VALENTINE BEALE
Genetics started a war that grew into a conquest of domination. Abigail Katherine's biological features were not enough to claim her heritage as mixed race.

ASA STACKHOUSE
You believe in karma, Lawless?

JACKSON LAWLESS
I believe in whatever we do lays a seed, good or evil. It comes back either way. If that’s the definition of karma, then I guess I believe in karma.

Jackson takes a swill out of the flask. He passes the flask back to Asa.

ASA STACKHOUSE
That’s the way I think. Thanks for the company.

JACKSON LAWLESS
You’re a good man, Asa. I enjoy these rides with you. Did you notice one of them cows up ahead has a different brand? It’s not ours.

ASA STACKHOUSE
Camouflage bastards. Point it out.

Jackson rides up through the middle of the cows crowding his way through. Asa is right behind him. Jackson points out the cow with a different brand.

JACKSON LAWLESS
Heifer with good feet and nice hair. You can tell the difference between a Bozeman dancehall girl and a Billings dove—two different heifers.

ASA STACKHOUSE
Outsiders stuck that heifer in here whorin’ her in on our herd. That’s a rebrand.

JACKSON LAWLESS
That’s what I figured too—stolen cow and false brand. Rustlers corrupting what you an’ me built. They didn’t get away with it. When we get into town, we’ll let this heifer loose on the street—see who claims her.

***

VALENTINE BEALE
Santiago, this war, it became money and social class and less about biological differences. The Catholic religion was in my blood left over from my sire. He was God’s accomplice to dying for everyone’s sin. My sire was a martyr for Christ’s sake.