Paden aims carefully at Mal and fires.
AT MAL. The chimney is hit just above Mal’s head. He swings his rifle around toward — Paden! Paden signals wildly about Hoyt. Mal understands just in time: he flops around the chimney just as Hoyt gets a bead on him. Without knowing it, Mal avenges his father’s murder. Hoyt is blown off the roof.
The bulk of the herd has passed, but confused cattle are everywhere.
AT THE VERANDA. Jake has ridden across the open area under heavy fire and now rides for protection up and onto the side veranda of the house, firing into all the windows. His momentum carries him all the way out the other end. When he is beyond the porch, he hears a yell, two voices —
EMMETT AND AUGIE
Jake!?!
Jake looks up with a grin. Emmett has Augie out on the roof of the veranda. They are pleased in the extreme at the sight of Jake. Jake brings his horse beneath them and gestures to Augie.
Augie swallows hard once, strides twice, and leaps out, down, and onto the bare back of the pinto behind Jake.
Paden comes riding up with Emmett’s horse in tow. Emmett moves to the edge of the veranda roof and drops into his
saddle. He winces, his ribs throbbing. They turn their horses away from the ranch and head out.
EXT. RANGE NEAR CASA GRANDE – DAY
The three horses with four riders come tearing toward us. They form a dusty “V” as they intersect with Mal’s arrival
from the other side of the bunkhouse. Even now, shots are fired after them. But they are on their way.