(We open at a nice, simple farmhouse behind the stables. Mike sits at a balcony with his guitar, dressed in a gray suede, fringed shirt, jeans, and a gray cowboy hat. He's singing and playing "The Kind of Girl I Could Love." Peter sleeps peacefully on the other side of the room. The blond boy finally opens his eyes, yawns, and stretches.)
Peter: Ummm...(notices Mike) Oh, good morning, Michael! You're up early.
Mike: (Shrugs) Couldn't sleep. (Goes back to playing)
Peter: (Frowns) Michael...is there anything wrong?
Mike: (Shakes his head) Not at all, Peter. Just had a lot on my mind, that's all.
Peter: (Smiles) Well, that's understandable, with everything that's happened. (Shivers) I feel so bad about last night. Justin Harrison was a bad guy, but he didn't deserve to die.
Mike: (Stony-faced) No one does, Peter. Sometimes, it just happens, and there's nothing we can do about it.
Peter: (As Mike gets up from the window and sits on the bed) Michael, I'm scared. Someone is after Micky and Lauren and you and maybe all of us. These people aren't like Alakazam or Zeckenbush. They really mean business. They've KILLED people!
Mike: (Puts his hand on Peter's shoulder) Pete, I swear, I will NOT allow anyone to hurt you or Micky or Lauren or the others! (Grips Peter's shoulder more tightly as his eyes cloud) I'll stop them this time! Not like with Rosita...
Peter: Rosita?
Mike: (Removes his hand and turns away from Peter, his face unreadable) Just a girl I once knew, Peter. She's dead now.
Peter: Is that why you wanted to stay with Emma last night, Michael?
Mike: Emma needs lookin' after. She doesn't think she does, but someone has to keep her from runnin' off half-cocked at anyone who looks at her funny.
Peter: (Smiles) She seems to do ok. She's got her parasol, after all! (Softly, as he goes to a cupboard and pulls out his gambler's outfit) Michael, are you scared for Emma?
Mike: (Lowers his eyes and mutters) Yeah. She's a lot like Rosita. Rosie was Mexican-American, but she used to go off running her mouth, and she was smart, too, in that bookish way Em is.
Peter: (Sits next to Mike) Michael, what happened to her?
Mike: (Turns away from Peter so he can't see his anguish) I told you, Pete, she's dead. She was killed. I saw her die. (Voice cracks) I couldn't save her...
Peter: God, Michael, that's awful. (Looks at his friend's shuddering back) Did you love her?
Mike: (Finally faces Peter, tears in his big brown eyes) Yeah. I was gonna ask her to marry me, but they killed her...(breaks down crying. Peter takes him in his arms and lets his friend cry.) I couldn't help her...she died because of me...Peter, I couldn't help her...
(Peter rubs his heartbroken friend's back as we dissolve over to the jailhouse. Lauren is still sleeping; Emma is dressing in a pale-yellow gown and hat, with her stockings and boots and, of course, matching steel parasol. Lauren is still blissfully sleeping.)
Emma: (Sighs and shakes her friend awake as someone is heard knocking on the door) Come on, Lauren! Time to get up! Lulu's got breakfast going, and the others will be over in a few minutes!
Lauren: *groans, her eyes open half way* Huh...wha...
Emma: (Giggles) That just leaves "Where, who, how, and why?" (Pulls her blanket off) Lauren, Micky is about to bang the door down, and the other guys will be here any minute! It's time to get up!
Lauren: *buries her head in the pillow* A few more minutes...
Micky: (From outside the door) Hey, you girls decent? I'm hungry!
Emma: Lauren, see? Micky's hungry!
*Lauren waves a hand.*
Micky: I'm gonna bust this door down if you two aren't downstairs in ten minutes! Sheriff's orders!
Emma: (Calls) Micky, I think you'll be able to live without breakfast for another ten minutes. (Grabs Lauren's pillow) Lauren, up!
Lauren: *mutters* Orders my... *her head thumps down, but she still doesn't move*
Micky: (Still outside the door) One...two....two and a half...
Emma: (Exasperated with both) Mick! Lauren!
(We hear the voices of the other three guys as they arrive in a carriage pulled by some of Davy's horses.)
Davy: (From down in the jail) 'Ey, where is everyone?
Micky: (Calling to them) We'll be down in a minute!
Emma: Micky, go meet the guys. I'll get her up! (Goes to Lauren) I was hoping I wouldn't have to resort to drastic measures, but you leave me no choice, Deputy Miller! (Sits on the end of the bed and tickles the bottoms of her bare feet)
Lauren: *shrieks from surprise and laughter* Em-ma!
Emma: Surrender!
Lauren: *still laughing* Awe... c'mon...
Emma: (Smirks) It worked, didn't it? (Tugs at Lauren) Up! (Points over her shoulder) Before the guys blow something up with Micky's chemistry set, or worse. ;)
Lauren: *looks at Emma with droopy eyes* I oughtta through you in jail for that. *grumbling* I'm movin', I'm movin'...
Emma: (Crosses her arms) You need my expertise to help you solve this mystery, and I can't do it in jail. ;)
*Lauren fumbles around half asleep, trying to gather all of her clothes.*
Emma: Besides, diner breakfasts are sublime! Think sausages and gravy, plate-sized pancakes dripping with syrup and real butter, chipped beef with real cream on home-made bread, an omlet with fresh cheese, eggs, and veggies, fresh milk with chocolate imported from Mexico...
Lauren: *stops, a glazed over look in her eyes* A bowl of cereal for me... *goes back to her clothes search*
Emma: (Grins) Home-made, I'll bet! And they could probably even get Mick fresh orange juice! Remember, this IS our imaginations!
Lauren: In that case, I'll have my cereal with orange juice on it, also.
Emma: (Shakes her head as Lauren dresses) How do you and Mick DO that?
Lauren: *with a slight shrug* Depends on the cereal.
(That's when an explosion rocks the jailhouse, shaking the beds and nearly knocking Lauren off her feet.)
Lauren: Holy crap! What was that?!
Emma: (Groans) We left the boys alone too long. Micky probably got bored and decided to fool around with the chemistry set! :p
Lauren: Gawd... *mutters something intelligible*
Emma: (pretends shock, but is really smirking) Lauren Miller, I didn't think you knew that kind of language! ;)
Lauren: Oh, I know it. I just save it for special occasions. *returns the smirk*
Emma: (As Lauren straps on her belt, pistol, and holster) Well, are you ready to face the carnage? ;)
Lauren: Let's go save the boys from themselves. ;-)
(The girls walk downstairs to find four boys with sheepish, blackend faces, the window where the chemistry set sat now unnaturally enlarged, and a greenish-brown stain all over the table under the chemistry set.)
Mike: (Groans) Micky, I TOLD you it was too early to mess around with that!
Lauren: *straight faced* What did you do?
Davy: You're never going to get that off the table, Mick.
Micky: *shrugs* I needed something to do!
Mike: Then read a book or somethin'! Don't blow the hell out of the jail! (Dr. Drake comes running in, looking tired and worried)
Dr. Drake: (Raises his eyebrows) What the HELL happened in here?!
Lauren: *jerking a thumb at Micky* He happened.
Dr. Drake: (Eyes widen) Please tell me you were experimenting with new investigative methods, Sheriff!
Micky: Umm...okay?
Peter: He was? (Scratches the back of his head)
Emma: Yeah, in his own, special way. (Nods at the good, and now rather frightened, doctor) Dr. Drake, did you find anything on Harrison?
Dr. Drake: (Nods) The body hadn't decomposed yet, so he wasn't dead for more than twenty minutes or a half-hour when you found him. The bullet came from a small-caliber gun that was either silenced, or missed in the bar brawl I heard happened in the saloon last night. I'm sending the bullet to Houston to be analyzed. Unfortuantly, the perpetrator left no fingerprints or any identifying marks, but there were bruises on Harrison's neck, right above his collar line, like someone grabbed him and squeezed there.
Lauren: Ouch.
Mike: They probably grabbed him by the neck and threw him around a bit before killing him.
Peter: Poor guy! :(
Emma: (Quietly) And Dead-Eye Freddy didn't kill him.
Davy: 'ow do you know that, luv?
Peter: Because he was doing the "Cuddly Toy" romp in the saloon with us! He couldn't be in two places at the same time!
Micky: So we've got someone else running around killing people. Lovely.
Dr. Drake: (Nods) Seems that way. I'd check out his men's whereabouts, but it would seem Dead-Eye himself is in the clear.
Davy: Dr. Drake, what do you know about a fellow named Edwin Lord?
Dr. Drake: (Frowns) It all depends on who you talk to. Mexicans, blacks, and natives can't say two nice words about him, and I don't blame them. He treats them like garbage, when he'll hire them at all for anything but servant work and hard labor. He's friendly with the larger businesses, farms, and ranches, but the small-time folks have a mixture of respect and fear for him. I don't like him myself. I think he uses far too many strong-arm tactics, and I don't like the snobby city people he's bringing in, like McClurg at the Weekly Gazette.
Micky: Join the club on that one.
Dr. Drake: I'm going to call this into Houston or Oklahoma City, whomever I can get through to first. They'll put someone on the bullet right away. (Smiles) And I'm looking forward to dinner with you tonight, Sheriff Dolenz and Deputy Miller. There's an ice cream social later tonight, too. It's to raise money for a new addition to the schoolhouse. Everyone in town will be there, all dressed up and ready to dance. There'll be music and games and fireworks.
Peter: That sounds like fun! (Blushes) Can we bring a friend?
Dr. Drake: Bring whomever you want! All the wives and restaurant people always bring great food. Lulu's chocolate-coffee cake is heavenly! ;)
Lauren: Oh, man!
Dr. Drake: And the ice-cream is home-made by Tina and Tommy Malloy, who run the Queen of the Dairylands Ice Cream Shop! They have over 70 flavors! :)
Micky: And I intend on trying every single one of them!
Emma: (Grins) I'm there already! ;)
Dr. Drake: It'll be in the meadow behind the Little Red Schoolhouse. (Waves as he heads out to call Houston) I'll pick Sheriff Dolenz and Deputy Miller up for dinner around five, and we'll meet the others at seven! See you then! (Heads out, and the others follow him, walking down the street to Lulu's)
Emma: I think I like that fellow. :)
Micky: A man who has ties to ice cream. I definitely like him!
Mike: (Rolls his eyes) Micky, you'd like anyone who'd bring you something edible. 8-|
Micky: *considers it* Not necessarily.
Mike: (Sighs) Well, we now know Dead-Eye Freddy isn't our only problem. There's someone else out there killin' people.
Davy: (Squeaks) We've got to keep an eye out, especially at the schoolhouse and the stables!
Lauren: And ourselves, in general.
Peter: I'm going to go to the saloon after breakfast and get a job. (Smiles) Not only will I be able to play the piano, but I'll get to spy on the saloon and hear everything that goes on!
Mike: Don't listen too closely, Peter. We don't want you to get into trouble.
Peter: But how can I hear anything if I'm not close?
*Micky shakes his head.*
(The group enters Lulu's. Lulu is busy waiting tables for a youngish man in a simple but impeccable gray suit and cowboy hat. He is tall and lean but muscular, his hair a frosty blonde, his eyes a cold, hard, icy blue.)
Lulu: (Smiles to the kids and whispers to them) Hi, folks! I'll take care of you cuties in a moment. This guy's LOADED! He's bought my most expensive breakfast meal, and he gave me a tip that could cover the new furniture I ordered to replace the stuff that got broken yesterday! :D (Bustles back to the man as the group sits at a large table in the center of the room)
Davy: (Raises his eyebrows as Lulu leans over him) Um, maybe it was my imagination, but I think she just pinched my rear! (Sits hard)
Lauren: It's your imagination, Dave.
Mike: (Lopsided grin) And this is the first time a woman's done this to you, Dave? ;)
Davy: Of her age, height, and chest size, yes!
Micky: *about the young man* Think maybe I'll keep an eye on this guy.
Emma: Me, too. He looks like he belongs in one of those 50s war movies...on the Germans' side.
*Lauren nods.*
Peter: (Looks over his shoulder and turns back, embarrassed) Lulu just pinched the blond's rear!
(The blond gives her a glare that would have turned her into stone if she hadn't returned to the kitchen, whistling "The Kind of Girl I Could Love.")
Micky: Well, there's an interesting look.
Mike: Maybe one of us ought to approach him...
Emma: Micky, you do it. You're the Sheriff.
Davy: People just automatically like you. I think it's the goofy grin. ;)
Micky: It's times like this, I wish I hadn't wanted this job. Playing one-night only gigs wasn't so bad. *stands* What do I ask him? It isn't like I want to sound suspicious or anything.
Peter: Just say, 'hi,' and 'hello,' and 'new in town'? Things like that!
Mike: Ask him what he was doing last night around 11.
Micky: *groans* Wonderful. *glares at Mike* Little too obvious, pardner.
Emma: (Rolls her eyes) Mike, I want to get to the bottom of this as much as you do, but he's already staring at us...(all six turn to look at the man as Lulu brings them water. The man gives them his cold blue glare. They all slowly turn back)
Davy: (Whispering) That man could freeze fire at fifty paces!
Micky: And you're sending me over there.
Peter: Just be careful! Talk about music, books, and politics! (Thinks) Well, maybe not politics...
Micky: I'll just go along with whatever comes up. *starts over to the man*
Man: (Deep, velvet voice of the city, but slightly harsh) Yes, sir? (Fixes that cold blue gaze on Micky, who gulps. The others try to hide their obvious interest behind the tattered menus Lulu brought.)
Micky: *tries not to sound nervous* Hi. *swallows* I just happened to notice you over here. I haven't seen you in town before. I like to know who's living around here. Make sure everything's on the up-and-up.
Man: I'm just passing through.
Micky: Oh. *searches for something to continue with* Where you headed?
Man: (Shrugs) Probably out to Houston or San Antonio. I was sent out here to (smirks a little) inspect my boss' holdings. (Shakes Micky's hand with a firm, hard, but very chilly grip) I'm Ed Andrews, cartographer. My boss wanted me to take a look at some of the land he's going to be buying shortly.
Emma: (Whispers from behind her menu) Holdings?
Mike: (Also whispers) Boss?
Davy: Land?
Micky: Really? That's neat. I'd considered being an architect myself. *shakes his head* Need any help getting around the town?
Ed: (Shakes his head as Lulu brings the check) That's ok, Sheriff. I'm going out of town with some friends who know the area. Thank you for your generosity.
Micky: No problem. Always glad to be of help. *tips his hat and returns to the table with the others* He's definitely in on this.
Emma: Yeah. There's something not quite right here.
Peter: (As the man leaves, briefcase in hand) He was really nice and everything, but...it was almost like he was polite, but not really nice, you know?
Micky: I know. I'm still regaining the feeling in my hand.
Mike: (Squints) He's really familar...
Davy: That man has all the warmth of a horseshoe nail.
Emma: And what was with that look when he mentioned his boss' holdings?
Mike: He probably works for Lord, too. (Slams his fist on the table) Damn, I've seen that guy somewhere...
Lauren: I don't know, but it gave me a worse feeling than I already had.
Micky: *nods* That's obvious.
Lulu: (Nods as she comes around with a pad and pencil) Yeah, he looked like the type who would shoot first and then pick his teeth with a gold-plated toothpick. (Shrugs) But he pays well. I'll afford Lord's rent for a month on what he gave me. (Takes the kids' orders and leaves)
Mike: (Muttering) Typical city snob...
Micky: *sarcastically* Nice man.
Davy: That man worries me more than Dead-Eye did. That man is both cultured and smart, not just saddle-smart.
Lauren: Deadly combination.
Emma: (Groans) Great, a killer who's up on his opera and PBS. Just what we need. 8-|
Micky: It'll really be over when the fat lady sings. *frowns*
Emma: There's got to be a connection between him, Lord, Dead-Eye, and the murders.
Davy: Bet he killed 'Arrison.
Mike: And what was with that briefcase? I'll bet it wasn't cartographer's gear he had in there.
Micky: Guns of choice, I'll bet. Or evidence.
Mike: (Shakes his head) Man, I wish I had a clearer memory of what happened before I went off on a whisky binge. That guy rings major bells.
*Micky glares at Mike.*
Emma: A fellow gunslinger, maybe? Kind of like Paladin in "Have Gun, Will Travel?"
Peter: (Squeezes his friend's hand) Michael, don't think of that now. Concentrate on the present, not the past.
Mike: (Sighs, more to himself than his friend) I'm tryin', Pete. I'm tryin'.
Emma: Mike, are you on our side, or aren't you?
*Micky quirks an eyebrow.*
Mike: (Glares) I'm on your side. I don't want anyone else to die the way...Harrison and Georgian did. (Whispers so only Peter hears him) And others... (Sighs and continues out loud) Mikey Georgian was a good friend, almost like a mentor. He was Sheriff here before Lord started buying the entire town. He loved this place. He practically watched it built, brick by brick, plank by plank.
Lulu: (Brings everyone's breakfast and tosses them down in front of the hungry kids) Here you go, crowd. On the house for our new Sheriff and to celebrate Nesmith being sober. (Leans behind Mike, whose eyes widen as she leaves)
Mike: (Strange look) Um, Davy...I think she just pinched me!
Micky: *laughs* The look on your face!
Emma: (Grins) If that doesn't sober you up, nothing will. (Grin gets bigger) Besides, it's good to know she has nice taste. I may have to try that sometime. ;)
Micky: *nudges Lauren* Give you any ideas, babe?
Lauren: That's Deputy to you, pal. *winks*
Davy: (Digs into grits and sausage and gravy) I told you she pinched me!
Mike: (Glares as he stuffs steak and vegetables in his face) Don't even think about it, Miss Redmer!
Davy: (As he starts in on the sausage) Patsy, Jim, and I are going to be riding over to the Indian village this morning to talk to them about trading horses for goods they make that we use, like blankets and baskets. Anyone is welcome can come with us.
Micky: *nods, his mouth full* I'll come.
Lauren: *shrugs* Sure, I'll go, too.
Peter: (Shakes his head no) I'm going over to the saloon to ask about a job, then I'm going to the schoolhouse to see Miss Elizabeth. She said I could give all the kids piano and guitar lessons today! :)
Emma: (Between bites of buckwheat pancakes with honey) I'll go too, Davy. I want to ask the Indians a few questions about Lord's interest in their land.
Mike: (Shrugs and finishes off his steak) Guess I'll go along. I want to talk to Jim Quilan about Georgian, and I wouldn't mind asking the Indians a few questions myself. (Grins) Besides, someone has to keep the rest of you out of trouble!
Micky: Hey?! I'm the Sheriff, remember?
Davy: Says someone who's supposed to be a notorious gunslinger!
Emma: (Makes a face at Mike) And who almost started a fight in the saloon yesterday because he was so sloshed on whisky he could barely move and had to be saved by his friends?
Mike: (Shakes a finger at Emma) One of these days, girl, you're going to let ME save YOU! And you'll enjoy it! [-(
Micky: *laughs* That's funny!
Emma: Miiiiikkkkeee...
*Lauren shakes her head, a small smile crossing her face.*
Peter: You did keep an eye on Emma last night while she wrote her article.
Emma: That reminds me, the paper should be out this morning. (Looks up) Hey, Lulu, where's a good place to buy the Weekly Gazette?
Lulu: (Thinks as she pours coffee for a group of tired-looking cowboys) Granny should have it at Granny's General Emporium and Clothing Store Boutique. She sells everything there is to sell in the world, and she knows everything that goes on in town.
Peter: (Finishes his bacon and scrambled eggs) I'll meet you guys at the ice cream social tonight! I told Odilia I'd help her sons finish fixing the windows in the schoolhouse after I give piano lessons. (Blushes) And I want to ask Miss Elizabeth to go to the social with me! I hope she says yes! She's so pretty, and really smart! She knows everything about math and reading and science and geography! She can even do division in her head!
Lauren: She sure sounds smart! *smiles*
Davy: (Grins) Ask her, Petah! You sound like you're really hung-up on her...and you didn't steal her picture this time! ;)
Micky: Yeah, man, go for it!
Peter: (Blushes) She has a picture on her dresser, but it's not very big, and her family's in it...
Mike: (Lopsided smile) Couldn't hurt, Pete. Worst she could say is no, and I think she's hung-up on you, too.
Peter: (Hugs Mike) I think I will! (Whispers) Please don't be sad, Michael. Just move on. (Heads out the door) I'll see you guys later!
Micky: *waves* Bye, Pete!
Davy: (Frowns as Lulu clears the table) Mike, what did you and Petah talk about this morning before you came downstairs? You looked like you were crying.
*Micky and Lauren turn to Mike.*
Mike: (Shakes his head) Just stuff that happened a long time ago, Davy, that I need to forget about.
Emma: (Eyes widen) You, crying?
Mike: It was nuthin'. Pete and I talked and worked some things out, that's all.
Micky: Well, that's good to hear.
Emma: (Gives Mike a hug and a small kiss on his cheek) I'm glad! I don't want anyone to be upset! (Grins) Without a good reason! (Gets up) Well, come on, I want to go over to Granny's to pick up the Gazette before we head out to the Indian Village.