Two friends hired to police a small town that is suffering under the rule of a rancher find their job complicated by the arrival of a young widow.

[after a shoot-out]
Everett Hitch: That was quick.
Virgil Cole: Yeah, everybody could shoot.
Everett Hitch: Life has a way of making the foreseeable that which never happens... and the unforeseeable that which your life becomes.
Virgil Cole: [to the town horrified town leaders as he calmly reloads his pistol after he and Everett have just shot some of Bragg's henchmen in the bar] I warned 'em.
Randall Bragg: It's hard to like a man who won't take a drink.
Virgil Cole: But not impossible.
Allison French: I'm sorry, Virgil.
Virgil Cole: [Everett stands to leave] Stay here, Everett.
Allison French: I'm sorry. I was so alone, and Bragg... Well, Ring protected me and so did his brother.
Virgil Cole: You fuck Mackie, too?
Allison French: No. It was Ring. He was in charge. I just did what I had to do.
Virgil Cole: Everett... Ring kills me, do you think she'll go off with him?
Everett Hitch: [after a long, thoughtful pause] I think Allie needs to be with a man.
Allison French: You're a bastard! Don't listen to him. He tried to put his hands on me when I showed him our house.
Everett Hitch: No, Virgil. I did not.
Virgil Cole: No, Allie. Everett didn't do that.
Allison French: You believe him over me?
Virgil Cole: That's correct.
Allison French: Aren't either of you afraid?
Virgil Cole: Afraid?
Allison French: That you might get killed.
Virgil Cole: Oh, I don't know, Allie. Guess I don't think about it so much.
Allison French: Well, I'm afraid. But I'm afraid all the time.
Virgil Cole: Of what?
Allison French: Everything.
Virgil Cole: Like what? Hmm?
Allison French: Like being alone. Like being with the wrong man. Not having any money, a place to live.
Virgil Cole: I'll look out for you.
Allison French: For how long?
Virgil Cole: For as long as you need.
Phil Olson: Well, what he did sir, was crazy!
Everett Hitch: You calling Virgil crazy?
Phil Olson: -Yes. No.
Everett Hitch: Well, if... You think a man makes a living as a gun hand isn't crazy?
Phil Olson: -You're not crazy.
Everett Hitch:
Phil Olson: It doesn't give him the right to go busting up innocent people.
Everett Hitch: No, it doesn't, and mostly innocent people don't get busted up, and if they do, it's because of who Virgil Cole is and what he is, and you hired him to be Virgil Cole.
Phil Olson: I'm not sure I understand.
Everett Hitch: No, I'm not sure you do either. - Good day.
[turns and walks off]
Phil Olson:
[smiles and nods, then pauses and looks after Everett looking puzzled]
Phil Olson: .
Vince: You shoot him, you think we're just gonna ride away?
Virgil Cole: Nope.
Vince: We'll kill you and Hitch.
Virgil Cole: You'll try.
Vince: You're willing to die to keep us from taking him?
Virgil Cole: Sure.
Vince: Hitch, you willing to die, too?
Virgil Cole: Of course he's willing to die. You think we do this kind of work because we're scared to die? You.
Vince: Me?
Virgil Cole: You afraid to die?
Vince: I ain't afraid.
Virgil Cole: Good, because you go first. And that boy with the red scarf goes next. You go on home, Vince. You go on home. Go on. Too many people die if you don't.
Phil Olson: We can't have our law officers beatin' people half to death for no reason.
Virgil Cole: She speaks well, she dresses fine, she's good-looking, she can play the piano, she cooks good, she's very clean, chews her food nice; but it appears she'll fuck anything ain't gelded.
Randall Bragg: I told you you'd never hang me, Cole.
Virgil Cole: Never ain't here yet.