Riders of the Purple Sage

After Venters leaves, Jane asks Judkins what he thinks happened to her riders. Judkins reluctantly tells her that he believes Tull threatened the riders to keep them away from Jane’s property. Jane sends Judkins into the village to find out. The next morning, Judkins returns and asks to speak to her away from the house, so he won’t be seen. Judkins says that he was visiting his mother the night before and a man arrived to threaten him should he return to Jane’s property. He also tells her that he believes her riders were threatened by Tull and his lieutenant, Jerry Card. Judkins assures her, however, that he will raise a crew and continue to work for her.

Lassiter arrives at the house and volunteers to help Jane in her fight against Tull. Jane accuses Lassiter of coming to Cottonwoods to kill the man who caused Milly Erne’s death. He agrees and admits that he believes Jane knows the man’s identity. Jane tells him she’ll never say the man’s name, and Lassiter says he understands, but he wants to help her anyway.

Lassiter asks Jane to ride with him so that he can show her something. They ride to where the white herd is grazing in a large valley.