Gracie POV
I enter Daddy's bathroom.
A BATHROOM SINK fills the frame. DROPS OF BLOOD fall on whiteporcelain. Then another ...
I see Daddy staring at himself in the mirror, stitching closedthe wound on his forehead. The bathroom door swings open. JAMIE appears in the doorway.
Wears a suit and tie. Youmust look close to notice thick hands and sun damaged skin.He's managed to wash most of the cowboy off him. Most of it.
"Your mother was always better atthis. " Daddy said
"Here I'll help." I said pulling up a chair and start stitching him
" You know who's really good at it?Doctors. Should've done thisyesterday ... " Jamie said
John glances at Jamie
"When you say 'no' it must be thedeath of the question. If there's ahint of maybe, the questions won'tstop until they find something youcan't say no to ... You've got tolearn when to think like a lawyerand when to think like a landowner." Daddy said to Jamie
I tie off the suture
Daddy studies the stitching in the mirror.
" you have yourmother's hands." Daddy said pinching my cheek lightly
Daddy walks out.
Jamie looks down at the bloody sink,turns on the faucet, washing the blood away
I run behind Daddy.
"Rip told me you were in the stables again" Daddy said
"I was feeding thunder." I said
"Didn't we talk about this?" Daddy said
"It wasn't far.." I mumbled
"You know why I don't want you out there by yourself." He said
"But-" I began
"No buts." He said
I just nodded
I follow Daddy and Jamie out
Across from the lodge is a barn. HORSES STAND TIED TOHITCHING POSTS. COWBOYS SADDLE THEM. BOOTS FIND STIRRUPS.COWBOYS MOUNT. ADJUST THEIR TACK. ADJUST THEMSELVES IN THESADDLE. A HELICOPTER SITS ON A PAD. ITS ROTORS WHIRL TO LIFE... Jamie steps out on the porch as daddy walks towardthe chopper.
" I told them no. I said you wouldn'tconsider it ... Should you considerit? Absolutely. We could use themoney, and the leverage that comeswith it. " Jamie said
Lee walks toward daddy.
"You're not coming? " Lee asked
" I got a meeting in Bozeman ... Wear your badge. Take a rifle. " Daddy said
" They won't give us any trouble overstrays. Hell, they usually help usround them up ..." Lee said
" Badge is for the ranchers ridingwith you. It'll keep them frombringing home any extras." Daddy said
Lee heads for the house. Walks past Jamie who is stillstaring at Daddy .
" ... Did you hear me?" Jamie said
" Leverage is knowing if someone had all the money in the world ... Thisis what they'd buy. " Daddy said
Daddy walks to the chopper. Climbs in. It rises ...
"Come on Gracie." Jamie said walking back inside