In the distance, a lone rider approaches slow and easy as Sarah sweeps the porch and Ethan sits in the porch chair playing with a stick. Sarah looks up and spots the rider. Ethan notices his Ma, and looks out to see what she's looking at. Both watch closely as the rider approaches.
Bringing his horse to a full stop in front of their porch, the rider takes off his trail dirty hat and starts knocking dust off his clothes. Clinched between his teeth is a thin cigar. The lone rider is the bushwhacker, Jed Haskell. Sarah asks, "Kin we help ya mister? Jed puts his hat back on and looks around for a moment before answering with, "I'm lookin fer a fella. Been follering his tracks fer a spell. They lead right here. Real easy fella ta spot. He's all shot up. Most likely lost a lot of blood." Sarah is frightened. She knows this is the man that shot Gus. Ethan blurts out, "You the man that bushwhacked Mr. Baxter?" Sarah stops Ethan with, "Hush Ethan! Go inside!" Ethan starts to do as his ma told him.
But Jed takes notice and starts talking to Ethan. "Hold up there boy." Ethan stops and looks at Jed. But Jed looks at Sarah for a moment longer and says, "I'd purely like ta hear what this sprout has ta say." With that, Jed dismounts his horse and his spurs jingle as he walks toward Ethan. Sarah moves to protect her boy. Jed questions Ethan. "You seen Baxter young fella?" Ethan does not respond. "You kin tell me boy, I ain't gunna hurt ya." Sarah speaks up. "Leave the boy be!"
With that, Jed turns his attention to Sarah. and says, "Well now, I'd sooner talk ta you anyways. How bout it? You seen Baxter?" Sarah does not answer. Jed grows impatient. He suddenly reaches out and grabs Sarah by the hair, pulling it hard. Sarah screams. Ethan reacts with, "Ma!" and sends a booted kick square into Jed's shin. A surprised Jed lets go of Sarah's hair as he hollers, "Aahh!" Then Jed gives Ethan a hard gloved back hand across his face, knocking him into the wall where he bounces off and drops to the porch with a thud. "ETHAN" shouts Sarah as she moves to protect her son. But Jed grabs Sarah's hair again and gives it a rough tug as he angrily yells, "Never mind the boy. Have ya seen Baxter!" Sarah shouts back with,"Yes, he was here". Then Ethan gets up quickly and runs into the house. Jed hollers after him, "Hey boy." Then Jed turns his attention back to Sarah. "You said was. That mean Baxter lit out?"
Just then, Ethan comes out of the house holding the rifle. Shaking in fear and with tears in his eyes Ethan points the rifle up at Jed and shouts his demand, "Leave my Ma be". Jed pauses a moment, then pulls his gun, pointing it right at Ethan's head. Sarah is terrified and pleads, "Oh please don't. He's just a boy!" Jed looks at Ethan with the steely eyes of a cold killer and tells him, "Put the rifle down boy." Still shaking, Ethan holds his ground. Then Jed raises his gun a bit, cocks it and pushes it closer to Ethan's head as he coldly says, "I said put it down boy er I'll drop you an yer Ma right here, an that's a solid gold promise." Ethan reluctantly drops the rifle to the porch. Suddenly Jed turns his gun on Sarah and jerks harder on her hair as he barks, "You was sayin?" Sarah has no choice but to answer, so she answers softly. "He was here." Jed is impatient and wants answers now. He pulls her hair yet harder and demands, "Louder!" With that Sarah answers him and louder, "He was here! He was here. But he rode out." Jed is pleased with himself and presses Sarah for more with, "How long ago?" Sarah is too slow to answer for Jed's taste so he jerks hard on her hair as a reminder and snarls, "I said how long ago and ta where?" Quickly, Sarah answers, "Late morning, headed fer Logan." As Jed releases Sarah's hair, Sarah doesn't feel very good for having just given Jed information about Gus. Sarah moves to Ethan and they quickly hold each other. Then Jed does some figuring and says, "Logan huh? Well that suits me jes fine. Yes sir. Now little lady you git inside and fix me up some grub. An boy, you take care ah ma horse. An don't try nothin neither. My horse'l kill anyone ceptin me what tries ta ride er." Jed lets go with an evil laugh, then pushes Sarah inside. Ethan stands there half frozen in fear, staring at Jed, who looks at Ethan. Suddenly Jed grabs out at Ethan and hollers, "Boo." Ethan startles and runs to take care of Jed's horse. Jed laughs at Ethan, then follows after Sarah.