Question: Why is Decker wanted by the police? When the police came to visit the ranch, Decker notices them, tips his hat and walks away. The police have a sketch of Decker that says he is WANTED.
Answer: I don't think it's ever mentioned. The Ludlows almost certainly already know, and in the scene mentioned, the cops won't say.
Question: I know the real world reason Bruno Kirby wasn't in this one (horse allergy that had to be kept at bay with daily medicine shots in dosage size and delivery needle fit for a horse), but is there any in-movie explanation for his absence here?
Answer: No in-movie explanation has been given but, at the end of the first movie, Ed said that he was going to get Kim pregnant so, it can be assumed that Ed decided to become a dad and spend time with his family.
Question: At the end, after the Indians leave and Harlow says "Wagons ho", when the wagons are moving, there's a stool thrown into the field from the left of the screen (in my viewing thrown from off-camera). Was there a joke I missed or does someone know who threw it and why?
Answer: It appears to be a woman standing up and reaching for something in her wagon. As the camera pans away, this stool can be seen thrown and landing - breaking apart.
Answer: Very early in the story when one stab is narrating, he's kind of introducing everybody and makes a reference about Decker having "illegally" married an Indian woman, and there are several references to the fact that the father was not happy working for a government that was killing Indians and also went out of his way to make sure they were in no way discriminated against. I think it's possible that may be why they were looking for Decker and why Colonel went out of his way to hide his living there.
I believe Decker had been a bootlegger. That would be the reason why the O'Banions (sellers of booze themselves), were with the sheriff when they came looking for Decker at the Ludlow's ranch. And also, the reason why the O'Banions didn't want to say what Decker was wanted for because.it was their own personal vendetta concerning bootleg whiskey. Maybe they had reason to believe that he was still selling bootleg whiskey around those parts. Also, later in the movie, when Tristan returns home after 7 years, Decker says to him "There's good money in bootlegging if you know what you're doing." And, Decker says that with a huge smile. Like he definitely knew what he was talking about and could definitely give Tristan some pointers about being a bootlegger.
Alcohol wasn't illegal until well after World War 1. The initial scene with the O'Bannons takes place before the boys go off to war, and it's stated afterwards that Alfred voted for the Volstead Act making alcohol illegal.
Not sure about this. At the time the sheriff comes looking for Decker, it's roughly 1915, and liquor is not yet illegal.