5:

With one last look over his shoulder, Buzz approached the trio of women standing near the sofa. He sucked in his breath, and then forced a smile as he joined them. "Hello, Girls."

They looked over in his direction. Bo and Barbara smiled, but Jessie squealed and ran to hug him. "Buzzy!"

"Hey, Jess." He patted her back as he returned the embrace.

She led him by the hand. "Where've you been, Partner? I missed you! I thought I would never see you again!"

"I've only been gone about ten minutes."

Jessie pulled him over to her friends. "Buzz, this is Barbara."

Buzz stuck out a hand, which she shook. "Hello, Barbara."

"Barbara, this is Buzz."

"Nice to meet you, Buzz."

"Bo, this is Barbara. Barbara, Bo. Bo, Buzz. Buzz, Bo. Bo, Jessie..." Bo flicked Jessie's hat to get her to stop.

Barbara was a little shorter than Jessie with short blonde pigtails under her hat and large brown eyes. A lasso was looped through her belt. She wore a white and yellow plaid shirt with a white hat, white jeans, and yellow boots. Woody was right; she wasn't just cute, she was downright adorable. Well, Buzz smiled to himself. Not as adorable as Jessie.

Buzz cleared his throat as his mind frantically tried to think of a diversion. One of Bo's sheep bleated softly and nudged its shepherdess with its head. Bo scratched it behind the ear.

A light bulb went off in Buzz's head. "Say Bo, I've been reading up on sheep!"

Bo looked a little surprised. "Oh? I...didn't know you were interested in that sort of thing."

Buzz pshaw'ed. "Of course, fascinating subject! Fascinating!"

"Uh-huh." Bo turned to Barbara. "So, you and Woody went to Cowboy Camp together?"

Buzz panicked. "Did you know sheep aren't just used for wool?" He interrupted. "In addition to meat, they're also used for milk!"

Woody peered around the corner. He could see the foursome chatting. As quietly as he could, he tiptoed out of the kitchen and to the stairs.

"...More than two hundred breeds." Buzz was saying. "Species like..." Bo started to step around him, but he blocked her path. "The Merino, the Suffolk, the Urinal..."

Bo paused. "That's Urial!" She pronounced it "Or-ree-al."

"Sorry. The Oreo."

Bo once again tried to move around Buzz, but he just kept moving in front of her. "Did you know Dolly the Sheep has arthritis?"

Bo finally maneuvered around the Ranger. "Is there something wrong with you?" She said in an aggravated voice. Her eyes moved to the stairs. "Woody!"

Woody jumped about a mile. He turned. "Hiiiii…" He drawled.

Barbara waved. "Hi, Woody!"

"Hi, Barb." Reluctantly, he walked over the group, dragging his boots as he did so.

Barbara shook Woody's hand. "It's been a long time!"

"Yeah…" He looked at Bo. Her face seemed placid, so Barbara hadn't told her anything...yet.

"So it was nice to see you again but I gotta go…" Woody said in one breath and tried to make a break for it. Bo caught his arm with her crook and pulled him back.

"Woody, don't be rude!" She scolded.

Woody felt like a cornered animal. Four faces stared at him, wanted him to make conversation. But what could he say?

An awkward moment passed. Buzz suddenly began counting. "One, two, three" He pointed at Woody, Jessie, and Barbara. He shook his head. "I'm surrounded by Cow folk."

Jessie smiled and elbowed him. Barbara snickered.

Bo turned to Woody. "So tell us about when you and Barbara met at Cowboy Camp."

Woody felt like his voice box had just jumped into his throat. "Why?" He said, a little squeakier than he meant.

"Why not?"

"Well," Began Barbara. "After putting their things away, all the campers go to the meeting hall to hear the head counselor give the rules. Andy brought Woody, and Elsie brought me, and it so happened that they were sitting next to each other…"

Woody began to cough. A loud hacking cough.

The other three looked at me. He smiled weakly. "Just a little dust in my throat."

Bo leaned close to him. "What's wrong with you?" She whispered.

"Nothing!"

"Well, you're being awfully rude!"

"Am not!"

Barbara spoke up suddenly. "Well, I've gotta get back to Elsie's cabin. There's some things I need to do."

The Davis toys waved as she walked toward the open door. She turned and waved back. "Bye! See you soon, Woody!"

"Don't count on it," Woody muttered under his breath. He was suddenly aware of Bo giving him a look. "What?"

"So what's the deal with you and Barbara?"

Woody colored. "Nothing!"

Buzz coughed slightly. "I think some of us should leave the room."

"You're right." Jessie agreed, her big green eyes fastened on Woody and Bo. "Bye Buzz." Buzz rolled his eyes and pulled her after him.

When the two had disappeared into the kitchen, Bo spoke once again. "Why are you so jumpy?"

"Jumpy? I'm not jumpy!"

"Woody, you can't fool me." She said, then added, "You can't fool anyone for that matter. You're acting like she's an ex-girlfriend!" Bo paused. "Is she?"

Woody had gone from slightly pink to full-blown red. "What? No! You know I never had a girlfriend before I met you! I've told you that at least a dozen times!"

"Then stop acting like it!" She shook her head and sighed. "I'll be in Molly's room. C'mon Sheep."

Woody watched her go up the stairs. "What am I going to do?"