playing on cogburn's need for money, mattie persuades him to take on the job, insisting that she accompany him as part of the bargain. during their preparation, a texas ranger named laboeuf appears. he has been tracking chaney for four months for killing a senator and his dog in texas, and he hopes to bring him back to texas dead or alive for a cash reward. cogburn and laboeuf take a dislike to each other, but after some haggling, they agree to join forces in the hunt, realizing that they can both benefit from each other's respective talents and knowledge. once they reach a deal, the two men attempt to leave mattie behind, but she proves more tenacious than they had expected. they repeatedly try to lose her, but she persists in following them and seeing her transaction with marshal cogburn through to the end. eventually, she is jumped by cogburn and laboeuf, who had hidden themselves from view, and laboeuf begins to spank mattie. mattie appeals to cogburn, and he orders laboeuf to stop. at this point, mattie is allowed to join their posse.