Original subtitles

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

NARRATOR: Where Western history comes alive.

With your host, Dale Robertson.

Stories of the Old West are stories of

hardships and adventure,

of dreams, and of courage.

Stories of the American pioneer

are all a part of our past, of our heritage.

The settlement of the West was much more

than a physical taking and conquering of the land.

A whole people and their way of life was forced

to give way to another.

The hatreds and prejudices formed

by the conflicting societies were not easily bridged.

But one such bridge was built by...

Tom, your stew'’s almost ready.

Have some before you leave.I can'’t, Alice.

Posse'’ll be leaving the Andrews ranch in an hour.

Hadn'’t you better wait for the cavalry?

The cavalry'’s still three days away.

In three days, those renegades could--

It'’s only right that I go, honey.

I know. Oh, you be careful!

Pa! Are you leaving?

Yeah.

Don'’t you worry.

I'’ll be back in a couple of days.

[ whinnying ]

Billy, put your horse back.

Oh, but Pa!

I already told you. You ain'’t going.

That'’s final.But Pa, the Andrews were my friends too.

I got a right!

I admire you for feeling the way you do, son.

I wouldn'’t have it any other way.

I got to leave a man here,

a man I can count on to watch out for your ma.

And Susan.

Okay, Pa. I guess you'’re right.

I'’ll stay.

Take care of your ma, honey.

Pa, why do you suppose the Indians killed them?

Just out of meanness and hate, I suppose, son.

They already had the Andrews horses.

It'’s all they wanted.Boy, I hope you get '’em.

I hope you get every one of '’em.

We'’ll try, Billy. Meantime, you stay close to home.

I'’m countin' on ya.

Take care, Pa.

Come and eat. You can finish what you'’re doing later.

[ whinnying ]

Billy? Bring a gun.

[ grunts, groans ]

He seems to be alone.

Do you see anyone else?

No. Nobody.

Help. Help! Please.

Ma, you best stay there. He might have a gun.

Come on, keep back! He looks like a renegade.

No gun. No gun, no renegade.

Oh, he'’s hurt bad, Billy.

Who are you? What do you want here?

[ panting ] I am scout. Scout. Horse fall.

I must get to reservation. Please. Please help me.

Help--

We'’ll have to get him into the house, Billy.The house?

Help me.

So what are you gonna do, Ma?I'’ve got to bandage his head.

First I'’m gonna tie him up.

[ grunts ] Untie hands!

Just stay still, or I'’m gonna put a bullet right through you.

I must go reservation.

Just '’cause you'’re wearin' that shirt

don'’t mean you'’re a cavalry scout.

Why, you probably got it off a dead trooper!

I must go! Please. Please, it'’s important.

Well, my pa will be back in a few days.

He'’d telegraph the fort your description.

If they say you'’re a scout, fine. But if you ain'’t--

I must be on reservation in two days.

Well, that'’s too bad, '’cause you ain't goin'’ nowhere

till we find out who you are!

[ gunshot ] [ screams ]

Billy, that'’s enough!

Here. It'’s just soup.

It'’ll do you good.

You must give horse. I must go.

No, I can'’t. You'’ll have to wait for my husband to come back.

If I do not get to reservation,

many die.

What do you mean?Renegades.

When my people make war,

council meet at my village

two days-- decide yes, no.

Soldier colonel no my chief,

me, good friends.

Soldier colonel sent me

to talk in council.

I tell them...

many soldiers, many guns.

I tell them...

few Indians...

no guns.

War no good. Many die.

Chief friend.

He listen. Not make war.

But I not there...

then, maybe so, make war.

Why should I believe you?

For all I know, you'’re the very one who murdered

Sara and David Andrews.

Don'’t you dare!

[ wheezing sigh ]Please.

Listen. Get back down!

[ cocks revolver ]I mean it!

If you move again, I'’ll have my boy tie you down.

Ma stayed up half the night watching this Indian,

and you just make breakfast and be quiet.

[ wild whinnying ]

[ whinnying ]

[ gunfire ]

Stay where y'’are.They ran out behind the corral.

[ whinnying ]

[ war whooping ]

Billy!

Untie hands! Give gun!Stay away.

Give gun!No, ma. Don'’t trust him!

Susan, help me. Over there.

[ gunfire continues ]

They come again!

Untie hands. Untie hands.

You'’re one of them. Trust me. Or we all die.

Go window. Go window!

[ war whoops ][ gunfire ]

They come.

Shoot. Window!

[ clicks ]

Are you all right, Billy?Yeah. I'’m okay, Ma.

More bullets!

They'’re in the cupboard. Get them.

Ma, let me help.Hold still.

Can you see them?

Bolt door.

[ gunshot ]

[ clicks ]

More!

These are all I have left.

We stop them only more time.

Does your leg hurt bad?

No.

It is all right.

I'’m sorry. Only fool face danger without fear.

Thank you.

They'’re gone.

Will they come back?Maybe yes.

Maybe no.

Then it'’s not over.I not know.

I go now.What?

Renegades already with my people.

I must talk. Save chief.

But you can'’t leave us here alone.

What if the ones who attacked come back?

You, boy fight them.

There be war, I not talk to council.

Yes, I-- I suppose you'’ve got to go.

You give horse? Yes.

Hey, he'’s takin' our best horse!

It'’s all right. He has to make good time.

It'’s important.

I go now. Three days.

If I'’m not back with horse,

there is war!

Go to town. Not safe here.

Take my pistol.

Good luck.

War or no war, I bet you will never see that horse again.

[ rifle shot ]

[ hoofbeats ]

Oh! Oh.

You'’re hit bad. Can you stand on your feet?

[ gasping ]

I never thought he'’d last the night out.

Billy, do what I tell you.Ma, it'’s a crazy idea.

I thought it all out last night.

If there'’s a chance of stopping a war, it'’s got to be done.

Ma, the trip'’ll kill him for sure.

My mind'’s made up. Go hitch the wagon.

What if he dies on the way? The Indians'’ll kill us!

I'’m taking him to the reservation.

He'’s going to have a chance to say his talk.

Then they'’ll see him shot, and they'’ll kill us.

You needn'’t come.Well, that'’s a fine thing to say.

Because I ain'’t lettin'’ you go alone.

Then we'’ll all have to go. Billy.

If we can keep folks like the Andrews from dyin'’,

it'’s worth tryin', ain'’t it?

When we get there, I don'’t want you to be afraid.

I won'’t be.Good.

Hurry up, Billy!

Did you leave that note telling Pa where we were going?

Yeah, I just hope we live to hear him cuss us out, that'’s all.

Whoa!

Billy, how is he?He looks awful bad, Ma.

The canteen.

We'’re taking you to the reservation.

Can you understand me?

That'’s enough![ gulping ]

I must talk to...Don'’t talk.

Ma, there'’s still time to turn back.

We'’re going on.

Drive for those trees!They could be reservation Indians.

If they'’re not, we're going to be needing plenty of cover.

Hold your fire, Billy.

[ speaking native language ]

We were bringing him back to the reservation.

Get back in the wagon.

[ native language ]

No, Billy!

We brought him to you, now we want to go home.

It'’ll be all right.Hey, Ma.

They been talkin'’ a long time.

Might be fixin'’ to murder us.

You come.

Oh, Mom!

These are my people. I tell them how you help me.

Will they let us go?Yeah.

It took much-much courage to bring me here.

You live rest life same.

Will you be able to keep your people from going to war?

[ gasping ] I think yes.

Go now.

Renegades far away.

You get home safe now.

Good-bye.

Ma, is everything all right?Yes.

It'’s all over.

Then that Indian came through for us?

He did, Billy. He surely did.

Get up!

When Tom Benson returned home,

his family had quite a story to tell him.

Because of Alice Benson'’s courage,

the reservation Indians remained at peace.

In fact, the white settlers in that part of Wyoming

were never again troubled by Indian raids.

Be with us next week for another true story

from the history of the Old West.