Lonesome Dove question, when Call tells them to get their boots off before the hanging

A cowboy doesn’t want to die with his boots off. I took it as they let Jake keep his on out of respect for his past as a ranger.

Just my thoughts.

“Die with his boots on” meant you die while working or fighting. Competing till the end. I’d assume it was an insult or meant to humiliate the convicted man- to make him remove his boots


I’d assume they let Jake keep his boots on as they meant him no insult or slight. They wanted the others to die like the cowardly trash they were.