Love On The Rocks - Part Two

Sheriff Vivian, her work done after Val's trial, mounts up. Once in the saddle, she nods toward Lord Richard and the Queen. "Thought they were on the outs, Mel."

"They're standing pretty close. True, it doesn't figure." Deputy Melissa shifts her weight.

"Are we going after the Woman-In-Red?"

"That's the plan, Mel. That's the plan."

"Do we know if Ms. Red is working alone?" They make their way through the undergrowth... "Just hearsay from Pruscilla, over at Avalon News. Right now, we call Red a 'woman of interest.' Of course, anyone who hides in red - well, we're just going to look. You know this part of Avalon, you lead."

The landscape has changed... "Sheriff? The winter storms changed a lot of the trees. I'm not so... "

They see a break in the terrain...

"Lost?"

"Not exactly. Maybe if we climb that hill over there..." The rocks prove steep...

"Cats whiskers, Mel. We shoulda brought climbing boots and pitons - Whoa! You hear that? Sounds like moans!"

They come across a disastrous scene!

As they come around the corner toward sunshine, Vivian stops. "Oh-oh"

The poor fellow!

"Is he, uh, injured?"

The sheriff leans over the man. "Easy, easy. Break your leg? Back?"

"What the-" He sits bolt upright, sways, then steadies himself.

Thank heavens he's unharmed! "We heard you groaning."

"Sorry. Thinking about something personal."

The sheriff steps to his level. "Heck of a place to have 'personal' problems, Big Guy." They've climbed up a long way. "You're right," he says. "And it's a long way down there."

Vivian looks over the edge. "Holy-moley! We are up a ways!" MORE love on the rocks?

He stands ready to help. "Steady."

"You can call me Melissa."

Behind Mel, Vivian rolls her eyes.

Well, he got over THAT heartache quickly!

"Ooh!"

His lips quirk.

From above: Hey, move it, or marry her!"

Blushing, Melissa eases down to the next ledge.

"Hey," Vivian asks, "don't I get the same treatment?"

Now color comes to his face.

Joe is not as practiced as Val Sedgwick!

"The name's Hasbro, Joe Hasbro. Guess my date took both horses."

Melissa's face brightens. "You can ride with me. Dallas is the best horse in Avalon."

"Avalon?" he asks.

Mel nods. "Sure, Avalon. The whole world around here is Avalon."

Joe pales and studies the ground. "Uh, what happened to Applewood Stables and the Army Base?"

Vivian and Melissa share a questioning glance. Joe is not used to riding horses! At Castle Blackguard, Quasimodo comes out to take the horses. Vivian holds on to her reins. "You all right, Joe?"

"Yeah, I'll get a sip of water and hitch-hike back to our camp. At least I see a road." Vivian observes another Moment... Leaning toward him, Melissa says, "You can stay with us, Joe."

The sheriff coughs.

"Uh, well, yeah. Thanks for the offer. The General sort of, uh, expects me." Melissa has had a good morning! After Joe Hasbro leaves, Mel walks her horse toward the stables. "He was nice."

"Really? Couldn't tell, what with you draped all over him the last hour." She aims a parting shot at the sarcastic sheriff. "You know, Sheriff... If you weren't so bristly suspicious of everyone, the guys would notice you."