Episode 16
Episode 16
Episode 16: Mid-September, 1875
Scene 1: The Kincaid ranch, Saturday, mid-day. Stuart MacKenzie and Joe Kincaid are working together to round-up some stray cattle. A few other men are also there.
Stuart: Do all the ranches in these parts work together like this?
Joe: No, just the two of ours. Four years ago the fence between our two properties fell down, all the cattle mixed together, and we didn't bother to separate them. The brands are distinctive enough. You're quite skilled.
Stuart: Nothin' special. Workin' with horses and cattle is all I've ever done. It's all I know.
Almost as if to prove the point, Stuart chased after a young heifer that suddenly bolted from the herd. He roped it swiftly and soon returned.
Joe: Got reflexes, too. How much to steal you away from Nick?
Stuart: It would have to be a lot. I prefer working with the horses.
Joe: They always manage to get the best workers over there.
Stuart: Points. Your wife is riding up over the rise.
Joe: Looks, concerned. With our son. She's going a bit fast.
They wait as the trouser-clad Olivia rides toward them. Two-year- old Joey, almost three, sits in front of his mother. He is smiling and laughing.
Joey: As his mother slows, waving. Hello, Papa!
Joe: Lifting his son onto his lap. Hello, son. Turns to Olivia. Isn't it dangerous to ride with him like that?
Olivia: Don't be ridiculous. Joey begged me to go faster and faster.
Joey: I did, Daddy. It was fun.
Olivia: Good afternoon, Mr. MacKenzie.
Stuart: Tips his hat. Mrs. Kincaid. You are a stellar horsewoman, if I may say so.
Olivia: She laughs. Why, thank you.
Joe: Did you need something, Liv?
Olivia: Do I need a reason to see my husband?
Joe: Surprised. No, of course not, but...
Olivia: Don't be so serious, darling. Joey wanted to come see you.
Joey: I want to catch cows, too, Papa.
Joe: Is that so?
Joey: Mm-hmm. And Mummy said she wanted to, too, but I don't think she can.
Joe: You shouldn't doubt Mummy. She can "catch cows" better than your papa can.
Joey: Shocked I don't believe it!
Olivia: To no one in particular. Give me a rope.
Stuart obeys. Olivia waves off another worker and chases after the cow herself. She is successful and leads it back to a surprised Joey.
Stuart: You should never doubt the skills of a lady, Joey. They're most likely more skilled than they appear.
Olivia flashes Stuart a smile. Joe sees this, and frowns with jealousy. To break the moment, he rides between them. Olivia looks away quickly, slightly embarrassed.
Joe: I'll show you how it's done.
Scene 2: A two story clapboard house near Liberty Creek. A marvelous stone fountain rests at the front. The water has been drained, and Lazarus Carrol is crouching inside with a few tools. His work clothes are dampy and dirty, his white hair disheveled and his face unshaven. Princess is sitting with her head rested on the stone ledge.
Danielle appears at the front door with a cup of coffee and a plate of bisquits.
Danielle: Will you be out here all day? Why not leave the silly fountain and come inside?
Lazarus: This blasted thing will look grand if I can make it work. You were impessed by Marshall's. Don't you want one of you own?
Danielle: Yes, but I do not need nor want one right away? It is lonely in the house, especially with Princess insisting upon staying outside with you.
Lazarus: I should have it fixed soon enough. You could go visiting if you're lonely, dear.
Danielle: I have the house clean. It is still filthy.
Lazarus: We could hire someone...
Danielle: We will do no such thing. I am perfectly capable to do the job myself.
Lazarus: Of course. Thank you for the coffee.
Danielle: Will you come inside soon?
Lazarus: When it gets dark or when it gets done. Giving up will mean the fountain has won.
Danielle: Won what, Laz? It is a fountain, it is not warring with you.
Lazarus: Of course it is. At least you are winning with the house. I have made little progress.
Danielle: It is not a competition. Will you at least rest tomorrow? It will be Sunday.
Lazarus: If you insist, but it will only take me longer to get finished.
Scene 3: Liberty Creek, Sunday morning. Autumn is beginning to show itself as the leaves on the trees begin to brown. Horses, carriages, and buggies are gathered outside the non-denominational church and some parishioners are already going inside. John Henry is standing at the steps waiting for the Carrols, who are approaching on foot with Princess. A red setter lies at John Henry's feet.
Upon seeing the approaching beauty, the setter perks up and stands at attention. When the Carrols reach the church, Princess approaches the dog cautiously. They sniff and walk circles around each other.
Lazarus: Good morning, John.
John Henry: Lazarus, Danielle. He looks down at the dogs. It appears Red and, ahem, Princess have taken to one another. Have you settled in all right?
Lazarus: As well as can be expected. Danielle spent much of her day yesterday scrubbing the house from top to bottom. I went to work on that fountain. It still has me dogged.
Danielle: I managed to convince him to leave it for today, at least. I imagine he'll be at it first thing tomorrow morning.
John Henry: To Lazarus. I could recommend a few men who would give you a hand.
Danielle: Nonsense! We did not retire only to have other people do things for us.
John Henry: Laughs. You should meet my brother. He was glad to become duke because it meant he had more people do things for him.
Danielle: Could he fend for himself if the need arose?
John Henry: Oh, no, not at all. He's perfectly useless. Shall we go inside?
John Henry held his arm for Danielle, who took it. He returned Lazarus' jealous gaze with a mischievous one before leading Danielle up the steps. The service begins after the enter. Red and Princess jump and play with each other on the lawn together for a while before trotting off together into the woods.
Cut to: The end of the church service. Red and Princess, sleeping together beside the stairs, slowly push themselves to their feet as the church doors open and the people file out. Danielle Carrol says a few words to her husband, then approaches John Henry.
Danielle: John, could I speak with you or a moment.
John Henry: Of course, dear lady.
Danielle: I've talked it over with, Lazarus, and we understand your troubles in finding a teacher. School starts next Monday, you said?
John Henry: Yes. Well, it's supposed to.
Danielle: That is what I wished to speak with you about. If you cannot find a teacher by then, I would be willing to take over the school until you are able to find a permanent teacher.
John Henry: I couldn't let you do that. You and Lazarus moved here to get away from work.
Danielle: Yes, but the children are important. It would not be a permanent position, and I would expect you to continue searching.
John Henry: And that husband of yours agreed to this?
Danielle: He suggested it.
John Henry: You're wonderful to do this, and it would be foolish of me to turn town your offer. We'll speak with the board members right now.
Scene 4: Sunday, the woods near Liberty Creek, mid-afternoon. Joe Kincaid is riding along a path through the trees.
He hears a female voice singing and follows it. Still disguised by brush, he dismounts and quietly moves through. When he finally sees her, he is thirty yards away. She is bathing nude in the hot springs, her horses tethered nearby. He cannot see her face, though her hair is cut short. It is not one of his sisters-in-law. He does not recognize the words of her song. She is singing in a language unfamiliar to him. It's a soothing sound, and he is soon mesmerized. She stops singing and rises to her feet, her back still to him. With a vision of the smile Olivia flashed to Stuart MacKenzie, he leaves his post and walks unnoticed down the hillside toward her. She begins singing again. He stops walking fifteen feet away.
Joe: Hello.
The woman gasps turns around quickly while trying to cover herself, slips, and falls back into the water. When she looks up at Joe, he finally sees her face.
Joe: My God!
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