Newbrassky

[Joyce (AnnieLee)]

The Frumpy Fairy Godmother peers at Delmonico from the other side of the rug.

"It's about time you got back! And why did you make that poor gerl go home?" She talks as she walks around the rug, "you've got unopened wedding presents in the parlor and I am NOT going to pay for the shipping to return them, that's something you have to do, and write a letter of apology to her father, and you should be on your knees in gratitude that he didn't shoot you for the way you treated that lass!"

[Delmonico]

Still coverin' the bounty hunter with his Ballard, Delmonico is thinkin' to himself that he did not stay on the hill long enough.

"Here, give this to Trinity and have him use it afore ya all end up in the insane assylum!"  Delmonico throws down a large roll of lead free solder.  He then decides that the bounty hunter must be a hoplessly insane as the rest of the crew, so Delmonico takes his mule to the barn.

[Joyce (AnnieLee)]

((Author's note: Did anyone else notice that the Frumpy Fairy Godmother forgot that she was the one who made up the whole bit about the bride? She seems pretty derned angry and serious about this. Perhaps somewhere in the back of her mind, she is somehow aware that she isn't real and she is also made up? Hmmm. ))

[Silver Creek Slim]

"Are there two Delmonicos, now?" 

[Delmonico]

Delmonico goes to the hill and gets his apron and hat off the soap weed. (yucca)  He then heads with his bag to his bed room, looks in and hollors "What the .......................have you crazy people done?"   

[Joyce (AnnieLee)]

Having artfully dodged the rolling ball of solder, the Frumpy Fairy Godmother reenters the house.

"That's the room for you and your coaloil computer ordered bride. Since you were married, you needed a room to suit her. Not our fault you are so picky you sent her back. I hope you didn't get a refund!"

[Joyce (AnnieLee)]

Duke follows Delmonico into the room. He looks around and whimpers, but he is still happy to see the cosie and the tip of his tail flips back and forth in a tiny wag.

[Delmonico]

Delmonico realizes it's too late for the lead-fee solder, Trinity has posioned the FFg, just like he did the kid over in the "Made up Tale" thread.     

"I have no idea what yer murrmerin' about.  Duke let's hitch up the buggy and go to Dunning, I am waitin' on a telly-gram from the Nebraska Fish Commision.  Maybe I can keep you from going crazy like all of them here.  I got the septic tank put in for a good reason, I go to Lincoln on bussiness about that, and some other importand things and I see that things go insane while I'm gone."

"Duke do you have any idea what she is talkin' about, mail order brides?"      "And do you have any idea why she foo fooed my room.  At least most of the packages I freighted ahead are here, Duke maybe I should take her present back and exchange it."

With that Delmonico and the yaller dog hitch up the mules to the buggy and head back east along the Dismal River.  Along the way, Delmonico shoots a Wood duck and him and Duke roast it for supper after Duke gets it out of the river.  Duke also notices that Delmonico carfully skinned the duck and salted down the hide before packin' it in a paper bag and carefully placin' in his saddle bags.

[Silver Creek Slim]

"Sure glad there ain't two Delmonicos." 

[Joyce (AnnieLee)]

"Me too."

[Joyce (AnnieLee)]

She lowers her voice to a whisper. "Psst. Slim. Think we should change his room back while he's gone and pretend like nothing happened?"

[Trinity]

She lowers her voice to a whisper. "Psst. Slim. Think we should change his room back while he's gone and pretend like nothing happened?"

Naaaaaaah!

[Trinity]

Trinity looks up, wide eyed and innocent at Stoney Pete and with his mouth still full: "Myoo mmmkng mm mee?"

((Author's translation: "You talking to me?"    AnnieLee ))

Realizing he'll get nowhere with Trinity, Pete heads down to the River.  There he see's his saddle bags washed up on the bank.  Everyting inside was still dry.  He puts his knife back in the kit then hangs the bags over the rafters on the porch.

"Trinity, my bags are alright.  Since they're water proof they floated to the top and washed ashore.  That box you threw in the river has ST's guns in it.  You can go get it or explain to him if he comes back for them, I'll leave that to you."  Pete pauses for effect.  "Now you know what my gear looks like.  Touch it again and you'll be eating bacon through a straw." 

Stoney, glances at the FFG, unsure if she let him follow through on his promise.  The FFG gives Trinity "the look".  Stoney hopes she got through.  He finishes his breakfast.

Turning to the FFG, "You gonna leave Del's room as is or we gonna have to put his stuff back?"

"Ah'm sorry fer mah mis-take, but you have to understand, you done lef' ever'thing where we normally put the garbage.  Ahm glad you gotchor bags back, but just how in tarnation did they float up out of Delmonico's deeeeeep fishin hole and wash ashore.  You mus' be usin' real light loads!!!      Less'n ST uses the same loads, Ah don' b'lieve that we're gonna see that box ever agin!

Eatin' bacon through a straw?  That shore would be much easier!" 

[Trinity]

Tired from his busy day of doing nothing, Trinity steps out on the porch and climbs into the hammock.  A loud "THOCK" is heard as he removes the cork from a fresh jug.  After several deep gulps, Trinity can be heard playing music on his jug.  First only soprano sounds are heard but are later replaced by a richer, deeper bass.

[Delmonico]

Delmonico and duke make it into Dunning.  The expected telly-gram from the Newbrassky Fish Commission is there.  Delmonico opens it and reads it and grins.  

Down at the freight office the rest of his goods are there.  He will pick those up on his way out of town in the morning.  Duke and Delmonico get a hotel room and go to the cafe to eat.  Beef pot pie is one the menu along with biscuits and sand plum preserves to go on top.  For desert is dried apricot pie.  

When the meal is finished they sit on the porch of the Hotel and Duke looks at him with those sad eyes and explains what has been goin' on while Delmonico was gone.  

[Joyce (AnnieLee)]

As she sits in her rocker and crochets, the Frumpy Fairy Godmother casts an occasional glance to Trinity as his jug changes pitch.

"You do still have to fix the door, you know."

[Delmonico]

Delmonico noticed the door was still broke at the ranch.   He writes a note to get a new door before leavin' town.     Duke and him head uptairs and Delmonico tells Duke good night as he lets him into his room.  Shuttin' the door to Dukes room, he goes to his own room.

<Authors Note: You never want to sleep in the same room as a Yaller dog who has eatin' dried apricot pie. >

[Joyce (AnnieLee)]

Claire and Daisy come wandering out on the porch. They are each wearing a pink frilly tutu around their hips with a smaller one around their necks. They sniff around a bit, then sit on the edge of the porch, looking in the direction Duke went, and whimper.

[Stoney Pete]

Author's question:  Does Delmonico do anything but eat?  I ain't been here long, but he's consumed more in these few days than some small countries do in a month.

[Stoney Pete]

Having recoverd from being at the business end of a 38-55, Stoney grabs Trinity's jug of squeezin's and take belt.  Somehow it seemed smoother this time.  He joins Trinity in two part harmony.  The dogs joined in completing their barbershop quartet.

Slim and the FFG went inside and closed the door, as best they could, in an attempt to drown out the noise.