The main actors are:
Sam Elliott – Con Vallian
Kate Capshaw – Susanna McKaskel
Tom Conti – Duncan McKaskel
Kenny Morrison – Tom McKaskel
Matt Clark – Doc Shabitt

The first scene is as the eastern family approaches Benders Flats in late 1876. They encounter the bad guys who appraise them and their belongings. Two blooded horses, four mules, a heavily loaded wagon and Susanna. The next morning as they are leisurely eating their breakfast, Con Vallian rides in and asks for coffee. He jokingly asks about the blooded horses that have been taken by the bad men in town. Duncan goes after them with a few instructions and sarcasm from Vallian. The town scene results in a gun exchange and two bad guys die. McKaskel returns to camp and they move out quickly. There are many frontier lessons exchanged and the heavy wagonload is addressed again as they unload the wagon to fix a broken wheel. Susanna seems to understand the lessons they are being taught by Vallian. The outlaws are being whittled down a few at a time but five are still on their trail.

These men are worse than outlaws they are scavengers of human misfortune. Susanna steps up and works over the big outlaw, called Red, with a stick and almost kills him as he tries to sneak into camp. More lessons of the west and survival of the strong are imparted on the whole family.

There are still many western sayings and teaching for all of us. Men, women and children work hard every day just to stay alive, in the west. Wild things don’t do well in gardens.

This was a great movie adaptation from the book. I will recommend it for any western person who continues to love the stories, quotes and scenery of the west.