At a crossroads while riding north, John Grady turns around and goes to the town where he was first jailed and, by taking the captain hostage, he retrieves his horse (Redbo), Rawlins' horse (Junior), and Blevins' big bay. He has to let the wonderful grullo go, because it is not strong enough for the long trip. But he manages to cross into Texas, again near Langtry, the area of Judge Roy Bean, where he travels for several months, trying to find the rightful owner of the bay. A judge helps him when some degenerates try to claim the horse. The judge listens to John Grady's story and assures him that the man he killed in prison and the captain who jailed them in the small town are not good people. The judge tries to urge John Grady to go easier on himself.
In Del Rio, Texas, John Grady visits the real Jimmy Blevins, who has never heard of anyone fitting the boy's description and has never seen the horse. After feeding John Grady a big meal and telling him about the radio preaching business, the reverend goes off to write a sermon. John Grady rides back to San Angelo and goes to Rawlins' family place and whistles for his friend, who is delighted to see John Grady and his horse, Junior.
After attending, on the sidelines, the funeral of the old woman, Abuela, who had done most of the work raising him, John Grady rides west, a lonely figure on one horse, leading his second mount.
