Emma: Well, let's see how far we can get before we pass out. Everyone ready? :)

Lauren: Ready & rarin'!

Peter: I'm off to the saloon! :)

Mike: Ready!

Davy: Let's save the stables!

Micky: I want ice cream!

Emma: Let's go to Granny's General Store and Clothing Emporium Boutique before we head over to the Indian Villiage. I want to pick up a copy of this week's Gazette.

Lauren: Yeah, I wanna read your article.

(Everyone but Peter, who walks down the street to the saloon, heads several stores down to a large building with the words "Granny's General Store and Clothing Emporium Boutique" painted on the top in large letters. Emma pushes open the swinging door, followed by the others. Granny has not only a wide selection of clothing and fabric, but everything you can imagine, from hardware and housewares to pickles and buttons. Everyone wanders around as Emma goes to the front register to talk to the spry little old lady mucking around behind the counter in a faded but clean gingham dress. She has bright red hair with a few gray streaks.)

Emma: (Nods) Hi, Miss, um...

Woman: (Grins) The name's Mildred Reynolds, honey, but call me Granny. Everyone does. Now, how can I help you?

Emma: (Smiles at the woman's genuine warmth) I want a copy of today's Weekly Gazette.

Granny: (Brings out a copy of the Gazette, but makes a face) I hate that rag! Wouldn't carry it if it wasn't the only paper in town. Don't write nothin' worth readin'. (Notices Lauren and Micky looking over the jellies and jams) Hello, Sheriff Dolenz, Deputy Miller! How can I help you? Workin' on a case?

Lauren: Browsing for food, per his request. *smiles, pointing at Micky*

Davy: (Nods) Do you have any horseshoe nails, Granny? We're fresh out.

Granny: (Grins) Why, sure! The Daydream Stables are some of my best customers! (Points) You'll find them in that barrel over there, by the bridles and the tack.

*Lauren pulls Micky over to a selection of stuffed animals. She picks up a collection of four small bears & shows them to Micky. Micky shakes his head & Lauren puts the bears back, after sticking her tongue out at him.*

Davy: (Grins, turning on the charm) Why thank you, Granny! (Tips his hat) And I must say, you're looking younger and lovelier every time I see you!

(Mike chuckles as he looks over a selection of magazines and periodicals.)

Granny: (Smiles but crosses her arms) Nice try, Jones, but you've still got to pay the full price. I'm too old to fall for your smooth talk (winks) no matter how much I want to! ;)

Davy: (Snaps his fingers) Darn!

Mike: (Laughs) I like her. ;)

Micky: *slaps Davy on the back* Good try, Casanova! *laughs*

Emma: Did they put in my article on Sheriff Dolenz?

Granny: (Nods and hands Emma the newspaper) Sure did, honey, right here on page four. (Opens the paper. Mike leans over her.)

Micky: Lemme see, lemme see! *jumps to look*

Mike: (Rolls his eyes) Right with the recipies for raspberry jam and the obituaries. :p

Lauren: Well, the jam is okay...

Emma: (Makes a face) But this is important! More important than (looks at the front) news about the new railroad station being built! (Raises her eyebrows) New railroad station...

Granny: (Face darkens) It's a sin, that is! Lord and Master industries is buying up every bit of land in Clarksville they can get their hands on for the railroads. They've made offers for this place, but I have no intention of selling. I started this store when the town was barely more than wood and nails, and I intend to go down with it.

Mike: (Eyes narrow) Lord's gettin' impatient.

Micky: And annoying.

Davy: Granny, did you see a man come by here? A tall fellow, blonde, with blue eyes and a gray suit?

Granny: (Nods) Yeah. Worked for Lord, it seemed. He bought some handkerchiefs and fancy French perfumes, then made another offer that I turned down. (Shivers) I've seen rattlesnakes in the prairies with more warmth in their eyes than that man.

Lauren: I'll believe that.

Granny: (Squints at Mike and makes a face) Oh, good grief, Nesmith, what are you doin' here? The last time you were here, you shot up half my inventory and scared the customers away for the rest of the day! You were so darn sloshed, you passed out at my door and I had to pay four of Odilia Sexto's sons to pick you up and dump you at the hotel!

Micky: Trust me, Granny, he's safe this time. *smirks*

Mike: (Nods) I've learned my lesson. I'm very, very sober.

Lauren: Or he'll have to answer to Emma and Mick. *winks*

Granny: (Nods at Davy) I'll send the nails along to the stables, Jones. Jim Quilan is a good man, and his daughter's getting to be just like him. She's a nice girl. You ought to take a whack at her before some of the local boys start tryin', Jones. You've taken a whack at every other girl in Clarksville! ;)

Davy: (Blushes) I'll take that advice, Granny.

Emma: (As they start to leave) Granny, did you by any chance hear anything about the death of the former sheriff, Michael Georgian?

Granny: (Narrows her eyes) Word has it that Dead-Eye Freddy really did kill Georgian. (Clenches one fist) If I ever get my hands on that son of a bitch, (picks up a rifle from behind the counter) he'll find himself looking down the barrel of a very nasty and very itchy trigger finger...and I don't give warnings. (Growls) Michael Georgian was just lookin' out for this town. He didn't deserve to be killed by that heartless bastard.

Mike: (Steps away) I have no doubt, Granny.

*Micky holds his hands up in surrender.*

Emma: (Pays for her newspapers and Davy pays for the nails) Granny, I'm going to find the evidence that will connect Dead-Eye Freddy to Georgian's death and this land-grabbing scheme and put it on the front page of the Weekly Gazette...and maybe even the papers in Oklahoma City and Houston! (Grins)

Micky: And maybe the five o'clock news, too.

*Lauren rolls her eyes.*

Granny: (Nods firmly) If any of you need the help of a stubborn old woman with a mean rifle and a meaner temper, just holler. I'm almost always in the General Store, and I'll be at the social tonight, too. (Grins) I call the square dance. ;)

Mike: (Smiling warily as he steps out) I'm sure we will, Granny. Thanks for the papers.

Emma: Thanks, Granny! (Joins Mike outside)

Micky: *waves* We'll be there, dancin' like squares!

Davy: (As the other three step out) Or even like circles!

Lauren: *follows* Bye, Granny. Thanks!

Emma: (As they walk over to the stables) She's quite the character, isn't she? :D

Micky: I like her...a lot!

Mike: (Grins) She's a groovy old chick. She's tougher and stronger than some men half her age!

Davy: (Smiles) We're going to have to visit the General Store more often. ;)

Lauren: She had some great stuffed animals in there, too.

Emma: I want to look at her books more closely the next time we're in there...

Mike: She had some guitar sheet music I almost bought...

Micky: I'd like to get some of those jams and jellies.

Davy: I wonder if she has any granddaughters or grandnieces...

Mike: (Grins) You didn't have any problems flirtin' with HER, boy! ;)

Lauren: Dave and his one-track mind.

Davy: I was just trying to bring the prices of the nails down.

Micky: Uh huh.

Mike: Davy, we told you this in Wildwood, and we're tellin' you it again. Cool it with your hormones, all right? Every time you chase women, you get us into big trouble!

Davy: Well, I haven't caused any trouble here...

Emma: Yet.

*Lauren and Micky nod.*

Emma: (As they come up on the stables) You said something about visiting the Indian Village today?

Davy: (Nods) It's only a few miles from here. They're friendly folks, and most of them speak English quite well. Chief Grayhawk is a good friend of the Quilans, and he knew Georgian, too. We trade horses and oats for goods we need that can't be bought at Granny's with them.

Micky: *snaps his fingers* I knew I should've brought my headdress.

Patsy: (Meets them at the door to the stables) I've got the horses all ready, Davy. Dad's staying here with the hired hands to keep an eye on the stables while we're gone.

Davy: (Smiles and nods at the others) Do you mind if we bring a few friends along today, luv? They're dying to ask the Kamari-Lanis a few questions about the attempts to buy their land.

Patsy: Not at all! (Grins at Emma) I read your article today, Miss Redmer. You're a wonderful writer! I feel like I really know Sheriff Dolenz and Deputy Miller now! (Smiles at the pair in question) And you two are amazing! I can't wait to see how you handle this land scheme!

Lauren: *grins at Micky* Me, neither.

Emma: (Blushes, looking down) Um, thank you, Patsy, but it wasn't really my best work.

Mike: (Puts his arm around her shoulder) Learn to take a compliment, Em, ok?

Emma: (Shrugs) I'm not used to compliments, I guess.

Patsy: (Climbs on Magnolia as the others get on horses, gingerly in Emma and Lauren's cases) Let's head out. It takes a while to get there, and we want to be back in time for the big ice cream social!

Micky: *whoops with joy* Ride 'em, cowboy!

Emma: (To Mick and Lauren) And aren't you guys meeting Dr. Drake for dinner?

Lauren: *nods* Yup. Busy night for us.

Mike: (Chuckles) You've gotta lay off the Roy Rogers movies, Mick. ;)

Micky: Awe, c'mon, Mike! *smirks*

Davy: (Catches up with Patsy as the two ride ahead) So, what do you do for fun, luv?

Patsy: I take care of the horses and Papa, mostly. And I like to dance...(they ride on ahead)

Mike: Speaking of Roy Rogers (an acoustic guitar appears in his hand) I've always wanted to be a singing cowboy. (Grins) Want to serenade these pretty senoritas with me, Mick? ;)

Micky: *grins* Sure, thing, Mike! I love to serenade pretty ladies!

Lauren: *groans* Oh, brother.

(Emma giggles as the two men, both now carrying guitars, "serenade" the girls with "I'll Spend My Life With You," intercut with scenes of Patsy and Davy chatting on horseback, the boys hamming it up with their guitars, and the girls laughing.)

Emma: (Laughing as the six arrive at a group of teepees in a cleared circle. American Indians in feathers, beads, and leather bustle about, tending to fires or teepees or just shooting the breeze.) That was so cute, guys. Now I remember why I never liked those singing cowboys movies. If you two got any cheesier, I'd be putting you on rye bread with mustard and ham. ;)

Micky: *licks his lips* Em, you're making me hungry!

Mike: (Grins) Aw, I thought we did really well!

Patsy: (Stops and ties her horse to a wood rail where other horses are tied. The others do the same.) Chief Grayhawk should be around here somewhere... (She's almost knocked over by two Indian kids on an old-fashioned bicycle. Davy pulls her aside just in time) Oh!

Davy: Those little buggers ought to be more careful! They could 'urt someone riding like that!

Older Indian Man: Laughing River, Southern Wind, come back here! You know you're not supposed to be riding that... (finally stops before them, panting. He's a large man and rather plumpish. His Indian headdress is cocked to one side and his leather clothing is dishevled.) Sorry I had to meet you like this, Patsy, but some American traded the bike for beads and leather goods and my kids got a hold of it, and...

Micky: *grins* Cute kids.

Patsy: (Grins) Oh, that's ok, Joe, I thought it was funny. (Smiles and nods at the Indian chief who is still getting his breath) This is Chief Joseph Grayhawk of the Kamari-Lani tribe. Joe, this is my boss David Jones (nods at Davy), Sheriff Micky Dolenz and Deputy Lauren Miller, Miss Emma Redmer of the Clarksville Weekly Gazette, and Michael Nesmith.

Joe: (Shakes Micky's hand) Welcome to Clarksville, Sheriff Dolenz. I've heard you and Deputy Miller have done some amazing work down in Texas and the Arizona Territories.

Micky: Thanks, Joe. Our reputation tends to preceed us quite a bit. *winks at Lauren*

Joe: (Hugs Mike) Black Wolf, where have you been, man? It's been months since I last saw you!

Mike: (Sighs) I ran into a few problems, Joe, with the demon fire water (nods at Emma and Micky) but the good Sheriff and Miss Redmer made me see the error of my ways.

*Micky tips his hat.*

Joe: (Grins and gives Micky such a slap on the back he almost ends up on the ground) Good for you, Dolenz! I commend you (nods at Emma) and the lady in yellow! Black Wolf can be a stubborn son-of-a-bitch. It must have taken some great miracle to get him back on his feet!

Emma: (Smirks) No, just a little barrel of water. (Mike blushes, still embarrassed about that incident)

Davy: (Raises his eyebrows) Black Wolf?

Joe: (Juts a finger) Made him part of the tribe years ago. He once helped us fight off another local tribe who's a lot less sweeter-dispositioned than us folks!

Mike: (Blushes) Aw, Joe...

Emma: (Grins) Black Wolf. I like it. ;)

Micky: Well, good for him! *slaps Mike on the back with the same force Joe used and grins*

Joe: He was even injured, too! (Helps Mike back on his feet after Micky more or less knocked him to the ground) You ever show them the scar from the bullet, Black Wolf?

Mike: (Now he's REALLY red) Ah, no...

Lauren: Bullet?

Micky: *grins widely* I've never seen that!

Joe: (Proudly) Took a bullet for me on his left thigh. It's in a bit of a sensitive spot. He doesn't like to talk about it much, so I do it for him. (Pats his shoulder) He's much too modest, this boy.

Davy: (Raises his eyebrows) Modest? 'Im? (Points at Mike) Since when?

*Micky starts to snicker, but tries desperately to hide it.*

Mike: Since this is MY fantasy, Dave! (Sticks his tongue out at Davy)

Emma: (Grins widely) I may have to look for that scar sometime. ;)

Lauren: *grins* You do that ;-)

Mike: (Reflexively puts his hand over the back of his left thigh) Emmmmmm...

Patsy: (Chuckles, then to Joe) Joe, do you have the goods ready for trade?

Emma: And we'd like to ask you a few questions regarding the recent purchase of land in the area and the death of Sheriff Michael Georgian, Sheriff Dolenz's predecessor.

Joe: (Frowns) The goods are in the storage teepee, but we can talk in mine. My wife is with a friend getting her hair done, and you saw where the kids are. Their aunt and uncle will look after them. (Leads them into one of the largest teepees in the circle. The ground is covered with buckskin, and the furniture is, too. There's a Victrola and a telephone, along with a large stack of records. Chief Joe Grayhawk sits in a large chair in the back of the teepee.) Ahh, all the comforts of home.

Micky: *nods approval* Very nice.

Emma: (Settles on the carpet) Chief Grayhawk, we were told that you and your tribe had been approached about the purchase of your land.

Joe: (Nods slowly) Yes, but even I know it was for a ridiculously low amount that wouldn't even cover the cost of the buckskin on this chair. We've turned Lord and Master Industries down a few times already.

Mike: (Makes a face) Lord's company. He's tryin' to buy your land.

Micky: *also makes a face* Doesn't know when to quit, that guy.

Joe: I know that, Mike. I won't let that son-of-a-bitch get this land. He'll have to drag us off of it kicking and screaming.

Davy: 'E's tried for the stables too, Chief Grayhawk. Even sent bandits to steal some of our 'orses.

Joe: Lord and Master have approached other tribes in the territory as well. Some of the smaller, poorer ones have sold out, but most are holding firm. This is our land, and we aim to keep it for as long as we can.

Mike: Has a tall, blonde fellow with real cold blue eyes been sneakin' around this area, Joe?

Joe: He made the last offer for the land yesterday morning, in fact. Real tall fellow, almost silvery blonde hair, blue eyes that look like Alaska in January, well-dressed, carrying a briefcase?

Davy: That's the one.

Joe: I'd never seen that man before, and I hope to never see him again. I've seen scared polecats with kinder eyes. Gave me the willies to look into them.

Patsy: Justin Harrison approached us yesterday about the lands around the stables, but Dad drove him off with rifles and threats to take the whole affair to the state courts in Houston.

Mike: (Grits his teeth) I knew that little red-headed bastard was in Lord's employ! (Puts his head in his hands) I KNOW the blond. I've seen him before. He looked a little different then, but I've seen him...he's so familiar...

Micky: Care to let us in?

Davy: (Glares) That little bugger asked for our lands, Patsy?

Patsy: Don't worry, Davy! Dad won't even consider any sales, especially from Lord!

Mike: Mick, before I started in on the whisky, I was hired by half the tycoons and robber barrons in the southwest to discreetly assassinate one rival or the other. That's what I did, and I was damn good at it. I must have known the blond before I became a lush. He may even have been an employer of mine.

Emma: I didn't like the way he looked at Mike at Lulu's, come to think of it...or any of us, really.

Micky: Goody. Someone else to chase us around, looking for the invisible bullseyes. *rolls his eyes*

Davy: There's something I don't like about that blonde...and I don't just mean the whole "he can turn you into frost just looking at you" deal. He's a real smart fellow. What's he doing working for a man like Lord? He looks like he could be a tycoon himself!

Patsy: (Shrugs) Who knows what drives a man to work for people like Lord?

Joe: (Shrugs and smokes a pipe) You kids just be careful out there. This Lord, whomever he is, obviously means buisness.

Emma: (Thoughtful) Has anyone ever seen Lord himself who lives around here?

Mike: (Nods) He was a silver-haired old man with a beard and a strong, tanned figure. He was a general in the Civil War and looked it his whole life. Made a mint after the war selling and buying land in the west and south.

Joe: (Shakes his head) Old Lord died last year, I head. I think his son's running the business now.

Mike: (Frowns) I thought his son was back east at some fancy college.

Micky: Sounds like he's moved on.

Joe: (Takes the pipe out and shrugs) Sheiff Dolenz is right. He was training to be a businessman and a soldier and came home to take his father's place...and apparently, Junior is even nastier and even more ruthless than Senior. He was the one who bought half of Clarksville, including the Clarksville Weekly Gazette. (Grins) We should bring you kids up for the pow-wow sometime. We have them every now and then, usually for tourists, but sometimes for harvest festivals and holidays. It's a great little show. We do ceremonial dances and wear the full body paint and feathers and beads. (Winks) You'll even get to see this old, fat body do a little jig! ;)

Mike: (Laughs) Joe, you'll never be old. Fat, maybe, but never old. ;)

Lauren: *with a glance at Micky* Any audience participation?

Joe: (Shakes his pipe at Mike with a smile) You always were a flatterer, Black Wolf. (Nods) Sure, Deputy Miller. Anyone who wants can more or less join in. We're not the most formal folk here. (Squints at Micky) Boy, you wouldn't be a little native yourself? You look like you could pass for the son of my old friend Laughing Eagle. You probably know him better as Mikey Georgian, the sheriff before his untimely and probably unfriendly demise. (Returns to puffing on his pipe in stony, sad silence)

Emma: (Grins) Oh, he's aware of it. ;)

Micky: *nods* I sure am! I've got my own headdress, but I forgot it. *glares at Emma*

Davy: We seem to run into twos and threes of us all the time. (Sighs)

Patsy: (Winks) I don't see how that could be a bad thing! ;)

Joe: (Grins and takes the pipe out) I don't think the world is ready for more than one Laughing Eagle or Black Wolf, Miss Quilan! ;)

Emma: (Giggles) Well, not THIS world... ;)

Micky: *pouts* Awe, this world's gotta be at big enough. *grins*

Mike: I had quite enough of doubles with the last world we were in! :p

Davy: (Stands) I want to get back to the stables. I don't trust this Lord. He may send Dead-Eye Freddy and his boys after more of my horses, and we just left Jim Quilan there alone.

Patsy: (Also stands) Don't you worry about Dad, Davy. He's as tough as the buffalo hide in this teepee. He'll be fine for a while.

Emma: We really should be getting back, though. I want to ask a few more questions in town before we have to get ready for the ice cream social.

Joe: (Leads them back to the horses) You come around any time to trade goods and swap stories, folks. We enjoy having people visit us. It's nice to know a bit about the outside world. (Gives Mike another one of his knock-down back-slaps) And you start coming around more often, Black Wolf. We've missed you and your music in these past few months. You still working on that one song about circle skies, or whatever?

*Micky snickers.*

Mike: (Redder than Chief Grayhawk) Yeah, I'm still workin' on that song. Haven't quite gotten it down yet...few more days....

Emma: (Nods and tries to get on Beauty; Mike tries to help her, but she keeps pushing him away and almost falls over the horse before she finally gets on) Thank you for your hospitatility, Chief Grayhawk!

Joe: (Grins) You just write a good article about this land scheme, young lady. Word needs to get out, before Lord can persuade anyone else to sell.

Emma: (Clutches her saddle as the others get on their horses) I'll do that, Chief.

Micky: But first she needs to stay on her horse! *chuckles*

(Emma glares at Micky and gallops off, Davy and Patsy following her.)

*Micky shrugs. He cracks the reins and takes off. Lauren follows. She's starting to get the hang of riding.*

Mike: (Shakes his head as he gets on his horse) Damn that girl! Why won't she let someone help her?

(Mike catches up with Lauren as the others ride back to the stables.)

Mike: Lauren, you're one of Emma's best friends, right?

Lauren: Of course.

Mike: Maybe you can tell me why she won't let me come to her rescue. Every time I try to help her, she pushes me away. She tried to get me to go home last night when we were at the office together.

Lauren: Well, I think it's mainly that she's been dependent on others for most of her life. Now that she has a chance at independence, she's taking it a little... okay, a lot to the extreme.

Mike: I just don't want her to get hurt, like Ro....like other people in my life.

Lauren: *nods* Try to be a little more subtle. *smirks* Maybe she won't realize she's letting you help her.

Mike: (Sighs) I'm not much for subtle. I've never really had a girl I've had to be subtle TO. (Shakes his head) But then again, Em's not like any other girl I've ever known.

Lauren: I know you're capable, Mike. I've got faith in you. Just give it time.

Mike: (Lopsided Grin) Thanks, Lauren. I wish I had as much faith in myself. That girl...woman drives me crazy...(sighs) but I can't stop thinking about her. (Rides off alone as Micky turns around, backtracks, and comes up alongside Lauren.)

Micky: What was that about? Mike still upset over Emma and the saddle?

Lauren: *sighs* More like why Em won't let Mike help her with anything.

Micky: She's gotta stop being stubborn. It'll drive them both crazy.

Lauren: It's both of them. Neither wants to budge. At all.

Micky: They're gonna have to learn to compromise if they want a relationship. (Grins) Look at what it's done for us! ;)

Lauren: *smiles* Very true. It does work, and very well, too.

Micky: (Smirks) Shame we can't concoct some kind of robbery or something Mike could save Em from. She'd probably try to turn it around and save him again. ;)

Lauren: That's a good idea, though, Mick.

Micky: And he's understandably still feeling embarrassed about his behavior yesterday. Not only did he piss me off, but he really got Emma mad, and she's not going to forgive and forget easily. (Mutters) I'm not, either...

Lauren: No kidding. *winks* But there has to be something...

Micky: Maybe we could hit the chemistry set again. I doubt we could pull the love potion twice, but maybe I could create an explosion or a monster or something....

Lauren: Ix-nay the monsters, Mick. We don't need any more of them. Maybe an explosion, though... *considers*

Micky: At the ice cream social tonight...(thinks, more to himself) nothing that would do any real damage, of course, just enough for Mike to be able to "save" Em.

Emma: (As she clutches her saddle) Well, are you two coming?

Lauren: We're comin', we're comin'. Yeesh!

Micky: We'll be there in a minute, Em! (Grins) Come on! We'll work on our newest experiment after we get back to the jail! :D

Lauren: Sounds good to me! This should be fun. *smirks*

(And the two ride off after the others, laughing and chuckling over their newest idea to help their two more stubborn friends...not knowing that a tall, blonde figure in a spotless suit watches them on a dark stallion under a cliff.)