Fact1: legendary Sheriff Buddy Deeds is remembered as fair and just, Fact2: Sam is disapproving of efforts by business leader Mercedes Cruz and Buddy 's former deputy to enlarge and rename local courthouse in Buddy 's honor, Fact3: Colonel Delmore Payne has arrived in town as commander of local U.S. Army base, Fact4: Relic hunters discover human skeleton on old shooting range along with Masonic ring Rio County sheriff 's badge and bullet not used by military, Fact5: that wild young adult though Buddy did have mistress settled down after becoming deputy sheriff and marrying Sam 's mother
Output: Sheriff Sam Deeds is the county sheriff in Frontera, Texas. He was born and raised in Frontera, and returned two years ago to be sheriff. Sams late father had been the legendary Sheriff Buddy Deeds, who is remembered as fair and just. Sam had problems with his father and the pair routinely fought. Sam is particularly disapproving of efforts by business leader Mercedes Cruz and Buddys former deputy, Mayor Hollis Pogue, to enlarge and rename the local courthouse in Buddys honor; he considers it an unneeded waste of taxpayers money. As a teenager, Sam had been in love with Mercedess daughter Pilar, but the courtship was strongly opposed by Buddy and Mercedes. After a chance meeting, Sam and the widowed Pilar, now a local teacher, slowly resume their relationship. Colonel Delmore Payne has recently arrived in town as the commander of the local U.S. Army base. Delmore is the son of Otis Big O Payne, a local nightclub owner and leading figure in the areas AfricanAmerican community. The two are estranged because of Otiss serial infidelity and abandonment of Delmores mother when Delmore was a child. Relic hunters discover a human skeleton on an old shooting range along with a Masonic ring, a Rio County sheriffs badge, and a bullet not used by the military. Sam brings in Texas Ranger Ben Wetzel to help with the case. Wetzel tells Sam that forensics identify the skeleton as that of Charlie Wade, the corrupt sheriff who preceded Buddy. Wade had mysteriously disappeared in 1957, taking 10,000 in county funds, after which Buddy became sheriff. Sam investigates the events leading up to Wades murder. He learns that Wade terrorized the local AfricanAmerican and Mexican communities, including numerous murders where he asks his innocent victims to dig out any weapon they might have, to then justify shooting them for resisting arrest. Wade used this method to murder Cruzs husband, Eladio, in front of Deputy Hollis. Sam visits Wesley Birdsong, a Native American and a roadside tourist stand owner, who reveals that Buddy was a wild young adult who settled down after becoming a deputy sheriff and marrying Sams mother – though he did have a mistress, whose name Wesley claims to have forgotten. Sam travels to San Antonio, where he visits his marginally mentally ill exwife Bunny and searches through his fathers things, where he discovers love letters from Buddys mistress. Sam confronts Hollis and Otis about Wades murder. Wade extorted money from a young Otis for running an illegal gambling operation in the bar, then was about to use his resisting arrest setup to kill Otis. Buddy arrived just as Hollis shot Wade to prevent Otiss murder. The three buried the body and took the 10,000 from the county and gave it to Mercedes – who was destitute after Eladios recent death – to buy her restaurant. Hollis reveals that Buddy and Mercedes did not take up until some time later. Sam decides to drop the issue, saying it will remain an unsolved mystery. Hollis voices concern that, when the skeleton is revealed to be Wade, people will assume Buddy killed him to take his job, to which Sam states that Buddys legend can handle it. Sam learns that Hollis and Mercedes have recruited his own deputy to run against him in the next election. He decides to not run for reelection. Sam tells Pilar that Eladio died 18 months, rather than a few weeks, before she was born. Sam shows Pilar an old photo of Buddy and Mercedes, revealing that Buddy is her father. Both are hurt over the deception but decide that, since she cannot have any more children, they will continue their romantic relationship, despite the knowledge that they are halfsiblings.