Ok. Everyone ready to find out more about what's going on "home on the range?"

Mike: (Distracted) Um, yeah.

Peter: I am!

Micky: You bet!

Lauren: I'm ready!

Davy: Me too, mate.

(Everyone leads the horses back to the others behind the fence. Micky is a little worse for the wear.)

Davy: Nice landin', Mick. Ride 'orses much? ;)

Micky: Okay, so I'm a little out-a practice. :P *grumbles, rubbing his rear end*

Davy: Maybe Joanne should have given you a pony, too.

Micky: Ha ha. Very funny, short stuff. :P ;)

Joanne: You have to watch some of those jumps. They're very high and difficult for all but the most experienced rider.

Davy: See, Mick? You 'ave to look before you leap. ;)

*Micky just goes back to grumbling.* :P

Mike: Hey, Jo, where's Aunt Kate?

Joanne: She's in the house with Papa. (Turns to the others) Would you like a tour? :)

Mike: I know the place, but the others might want a look around. I want to talk to Aunt Kate and your papa.

Lauren: We'd love to have a tour. :)

Emma: I'm going to go along with Mike (indicates Katie), but Katie might want to see more of the ranch. :)

Katie: Wanna stay with twins! :D

(Two men help the twins off of their ponies. They run over to their mother, joined by their father and Katie.)

Valerie: (Cuddles Jordan) I have to feed Jordan, and he's going to need a nap. :)

Peter: I'll go with Valerie. I don’t often get to spend "quality time" with her and Jordan, since we’ve been so busy lately.

Davy: (Looks at Daphne) What do you say, luv? You up for a long walk?

Daphne: If we make stops every once in a while. ;)

Mike: (Looks at Micky and Lauren) Would you guys keep an eye on Katie while we go to the main house and find Aunt Kate?

Micky: *nods* Sure, Mike.

Lauren: We'd love to.

Joanne: (Nods) Ok, gang. Mike, you know where the main house is. I'll see you in a little while. (Smiles at the others) For everyone else, I'll give you the grand tour. (Bends over to the twins' and Katie's level) Have you kids ever been to a ranch before?

Katie: Aun’ Kate’s.

*The twins shake their heads.*

Joanne: Well, you're in for a treat! I'm going to show you how we teach horses to do tricks, and how we keep them fed and cleaned, and where we keep them. You'll even get to meet the horses we're entering in the big rodeo next week! :)

Katie: Horsies! Lotsa horsies! :D

Mick: Fun! :D

Shelly: We love horsies!

Mike: (Doesn't look at Joanne) Well, yeah, the rest of us will be gettin' along. Let the kids have their fun.

Joanne: Mike...I want to talk to you later. (Smiles faintly) Friend to friend, ok? :)

Mike: (Mutters) Yeah. See you guys later. (Nods to Emma) Come on, Em, let's go.

Emma: (As she, Mike, Peter, Valerie, and Jordan head off in the opposite direction) Honey, who is she?

Mike: (Shrugs) Just a girl I knew once.

(Cut back to Joanne with the others. Joanne and the kids walk ahead; Micky, Lauren, Davy, and Daphne walk behind.)

Davy: 'Ey, mates. (Makes a face at the retreating Mike and Emma) What's with Mike? I 'aven't seen 'im this grumpy since our second record came out and 'e didn't like the pictah on the front covah. :p ;)

Micky: All we can figure is there's something going on here that Mike don't like, and it's got something to do with a girl. :P

Davy: Well, I wouldn't be too 'appy about possible 'orse nappin', eithah, but what's that got to do with 'im and a girl? (Frowns) Anyway, as far as I know, Mike's seriously dated two women in 'is entire life...and 'e's ended up marryin' both.

Micky: *shrugs* I don't know.

Davy: (Frowns) You know...we don't really know much about Mike. 'E doesn't really talk about 'imself much.

Micky: And this is definitely one of those things that I'm sure he REALLY didn't wanna talk about, judging from the way he's acting. (Grins) Probably did somethin' embarrassin' with that girl in 'igh school. ;)

Lauren: I hope that's all it is. :P

Davy: Wondah if she'd be willin' to talk.

Lauren: Possibly...

Micky: Do you really think that's such a good idea?

Davy: She's got to be less stubborn than 'im. ;)

Micky: Until Mike finds out. :P

Lauren: I think we'll have to take that chance.

Davy: She'll not only know about Mike, but she'll be able to tell us more about this 'orse robbery thing, too. I don't want Daph within five miles of this place if there's gonna be dangah.

Micky: *nods* Okay. We'll talk to her.

(Cut to the stables, where rows of horses are being groomed or fed. Joanne shows the twins a beautiful gold horse with a white-yellow mane, a white star on his forehead, and three white feet.)

Joanne: Isn't he a beaut, kids? His name is Dallas, like the city.

Katie: Hello, Dallas! You pretty! :D

Shelly: He's very pretty! :)

Mick: *waves* Hi, Dallas! :D

Joanne: He's my favorite of our show horses. He's so gentle, he wouldn't hurt a fly if he could see it. Would you like to feed him? :)

Katie: 'Kay. :)

Mick: *nods* Wanna feed him!

Joanne: (Hands them three large sugar cubes) Here you go. It's his favorite...hey! (Dallas is already trying to steal a cube) Lord, boy, wait your turn! Goodness, they invented the phrase "eats like a horse" just for you, didn't they? ;) :p

Davy: (As they walk up to the stall) Oh look, Mick, one of your reletives. ;)

Micky: *shakes a fist at Davy* You're just dyin' for one-a these, aren'tcha? :P ;)

Joanne: (Looks up) Boys, take it outside if you're gonna do any damage. You'll spook the horses. ;) :p

Micky: *jerks a thumb at Davy* It's up to him.

Davy: We 'ave more important things to talk about at the moment. (Takes Joanne's arm) Joanne, can we 'ave a word with you?

Joanne: We'll feed Dallas first. I'll talk to you as we brush him. (She hands the kids sugar cubes) Here you go. Be careful! Don't put your hand in Dallas's mouth. Just let him nibble at it. He knows what to do. :)

Shelly: Okay! :)

Katie: (As Dallas eats her cube) Oooh! Horsie tickle! :)) :D

Joanne: That's his whiskers. :) (She smiles as Dallas moves hungrily onto the twins' cubes)

Mick: Nice horsie. :D

(Dallas gives the twins' hands licks after he's done, getting the last of the sugar. :D)

Joanne: He likes you guys. :)

ShellY: We like Dallas. :)

Katie: Funny horsie! :D

Joanne: (Grins) Now, we're going to give him a bath and get him spiffed up for the show. :)

Katie: Yay! Make horsie all clean! (Claps) :D

Joanne: (Hands Davy the soap and Micky the bucket) And all of you can help. ;)

Davy: (Struts) Of course. I've done this dozens of times. Nothin' to it, mate. ;)

Micky: *grins* This oughta be fun. :) ;)

("Look Down" begins as Davy and Micky go over to the horse with the soap and bucket...but Dallas rears at them and has to be calmed by Joanne and the kids.)

*Lauren and Daphne stand back, watching amd tallying points.* ;)

(Joanne hands the twins and Katie small sponges to gently wash Dallas with. Joanne scrubs his back with a big brush.)

(Micky comes at Dallas with a brush...but Dallas gives him a big lick before he can get to his back. :D ;) )

*Micky wipes his face off, grumbling.* :P ;)

(Davy tries to clean Dallas' tail, but it keeps getting in his face. ;) :p)

(Joanne hands Davy and Micky buckets of water. She gently pours one of her buckets of fresh, warm water over Dallas to rinse him. :) )

*Micky is distracted by Davy threatening him with his bucket of water. Dallas swishes his tail, knocking over Micky's bucket, which spills all over him.* :P

(Davy laughs at Micky...until Dallas accidentally kicks over HIS bucket, spilling it all over HIM. ;) :p)

(Joanne sighs at the damp pair, refils the buckets, and hands them back to the boys, shaking her finger at them and admonishing them to actually get the water on the horse this time. ;) :p)

(She gives everyone towels to dry Dallas with. Davy can't resist snapping Micky's rear with his. ;) )

*Micky's eyes widen, and he goes after Davy his his towel. He tries to snap Davy with his, but gets it wrapped around a post in the stalls.* :P

(Joanne, Katie, and the twins gently rub Dallas dry, ignoring Micky and Davy's antics. She hands everyone brushes and combs and starts brushing Dallas' mane. :) )

(The twins and Katie brush Dallas' fur dilligently. Micky and Davy try to brush Dallas' tail, but he keeps swishing it as they reach for it, and it gets in their faces or out of their reach. ;) )

*Lauren and Daphne consult their point tallies.* ;)

(They finally step back as the song ends. Dallas literally shines. His mane and tail are immacuately brushed. Even his teeth, in a big, horsey smile, glisten.)

Joanne: Nice work, folks. He looks like one and a million. ;) :)

Daphne: *grins* And Davy came out five points ahead of Micky. ;)

Lauren: *shakes her head* I'm still not so sure about that total. :P ;)

Davy: (Bows) Thank you, thank you. ;)

Micky: You cheated. Somehow, you cheated. :P

Joanne: Would you like to see some horses in the ring? A few of our riders are practicing even as we speak. :)

Katie: Yay! :D

Shelly: Yeah! :D

Mick: Yay! :)

Joanne: (Smiles) Come on, then! (Nods at the twins) You sure are cute. I wish I had a couple like you. :D

Micky: *mutters* Want 'em? *Lauren slugs his arm; he turns an innocent grin at her; Lauren rolls her eyes* ;)

Joanne: Uh, no thanks. I'm sure they're happier with their parents. (Sighs) So, the little girl is Mike's. She's a real doll. Looks so much like him...

Davy: Yeah. She's almost two now, and she's adorable. Bit stubborn sometimes, though.

Joanne: (Laughs) Like her father. Mike's always been such a mule. ;)

Micky: Tell us about it. :P ;)

Joanne: It would take a literal kick in the pants to get him to do anything he didn't want to do. (Sighs) I've known him since we were kids. I can't believe he's a father.

Davy: 'E's always been like a father to us, takin' care of us and all.

Micky: Yeah.

Joanne: (Grins) He was always like a big brother to me, too. We're the same age, but he always seemed so much older.

Davy: What was 'e like when 'e was a kid? 'E doesn't talk much about 'is child'ood to us, othah than it apparently was not a 'appy one.

Joanne: He was always such a quiet boy. He'd hang around the mechanics after school and ask them questions about how things like the boiler worked, then would come over here and help Papa and me for pennies. He was always so curious, wanted to know everything. I admired him. Most of the other kids didn't know what to think of him. He sorta kept to himself.

Davy: 'E still loves mechanics. Worked in a mechanic's shop until recently.

Joanne: Everyone offered to help them. Papa offered more money. Kate did, too, and they lived with her for a while. Bette wasn't even happy to accept the place to live, but she wasn't getting along with her family at that point and they had nowhere else to go.

(They arrive at a ring. Three men ride horses around the ring, sometimes doing tricks or jumping over large objects. The kids clap and cheer, delighted by the horses and their riders.)

Davy: Wow! I'd love to be doin' that someday. :D

Joanne: I love doin' it. I can't wait to show off Dallas. ;)

Katie: (As one horse jumps over a tall fence) Wow! :D

Mick: Lookit the horsies go! :D

Joanne: Ain't they somethin', kids? They're some of the best we got. This is one of the groups we're enterin' in the rodeo next week. :D

Katie: Oooh!

Shelly: Fun! :)

Davy: (Nods admiringly) And they're beautiful, luv. You take good care of them.

Joanne: My family's been runnin' this horse farm for almost sixty years. Grandpapa started it when he first came out to Texas from Kentucky, and Papa took over from him. Now that I'm back, I'll probably take over from Papa.

Davy: Do you know anythin' about this 'orse rustlin' business we've 'eard about lately, luv?

Joanne: (Brown eyes fill with fire and she nods) Yeah. I've been following it closely. Papa's worried, too. They work under the cover of night, either drugging the guards or somehow dismantling the security system. They apparently either drug or muzzle the horses and smuggle them out. No one knows how they get them out so quietly and with no one stopping them, though. They've stolen the best stock of three local ranches, and the entire valley is scared to death.

Davy: (Growls; there's fire in his eyes, too) Bastards. X(

Micky: *whistles* Damn. :P X-(

Joanne: The rodeo is a big deal. Not only do we show off our best horses, we also trade and sell them, too. It's the valley's biggest horse-related event of the year, and when we do more than half of our business. If we lose our best stock, I don't know what will happen. :(

Davy: No one 'urts 'orses when I'M around. X(

Micky: Or with any of us around, for that matter. :P X-(

Joanne: (Looks at the twins and Katie) Why don't we get back to the ranch? We'll meet my papa and talk to Mike. I'm sure Ruby has dinner on the stove. She's the head of the main house, the chief cook, maid, and practically my mother as a child. Her son, Steve, is one of our best riders. (Indicates a handsome young black man on a proud gray horse)

Katie: Dinner! Yum! :D

Mick: Food! :D

Joanne: (Laughs) I love to see hearty appetites! I'll bet Ruby has a nice, juicy steak and fat potatoes cooking away even as we speak! ;)

Davy: Micky, don't make the ground messy. You'll make the 'orses slip. ;)

Micky: Funny, Dave. Just make sure your remember to clean your hands so you don't slip trying to get up in the saddle. ;)

Davy: I 'ad a 'ard time tellin' who was eatin' back there, you or the 'orse. ;)

Micky: Oh, yeah?

Lauren: GUYS! :P

Davy: No 'arm done, luv. Just a bit of sport. ;)

Daphne: Well, it's getting a little annoying. :P

Lauren: Couldn't we have dinner first? Then you two can continue your sport. 8-|

Davy: No problem, luv. I'll find a 'orse trough for 'im. (Juts a finger at Micky) ;)

*Micky clenches his fists at his sides. Smoke is almost literally coming out his ears.* :P X-(

Lauren: Okay, that's enough. *starts pushing Micky away before he actually does have a chance to blow his top* :P

Davy: (To his glaring fiancee) Sorry, luv. I couldn't resist a partin' shot. ;)

Daphne: Hmm. *slight smirk* It was a good one, though. ;)

Davy: Thank you. (Puts his hand on her stomach) 'Ow are you feelin', luv? You ok?

Daphne: So far so good. No nausea or anything like that.

Davy: Good. (Smiles) God, luv, it's so exciting. I can't wait to meet our first child. :X :D

Daphne: I can't, either! :x :D

Davy: At least it'll won't lack company...though I question the company's influences. ;)

Daphne: You're terrible. ;)

Davy: Thank you, luv, I try. (They follow the others, watching more horses and riders going by as they head to the main house) I want to find out more about this 'orse rustlin' business. I won't let anyone 'urt 'orses that way.

Daphne: *nods* There has to be some way we can help out.

Davy: I'll MAKE a way. I don't care if Mike says no. I'm sure 'e won't, though. There seems to be somethin' between 'im and this girl.

Daphne: Which is something else, I'm sure, we'll have to help out in some way, too.

Davy: Daph, if the goin' gets really bad, I don't want you within a 'undred feet of this place. Val, Em, and Lauren 'ave all almost lost their children at one time or another to our various adventures. If the goin' gets rough, you grab the kids and get outta 'ere. You 'ear me?

Daphne: Yeah. *puts a hand on her stomach* Even though I'd love to help, I'll be away from here so fast with the kids it'll make your head spin. ;)

Davy: Me 'ead's spinnin' already. (Nods at the others, who are some distance away) Come on, luv. Let's catch up with them before Micky eats the whole dinnah on 'is own. ;)

*Daphne chuckles.* ;)

(They head over to the main house, following the others as the camera fades out on the scene.)