"Shouldn't we call Mrs. Pride and let her know we're okay?" Katie asked.
"Nah." Jessie shook her head. "We're all still in one piece. No need to worry her. We'll surprise everyone and show her she had nothing to worry about."
Mitsy rolled her eyes. "Ha. I wouldn't exactly say nothing happened!"
Bo was all prettied up thanks to Mrs. Phoat's assistance, and now she was impatiently pacing in the courtyard at city hall. Everything was ready, and the citizens were filling in, only two important things missing: the sheriff and his well-earned plaque. The plan was for Mitsy and her friends to return with the plaque before Woody showed up, so he'd be completely taken by surprise. But where were they? Bo was worried. "Oh, where are they?" Bo groaned.
"I'm sure they're on their way." Slinky said, trying to cheer her up.
"They should've been back by now." Bo muttered. Slinky hung his head, not sure what to say. He didn't want to admit it, but he was getting worried too. Bo was right: they should've been back a long time ago.
"Any sign of them?" Zuma asked as he came beside Slinky.
"Nope." Slinky shook his head. Zuma had told Slinky about the car accident, but they'd both agreed not to tell Bo or anyone else and cause them to worry, especially if Ryder and the Paw Patrol could fix the problem.
"Well? Have you heard anything? Do you see them?" Mayor Goodway asked Bo Peep.
"No." Bo said flatly. "I just knew I never should've agreed to this."
"Oh, I'm sure everything will be all right." Mayor Goodway smiled. "And if anything bad happened, I'm sure the Paw Patrol could help."
"That's true." Bo sighed. "But they haven't called or anything." Then her eyes fell on Zuma.
"Well, Woody. I think we'd better head back." Buzz said.
"Yep. I guess you're right." Woody sighed.
"But do you mind if I stop by city hall on the way home? I have some important news to give Mayor Goodway." Buzz had convinced Woody to agree to bring his family to Buzz and Jessie's that night for supper.
"Sure." Woody nodded, mounting Bullseye. "That'll give me time to fetch my girls."
"Oh, no, no!" Buzz protested.
"What?" Woody stared at him in confusion.
"Uh, you need to come with me to city hall, Woody. Uh, you're gonna need to hear this." Buzz responded nervously.
"Okay." Woody shrugged. "You don't have to go into a panic mode, Buzz. By the way, just what is this important news?"
"I'd rather just explain it all at once when I get there." Buzz groaned. "I don't feel like having to repeat myself."
"Okay." Woody rolled his eyes. "Let's go. I'll beat ya there! Ride like the wind, Bullseye!" Woody exclaimed, and with that, the horse whinnied and took off cantering away.
"Oh no you won't, cowboy!" Buzz called after him, secretly happy that so far Woody didn't suspect a thing. Woody was not an easy person to fool, so so far this plan was working.
"Zuma?" Bo spoke as she approached the little dogs.
"Yes, Mrs. Pride?" Zuma asked curiously as he looked up at her.
"Shouldn't Ryder and the other pups be here?" Bo asked suspiciously.
"I...I guess they're just late." Zuma said, glancing to Slinky for help.
"Where are they?"
"Uh...s-something c-came up, and they had to go help." Zuma bit his lip.
"Mitsy's in trouble, isn't she?" Bo asked firmly, her hands on her hips.
"Uh, Ryder said..." Zuma stammered.
"Don't play innocent with me, pup. Mitsy and the girls had car trouble, and Ryder's trying to get them out of it. Am I right?"
"I...well, uh..." Zuma clenched his teeth timidly. Suddenly, there were the sounds of approaching vehicles and honking horns behind them. Everyone cheered as the Pride family car and the Paw Patrol pulled up. Bo's jaw dropped and she dashed toward them.
"Ryder! You made it!" Zuma panted happily.
"Yep. Sure did." Ryder said.
"Is Sheriff Woody here yet?" Skye asked.
"No. Not yet. Good thing." Slinky said.
"Hi, Mom!" Mitsy waved cheerfully.
"Where were you guys?" Bo asked breathlessly. "You had me worried sick."
"Well, we had a delay." Katie answered quickly. "But the Paw Patrol stepped in and fixed it." Bo remained unconvinced, especially as she noticed the big bruise on her daughter's arm.
"Mom, it's okay!" Mitsy grinned sheepishly. "We're all here. The car's in one piece. The plaque is safe, and we got back before Dad arrived. Let's just enjoy the evening."
"I knew something would happen." Bo rolled her eyes.
"Aw, come on, Bo. Everyone's safe now, and at least nothing worse happened." Slinky chimed in.
"Right." Ryder said. "Now, let's give this plaque to Mayor Goodway." Rubble was carrying the box with it perched on top of his shovel.
"Please clear the way, folks." Chase said through his megaphone as they made their way to the podium.
"Oh, Ryder! You and the pups are back!" The mayor excitedly clapped her hands together.
"Careful, Rubble!" Rocky barked, as the box with the plaque was swaying dangerously. Then the construction pup tripped as the box went flying.
"Oh no!" Rubble yelped and everyone gasped.
"The plaque!" Marshall yiped, running to catch it, but so did Chase and Rocky. They all collided together, then the box landed on top of them. "Oow." Marshall moaned. Skye and Ryder quickly opened the box and pulled out the plaque.
"It's all right!" Skye jumped cheerily.
"Here you are, Mayor." Ryder smiled.
"Oh, yes. You and the Paw Patrol saved the day!" Mayor Goodway gushed.
"They sure did." Mitsy smiled as she, Jessie, Bo, Katie, and Slinky skipped to the podium. "Thanks for all your help, Paw Patrol." Mitsy said.
"You're welcome." Chase wagged his tail.
"And just remember: if you're ever in trouble, just yelp for help." Ryder said. Bo couldn't help smiling in relief. They were safe, and so was her husband's reward. Slinky was right, at least things hadn't turned out worse.
"Hey," Jessie griped, "where in tarnation is that tardy sheriff?" She asked with her hands on her hips.
"Here he comes! He's coming!" Little Alex Porter shouted. And everyone cheered as Woody halted on Bullseye. He was satisfied that he'd beaten Buzz in the race, but now his jaw dropped in astonishment as he dismounted.
"Bullseye? What is this?" He asked. Bullseye snorted in a chuckle and nudged the cowboy forward with his head. Then Buzz brought his bike to a stop and hopped off.
"Come on, cowboy. They're waiting for you." He smirked.
"What..." Woody was still confused. Bo Peep, Slinky, Jessie, the pups, and Mitsy came running up to him and surrounded him.
"Oh, Dad. You finally got here!" Mitsy exclaimed.
"Where ya been, sheriff?" Jessie scolded. "Punctuality is something you need more training for."
"Oh, Sheriff Woody! You're finally here!" The mayor happily shook his hand and pulled him along.
"Mayor? What's going on?" Woody stared at her. But the woman didn't answer, she just shoved him up to the podium then cleared her throat as she spoke into the mic.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, good folks of Adventure Bay!" She announced. "We are gathered here tonight to honor Sheriff Woody Pride for his outstanding law enforcement in our fair city since he was elected almost two years ago. And also for his superb citizenship. Sheriff Pride, we are all grateful for the devotion you demonstrate in your job, and to the citizens of Adventure Bay, be they person or pup. This is for you." Ryder walked up to them and set the plaque into the mayor's hands, and she put it in Woody's shocked hands. "Please accept this as our way of saying thank you. You deserve it. Congratulations!" Everyone applauded and all the pups barked. Woody was flabbergasted. He didn't know what to say. He read the kind words in the inscription, deeply humbled.
"Well, Sheriff? Say something." Buzz nudged him playfully.
"Yeah. Don't just stand there gawking." Jessie added. "Get with it."
"I...I..." Woody stammered. "I don't know what to say." Everybody laughed. "I...I never expected this! You knew about this, didn't you?" He sneered at Buzz who smiled sheepishly. "I'm dumbfounded. But...thank you. That's...all I have to say." The people cheered again, Jessie, Buzz, and Ryder patting Woody on the back. The pups all gave him three cheers...er, rather barks.
"Hooray for Sheriff Woody!" Rubble exclaimed.
"Of course, I couldn't do this job properly without the support of my family and friends. And my trusty deputy, Jessie Pride Lightyear." He smiled back at Jessie who stood there proudly with her hands on her hips.
"Oh, yes! And I'd like to say thank you to Mitsy Pride, who delivered the plaque when it almost would've been forgone tonight." Mayor Goodway said, putting her arm around the girl. "Thank you, Mitsy. You did our town a great service today." Bo slightly smiled, but couldn't help thinking over everything that could've gone wrong.
"Thank you, Mayor Goodway." Mitsy spoke into the mic. "It was an honor. We're all proud of you, Dad. Thanks for being you." The people started to clap. "But if it wasn't for the Paw Patrol, the plaque might not have made it here tonight. I couldn't have done it without them. Thanks, Ryder. Thanks, pups." And she started clapping for them, as did everyone else.
"And now, Sheriff Woody? Ryder, pups? Everyone? Let's celebrate!" The mayor jumped excitedly. Bo went up and kissed Woody then stepped back. Buzz gazed in admiration at the plaque, Jessie playfully smacked Woody's shoulder. The pups all eagerly headed for the dessert table. Then Mitsy finally came up and hugged her dad.
"I don't know what all happened today, honey." Woody whispered, "but I'm glad you're safe and everything's okay."
"Yeah, me too." Mitsy totally agreed.
"And I'll have to hear the story later, but thanks, Ryder, for all your help."
"You welcome, Sheriff Woody." Ryder gave him a thumb's up. "No job is too big, no pup is too small."
"Ya see, Bo?" Jessie smirked, roughly wrapping her arm around her sister-in-law. "Told ya everything would be all right." Jessie said proudly. Bo opened her mouth to speak, but instead she just grinned, rolling her eyes and shaking her head.