their camp, where he found his men tied up. "Well if this ain't somethin'," said Jackford. "That's far enough. Evenin' Mr. Jackford," I said while holding my rifle on them. Jackford went for his gun and I shot at him. I told Jackford and Clyde to drop their guns and step away. "Old man if you wasn't so slow you'd be wearin' a brokin' wrist." He asked me what I wanted. I told him who I was and that his two boys tried to push me off my place this morning. "I came up to tell you it can't be done!" He knew right away I was the one who bought the Dunlap Ranch. "I bought it and I plan on keepin' it." He asked me how much I wanted for the ranch. "You can't by it for money, marbles or chalk Mr. Jackford!" "Maybe I ought to rope and drag you for a while. A mouth full of foxtails might teach you some manners. It taught me!" He told me I had my said and I was to get on my horse and ride out of there. "We got another thing to settle.....your boys burnt down my house!" That made him mad. "They had no call to burn your house. I'll pay you for your loss. I've got plans for that ranch and I plan to keep 'em." Jackford told me to get out. "Not until you build what you burnt down!" As I started to put the rifle down. Jackford hit me. I fell to the ground. He said he was going to wrap my fancy rifle around a tree. I grabbed his leg and knocked him to the ground. We kept hitting each other again and again. We we're both tired. He reached out his hand for me to help him up. He had a rock in his hand and I hit him and knocked him to the ground again. Clyde picked up the gun and held it on me. "That's far enough mister!" "Well tell him to shoot! If you've got guts enough! You better do it Jackford or I'll be waitin' out in the brush every time you step out the door! I'll kill your stock and I'll burn your barn! I'm gonna pay you back Mr. Jackford! Now what's it gonna be?" "Alright.....we'll build you a new house," said Jackford. Jackford walked over to me. "Alright mister.....you've got yourself a ranch. Whether you keep it is something else. You step out of line or you make one mistake.....your finished! I'll be watchin' and waitin'! Waiting for a reason to come after you with a gun and when I do, I won't be alone. Remember that Mr. McCain!" I rode off. Jackford kept his word. The next day Jackford's men rode in with a wagon load of wood, ready to start our new home! Episode Summary written by Margie Straub of riflemanconnors.com |
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