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I must save the souls of those misguided Mormon women.

It's a mockery of the Lord's will

that Heber Clawson should claim two wives.

I know how you feel, Preacher,

but it'll be dark in a couple of hours.

Two women, one pregnant.

They won't get very far.

Yeah.

Giddyap!

Suppose they followed us?

I don't know.

How do you know anything when something like this starts?

Just how do you measure hatred and prejudice?

It all happened so fast.

Just a few days ago we were all sitting in church,

you, Susannah, Elizabeth Anne and me.

You saw it born there, Joe.

That's the way it always is.

The least expected time and the least expected place.

Well, we'd better get moving

if we're going to catch up with Susannah and Elizabeth Anne.

Right.

Susannah?

If we could stop soon...

All right.

We'll stop in those rocks right up ahead.

You don't have to do for me this way, Susannah.

Our husband has lost his ranch,

the horses that he loves.

And he's had his faith in his fellow man

put to still another test.

Elizabeth Anne, this child, our child,

we mustn't let it be taken from him,

regardless of the cost.

No.

Well, it's been a real pleasure

doing business with you, Mr. Cartwright.

Well, thank you very much, Mr. Baker.

And thank you for your hospitality.

Next time you're up around our way,

you make sure you stay at the Ponderosa with us.

Now, you can really count on that.

I've got to congratulate you

on choosing Heber Clawson for your cutting horses.

That man really has a way with horses,

even if he is a Mormon.

Well, come on, boys,

better head back to the ranch now.

Good-bye, sir. Bye, Mr. Baker.

Bye, Hoss. Adios, Mr. Baker.

Well,

We done pretty good here.

I hope Little Joe has done as well.

I'm sure he has.

Pa, you reckon the two of us can move all them horses?

Well, son, we're just about to find out.

♪♪

Look there.

Susannah!

Susannah?

Go to Elizabeth Anne, Heber.

She needs you.

She needs your strength and reassurance.

I was so worried.

Well, maybe now that...

now that Carbo and the preacher got their fill of violence,

maybe they'll leave us alone.

I wish that were true,

but it's not and you know it.

So does Heber.

Well, things could change.

Besides, we'll be joining up with Pa and Hess pretty soon.

What on earth are you doing?

Finishing the clothes for our child.

Oh.

We have so much to be thankful for.

You and Susannah and I.

We have our love.

And as long as we keep that,

nothing can happen to us.

We'll always have that.

So we have nothing to worry about, do we?

Oh.

Won't you smile for me, Heber?

Hadn't you better go give Susannah a hand?

I guess I had.

You sure don't need any help here.

And, Heber.

Don't you go sending us off by ourselves again.

I'll be with you forever.

And a day.

Do you know what that girl is doing?

Does she have any idea what's going on?

Of course she knows what's going on.

She's knitting, isn't she?

That's what women usually do when they have a baby.

I swear, if you aren't two

of the doggonedest women I have ever met in my life.

Susannah.

Got a confession to make.

Up to five minutes ago,

I was ready to give up.

You were?

Now, even this country is beginning to look good to me.

Well, it's pretty quiet.

You know, I still can't believe it.

I talked to those people in Beehive.

They seemed decent enough.

Well, they are, Joe,

for the most part,

but prejudice has never respected decency.

I've seen it so many times.

But I kept telling myself,

it couldn't happen to me.

You just wonder what happens to people.

Well, anyway, we're going to make it all right.

Some fine doctors in Virginia City.

No, Joe.

I'm going back to Salt Lake.

I want to be with my people where I belong.

I defied my church once

when I stayed in Beehive

while the others were called back.

And they forgave me.

Now is my chance to prove myself worthy of that forgiveness.

I'll start all over.

Build a new house like Susannah and I did

when we were first married.

Most important,

I'll raise my child in my own faith.

Why, I've got no fear of the future, Joe.

I do regret that I've had to put

Susannah and Elizabeth Anne through all this.

Why don't you go on down there to them?

Thank you, Joe.

I'm going up on the hill to take a look.

♪♪

They're coming!

Giddyap!

Get on there!

Move on!

Hyah!

Come on!

Heber.

Heber!

We've got to slow down.

No!

I'm all right, Heber. I'm fine.

Go on, Susannah!

Giddyap!

Hyah!

♪♪

Giddyap!

♪♪

We can't do this to Elizabeth Anne.

We're gonna kill her.

Heber!

Let me go to Carbo and try and reason with him.

You can't argue with the Devil, Susannah.

Heber!

Don't let Susannah try to bargain with Grant Carbo.

That man is evil, and you know how he feels about her.

I know. Don't worry.

Now, we just have to wait 'em out.

Yeah.

If we could just get the men over to one side.

I don't want anything to happen to those women.

Nothing's gonna happen to Susannah.

I'll promise you that.

Mm-hmm.

I was really thinking more of the other one,

the one that's going to have the baby.

She's the second wife, and that's where the sin is.

Preacher...

that's a moral problem, I reckon,

and that puts it in your camp, not mine.

How much further to where we're supposed to meet Pa?

If we can get moving again,

it's only about four or five miles.

You take the wagon and get going.

What makes you think I'd do that?

My pa and brother get there, tell them I could use some help.

Joe, I'm not listening to you.

Look, I'm not going to argue with you about this.

Those two women need you, and so does your child.

Try and give us just five minutes,

and then you come on.

We have to get moving.

It's only a little ways.

There's no other choice.

Come on, Elizabeth Anne.

You lie down in the back.

You'll feel better.

Boss, Heber and the wagon are making a run for it.

We got to stop them, we got to stop them!

Send two men and cut 'em off.

We can't let that kid stay at our back.

Now listen.

There's only one of 'em up there.

Move in on him.

♪♪

Giddyap! Hyah!

Giddyap!

Hyah! Come on!

Get on there!

Move on!

Pa, that's Joe.

Get these horses moving!

Good to see you.

Yeah, we just thought we'd drop by.

Who are they?

It's Carbo and his men.

Carbo? Listen,

if you three think you can hold them down,

I'd like to get back with the women.

The women? I'll tell you about it later.

Go ahead.

Dave, you got any idea of why we're here?

Yeah, wages.

Well, I don't like it.

Them Mormons never done nothing to me.

All four of them are out there together.

That means the two women are alone at the wagon.

Then I shall go to them.

And I shall pray with them,

here in this barren land,

and I shall drive the sin from their souls.

I've spoken to you before, Preacher.

I'm gonna speak to you again.

You stay put.

I'm running things.

We are both soldiers marching

in the army of the Lord, my friend.

It is your duty to destroy the Danite and the heathen.

It's my duty to save souls.

Now, you're going to stay put

if I have to knock your teeth out.

Mr. Carbo!

Our church.

You wouldn't have no church unless you had my money.

It's about time you understood that.

Now, you behave yourself and do like I say,

or that money stops.

Susannah.

Susannah.

I'm here, dear.

The shooting has stopped.

Is it all over?

I don't know.

Oh---!

Don't leave me, Susannah.

I won't leave you ever, dear.

Susannah?

Oh, thank heavens!

What's happening?

Ben Cartwright and Hess are with Little Joe.

They'll be able to hold off Carbo and his men for a while,

but I just don't know how long.

How's Elizabeth Anne?

I think her time's very near.

What are we gonna do, Heber?

What are we gonna do?

Haven't seen anything move over there in ten minutes.

Reckon we run 'em off?

No. They're still there, all right.

I'll go have a look.

Tex, Dave.

Come along with me.

What are you going to do?

I ain't gonna save any souls, Preacher.

I'm just gonna get me what I come for.

Our mission must not fail.

It won't.

I'm not sure I did the right thing,

letting him go that way.

Preacher...

you do the right thing

when you do what Grant Carbo tells you to do.

There just ain't no other way to go

in this part of the country.

Bless especially, dear Father,

those who have caused such pain in our lives,

that their hearts may be opened to thy love.

Amen. Amen.

My dear husband...

Heber...

...my dear sister, Susannah.

Try to rest now.

You're both so good to me.

You mustn't worry about me so.

We love you, Elizabeth Anne.

We love you so very much.

♪♪

I don't know much about delivering babies.

She should have a doctor.

Yes, I know, I know.

What's to become of us?

God wills.

Are we to run forever

because our faith is different from that of others?

No, Susannah. Not forever.

Someday there'll be a better world...

a world without bigotry and hatred and blind prejudice.

There has to be.

I refuse to believe that men have died in vain

from the beginning of time.

I love you, Heber.

I love you with all my heart.

Oh! Oh, my God!

Oh! Oh...

Oh, Heber...

You left me no other way.

Don't you see that?

Elizabeth Anne, stay back!

Stay back, Elizabeth Anne!

Elizabeth Anne, stay back! No!

Elizabeth Anne!

I told you I get what I'm after, Susannah.

Aah!

Carbo!

0h!

Oh, no!

No!

Oh---...

No!

Hold it!

Oh, no!

No...

Oh---...

I...

Oh, no... oh...

Well, there's only three of 'em.

What are you waiting for?

Can't you see there's been murder here?

That's right, Parley, there has been murder here.

And you're responsible for it.

I'm not listening to this.

You three are Danites.

Hired killers.

Are they, Mr. Parley?

Grant Carbo shot our husband

in the back.

He never had the chance to defend himself.

Ask them. They must have seen it.

Are you men enough to stand up and admit it,

or are you still afraid of Carbo, even when he's dead?

Don't listen to her.

You men know why we're here.

We're here on a mission for the Lord.

Those three Danites must pay!

In the name of the church, they must pay!

What Lord, Mr. Parley?

What church?

You call yourself a man of God.

You don't even know the meaning of the phrase.

Look. Look there.

Look at our husband.

There was a true man of God...

...and you and your hatred and your prejudice,

you've killed him.

Now, you men know why we're here.

Those two women must be cleansed of their sins.

In the name of the church.

Carbo never gave a hoot about you or your church.

He was just using you.

I don't want no more trouble, Joe.

All Carbo ever wanted was this woman.

And everybody knew it.

Except you, Preacher.

No, you're wrong.

Mr. Carbo was a devout man.

You can't go!

Don't talk to me, Preacher.

You make me sick at my stomach.

But you can't leave!

Our work's not completed!

You two women...

Y-you must know I meant only good.

Why...

it was just like the story of Mary Magdalene.

Believe me,

I never meant any harm.

Why don't you leave them alone with their grief?

I only...

I only wanted to save their souls.

Preacher...

I think you should concentrate on saving your own soul.

No!

Wait!

We must all work for salvation!

You must stay!

Wait! Please wait.

♪♪

What do you think, Pa?

Well...

I'll tell you, her time is near.

I wouldn't like to move her in that wagon.

I think it would be fatal.

I can make the ride to Humboldt Crossing.

There'll be a doctor there.

Oh, I think you'd better do that.

I'll tell Susannah.

At least we can give her that much hope.

Hyah.

Well?

She's so still.

Well, rest is the best thing for her right now.

Look, Susannah, why don't you, uh,

go get you something to eat?

Pa, she ain't eaten since yesterday.

I know.

Well, I ain't doing a whole lot of good around here.

I think I'll saddle up again

and see if I can't round up some of those horses.

♪♪

I'll take care of her.

I promise, Heber, I'll take care of her.

And I'll take care of your child.

She have the baby yet?

No.

I tell you, if that doctor doesn't get here pretty soon...

Hoss, I'm real worried.

Things, things are real rough with her.

This is Doc Bingham, Pa.

Glad to know you, Doctor. How are you?

We'll-we'll visit later.

Where's the patient?

In there.

How is she, Doctor?

She's gonna die.

And there's nothing I can do about it.

I don't know how she managed to last this long.

Just-just hanging on for the baby, I guess.

Well, what about the baby?

Will it be born all right?

It's questionable at best.

But the mother's struggling to give it every chance.

What if she dies before the baby's born?

That would reduce the chances of the infant's survival

to almost none.

Would you put some more wood on the fire?

Hello, Susannah.

Are we home?

No, not home.

We're safe here.

Our baby will be all right.

Of course it will.

Yes.

Yes, it will, won't it?

Of course.

Now-now, don't worry.

You go to sleep now.

The doctor's here.

Look, Pa.

Who's that?

I don't know.

I'm Reverend Blaisdale, this is my wife.

As soon as we heard what happened,

we came to see if we could be of assistance.

Reverend, Bessie, glad you came.

It's a fine baby boy, Mr. Cartwright.

And Elizabeth Anne?

She's conscious now, but she can't last very long.

Perhaps my wife and I should go to her now.

They asked to be alone.

He's beautiful.

If only Heber could have known.

He knows, Elizabeth Anne.

Yes.

Yes, I believe he does.

I love you.

Susannah.

Will you take care of our son?

Always?

Of course I will.

Do you remember how in times of stress

Heber always recited our 13th Article of Faith?

I remember.

Would you recite it for me?

I want to hear it...

just once more.

"We believe in being honest,

"true, chaste, benevolent,

virtuous, and in doing good to all men."

"Indeed, you may say

that we follow the admonition of Paul."

"'We believe all things, hope all things.'

"We have endured many things.

We hope to be able to endure all things."

"If there is anything lovely, virtuous,

"of good report or praiseworthy,

we seek after these things."

"We believe all things,

we hope..."

"...all things."

"We have...

"endured...

"many...

many...

♪♪

Poor, innocent infant.

What's to become of it?

We'll take it, of course.

You'll take it?!

You'll take this child?!

You stand there in your great and mighty righteousness

and tell me you'll take this child from me.

Susannah, please.

Your bigotry and prejudice have already taken my husband from me

and my sister.

And now you stand there and tell me that you'll take this child?

Mrs. Clawson, I only meant...

I know what you meant.

That this is not my child.

That it was born of another.

But don't you understand?

This child's father was my husband.

We wanted children, my husband and I,

more than anything in the world.

But when the Lord in his wisdom

saw fit to deny me that privilege,

my husband took Elizabeth Anne to wed

with the blessing of our church

and in the sanctity of our church.

This child is as much mine as if it were born of my body.

It will be raised in its father's faith

and in its father's image.

Mrs. Clawson.

You did not let me finish.

No one will take your child from you.

We were a family, the three of us.

We loved each other.

I meant only that we want to take you into our home.

We want to help you.

We want you to stay with us as long as you wish.

Your faith is not ours,

but we have deep respect for your church.

It is proper that a son should be raised

in the faith of its father.

You don't want to take my child?

Oh, no, dear.

Forgive me, forgive me.

For a moment I lost faith.

We all have moments when we lose our faith, my dear.

We would be less than human if this were not so.

Let me help you with your son, Mrs. Clawson.

It's a beautiful baby, Mrs. Clawson.

♪♪

♪♪

You know, Pa,

there's still a lot of good folks in the world, ain't there?

Yeah, there sure are.

And someday, hopefully,

they'll make the world that Heber was seeking.

I just hope it comes soon enough

so his son can see it.

Yeah.

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