HIGH NOON
THE PLOT THICKENS
Lawyer Tom was just beginning to chat up Florence about defending her on child abandonment charges when suddenly the bells in the town belfry began to peal! Everyone ran to the door and window and pointed at the belfry, where a lurid green glow poured out into the darkening sky.
"It's our town recluse," observed Doc. "He only rings the bells when disaster threatens the town - like when we had that twister last year."
The bells continued their hellish din so that the ladies from the cat house only heard the word "Twister" and began screaming "Let's all play strip twister!" Doc ran to get the floor mat. Judge Nate collapsed in a chair to observe the game and make sure the rules were followed. The gibbon began a merry melody on the player piano. Florence grabbed her painting and made tracks for her studio. And the ladies -- Deb, Neko, and Kitten -- all threw themselves onto the floor mat and began spinning the little pointer. Alex grabbed the forgotten iPad and began to sidle towards the back door.
Only Zelda remained aloof, looking out the window at recluse's shadowy form still tugging mightily on the bell ropes. Suddenly her scream cut through all the clamor: "The shums! The shums are loose! Run for your lives! They're coming this way!" The saloon erupted into total bedlam as folk ran in all directions at the same time, accompanied by the relentless pealing of recluse's warning bells.
Alex tore out of the back door, narrowly missing the gray doggie lying on the back steps, and ran into the stable yard. A voice hailed him: "This way Alex. I'll help you escape! Hop aboard!" Alex leapped onto an earth-colored Mare, who promptly left hoofmarks as she dashed into the night. She stopped at the town limits and asked "Errrr, you did bring the iPad, didn't you?" Alex opened his saddlebag to display the coveted tablet, and Mare took off as if rocket-powered!
"Where are we going?" asked Alex, but received no answer.
After endless hours galloping through the moon-lit prairie, Mare and Alex arrived at the Cross-the-Road Chicken Ranch, owned by veteran chicken wrangler kennyChicken and his lovely wife iAmNotachicken, with their two lovely daughters Pshellyrose (the p is silent) and Psweetpea (the p is silent). His foreman GeoffChicken ran out to greet the visitors and help Alex down with his sacred burden.
KennyChicken, still clad in his working bib overalls, ambled over to welcome Alex. "Howdy stranger! Your face rings a bell (literally - he could hear recluse's pealing on the winds) but I don't think you've been in these parts lately. But any friend of Mare's is a friend of mine."
Mare leaned over to whisper "He's got it in his saddlebag!" before GeoffChicken led her away to the stables.
"C'mon and meet the little woman, son. Yup, I met her at the church social wearing that cute little pink hat with the chicken perched on top - and you could say it was love at first sight! We were meant for each other! And it's been pure bliss ever since."
"You're just in time for supper. I'm sure our Eye-talian cook beppe has rustled up something real special for us tonight!"
(To be continued)
(Yes - there is a plot)
(What's happening back in town?)
(Remember - this is a Western- expect a posse soon!)