Everyone ready to do some friendly spying on Rainbow Valley Ranch? :)

Peter: I am! :D

Mike: Just be careful guys, ok?

Valerie: Me too, Peter.

Micky: Sure, of course we will!

Lauren: Why don't I believe that? :P ;)

Davy: Or me. :p

(We open at another ranch in the valley. This one is just as large as the Circle L, but far more modern-looking, all done in a very 60s space-age, brown-wood style. Peter, Micky, Lauren, and Valerie pile out of a small car borrowed from Aunt Kate. All wear cowboy hats and boots. Peter wears a paisley shirt and cords; Valerie wears a yellow shirt, leather jacket, and jeans.)

*Micky wears a black button-up shirt with fancy silver trim and jeans. Lauren wears a similar button-up shirt in purple and jeans.*

Valerie: Ok, guys, let's find the main office and scout around. Maybe we could tell Angie and Brad we want a tour.

Peter: Do you really think it's them? They seemed so nice...

Valerie: I'd bet Headquarters Records on it, Peter. Angie looked fit to be tied when someone insulted her horses, and Brad was so cool, you could make iced tea with him.

Micky: *nodded* I'd bet food on it. ;)

Lauren: Oh, brother, Mick.

Peter: I guess she did do it, then, but, why?

Valerie: (As they head for a door that says "office") Peter, they want to eliminate the competition, especially Angie. She wants her horses to be the best...and the ONLY best.

(Valerie pushes her way into the office. A young woman sits behind a wooden desk in a simple, almost spartan room. Only a few framed southwestern watercolors brighen the dark wood walls.)

Receptionist: May I help you?

Valerie: Yes. My name is Valerie Thorkleson. (Nods at the others) We were interested in possibly buying some horses off of Mr. and Miss Brannington.

Receptionist: Mr. Brannington is at the site of the Big Valley Rodeo, helping to set up Rainbow Valley's tent, but Miss Brannington is in.

Valerie: May we speak to her?

Receptionist: (Nods) Certainly. She's out at the first rodeo ring, training horses. Just go straight past the stables and turn left. You can't miss it.

Valerie: (Nods) Thank you. (They head back out to the car) I wonder what she's up to?

Peter: She's just training her horses! :)

Micky: Yeah, right.

Valerie: Peter, there is one simple question no one's asked yet. Where are the horses that were stolen up to this point?

Peter: I guess they took them away somewhere.

Valerie: Yeah, but where? They can't keep them here. It would be too obvious.

Lauren: More than likely they've got another place that's either well hidden or completely out of the way.

Peter: (Eyes widen) You mean... :(

Valerie: (Nods) Angie might not like it anymore than you, but I wouldn't put it past Brad to have elimnated the horses himself or sent them to someone who would. :P

Micky: Possible. :P

Valerie: (She gets in the driver's seat) We've got to get a hold of the police and the others as soon as we can find some concrete proof. (Pulls out a camera from under the seat) I borrowed this from Aunt Kate. She said we can use it to photograph our "proof," as long as we bring it back in one piece...and, if we can't do that, at least bring her the pieces. ;)

Micky: *chuckles* At least she's got faith in us. ;)

(The car speeds off. Cut to the car arriving at a large rodeo ring. Angie and several men ride the horses like bats out of hell. Angie's screaming like a woman possesed; the fire in her eyes the day before is back...and high as the sky. She spurrs her horse, a mottled white and gray roan, over obstacles and fences and short walls. When it trips, the others keep going, but she stops and takes care of it, patting it and speaking softly to it while bawling out the other men for not being careful and making their horses jump better.)

Peter: (Runs to the rodeo ring as the others get out and follow him; Angie leans her slightly limping horse to the ring as the other men jump and push their horses behind her) Are you ok? Is the poor horse ok? :o

Angie: (Nods) Yeah, I'm alright. (Strokes the horse's mane) I think Breyer might have sprained something; I'll call a doctor to look at him. (Nuzzles him) You poor darling! We'll get Dr. Cherrywood to look at your leg and make sure you're ok to be in the big rodeo and win lots of prizes for you and for Mommy, ok?

Peter: You really like your horses, don't you?

Angie: (Growls softly) More than anything. I've worked on horse ranches since I was a child. When I'm on a horse, it's like it's an extension of me. An extension of my soul.

Peter: You'd get along well with our friend Davy. He's really into horses, too. He wanted to be a jockey when he was in England! :)

Angie: (Grins, a bit dreamy) I knew that. He mentioned that in his "Tiger Beat" interview. (Chuckles) No offense, but that's why he's my favorite of the four of you. ;) :X

*Micky rolls his eyes, but he's smirking.* ;) :P

Valerie: You really love what you're doing, don't you?

Angie: I've never wanted to do anything else. This is my life. This is what I want to do forever.

Valerie: Actually, I was thinking of buying some horses.

Angie: Well, you've come to the right place...but you're talking to the wrong person. Brad really handles the business side of things. I mostly take care of the horses. He works with the horses, too, but he'd rather be bent over his books.

Peter: That's no fun! :p

Valerie: But necessary to running a business. (Looks at Angie) Maybe you could show us around until he returns? I'd love to see where you keep all your horses.

Angie: (Nods) Sure. I need to call a vet for Breyer, anyway.

Valerie: Could you show us the stables first?

Angie: Certainly. They're not far from here.

Valerie: We have a car. We'll drive you.

Angie: Thank you. (They head back to the car. Cut to a set of larger, more modern-looking stables, laden with every kind of horse equipment avalible. A veternarian in a white coat looks at Breyer's leg while the others wander around, supposedly looking at the horses, but really searching the stalls for horses that shouldn't be there.)

Valerie: (She's patting a horse, feeding it sugar cubes) There you go, honey. I wish you could talk. Then you'd be able to tell us what's going on around here.

Peter: It all looks normal to me!

Micky: There has to be something...a clue or...anything!

Valerie: (Nods at Angie, who stands worriedly with the veternarian who inspects her beloved horse) Angie's distracted. Now would be a good time to look around on our own.

Peter: (Tugs on Valerie's sleeve, his eyes wide) Val! Val! Look! :o

Valerie: What, honey?

Peter: (Points) Indians! :o

(A group of men and women in feathered headdresses and buckskin outfits rush in, guns and arrows drawn. They surround the veternarian and Angie. Angie struggles, but they shove a cloth over her nose and the vet's. Both collapse onto the ground. They drag the two over to the wall and tie them up with rope laying on the ground of the stall.)

Valerie: Oh, god! :o

Peter: We've got to stop them! :o

Valerie: Lauren, you call the police and the others on your communicator. We'll stall the phony Indians until the cops arrive.

Peter: Phony?

Lauren: You got it. *flips her watch open*

Valerie: That red makeup is so obvious, I can see it coming off on the buckskin.

(Three of the Indians break in, kicking the door to the stall down.)

Indian 1: Freeze, white men and women! You will be going on long, deep sleep.

Peter: But I'm not tired! :p

Micky: Oh, please. :P

Indian 2: You do not believe?

Micky: Not one bit. :P

Indian 3: (Pulls a sack of feed from her belt) Here you go, pretty horse. You come with us. Eat all you want.

Indian 1: We will have to make you believe. (Pulls out a cloth and reaches for Micky first)

Micky: Watch the hands, pal! :P

Peter: (Grab's the Indian's hand before it can feed the horse) Hey, I don't think that horse is hungry! :p

Valerie: (Puts out a leg; the Indian trips before he gets to Micky, toppling head-over-heels into the wall) Oops, clumsy me. ;)

Micky: *claps* Good one, Val! ;) :D

(The Indian runs after Val, but trips over a trough Micky and Valerie pushed in his way as the original version of "Mommy and Daddy" begins.)

(Peter continues to struggle with the Indian. In the process, they spill the feed on the ground.)

(Valerie grabs a horsecollar and throws it over an Indian who was chasing her.)

*Micky lets loose with a hog call to rival previous ones. True to form, it brings all kinds of farm animals, not just the hogs. Several of the Indians try to shoo thea animals away.*

(Valerie and Lauren come in dressed in Mike and Peter's hillbilly costumes from "Hillbilly Honeymoon." They pick up the animals, play noses and washing racks, and aim rifles at the throughly confused Indians. ;) )

(Valerie ducks an arrow that just barely misses parting her hair. She then ducks another arrow...but this one just barely missed paring the INDIAN'S hair. Cut to Peter, holding up his green arrows and grinning. :D)

(Peter takes a headdress off of one of the Indians and puts a chicken on his head instead. The Indian runs off while the chicken cackles on his head. Peter puts the headdress on and does his own version of an Indian ceremonial dance. ;) :D)

*Micky spots a rod hanging on the wall. He goes over to find it's a branding iron. Grinning widely and looking around, he uses his Imagination power to heat the iron and change the initial on it. He sneaks up on the nearest Indian and burns an "M" on their backside.* :D ;)

(The Indian jumps up, grabs his backside, and runs over to sit in a full water trough. He sighs in satisfaction as steam comes up from the trough. ;) )

*Micky twirls the iron proudly.* :D ;)

(Indians are leading the horses out of the stables, even as "Mommy and Daddy" winds down.)

Valerie: Lauren, you help Angie and the vet and get them to the cops. (Indeed Breyer, one of the only horses not taken, is nudging his unconcious owner) The rest of us will follow those Indians!

Lauren: On it, Val. :)

Valerie: Come on, guys. We're going to find out once and for all what those so-called "Indians" are doing with the horses.

Micky: Yeah. :P

Peter: (As they jump into the car) Valerie, the Indians really ARE fake! (Shows her his hand...which is covered with red make-up) I got that all over my hands when I was struggling with the Indian who tried to hurt the poor horse! :p

Valerie: Just cheap face paint, the kind Woolworth's sells at Halloween. :p

Micky: *makes a face* I sure would like to teach them a thing or three about heritage. :P X-(

Valerie: We'll help you, Mick.

Peter: I guess this means Angie didn't do it. They hurt her AND her horses!

Valerie: Peter, she and Brad probably set this up to divert suspicion.

Micky: What better way than to attack themselves? :P

Peter: Guys, look! (He points at a large truck turning out of the Rainbow Valley Ranch and onto the highway. The heads of a few horses poke out of the back of the dark, non-descript truck...including a few seen in the stables during the "Mommy and Daddy" romp.) That's the truck with the horses! :o

Valerie: So THAT'S how they're getting them out. You'd never see that truck during the night. :p

Micky: Who'da thunk it? :P :-/

Valerie: Micky, call the others at the ranch and tell them we're on the road. (Follows the truck as it turns into a small, old-fashioned train station. People load boxes and crates onto cars.)

Micky: *flips open his watch communicator* Doing it right now...

Peter: They must be putting the horses on that train to divert suspicion, too.

Mike: (Over his communicator) Micky? What's goin' on? Lauren called Em and told her there was a raid at the Rainbow Valley Ranch.

Micky: Yeah, and they got away with more horses. We're following the truck right now.

Mike: Truck? (Wolf growl) So THAT'S how they're gettin' away with the horses. X(

Emma: (Fainter; in the background) Did you find anything else out?

Micky: Yeah. They were dressed as Indians, at least for this attack. :P X-(

Mike: INDIANS? :p

Micky: Yeah. :P

Mike: I'm gonna assume they weren't real ones. :p

Micky: No, they weren't. Pete proved that by getting make up from one of them on his hand. :P

Mike: Oh, lord. Is everyone ok?

Micky: *nods* Yeah, we're fine, though some of those phoney Indians are worse for wear now. ;)

Mike: We're gonna meet Lauren at Rainbow Valley Ranch. You guys be careful out there. Don't do anythin' that'll get you killed. I know it's useless to tell you not to get into trouble, but just try to live through it, ok? ;)

Valerie: Mike, they have me here. I'll make sure we're all alive after we get out. ;)

Micky: *glances at Val* Thanks. (Into the communicator) Don't worry, Mike, we'll be just fine.

Mike: We'll see, shotgun. (He clicks off)

Micky: *closes his watch* Oh, ye of little faith. :P

Peter: They're loading the horses onto the train! (Indeed, the now more-or-less normally dressed horse theives load their drugged and ill-gotten wares onto two of the empty trains) We've got to stop them.

Valerie: And we will. The horses will probably be taken somewhere else after they get off the train. (Looks at the guys) And we're going to get ON it. ;)

Peter: WHAT? :o

Micky: Alright! :D ;)

Valerie: We're going to get to the conductor and stop the train, before they can leave. ;)

Valerie: (Gets out of the car in the small, dusty parking lot) Come on. (She and the boys hurry to the train, not noticing they're being followed by three of the former-Indians)

(Valerie, Peter, and Micky duck around the back of the train, going to the other side. They follow Valerie up to the steps between the cars and into the train. They finally find themselves in a car filled with boxes and crates.)

Valerie: Ok, guys. Let's get to the conductor, before someone sees us.

Peter: (Nods at the boxes; reads the side of a box) "Pal-Pan Dog Food, For Your Dog's Good Health."

Valerie: (Makes a face) Oh, yuck. No offense to dogs, but let's get moving. :p

Micky: Fine with me. :P

Peter: (Nods) I don't like this. I feel creepy, like we're being watched. The vibes are really, really nasty. Not evil, but... (a bandana thrown around his mouth ends his rambling; another hand grabs his arms and pulls him to the floor)

Valerie: PETER! (She goes after him, but is grabbed from behind herself. A bandana is thrown over her mouth, and she's lifted off her feet)

Micky: Hey! :P X-(

(Peter whimpers. :( )

Micky: Let them go! *He goes after them, but is grabbed from behind and a cloth pressed over his nose; he sags after a few moments*

Horse Thief 1: That's the last one.

(Peter struggles and squawks through his gag, but his legs and arms are thrown into burlap sacks, and he's also blindfolded; Valerie recieves the same treatment.)

Horse Thief 2: I saw them lurking around the stables at Rainbow Valley, too!

Horse Thief 3: I saw these two (grabs Peter's hair and pulls him up to show his face) at the botched raid on the Circle L Ranch.

Horse Thief 1: We'll take them to the front car. The boss will wanna talk to them after we get to the rodeo.

Horse Thief 2: Let's take them in the back. (He throws Peter over his shoulder. The first thief takes Valerie, and the third carries the unconcious Micky. They head out of the car as the camera fades out on the boxes of dog food and a train whistle is heard.)