The Rifleman

"Welcome to the McCain Ranch"

'The Angry Man'

Episode 31

Mark and I was tracking a deer when we ran across a sign saying "stay off this property or get shot!"  Signed Abel MacDonald.  "Who's Abel MacDonald?" Asked Mark.  I had no idea who he was.  I wasn't that concerned with the sign because I knew this was government land.  I didn't want the deer to get away so we started on.  When we reached the top of the hill, on the other side was a man and a boy sitting on their horses.  The man had a shotgun on us.  I heard him say "can't you read mister?  That sign says stay off this property or you'll get shot.  Now I'm giving you two just ten seconds to get back up that gully or I'm gonna pull both these triggers at the same time."  He didn't give me a chance to say anything.  "Maybe you don't hear so good, I said ten seconds!"  That was enough for Mark.  He was ready to leave.  I asked MacDonald what if we didn't leave, would he shoot us down in cold blood just like that?  I ask him what gave him the right to go around running people off government land.  He informed me that this was not government land anymore.   He had signed the homestead papers that morning.  I tried to tell him who I was and that we were neighbors.  He wasn't interested.  As far as he was concerned he had no neighbors.  That he and his boy Carey wanted to be left alone.  They didn't want to be bothered by anyone.  That's why he had put the sign up.  "You just start staying out of here right now!"  MacDonald said.  I tried talking to him again, he wouldn't listen.  I told Mark that we could get the deer later, that we better go.  As we were leaving we could him saying "stay off my property, do your hunting some place else."

Mark and I went back to the ranch.  Mark just couldn't figure out why MacDonald was so mean.  I tried to tell him a lot of things can happen to turn a man.  Sometimes a run of bad luck.  I told Mark we just needed to give him sometime to get settled in.  That he'll come around.  Mark was hoping he would.  He thought how nice it would be to have a boy his age live near by.  We thought Carey to be about his age.  He was hoping maybe Carey would be going to school.  Maybe they could even ride together.

Mark came riding in from school the next day.  I asked him if Carey was at school.  He said  no.  He even asked the teacher about Carey.  She didn't even know there was a new boy in town.  I wondered if Mr. MacDonald knew we have a school in town.  Mark suggested that I ride over to tell him.  I thought since I was on the school board that would be a good idea.  Just to be friendly I'd take him a sack of seed along.

MacDonald was outside working on his house when I rode up.  "Good afternoon Mr. MacDonald, " I said.  "I thought I told you to stay clear of my place," said MacDonald.  He told me he had his gun just inside the door.  I told him to simmer down.  This was a friendly visit, that I brought him a sack of seed.  He told me he didn't want no visits, friendly or otherwise. Again he mentioned his gun.  I told him to forget the gun.  I asked him to just hear me out and then I would leave.  I mentioned they have been here for sometime now.  Mark said that Carey hadn't been to school. I told him that I didn't know if he was aware of it or not, but North Fork does have a school, a fine teacher and plenty of study books.  He told me that Carey wasn't going to school and that he would teach him all he needed to know.  I ask him what right he had to deny his boy an education.  He felt he had every right.  He told me to get movin'.  Before I left I told him, "if he plants that seed properly it will grow,  if you plant it wrong it will be worthless, remember that."  Then I said "remember one more thing, everybody needs a proper education, without it he's no better off then that seed, good day."  I then rode off.  He felt I had no right telling him what to do.  He took it out on the bag of seed.  He kicked it and stomped it again and again until the bag tore open and the seed spilled out onto the ground.

Mark was out rounding up our calf that had wondered off.  The calf got caught up in a bush.  Mark released him.  He saw some one riding towards him.  It was Carey.  The boys were glad to see each other.  Mark asked Carey where his Pa was.  He said he was cutting wood in back of the hills.  Mark was surprised that Carey's Pa left him out alone.  Mark decided to sit in the grass for a spell and invited Carey to join him.  The boys got to talking and Carey explained that after his Ma got sick, his Pa had to give up the ranch.  His Pa told him that the doctors took all his money.  His Ma had got sicker and then she died. That's why they moved west.  Mark could relate to what he was saying.  "That sorta make us even," said Mark.  "I mean both of us living with our Pa."  He said it was different for Mark, their Pa's were different.  Carey's  Pa doesn't like people. It's on account of his Ma.  People took their ranch away, people getting sick, people always bothering us.  He didn't like doctors.  Just then MacDonald rode up and told Carey to go home.  He told Mark to get off his property.  Mark told him he would after he got his calf.  He told Mark he didn't see any brand and that he'd have to prove it was his.  Mark started towards the calf, but changed his mind.  He then mounted up and rode off.  Mark had told me what had happened and we rode out to talk to MacDonald.   I told him I came for my calf and I would brand him in a few days.  I told him I heard he bought some cattle from Oat Jackford and that I would be glad to loan him my best breeding bull for a while.  He thought it to be a trick.  I told him no trick, I was only offering, he wouldn't let me finish.  He said he knew what I was offering and he wasn't taking.  He told me that starting next week he was building a fence around his place and he would be makin' it with bared wire.  That angered me.  "Barbed wire, that does it!  Now I'm telling you, if you string devil wire on this range, you'll really know what trouble is," I said.  Mark and I rode off.

The following week we rode out to see if MacDonald had made good on his promise about the fence.  There were three men he had hired to build the fence.  He and Carey had just rode up before Mark and I got there.  He told me that this fence showed that he meant what he had said.  I ask him if he ever saw a man or an animal caught up in this stuff.  Just then Mark and Carey waved to each other.  MacDonald was angered by this and told Carey to get around the other side of the wagon.  I saw Carey backing up into a spool of barbed wire, I tried to warn him, but the horse reared & threw him.  Carey got tangled up in the fencing. The men helped load Carey into the wagon.  I told Mark he was hurt pretty bad, but with the right doctoring he would be fine.  "That's just it," said Mark.  "I started to tell you about Mr. MacDonald, I don't think he'll take Carey to a doctor.  Mr. MacDonald's wife died a few years ago and he blames it on the doctors."

I knew Carey needed to go to the doctors.  I decided I would take him, even if I had to with force.  That evening Mark and I went to the MacDonald 's ranch to get Carey and take him to the doctors.  I snuck along side of the house and signaled to Mark.  He made enough noise to draw MacDonald out of his house bringing his shotgun.  As he stepped out of the house I grabbed his shotgun.   I told him I was takin' the boy into Doc Burrage's.  "I'm gonna kill you McCain, you ain't gettin' my boy!"  Said MacDonald.  He started hitting me.  I fought back and knocked him out.  I went into the house and picked Carey up and put him into the wagon.  Mark covered Carey up and rode in the back with him. 

We got Carey into Doc Burrage's.  "The way this boy was bandaged it wouldn't taken no time at all for infection to set in," said Doc.  "Is he going to be alright Doc, is he?" Asked Mark.  "It's hard to say Mark, he lost a lot of blood with all those cuts.  The Main thing is to keep him quiet and see that he doesn't get moved around.  I've done all I can, the rest is up to him,"  said Doc.  Just then I heard MacDonald holler "McCain, I've come for my boy, McCain."  I told Mark to stay where he was.  I started out the door, the Doc said, "Lucas, don't be a fool."  I told the Doc, "that boy's not moving until you say so."  I went out to confront MacDonald.  He told me to get out of his way.  "I'm telling you McCain, move."  He cocks the hammers on his shotgun.  "Listen MacDonald, if you want to pull that trigger you go ahead.  Maybe I'll get a shot off too, then one of us or both of us will be dead.  What will that prove?  One of us or both of us will leave those boys behind, what's gonna happen to them?  Will you take care of my boy?  Will I take care of yours, you tell me what's it gonna prove?" I Asked.  "I want my boy," said MacDonald.  "You'll get him, but not until Doc Burrage says so."  "I'm getting him now." said MacDonald.  "Not until  Doc Burrage says so." I said.  "Because of doctors I lost my wife.  My home, everything.  I'm not gonna loose my boy!"  I told him that I had lost my wife and everything I had.  Right now my boy is my whole life.  Just like yours is to you.  "You wanna destroy him?"  I asked.  "You don't understand, you don't know," said MacDonald.  "Don' tell me I don't know.  I've been through the same thing myself.  I tell you, your not alone.  You can't blame the doctors, it happens to people everyday.  It's life, it's a part of living MacDonald.  This would be a pretty sorry world if everyone would turn their backs on it the way he does.  What about your boy, don't you think he's got any feelings?  Do you think he wants to live the kind of a life your setting up for him?  Give him a chance MacDonald.  Be a father to him."  As we both glance into the doctors office we see Mark knelt down  praying for Carey.  MacDonald is touched by this.  He hands me his shotgun and goes in to see Carey.  The Doc told MacDonald that the cuts and scratches weren't so bad, but they would have been with the dirty bandages he had on him.  The important thing was that his boy had a busted head, a fractured skull.  If it hadn't been for me, he would have kept the boy out at his place.  The only prayers he would have gotten was when he put him in the grave.  He also told him he had a lot to be thankful for.  It's about time you realize it.  Just before MacDonald walked into the room Carey woke up.  He and Mark exchanged a "hi."  Carey told his Pa he was gonna be alright.  Sure son, sure you will, from now on both of us will be alright.  "Amen," said Doc.

A few days later MacDonald and his son came to the ranch. "Come on we'll be late for school," said Mark.  "What are you waitin' for I'll race ya'," said Corey. The boys finally got to ride to school together.  They were excited.   I never thought I'd see the day Mark would be so anxious to go to school.  "Lucas, I got a job to do, I'm gonna need some help.  I wanna knock down my fence," said MacDonald.  "Oh no you don't," I said.  "Why not, you said....." before MacDonald could finish,  "I know what I said, I found out that the fence wasn't so bad.  It's the first time I know where my cows are.  I don't have to go chasing all over looking for them.  I'll tell you what I'll do, I'll help you build a gate in it from your property to mine, a big gate," I said.  "Lucas you got a deal, MacDonald said.  "Let's go inside the barn and see if I have enough material.  "First, how about inviting a neighbor in for a cup of coffee?" asked MacDonald.  With a smile on my face I said "Sure come on."