Lou called the others into the bunkhouse and they all put their heads together as Cricket explained her plan.
The riders looked around at each other in stunned silence.
"I told you she was a genius," Jesse said proudly.
"Cricket, remind me never to get on your bad side," Kid remarked uncomfortably after all the details were laid out.
"I guess I should go and visit Maryellen," Cricket announced. "We need to put this plan in motion before Buck runs out of time."
Cricket arrived at the Doctor's office and asked to see Maryellen again. She was resting and was more than happy to entertain Cricket for a few minutes.
"Well?" Maryellen demanded.
"Well, I'm going to have to insist that you write a statement clearing Buck before I'll set you up with Lou," Cricket explained. "You can give it to me after you meet with him, but you need to write it and I need to read it before I'll agree. I also think that someone other than you should keep hold of it. I think Hattie would be a good choice." Cricket had noticed that Hattie seemed a little uncomfortable when she saw her last.
Maryellen thought about it for a few minutes and decided to go along with it. What she really wanted was to meet privately with Lou and from there she knew Lou would want to court her. She was quite a catch after all. She and Lou would be set for life; her father would make sure of it. Her father gave her whatever she wanted. This would be no exception.
"Fine," Maryellen said very self satisfied. "Do you have paper, pen and ink?"
"As a matter of fact, I do," Cricket said trying not to give away her glee. She took out her tablet and a pen and ink set and put them on the bedside table.
Maryellen took the pen and dipped it in the ink well. She began to write the requested document.
"I want to Lou to escort me to the school carnival," Maryellen demanded, "I'll meet him behind the schoolhouse after school tomorrow."
"Consider it arranged," Cricket said angrily. Cricket was acting her little heart out. She couldn't let on that Maryellen was playing right into her hands. "Um, Maryellen?"
"What is it?" Maryellen asked regally.
"I need an assistant to help me demonstrate my science project," Cricket answered.
"I don't know about that," Maryellen said dismissively.
"Oh but you see, I need someone who is pretty to do it," Cricket baited, "and you are the prettiest girl in school. I was also thinking that I should nominate you for Carnival Queen."
"Carnival Queen?" Maryellen asked suddenly interested. "There is no such thing."
"But don't you think there should be?" Cricket asked. "I'm sure Rachel will allow it if enough of us are in favor. I'm sure I can convince Jesse and Violet that it's a good idea."
"Well naturally there should be and I am the most worthy candidate," Maryellen agreed.
"You sure are," Cricket said with a fake sincere smile. "I think the Carnival Queen should be involved in all the festivities. Just think, you would be the real star of my science project demonstration, not me."
"Well that is true," Maryellen said greedily. "I mean look at you. Why would anyone pay attention to you when they could just look at me?"
Cricket smiled to cover her anger. She was so close now and couldn't risk ruining it.
"Exactly," Cricket said. "I just need some information from you before I go…for the presentation."
"Also, before you go, Cricket, we need to talk about my afternoon with Lou," Maryellen said.
Maryellen laid out her demands and Cricket reluctantly agreed to all of them. It was what she was expecting but she didn't want Maryellen to know that. She needed her to believe she was being quite demanding. Cricket knew it would make her feel in control of the situation.
"Next thing you'll probably want is for me to bake a pie for the two of you to share," Cricket said with all the annoyance she could muster. She crossed her arms to complete her look of absolute loathing and resistance. She just hoped Maryellen would take the bait.
"What a great idea, Cricket," Maryellen said smiling evilly. "I will take that pie and it had better be good."
It was really hard for Cricket to contain her excitement. Seeming happy or overconfident could tip her hand.
"Oh, it will be," Cricket assured her, "Lou is my friend and I wouldn't skimp on a friend."
"I'll see you tomorrow, Cricket," Maryellen said victoriously.
Cricket skipped off to the jailhouse. She told the riders, Violet, and Jesse to meet her there after her conversation with Maryellen. Buck would be awake by then and she could tell him the plan too.
Cricket thought about the carnival as she walked back. The school carnival was an annual event put on by the school board to raise funds for text books and other supplies for the school. The whole town usually got involved in it. Cricket was new to town and so were the Express riders, so they just kind of followed everyone else's lead. Teaspoon volunteered the station, riders, and horses for pony rides for a penny all the proceeds would go to the school fund. The saloon girls were going to have a kissing booth and Tompkins was donating a bunch of penny candy to be sold at the event. There were several games of chance being put up for the carnival tomorrow too. It looked like it would be a grand event and everyone in the town would be there.
Cricket walked into the jail and looked at Violet, Jesse, and the riders. A victorious smile spread across her lips and everyone let out the breath they were holding. Buck, however, just sat in the cot with his head in his hands.
"Phase one of the plan is done," Cricket announced. She looked to Teaspoon and reported, "Maryellen wrote a document clearing Buck's name."
"Did you read it?" Teaspoon asked.
"Yes," Cricket confirmed, "It said she was sure it was not Buck."
"She's going to give it to Hattie to hold onto and I think Hattie will crack if you ask her for it," Cricket assured them and looked at Teaspoon who nodded. "She didn't look all that comfortable about what Maryellen did. Now we can start phase two."
"Do we really need to go through with phase two after Teaspoon gets the paper?" Violet asked shyly. "I mean couldn't this just escalate things more?"
"When we're through with that little rat she'll never show her face around here again," Cricket said. "Phase two will end it and there will be no doubt in anyone's mind that Buck is innocent. I don't think we could count on Maryellen to behave after just phase one."
"So what is all included in phase two?" Jesse asked.
"Well, Jesse, you and me are going to nominate Maryellen as our carnival queen," Cricket said.
"There's no such thing as a carnival queen," Violet said.
"I know, it came to me while I was talking to Maryellen," Cricket said. "We'll need to convince Rachel but Maryellen's all for it. All of her friends will support it too. Rachel will be out voted."
"You better let Violet convince Rachel," Jesse suggested. "Rachel likes her better than us."
"Phase three is my science project," Cricket said. "This is where I'm going to need the most help."
Cricket sat on the floor and the other riders sat down around her.
"What is this contraption supposed to do again?" Noah asked.
"It's a lie detector machine," Cricket said with a giggle.
"Does it actually work?" Noah asked.
"No," Cricket replied, "that's why I need help with it. We only need to convince Maryellen and the audience that it works."
"Well what does it look like?" Kid asked.
"I have a drawing here," Cricket said as she pulled out a couple of pieces of paper and laid them out on the floor so the riders looked it over. Buck moved closer to the bars so he could see as well. Cricket also pulled out a piece of paper with all the supplies she would need.
"Here's the plan," Cricket said as the riders huddled in. "Lou, you've got to make sure Maryellen doesn't back out."
"I think I can do that," Lou said smiling.
"I'm going to lock her into some wrist restraints in a witness box," Cricket said. "She might have second thoughts."
"What are you going to tell her about the wrist restraints?" Lou asked.
"She needs to put them on in order for the machine to work," Cricket said. "It is the point of contact with the machine and then there will be a wire from the box to the machine."
"Oh, I see," Lou said nodding.
"Cody, I'm going to need your help drawing a crowd and keeping it," Cricket said.
"I know I can do that," Cody bragged. "I have always been a natural showman."
Jimmy pushed Cody over. "Well, I have," Cody said wounded.
"I know and we are going to capitalize on that," Cricket said soothing Cody's ego.
"Noah, Kid, I need you guys to make the machine work from back stage," Cricket explained. "When Maryellen tells the truth, Kid you pull the lever on the right side of the stage as you face the audience."
"What does that do?" Kid asked curiously.
"It releases one of your baseballs and it rolls down a series of ramps," Cricket explained. "When the baseball reaches the bottom, it releases another lever that pushes a pair of scissors closed. That cuts the string hold a weight which drops onto a bellows. The air from the bellows travels through a tube and gets blown out a whistle. Cody, I will also need you to reset the weight after each time."
"So what do I need to do?" Noah asked.
"When Maryellen tells a lie," Cricket said with a slight giggle, "you pull the lever on the left hand side of the stage."
"I'm afraid to ask what that does," Noah remarked.
All the riders smiled and looked at each other. Buck was getting really interested in the mechanics at work. He had only seen a contraption by Cricket as a finished product. He stayed quiet so he wouldn't distract her.
"Well, I should say that Maryellen is warned and it will be announced to the audience that Maryellen is allowed to lie twice before any consequences hit," Cricket said. "So each time she lies and Noah pulls the lever, a string on a pulley lifts the handle of a coffee pot and pours out the liquid into a coffee cup that is resting on what looks like a small seesaw. When the cup gets full it lowers itself down and raises a dowel that tilts a small platform. A rock on the platform rolls off into a basket and the basket is hanging from the end of a fishing pole. When the rock falls into the basket it tilts the fishing pole. The line on the fishing pole is attached to the bottom edge of a bucket of horse manure. The first two rocks won't tip it all the way, but the third one will."
"You know, I'm really glad you're on our side," Noah said.
"Violet, are you up for baking a custard pie?" Cricket asked.
"Sure why?" Violet asked.
"Maryellen said she wanted one to share with Lou," Cricket answered and then cautioned, "Lou, don't eat any of that pie."
"Why, is it poison?" Lou asked uncomfortably.
"Not exactly," Cricket said squirming a little. "Let's just say it'll go right through you."
Cricket handed Violet a bottle of castor oil with the instruction to only pour a little bit on the top after it is baked and cooled.
"Is this really necessary?" Violet asked.
"No, but I'm really angry with her," Cricket said, "Besides she deserves worse."
"What do you want me to do?" Jimmy asked feeling a little left out.
"Protect Buck," Cricket said looking down. "I don't want anyone coming over here during the carnival thinking Buck isn't protected and hurting him."
"I can do that," Jimmy said smiling and ruffling her hair a bit.
Cricket smoothed her hair back down. She was really starting to hate that. Buck grinned at the death stare Cricket flashed Jimmy.
"Better watch out, Jimmy," Buck said smiling, "she might just save you a piece of pie."
Everyone laughed at the joke and left to get started on their part of the plan. The riders and Jesse went out to build the platform and the backdrop for the stage for Crickets 'science' presentation. Cricket however stayed back to say goodnight to Buck.
"I'm going to get you out of here," Cricket said, "I'm so sorry Maryellen did this to you. I promise she will pay."
Cricket reached inside the bars and took Buck's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Buck turned his hand and lifted hers up and gave the back of her hand a light kiss.
"Thank you," Buck said. "Now you better make sure those boys don't screw up your plan."
Cricket smiled shyly and left to do exactly as Buck suggested.
Cricket woke and was off to school earlier than she had ever been the next morning. She had some more construction to supervise and she had to convince Rachel that they needed a Carnival Queen. She hoped everything would run smoothly.
Rachel, as it turns out, was amenable to the addition of a Carnival Queen especially after the whole class agreed that they should have one and that Maryellen should be it. Rachel did look suspiciously at Cricket who just batted her eyes and shrugged. She dismissed the class to work on the carnival and Cricket, Violet, and Jesse all went out and helped Lou and the boys with her 'science project.' Lou excused herself at the appropriate time and met Maryellen at the prearranged place. They all wished her good luck.
Cricket and rest of the riders were just finishing up when Maryellen with the help of Rachel proclaimed the carnival open for visitors.
Cricket paced as Lou worked her magic. She played the perfect attentive gentleman. Maryellen was starry-eyed and completely smitten. It was hard for the riders to keep a straight face. Lou gave them death stares every once and a while that made the boys think better of teasing her later.
Cricket could feel herself get nervous as the time for her presentation drew near. She saw Teaspoon heading to the school where Rachel was probably keeping Hattie separated from rest of the group. It was time. Violet helped Cricket get dressed into her Sunday dress and swept her hair back. Violet gave Cricket a supportive 'good luck' hug and went to take a position in the audience with Jesse.
"Don't worry Cricket," Cody said supportively as they prepared to get the show started, "this will work."
Cricket took a deep breath and looked at Kid and Noah who were both ready at their stations. This was it. It just had to work.
"Ladies and gentlemen, step right up and prepare to be amazed!" Cody shouted to the crowd. "Come see science in action. You will marvel as Mrs. Dunne's best science student has prepared a display guaranteed to impress you!"
A crowd began to gather at the base of the stage and Cricket thought she might throw up. She'd never talked before a bunch of people before. Her hands started to shake on their own and she couldn't make them stop. She was starting to panic and felt her chest tighten a little. She sat down and leaned against the back drop. She was faltering.
Kid looked over and saw a rather pale looking Cricket sit down. "Oh no," he said quietly to himself. He knew the best people to give her a pep talk were not available, but he knew she needed one anyway and he was the only one around to give her one. She wouldn't make it without it.
"Hey, don't be scared," Kid said kindly as he knelt in front of Cricket.
"I've never done this before," Cricket whimpered.
"You're going to be great," Kid reassured her.
"What if it doesn't work?" Cricket asked.
"This plan is going to work, but only if you get out there and do it," Kid urged. "I know Buck is already so proud of you."
"You think so?" Cricket asked quietly.
"I know so," Kid said. "Just keep thinking of him while you're up there and you'll do fine. Come on, take a deep breath. You can do this. We're all here to help you and we won't let you down."
Cricket took a deep breath just as Cody wrapped up his spiel.
Cody introduced Cricket as she wobbled unsurely up the steps to the stage and took a quick curtsy. She proceeded to tell the audience about her machine and what it did. The audience looked about ready to leave, but Cody quickly stepped in.
"I can see you're all skeptical and that's why we've put together a small demonstration," Cody said. "Please welcome to the stage, Miss Maryellen Webster."
The crowd politely applauded as Maryellen stepped up to the stage. She herself curtsied and then stepped over to the witness box and allowed Cricket to hook her up to the machine. All the while Cody explained to the audience what was happening.
"Now to the demonstration!" Cody whooped. The audience politely applauded. "First Miss Jones will ask Miss Webster a question and Miss Webster will give a true response. You will all see what happens when the truth is spoken."
"Miss Webster, what is your full name?" Cricket asked.
"My full name is Maryellen Elizabeth Webster," she answered.
On cue, Kid pulled his lever and it released the baseball and it went through all the motions until the whistle blew. The crowd applauded as students, parents, and even passersby were impressed.
"Next Miss Webster will tell a lie and we'll see what the machine does," Cody announced.
Cricket was a little nervous. She hadn't told Maryellen about the bucket of horse manure above her head. Cody turned to reset the weight on the truth side as Cricket cleared her throat.
"Miss Webster, how many sisters do you have?" Cricket asked knowing she had just one.
"I am an only child," Maryellen answered.
Noah pulled his lever and the coffee pot poured its water into the cup setting off the chain reaction until the bucket of manure tipped a third of the way over.
The audience clapped again lightly but was a little confused by the lack of a big finish like the whistle on the other side.
"Miss Jones, we should tell them what's in that bucket," Cody advised loudly so the audience could hear.
"Oh yes, Mister Cody," Cricket said smiling.
"In that bucket hanging over Miss Webster's head is one hundred percent, pure, Pony Express horse manure," Cody said smiling. Miss Webster is able to lie twice before the contents of the bucket are emptied on her.
The audience had a mixed result of squirming and laughing. Maryellen started to pull at the restraints and gave a look of absolute rage.
"Let me out of here, Cricket Jones, or I swear to God I will…" Maryellen said trailing off.
"You swear you'll do what?" Cricket asked. "Throw me in the creek again where I almost drown?"
"I never did that!" Maryellen shouted.
Noah pulled his lever and the lie side of the machine began to go through its pattern of movements. The bucket tipped a little more and the crowd gasped and Maryellen let out a tiny scream.
"One more lie and that bucket will dump its contents all over you," Cricket explained to Maryellen as well as the audience. "So think long and hard before you answer the next question."
Maryellen swallowed hard and struggled with her wrist restraints. She looked out over the crowd for a sympathetic face and instead saw her friend Hattie walking with Marshal Hunter over toward the jailhouse. The marshal had a piece of paper in his hand and Hattie was looking down at the ground as she walked.
"Buck Cross didn't attack you the other night did he?" Cricket challenged. "Remember if you lie, you will be covered in horse manure."
Maryellen looked desperately into the crowd. She knew she didn't have a chance. She was in an impossible situation with no way to save face.
"Alright, alright!" Maryellen answered. "He didn't attach me. I lied about it just to get him into trouble!"
Kid pulled his lever and the whistle blew. The townspeople who were watching started to talk amongst themselves and some looked at Maryellen with much disappointment in their eyes.
"Let me out now, Cricket!" Maryellen cried. "I cleared your half-breed beau now let me out!"
Cricket looked over as Buck walked out of the jail followed by Teaspoon and Jimmy. She smiled a big smile as Buck tipped his hat in her direction.
"I'm going to get you for this Cricket Jones!" Maryellen growled. "I'm going to make your life a living hell!"
Noah pulled his lever after hearing Maryellen's threat. Cricket was right this girl wasn't going to stop. It would serve her right.
Cricket heard the water start to pour and stepped back from the witness box. Maryellen screamed as the horse manure fell onto her head and clothes. The school children cheered and even Rachel had a hard time suppressing a smile. Cricket let Maryellen go from the box and Maryellen stomped away making sure to take with her the pie that Cricket promised her. She had a miserable time today and at least the pie would make her feel better. Cricket and Violet quickly exchanged looks and laughed silently.
Cody dismissed the crowd and invited them to further enjoy the rest of the carnival. The crowd dispersed and Cricket let out a sigh of relief.
"See I told you, you could do it," Kid said as he and Noah came out from behind the backdrop.
Lou joined Kid as Buck and Jimmy walked up to the group.
"Looks like I owe you my life this time," Buck said smiling at Cricket.
Cricket looked down at her feet and shrugged while she kicked the dirt. "I would do it again in a heartbeat," she said.
"Do you have an escort for the carnival?" Buck asked.
"No..." Cricket said trailing off. She raised her eyes off the ground at looked up at Buck.
"May I escort you, Miss Jones?" Buck asked.
"Um, yes!" Cricket said a little louder than she meant to.
"Miss Markham needs an escort too," Jimmy said deflecting the attention off a crimson Cricket, "If I may be of service?"
"Of course," Violet said blushing.
Kid and Lou looked at each other and grinned. They decided they would chaperone this party and Jesse tagged along too. The group wandered around the carnival and Jimmy played a dart game and won a cute doll for Violet while Buck played an archery game and won a stuffed bear for Cricket. There were many colors to choose from but Cricket decided she wanted the red one. In her mind she called him 'Buck Bear.' The day had been a good day. Cricket looked around and took stock of what she had. She had friends. Good friends that she cared about and who cared about her. She had another best friend too. Violet had been an amazing friend. Cricket was sad that she didn't find out sooner, but vowed to make up for lost time.
When Cricket got home from the carnival she was exhilarated, but exhausted. She hugged her new bear and placed on it on her pillow. She had a wonderful time even though Buck escorted her purely out of thanks, but still he was her escort all the same. She picked up her bear and hugged him while she spun around, fell on the bed, and giggled. 'Maryellen was in for a night in the outhouse if she ate any of that pie,' she thought and giggled a little harder. Everything had worked out and she would remember this day for a long time. She had been Buck's hero for a change. She snuggled her bear just a little bit tighter as she drifted off to sleep.
A/N I want to thank all the ladies on G+ for loving Cricket as much as I do. Your support has been really wonderful. Thanks, BrilliantDarkness for letting my adopt Violet for a story...I think she and Cricket make great friends. Thank you everyone for reading and leaving such nice comments. There are more Cricket misadventures in the works...but someday she will grow up and when that happens Buck won't know what hit him. :)