Heaven with a Gun

Coke Beck is the town’s ruthless cattleman who uses intimidation to enforce his rule over Vinegaroon. He terrorizes the sheepherders and commits brutal acts, including preying on Leloopa, highlighting his disregard for others’ safety. His plan to move the cattle to block the watering hole and his demand to burn Killian’s church escalate the conflict until the town unites against him.

A former gunfighter who has become a preacher, Killan transforms a barn into a church and preaches peace and coexistence. He seeks to protect everyone in Vinegaroon, insisting that violence has no place in resolving disputes. After a violent confrontation and pressure from the town, he discards his guns and commits to defending the community through nonviolent means.

A half-Native American girl sheltered by Killan, whose father was lynched by Coke Beck. Leloopa’s presence becomes a focal point for the town’s empathy and protection from violence. Her experience with exploitation and danger underscores the violence of the feud and the need for mercy and justice.

An outsider gunman hired by Beck, Mace publicly exposes Killan’s past to justify his expulsion. He embodies the possibility of violence as a solution, leading confrontations and opposing Killan’s pacifist approach. He is ultimately outgunned and defeated by the townspeople’s resolve to protect their own without wide-scale bloodshed.

Madge is the madam of the local saloon and a practical voice of reason in Vinegaroon. She supports Killan’s attempt at peace and urges him to choose between being a preacher or a gunman. Her influence helps steer the town toward a nonviolent defense of the sheepherders and a future of reconciliation.

A cattleman patriarch and Coke Beck’s father, Asa Beck leads opposition to the sheepherders and pushes for a blockade at the watering hole. His actions reflect the entrenched power of the cattlemen and their willingness to use force to maintain dominance. The turning point comes when pressure from the community challenges his authority.

Bart Paterson is a cattleman who ultimately chooses to work toward peace with the sheepherders. He represents the pragmatic segment of the cattlemen who recognizes the value of cooperation and shared resources. His decision helps bridge the divide and fosters a truce.

A sheepherder who stands with Killan in seeking coexistence. Murdock embodies the leadership of the shepherds who refuse to surrender their livelihoods to violence. His collaboration with the townspeople reinforces the possibility of unity across rival factions.

A young or earnest sheepherder whose camp is attacked as tensions erupt. Scotty sneaks into Beck’s camp and fatally wounds Coke with wool shears before Mace retaliates. His death underscores the high price of feud and the need for decisive intervention by the community.