Mike: Bears?
Emma: Show them the bears, Lauren! ;)
Lauren: *hauls out the armful of bears she spotted at Granny's* Here they are!
Mike: Hey, is this me? (Takes the Mike-Bear)
Emma: (Looks at the bear) The Mike-Bear's expression is wrong. (Grins) He should look grumpy. ;)
(Mike glares at Emma as he looks the bear over.)
Micky: *picks up the Micky-Bear* Man, this little guy's hair is messier than mine!
*Lauren quirks an eyebrow at Micky.*
Peter: (Takes the Peter-Bear) Hey, he wears moccassins, too!
Lauren: And look, they all have the guitar logo embroidered on the backs of their shirts.
Davy: 'ey, she's right, mates! (Turns the Davy-Bear over)
Mike: Well, are we ready for this ice cream social?
Peter: (Nods, blushing) I have to ask Miss Elizabeth...I hope she won't say no...
Davy: (Grins widely) I'm going to ask Patsy...or maybe Dolly....or one of Granny's grandnieces...
Mike: Daaaaavy....
Lauren: *winks and cheers* I am!
Emma: I think I could fit in some more ice cream. ;)
Micky: *gives Lauren an odd look* You look like a cat who just ate a canary...
(We start outside of the jail. Mike and Emma are standing together in front of the City Hall. Cut to the other side of the door - Lauren and Micky have stethoscopes to the wall, listening intently.)
Mike: (Looks at his feet, stammering) Em, would you...I mean, can you...
Emma: (Smiles) Yes, Mike?
Mike: What I mean to say is...(looks in her eyes)...would you go to the ice cream social with me?
Emma: Of course, I will! (Hugs him; he blushes)
*Lauren and Micky cheer silently.*
Mike: I'll pick you up around six. (Turns away. Emma smiles and wanders into the jail. The stethoscopes vanish, and Lauren and Micky quickly return to their desks. Lauren grabs some random paperwork and stares at it and Micky opens his "Physics of Gunslinging" book.)
Emma: (Singing, to herself) "Mimi, you've got me sad and dreamy, you could see me, if you see me..."
Lauren: *looks up* Hey, Em. Don't you look happy!
(Emma twirls around the room in her yellow dress, smiling)
Emma: (Sighs) I feel happy. Mike and I are going to the social together. :D
Micky: Oh, she's definitely happy. She's lost all use of her brain. *winks*
Emma: (Sticks her tongue out at Micky) I'm going up to my room to rest up for tonight and find something to wear. (Winks at the pair) Don't you two work too hard! I'm sure you're going to the social together, and you won't want to be too tired for all that dancing and singing and ice cream! (Walks dreamily upstairs)
Micky: Me, tired?
Lauren: I don't think she realizes who she's talking to. *winks*
Micky: (Rubs his hands together and cackles evily) It's now or never, Lauren. We're going to make a small explosive that will cause just enough damage for Mike to 'save' Em.
Lauren: Let's go for it! This'll be great!
Micky: (Goes over to the chemistry set and starts setting bottles and tubes up) It'll only be a little explosion. I don't want us to get into too much trouble, just for Mike to rescue Em from herself. We've got to make sure it's Em who gets saved, not Mike or anyone else. He's still pretty upset over the saloon incident and what happened in Wildwood.
Lauren: Yeah, no kidding.
*Lauren picks up a bottle and looks at it.*
Micky: (Absent-mindedly, as he taps a bottle of gray as into another bottle) Lauren, hand me the bottle of the gray liquid by the window.
Lauren: Huh? Okay. *puts her bottle down and picks up the one he asked for* Here you go, Mick.
Micky: And I need the sodium chloride in the cabinet near the desks.
Lauren: Got it! *jumps up to retrieve it; comes back with the bottle*
Micky: (Grins at her) Thanks, babe! (Cackles again, and we see Micky dressed as a mad scientist with Lauren as his lovely helper) This is going to be the most amazing discovery of the decade, Nurse Miller! We're going to make an explosive that can blow things up without causing complete and total destruction!
Lauren: Which is a totally new concept to you.
Micky: (Pours black ash into the bottle; hears Lauren, and sticks his tongue out at her) You forget, I'm creating this out of the goodness of my heart to aid the course of true love!
Lauren: *folds her arms, winks* Sure you are.
Micky: (Thrusts a bottle of foul-smelling black brew into Lauren's arms) Of course, I am! Mike and Emma will just keep butting heads and trying to save each other if science doesn't step in! (Fusses with the tubes)
Lauren: *coughs, holds the bottle away from her* Ew! Mick, what IS this?
Micky: Home-made tar, Nurse Miller. (Takes the brew from Lauren and pours it into the bottle. He then pours the bottle into the tubes. The odd gray-black potion flows through the twisting tubes, Micky watching the concoction anxiously the whole time. It finally drips into another bottle with a puff of smoke and a small "boom.")
Lauren: Whoa!
Micky: (Fills two small bottles with the potion) Now, to find something to test this on...(looks around the City Hall)
Lauren: Uh oh.
Micky: (Grabs Lauren's hand and takes her across the room to an empty barrel under a window near the jail cells) We'll test it on this, Nurse Miller! (He and Lauren suddenly appear in protective "gear" - thick gloves, shin guards, elbow pads, and two welder's masks) Stand back, Nurse Miller! We don't know what this could do!
Lauren: I'll stand way back, thank you.
(Micky pours a little bit on and around the barrel as Lauren walks out of the City Hall and watches the proceedings from the window on the other side that overlooks the chemistry set. He lights a match, sets the trail on fire, and runs to the other side. The blackish-gray potion fizzles at first, much to Micky's annoyance, but it finally lets off a small explosion that blackens the barrel and the window, but does no other damage.)
Micky: (Jumps up and down and raises his welder's mask) I did it! I did it!
Lauren: *claps* You did it, Micky!
(The two move to embrace each other, but only smack into each other's welding masks. Micky reverts them to their western clothes as they rub their faces. He finally takes Lauren and really embraces her this time.)
Lauren: *smirks* Gotta be careful with those things. *winks*
Micky: Yeah. Next time, I'll imagine something a tad less hard on the head. (Hugs Lauren harder) We did it, babe! We'll arrive early at the ice cream social to set it up.
Lauren: This is great!
Micky: I can't wait! This is going to be a groovy night! Man, you, me, the moon, happy friends, food, dancing, food, music, food, you... (Winks) And no bandits, murders, or mysterious pasts! ;)
Lauren: Okay, you said food a couple times in there...
Micky: Well, I'm hungry, man!
Lauren: *laughs* Always. You're always hungry!
Micky: Can I help it if my stomach is always talking? (His stomach chooses that moment to growl rather loudly) And it's now saying "Micky, you and Lauren have to get ready for your big dinner with Dr. Drake and the ice cream social!" Why don't you and Em get dressed together, and I'll meet you outside? (Winks) I have a surprise for you!
Lauren: *eyes widen* Really? A surprise for me? Gosh...
Micky: You'll like it! It's the power of the imagination at its finest! (Ushers her upstairs - she heads into her and Emma's room. Emma is sitting on her bed in bare feet and a plain soft golden-yellow dress, her hair down in damp waves. She's reading "The Three Musketeers.")
Lauren: *still wondering about the surprise; notices Emma's book* Hey, Three Musketeers!
Emma: (Looks up and smiles) Hi, sweets. (Grins wickedly) What was going on downstairs? Is Mick playing with the chemistry set? Did he blow up anything important?
Lauren: *shrugs* He just wanted to kill some time. Had to show off for me. *winks*
Emma: (Smiles) I imagined some books over here. I haven't read this in ages. It was either this or I picked through Sheriff Georgian's stack of penny dreadfuls that are pretty (makes a face) dreadful. (Winks) He didn't kill anything else along with the time, did he? ;)
Lauren: And there I would've thought he'd have good taste. *shakes her head* No, Micky did no damage.
Emma: (Laughs) Is this Micky we're talking about? The man who has shrunk himself, blinded himself, and turned himself into a monster, among other things? ;)
Lauren: *laughs* Amazing, ain't it? I think he's finally had a breakthrough! *moves to her closet*
Emma: (Nods at a red-and-yellow-checked pinafore hanging on a nail by her dresser) I'm wearing this, stockings, boots, my parasol, and that pinafore.
Lauren: *searches the closet, pulls out a pair of black jeans & a purple button-up blouse* Cool! *drapes her outfit on her bed and looks under it* Now where'd my black boots go?
Emma: (Sighs) I can't wait for tonight. I've never been to a real western shindig, not even when my sister and I were out in Montana on vacation a few years ago. It sounds like so much fun, and we could all use it, especially after everything that's happened.
Lauren: I've never been to anything like this. I'm a little nervous. I've got two left feet when it comes to dancing.
Emma: (Grins) I'll help you...and Mike, too! I love to dance! I'm not up on all the latest steps like Dave and Micky, but I can move my feet just fine. :)
Lauren: *smirks* I'm hoping to just follow Micky. If the chance arises, maybe I can stand on his feet. *winks*
Emma: (Laughs) If he tries to "mingle" (does a bad Spanish accent on "mingle") you'll know how to handle him. ;)
Lauren: *laughs* He won't know what hit him!
Emma: (Winks) It'll be you if he tries flirting, I'm sure. ;)
Lauren: Damn right! *laughs again*
Emma: (Shakes her head) How do I manage to fall for the men who don't dance? I could never get my ex-boyfriend to dance, either, on the rare times we went to school functions.
Lauren: *shrugs* I'm just glad to fall for a guy. *smiles thoughtfully*
Emma: (Shakes her head) I don't understand Mike. Even I like to have fun every now and then. He can be so darn stiff! (Smiles dreamily) But so sweet, when you drag it out of him...
Lauren: Well, Micky's hardly ever serious. Face it, we've got polar opposites. *raises an eyebrow*
Emma: (Smiles) Ain't that the truth! Sometimes, I'm amazed the guys can live together without killing each other, they're all so different from each other. I guess they balance each other out. (Sighs) It's not a concept I'm used to. I'm used to being a lone breeze, not a part of a group. I don't think Mike's used to it, either. I think he's bewildered that the guys have stuck with him.
Lauren: Preaching to the choir, Em. *smirks* From what Mick's told me, they have come fairly close to killing each other. *winks*
Emma: (Smiles) Yeah, Davy can be as stubborn as Mike, Peter gets hurt so easily, and so does Mike, to a degree, and Micky's got that quick temper...
Lauren: I still find Mick's temper hard to believe.
Emma: (Nods) Yeah, it flares up quicker than a flash-forest-fire in the Pinelands...and is gone just as quickly. (Shakes her head) Davy's like that, too, and he's so sensitive about his height and feminine looks. (Shakes her head) I never did understand what girls see in Dave. He's sweet, but I look at him and think "kid brother," not "lover."
Lauren: "Cute" is definitely the word to describe Davy. I think of him the same way you do. *shrugs*
Emma: (Grins) He and Mike are both Capricorns. No wonder they're always arguing. ;)
Lauren: Having the same birthday will do that. *winks*
Emma: (Nods) And I'm a fire sign, too, an Aries. (Lays back on the bed with a sigh) I adore my brother, but I'm not really used to guys my own age, you know? Most of the guys my age I've ever met in New Jersey were idiots or jerks or both. All they ever cared about was sex and themselves. (Turns on her side) Mike's different. He's one of the deepest, most complicated individuals I've ever met. He acts calm and tough, but in some ways, I think he's just as sensitive as Peter. (Smiles) No wonder those two are best friends. Mike cares for Peter, and Peter comforts Mike when he's upset or lonely.
Lauren: *nods* I haven't been around any guy friends my age since high school. You look up loner in the dictionary, and there's a picture of me. I'm just so blown away by these guys sometimes.
Emma: (Smiles) And you and I work pretty darn well together, too. I'm not used to close friends. I come from a resort town, where most relationships last for four months out of the year.
Lauren: Ours is probably the closest friendship I've ever had. I've had some good friends before, but they didn't last.
Emma: (Shrugs) Me, either. I didn't really think I was capable of making friends at all, until I met you. (Gives her a quick hug) Thanks for everything you've done for me! :)
Lauren: *returns the hug* No, thank you!
Emma: (Grins) You're welcome! :D
Lauren: You're welcome! *grins wider*
(There's a knock on the door as Lauren pulls on her boots and the girls giggle at each other.)
Micky: (From outside the door) Hey, you guys decent? I want to get going! I'm starved!
Lauren: What's the password? *snickers*
Micky: Mijacogeo!
Lauren: *snaps her fingers* Darn! You guessed!
Emma: (Chuckles) I don't know how he can pronouce that. I can't. ;)
Lauren: *sounds it out* Me-ja-co-ge-o?
(Micky comes in, dressed in his red six-button shirt, gray trousers, boots, and a gray hat with a red band. He wears his newly polished sheriff badge on his shirt and has his belt strapped around his waist, complete with six-shooters.)
Micky: (Goes to Lauren and kisses her on the cheek) You look maaaaaahhhvelous, dahhling! ;) (Turns to Emma and beams) Isn't she a beaut, Em?
Emma: (Beams) She sure is, Mick. You guys have a great time tonight! :D
Lauren: *blushes the color of Micky's shirt* Geez...
Micky: (Pulls Lauren downstairs) Come on, babe! I want to show you my surprise! I imagined it here myself! ;) But first...(pulls a box from his pocket)...turn around!
Lauren: Okay... *turns around*
(Lauren feels something being slid around her neck. She looks down to see a purple-white crystal pendant on a silver chain around her neck.)
Lauren: *eyes wide as saucers* Mick, it's beautiful!
Micky: Do you like it? Genuine rock crystal! I bought it from Granny's! (Grins) Such a stunning lady needs a stunning vehicle to drive her to Dr. Drake's and the ice-cream social! (Opens the door for Lauren, who steps outside to see the MonkeeMobile, looking much like it did when the group imagined it into the fantasy story...done over as a carriage, only instead of being pulled by red-and-white horses, a proud black horse and a large brown horse with a gold mane stand in front.)
Micky: It's the MonkeeCarriage! I figured we'd need some snazzy transportation to get us to the social, so I imagined it here. (Smirks)
Lauren: You've definitely outdone yourself, Micky. Thank you! *hugs him and gives him a kiss*
Micky: (Kisses her) Aw, well, I figured, after everything we've gone through in this little fantasy, we both deserve a nice night out. (Climbs onto the MonkeeCarriage and takes the reins) Your carriage awaits, my beautiful princess! :D
Lauren: *blushes again* I never know what to expect with you. *smiles*
Micky: That's part of life, Lauren, the unexpected. It can be really fun sometimes. ;) (Gently helps her into the carriage, flicks the reins, and the two drive off.)
Micky: (Grins) Now, my gorgeous little Deputy, is there any song you'd particuarly like to hear your musically-inclined Sherrif perform? After all, the open road, all this gorgeous country (wiggles his eyebrows) makes a man feel a bit...romantic. ;)
Lauren: Well...there's so many to choose from...let me see...
Lauren: Okay, my dear musically-inclined Sheriff, how about "As We Go Along"?
Micky: Ummm, one of our latest hits! (Launches into the song as the horses clip-clop along. They occasionally pass others who wave and smile at them - Davy and Patsy on horse-back, Peter and Elizabeth teaching kids piano at the Schoolhouse, Granny with her hair in curlers at the General Store, Nick waving from the saloon, Mike coming in on a smaller carriage to pick up Emma. Other than happy waves, the last two barely acknowledge them, being content to stare dreamily into each other's eyes and blush and smile.)
(Micky pulls the MonkeeCarriage in front of a small house in the meadows beyond the Schoolhouse as "As We Go Along" ends. The area is dotted with other, similar houses and some small farms. A little girl and boy play in the medow in front of the house, while a man - Dr. Drake - pumps water.)
Dr. Drake: (Smiles as he gathers the bucket of water) Hi, kids! The little woman is inside, finishing dinner. We're having fresh steak from the RKO Ranch, steamed carrots and peas, and wheat bread with butter from Granny's. :)
Lauren: That sounds wonderful! *smiles*
Dr. Drake: (Puts his arms around the girl, who wears pigtails and a dirty purple dress with a simple pinafore) This little miss is my little Leslie (embraces the boy, who has short, dark hair, large eyes, and wears a plaid shirt with stained jeans and boots) and this is my Luke.
Lauren: Great kids. *smiles*
Micky: Messy, too! *smirks*
Dr. Drake: (Nods) Kids, this is Sheriff Dolenz and Deputy Miller. They're the new officers in town. If you're ever in trouble in town, you should go to them.
Luke: (Grins) We were playing cowboy and bandit, Sheriff, and I was the cowboy!
Leslie: (Sticks her tongue out at him) Only because he never lets me be the cowboy!
Micky: Really? Who was winning? *winks*
Luke: (Blushes) She was.
Leslie: I was just gonna tie him up when you guys arrived! :D
Lauren: *grins* What's stopping you? *laughs*
Leslie: He ran away from me!
Luke: I don't wanna be tied up! I wanna stop you from stealing from the bank, like the Sheriff does!
Micky: *laughs* That's admirable, but you have to let your sister win every once in a while, too.
Luke: But she's a girl!
Dr. Drake: She's also a person, and a very smart person, at that.
MickY: *shrugs* So what? Lauren's my Deputy, and she's a girl. *jerks a thumb at Lauren*
Leslie: (Nods) That's right! And someday, when I'm really big, I'm gonna be Sheriff and stop robberies and really get to tie you up! ;)
Luke: Daaaaaddd...
Lauren: She's a spitfire! *to Leslie* And I bet you will be Sheriff, too. *smiles*
(A girl, barely more than a teenager, steps out on the porch. Her dark hair is pulled back with a blue ribbon, and she wears a blue blouse and a dark blue skirt, with a pink calico apron over the skirt. She looks annoyed.)
Girl: Dad, Mom's putting dinner on the table, and I want to eat before Charlie Moorehouse comes to pick me up for the social!
Dr. Drake: We'll be there in a minute, Jo! Take your brother and sister inside and get them cleaned up. They're both filthy.
Jo: (Makes a face) I have to touch them, Dad? They both look like they've been rolling around in the chicken yard!
Luke: What's wrong with that? (Sticks his tongue out at his sister - she returns it)
Dr. Drake: (Firmly) Now, Jo.
*Micky laughs.*
Leslie: (As Jo gingerly takes the two children indoors) Jo, I almost tied Luke up today! (Dr. Drake, Micky, and Lauren follow them inside.)
(They look around a large, airy living room. The furniture is simple, and much of it home-made, but comfortable, the chairs and couch decked out in mis-matched calicos and stripes. The curtains are calico and trimmed with ruffles, and old-fashioned photographs and pictures of family members and friends sit on dust ruffles and doilies on the wooden tables.)
Lauren: Your home is beautiful!
Dr. Drake: (Smiles) Thank you. My cousin built it, but he and his family ended up moving further west to California, so I bought it from him. Some of the furniture was his, some of it was mine, and some of it was inherited by Marissa when her parents died. (Picks up one photograph and shows it to them) This is me and Sheriff Georgian last year. I thought you might like to see him. (Quietly) He was a good friend, and a good man. You would have like him, both of you.
Lauren: *takes a good look at the photo, then at Micky* Wow...
Micky: *blinks* I see the resemblance. *nods, unbelieving*
Dr. Drake: (Nods) Dolenz could almost be Mikey's son. He was almost in his fifties, but he was so full of life (grins) and such a ham! You should have seen him at amateur night at the Shamrock Saloon, singing and dancing away with his old friends! ;)
Micky: *grins* I think I can imagine it, though.
Dr. Drake: (Puts the photo back) We used to have some great times together, and we helped each other on many a case. I brought him around for dinner all the time. The kids considered him to be another uncle.
Micky: *scratches his head* Too bad we couldn't have been here sooner.
Woman: (From kitchen) Come on, John, kids! Dinner's served!
*Micky's eyes light up and he grins widely. Lauren rolls her eyes, but smiles.*
(The two follow Dr. Drake as he walks into the kitchen. It's a large, spotless room with a big wood table in the middle and cabinets everywhere. A tall woman with dark hair pulled into a loose bun, wearing a white floral dress with a white ruffled apron, stands before an old-fashioned stove. Dr. Drake goes to her and gently pushes the hair from her neck, then kisses it softly.)
Dr. Drake: Um, Mariss, do you know how beautiful you are tonight?
*Micky grins and glances at Lauren, who blushes.*
Marissa: (Laughs, but gently pushes him away) John, I'm never going to get the steaks on the table if you don't stop that. (Winks as she turns to Micky and Lauren, thick steaks on a platter) We'll continue this tonight, dear, after the kids are in bed. ;)
*Micky nudges Lauren, who nudges back a little too hard.*
John: (Takes a bowl of carrots and peas) Whatever you say, darling. (Winks at her and sets the bowl on the neatly set table, next to a centerpiece of wildflowers in a ceramic cup.)
Marissa: (Nods at Micky and Lauren with a smile) You two must be our new law officers. Johnny's told me so much about both of you. (Puts down the platter and grins at them) He was right. You two are cute together. ;)
Micky: Awe... *waves it off as Lauren blushes* Just doing our job. Being cute is a perk. *winks*
Marissa: And Johnny says you kids have quite a job to do, too. He told me a little about the body. That must have been terrible, to find someone dead like that.
Dr. Drake: (Frowns) Mariss, this isn't really the time to discuss that. Especially not around the kids!
Lauren: Definitely not something you want to find. *sighs* But it's part of the job.
Marissa: (Shakes her head) I pity you kids. This isn't going to be easy, not with Lord and Master buying everything left and right, and all those nasty bandits and gunmen in town.
Micky: *shakes his head* No, it hasn't been easy already, but we'll do our best.
Lauren: And put a stop to it.
Dr. Drake: (Shakes his head) We'll figure it out, Mariss. Don't you worry. These kids look young, but they know what they're doing. (Smiles) And they have my help and the help of half the town. Everyone from the Quilans and that little British boy at the stables to Granny want to see Lord and Master and those bandits run out of town.
(The kids troop downstairs at this point. Jo has traded her blue blouse and skirt for a ruffly white dress with a blue sash and a white hair-ribbon. Luke wears a clean shirt and trousers with good shoes, and Leslie wears a dress in a purple cabbage rose print trimmed with purple ribbons, thick white stockings, boots, and a purple hair bow. Both kids are now clean.)
Luke: (Grumbling) Jo hogged the bathroom!
Jo: I did not! I just need more time than you two do to get ready.
*Lauren snickers.*
Leslie: (Tugs on Lauren's shirt) Do you like purple, too?
Lauren: *smiles* Yes, I do! It's my favorite color.
Leslie: Me, too! I won't wear any other color. :D
Marissa: (Sighs) She can be a bit of a pain with that. It's not easy finding purple cloth!
Jo: She's such a brat!
Lauren: *laughs lightly* You may have to try some other colors, at least. *winks* You could always wear purple hair ribbons.
Leslie: (Sticks her tongue out at Jo) And all you ever do is moon over Charlie Moorehouse!
Dr. Drake: (Shakes his head) That's enough, you two, especially if you want to go to the social tonight. (Everyone sits at the table and says Grace. Dr. Drake carves the steak, and everyone passes around the veggies and butter and bread.)
Luke: (Watches Micky pile on veggies and steak) Wow, and Mom and Dad say I have a big appetite! :o
Jo: (Makes a face) That's disgusting!
Micky: *glances up, mid-spoonful* Uhh...
Lauren: *laughs* He can't help himself. His stomach has a mind of its own. *smirks*
Leslie: Gee, he eats more than our horsies Abbey and Angel!
*Micky blushes.*
Dr. Drake: (Smiles) He's still growing too, Luke. He needs nourishment, just like you and your sisters do.
Lauren: *rests her chin in her palms* You'd never know it by looking at him.
*Micky sticks his tongue out at Lauren.*
Leslie: (Looks at Micky wide-eyed) Can you run really fast like our horsies, too? Abbey and Angel can run faster than almost any of the horsies in the valley!
Micky: *shrugs* I can run pretty fast, considering... *glares at Lauren*
*Lauren grins knowingly.*
Luke: Mr. Quilan is teaching me to ride Angel! I'm going to be a trick rider someday and play in all the rodeos!
Jo: (Sighs dreamily) I've been to the stables, too. The owner is so cute, and he has such a pretty accent, not like most of the boys here at all...
Marissa: (Shakes her head) Jo, you're supposed to be going to the stables to take riding lessons, not to pursue the owner.
*Micky chuckles.*
Leslie: (Giggles) All the girls in Clarksville think Mr. Jones is cute!
Dr. Drake: (Chuckles) Ahh, David Jones. There is something about that boy women find irresistable. I don't think there's an unmarried woman in this town he hasn't pursued yet. He's even tried Granny, though he'll be lucky if she doesn't knock him clear to Houston, with her temper. ;)
Micky: She almost did. *grins*
Leslie: Granny's fun! She gives Luke and I...
Marissa: Luke and me...
Leslie: (Rolls her eyes)...Luke and me lollypops when we go there with Daddy!
Luke: I heard Michael Nesmith was in town! He's a famous gunslinger! I've heard that he fought with Indians and taken on wild animals and won!
Dr. Drake: (Shakes his head) I don't think all the stories about him are true, Luke. He's a very complicated young man, that Nesmith.
Marissa: (Frowns) Complicated, my rear! He'd sell his own mother to get money!
Jo: But he's very handsome.
Lauren: Actually, it's true about the animals and Indians. He's fought with Micky. *grins*
(Dr. Drake and Marissa chuckle.)
Micky: *rolls his eyes* Mike really is a nice guy, but he's a little...lost at the moment.
Marissa: Lost?
Dr. Drake: It's a very long, and if rumor holds true, very sad story, Mariss.
Leslie: Do you have a pet? We have a dog named Pepper, but she's in the backyard, and a cat named Cleo. She's out chasing mice somewhere.
Micky: *shakes his head* No pets, but I do a great werewolf imitation!
Luke: Werewolf? That's neat-o!
Lauren: *mutters* Here we go.
Leslie: I wanna hear it!
Marissa: Well, it couldn't hurt. ;)
Micky: Okay, sure! *goes into werewolf mode and launches into a full, all-out case of werewolf-ism*
*Lauren hides her face in her hands.*
(Jo screams, but everyone else laughs. Leslie giggles when Micky licks her arms.)
Leslie: He's funny!
Lauren: *shakes her head* And embarrassing.
(The sound of frightened barking and clucking can be heard from outside.)
Micky: What the heck?
Luke: (Grins) You've got to teach me to do that! It scares Jo! ;)
Micky: *shrugs* Didn't think I was that bad.
Marissa: (Gets up) They probably think you're a bear, or something. I'll go calm them down.
Jo: You'd better not! (Composes herself and straightens her dress) I was just startled, that's all.
Lauren: At least we're nowhere near our landlord. He'd have come running and looking for a dog.
Dr. Drake: (Smiles) Don't worry, Marissa and I own this land and the house. (Mutters to himself) At least for now...
Micky: Luke, lighten up on your sister.
Luke: Aw, I just want to have fun!
Jo: His idea of fun is teasing me around Charlie Moorehouse! He's embarrassing! :p
Dr. Drake: (Grins) He's supposed to be, Jo. He's a brother. That's what they're for. I was the same way when my sisters were courting. ;)
Lauren: *nods* My brother was the same way. And I bet Micky's sisters thought the same about him.
Micky: My sisters were the reason I moved out! *rolls his eyes*
Leslie: (Giggles) I saw Jo and Charlie KISSING on the back porch last night!
Luke: Charlie had his hands around Jo's waist and was talkin' baby talk!
Jo: Daaaaaaaad, they've been spying on me again! :-p
Dr. Drake: Leslie and Luke, how many times have your mother and I told you not to bother your sister when she and Charlie are alone?
Leslie: But they were right under our window!
Luke: And it wasn't hard to hear them!
*Micky chuckles.*
Marissa: (As she comes in; she heard the tail-end of the conversation) What were you kids doing up that late, anyway?
Jo: Yeah! You should have been in your beds, not watching my love life!
Luke: (Smirks) Watching her love life is more fun. ;)
Jo: Mooooooommmm...
*Lauren shakes her head, smiling.*
Marissa: That will be quite enough. (Starts clearing the table) Leslie and Luke, I want you both to go to your rooms and think about what you've done. Jo, help me clear the table. John, you go set up the carriage to go to the social.
Leslie: (Bottom lips tremble) Are we still going to the social, Mommy? Mary Decker and I are going to catch fireflies and set them free at the end of the night!
Marissa: (As Jo helps her clear the table) Yes, you are. Everyone else is going, and there's no one to watch you tonight. (Shakes her finger) However, you're both grounded for all of tomorrow. You'll come straight home after your piano lessons and will stay in your room until dinner.
Luke: Awwwww...
Leslie: At least we still get to do piano! I like the new piano teacher! He's really nice!
Luke: He likes Miss Elizabeth!
Micky: *grins* Smart kids.
Dr. Drake: (nods) Very smart kids. They drive Jo crazy about all the boys she goes through, but they're usually pretty good to each other. :)
Jo: (Smiles) I've seen him, too. (Sighs) What a dish! I'll have to see what I can do about taking piano lessons...
Lauren: Peter's getting popular. *smiles*
Marissa: (Smiles as she puts the remaining steak in a large bowl) I met him when I was going to the schoolhouse to talk to Elizabeth about Leslie and Luke. He seems like a very kind young man. He kept jumping up and doing all the chores.
Micky: That's Peter.
Dr. Drake: (Smiles) Maybe he can finally bring Elizabeth out of her shell. She hardly talks to anyone besides the Mexican family she lives with, the kids, and some of their parents.
Marissa: She's only been here a few months, John. She came from Indiana, and she's not used to the territories.
Lauren: *exchanges glances with Micky* I think he will.
Marissa: I'm going to feed Pepper, then get ready for the social myself. (Shakes Micky and Lauren's hands and takes the bowl) It was very nice meeting you two! We'll see you at the social! (Walks in the backyard, to a dog's delighted howl)
Jo: Mom, I want to borrow your cameo with the pearl in the center...(follows her mother outside)
Micky: Lovely lady. *smiles*
Dr. Drake: Wonderful woman. She's smart as a whip and has kept this place going for almost fifteen years. (Smiles) And she doesn't mind a husband whose job takes him out at all hours. She and the kids are used to it by now. (Walks outside; Micky and Lauren follow him to a large wooden carriage with a reddish-brown mare and a white-gray horse attached) I'm going to clean off the carriage, then go get ready myself. Why don't you kids go along without us? We'll meet you there.
Lauren: That sounds fine. *smiles* We'll see you in a little while, then.
Dr. Drake: (Quietly) And be careful. Bandits, whether they work for Lord or not, are all over the place...and some of them are tougher than Dead-Eye Freddy and his men. Lord's after this town, and he won't rest until he has the whole area for his railroads.
Micky: *waves a hand* P-shaw! We'll be just fine.
Dr. Drake: Yes, he's sent men to buy the land from us, too. No, we haven't accepted. (Shakes his head) I should be getting the info from Houston about that bullet and the exact time of Harrison's death in a few days. I'll be around to tell you what comes of that the moment it arrives.
Micky: Thanks, Dr. Drake. We really appreciate all your help and hospitality.
Dr. Drake: You're welcome, young man. It's the least I could do. I want to see Mike Georgian's murder solved as much as you do. Lord's crooked deals need to be exposed, before someone else ends up joining Georgian. We've already lost that reporter, and it's an open secret in town he was working for Lord.
Lauren: We'll make sure that doesn't happen.