That same night, after informing his men that he is going to look for Houston, Dev returns to Tom's hacienda and tells the senators to leave. Not wanting to betray Tom's hospitality, Dev leaves and later relates what has happened to Minnie, who warns him that Martha will not return his feelings if she finds out what side he is on. Martha is proud of Tom, but when she is alone with Dev realizes her attraction to him and they kiss. Although Tom could easily kill the senator after Demmet's shot only grazes him, Tom fires into the air. The senators ask for satisfaction from Tom, with Demmet the first to confront him with a dueling pistol. Senator Claude Anthony Demmet is so incensed by Tom's revelation that he starts to leave, but Tom stops him, insisting that the senators will be his 'guests' until after the treaty is signed. After dinner, Tom tells the senators that Mexico has promised California to Texas and reveals his dream of having Texas become the largest republic in the world. Martha acts as hostess to the Texas senators whom Tom is trying to persuade to switch sides and oppose annexation. Several offer to work for free, but Dev insists that he wants no 'glory-getters.' That night, Dev attends a formal dinner at Tom's hacienda. Dev reveals his mission to the men, promising each $5,000 for joining the cause. Meanwhile, Dev finds Minnie, who tells him that twelve of his men are in town. Dev is immediately attracted to Martha, but she seems uninterested and later warns Tom that she is suspicious of his new friend. Tom, who is impressed by Dev's action, introduces him to Martha Ronda, a Texas patriot who runs the Austin newspaper and is loved by Tom.

In order to defray the growing antagonism in the crowd, Dev shoots Luther in the arm. The two arrive in Austin just as Luther Kilgore, a close friend of Dev and Jackson, is making an impassioned speech against the Mexican treaty. Dev, who does not mention his name, is startled when the stranger, whom he immediately likes, says that he is Tom Craden. On his way to Austin, where he is to meet Jackson's loyal old friend, Minniver Bryan, Dev is attacked by Comanche and is only able to save himself with the aid of a passing rider. Jackson also warns Dev about opposition leader Thomas Craden, a wealthy Austin rancher.

Jackson agrees and asks Dev to find Texas pioneer Sam Houston, who has recently spoken against annexation but is now living among the Indians. Dev claims that he now has no interest in politics, but agrees to help Jackson, who fears that the treaty will undermine the Union, if he is awarded the contract to supply beef for troops needed in a possible war with Mexico. In 1843, former president Andrew Jackson asks Texas cattleman and long-time compatriot Devereaux Burke to help prevent the Republic of Texas from signing a treaty with Mexico and, instead, agree to annexation by the United States.

Lone star movie production company