It's always nice to learn more about the main characters' backgrounds. In this story, we learn about Rowdy's dysfunctional relationship with his pa Dan Yates, played by Tom Tully. Old man Yates is not going to win any Father of the Year awards. His reappearance in Rowdy's life complicates things not only for Rowdy but for the rest of the drovers, especially Gil Favor.
Tully's broad method acting goes a bit over the top in his scenes. There isn't any real vestige of humanity underneath Dan Yates. He comes across mostly as a scheming cardboard villain. I suppose we are meant to realize that in no way, shape or form could Rowdy ever have any sort of normal relationship with him. The man's too far gone, too immoral at this point in his life.
It all reaches a turning point when Dan roughs up a bandit's father to draw the bandit out of hiding, so he can kill him for a $5000 reward. I thought the scene where Dan goes to the Marcos home and harasses the bandit's father was rather extreme. Plus it led to a huge plot hole in the story, because Dan is seemingly able to walk around free after this incident. And we are told that Senor Marcos is hovering near death. No way would a sheriff not arrest Dan Yates for physical assault.
While Dan is able to roam free about the town, he positions himself to take a pot shot at the younger Marcos, who has arrived to challenge Rowdy to a duel. This part of the story had much irony, since we see the sons squaring off, when the main altercation was between their fathers. After Dan Yates kills the young bandit in the back, he is hardly regarded as heroic. In fact, Rowdy completely disowns him after this.
I thought it was odd that Ben Andrews, the owner of the herd that Gil Favor was supposed to take north, suddenly backed out of the deal because he felt a kinship with the Marcos family. Even if the bandit's parents were well-liked, I don't think a wealthy businessman would have just turned down a chance to make a bunch of money with Favor's team. Plus there were no scenes earlier in the story that depicted any real closeness or bond between Andrews and the Marcoses.
It was all a plot device, so that Gil Favor would be forced to go into business for himself. But before the next drive could begin, we have a bit of closure for Rowdy. He discovers his father has been slain along the road and robbed of the reward money, by the bandit's compadres-- men who might just as well have killed their leader for the money themselves.
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