Many decades passed. One fall morning a beautiful red-haired woman left her home and walked towards a town. Her name was Audrey Sommers, and unlike the rest of the people in town she wasn't into admiring hunters or doing daily duties. Instead she loved to observe nature and paint. As she headed into town she sang to herself.

AUDREY:

Far from the town is where I love to be

Out by the flowers and the trees

However today I'm going into town for some paint

For I'm going to paint by the river later

How I wish I could live far away

Out in the country where there's nothing but nature to see

But until then I'll make do

"Hello Audrey!" A young lad's voice called out.

Audrey turned around and smiled. The young lad was her best friend Ted Wiggins, who worked in the stables every morning. At the moment he was leaning through the window.

"Hello Ted." She went over to him.

"Don't always see you in town, going to get something?" Ted asked.

"Uh-huh, I'm low on paint and there's this beautiful river I want to paint later."

"Well I'll bet that when you're done people won't be able to tell the difference between the river and your painting." Ted smiled.

"Oh Ted." Audrey giggled.

"Ted!" Ted's boss called out. "Hurry up with that wheelbarrow!"

"Oops, gotta go." Ted said regretfully.

"Oh well, maybe we'll see each other later today." Audrey started to leave. "Bye Ted."

"Bye Audrey." Ted smiled lovestruck as he grabbed the wheelbarrow.

TED:

My life here hasn't been so great

Nothing but chores and work

But one thing keeps me going

Keeps my spirits high

It's Audrey, so kind and fair

She may be beautiful and have lovely hair

But it's her eyes that won me over

For her eyes show what's in her soul

I wish I could be with her

But it will never work

She's a high-class maiden

"And you're just a stable jerk." Ted's boss cut in, laughing. "Now stop fantasizing about something impossible and get back to work!"

"Well one of us is a jerk." Ted said under his breath one his boss was out of earshot.

Audrey continued on her way, thinking about nature and art. It was her way of coping with being in the town. Because of this she didn't hear the town singing about her.

WOMEN:

Look there she goes that girl is strange no question

Dazed and distracted, can't you tell?

WOMAN:

Never part of any crowd

MAN:

Cuz her head's up on some cloud

TOWNSPEOPLE:

No denying she's a funny girl that Audrey

The town chatted, saying hello and talking about their wares and purchases.

AUDREY:

I can't wait to leave this urban life

She entered the art shop, where another of her few friends worked. He ran the store and loved art as much as she did.

"Oh hi Audrey, need more supplies?" He asked.

"Yes, I'm running low on paints and there's this beautiful river I want to paint later." Audrey nodded.

"Very well, let's see what colors would be best..."

They discussed colors, and finally Audrey made her purchase.

"I can't wait to see your painting when you're done with it." The art shop owner waved.

"You'll be among the first to see it, and thank you very much for the paints." Audrey waved back.

MEN:

Look there she goes that girl is so peculiar.

I wonder if she's feeling well

WOMEN:

With a dreamy far off look

MEN:

And a bag of paints in her hand

TOWNSPEOPLE:

What a puzzle to the rest of us, is Audrey

Audrey came upon a fountain with flowers around it. Butterflies floated amongst the flowers.

AUDREY:

Oh! Isn't this beautiful?

This is my favorite place in town

These flowers smell so lovely

And the butterflies are friendlier than most people I've known

Sure enough a couple butterflies landed on her hand. They always liked Audrey because she took better care of the flowers than most of the other people.

WOMAN:

Now it's no wonder that her name means noble

Her looks have got no parallel

MAN:

But behind that fair facade

I'm afraid she's rather odd.

Very different from the rest of us

TOWNSPEOPLE

She's nothing like the rest of us

Yes different from the rest of us is Audrey

Now in town were two people: Mr. O'Hare and his son Arsenio. Like the Sommers they two came from a wealthy family, but unlike Audrey Arsenio was a vain, cruel, and boastful man. However he also knew how to be charming, which allowed him to fool the town into thinking that he was actually a really noble guy. Only Audrey and Ted hadn't been fooled by his false charm.

"There goes Audrey son." Mr. O'Hare said. "It's too bad that she's so peculiar, but she is beautiful and also comes from a wealthy family so she might make a fine wife after all."

"Never mind her behavior, I'll make sure she improves." Arsenio smirked. "A few days with me and she'll see that there are more important things than nature and art. Like me. Soon she'll see me as a god, and we'll have children worthy of Heaven."

ARSENIO:

Right from the moment when I met her, saw her

I said she's gorgeous and I fell

Here in town, there is only she, who is as beautiful as me

So I'm making plans to woo and marry Audrey

Arsenio started making his way towards Audrey, but it was difficult to navigate through the crowd. Especially since most of the rest of the people were still concentrating on their wares and purchases.

"Pardon." Arsenio said as he tried to make his way through the crowd. "'Scuse me. Please let me through!" He was starting to lose his patience.

AUDREY:

I can't wait to leave this urban life

GASTON:

Just watch,

I'm going to make Audrey my wife!

TOWNSPEOPLE:

Look there she goes

The girl is strange but special

A most peculiar young lady

It's a pity and a sin

She doesn't quite fit in

'Cause she really is a funny girl

A beauty but a funny girl

She really is a funny girl

That Audrey!

Audrey was now suspicious that someone was singing, so she turned around. However by that point the town was done with their song. This also gave Arsenio a chance to make it through.

"Hello Audrey." He flirted.

"Hello Arsenio." Audrey said politely.

Arsenio took her bag and opened it.

"Arsenio may I have my bag back please?" Audrey frowned.

"Paints? Seriously Audrey you keep wasting your money on paints?" Arsenio frowned.

"It's not a waste of money, I love to paint." Audrey crossed her arms.

By that point Ted was on his way home with Melvin Jr. He saw what was going on and glared at the scene. No not out of jealousy, he knew Audrey didn't like Arsenio. Instead Ted was angry because he knew that Arsenio was bothering Audrey.

"Melvin Jr, time for plan 'mud puddle'." Ted whispered to Melvin Jr.

Melvin Jr nodded with a smirk in his eye.

"Audrey, you really should get your head out of nature and art and focus on more important things." Arsenio said. "Like me. Come on, how about we go back to my place? You can look at my trophies." He put his arm around her.

"I prefer looking at animals when they're alive, not dead." Audrey pulled away, grabbed her bag, and started to walk away.

"Why? Animals aren't good for anything other than food-"

Arsenio was cut off by finding himself soaring through the air until he landed in a mud puddle. Audrey laughed. Arsenio got up, furious, and glared at the cause of his flight: Ted and Melvin Jr.

"Melvin! That was not nice!" Ted pretended to scold. "I'm really sorry sir, but you should watch what you say around him. He gets offended easily."

"One more stunt like that and I'll turn that mule into a pair of leather boots." Arsenio advanced on Ted. "And you, stable boy, you should remember your place. As far as I'm concerned you're no better than a mule."

"Don't you talk to him that way!" Audrey snapped. "Ted happens to be my best friend, and is a much better man than you'll ever be. Now get out of my sight!"

Arsenio, stunned, caught off-guard, and embarrassed, left.

"Thanks Audrey." Ted blushed. "I mean for what you said."

"Well what I said is true." Audrey smiled at him. "And thank you."

"What are you talking about?" Ted shrugged humbly.

Audrey kissed him on the cheek. Ted blushed harder and he felt his heart stop for a few seconds.

"Thank you anyway." She smiled. "And thank you for being a good friend."

"Well, you're welcome for that." Ted chuckled awkwardly.

"I'd better go, I still want to paint that river." Audrey turned to leave. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye." Ted waved, then sighed. "Why can't I be more than a friend?" He asked himself.

Ted and Melvin Jr headed for home. Ted brought Melvin Jr to the barn where Melvin, Melvin Jr's father, was and then headed for the house.

"Mom, Grammy, I'm home." He said as he shut the door.

"Hello Ted." His mom Sally smiled. "Well, looks like it's my turn to go to work now."

Sally worked for a seamstress in town. She and Ted took turns working so that at least one could be home with Grammy Norma, Ted's grandma. Grammy Norma could take care of herself but she did get lonely easily.

"Yup, see you at dinner mom." Ted nodded.

"If work isn't too piled up."

They hugged and Sally left. Grammy Norma showed up.

"Hi Grammy, what are we going to do today?" Ted asked.

"Well first I want to know if you've made progress with Audrey." Grammy Norma winked.

Ted blushed.

"Aw Grammy..." He protested. "I wish you wouldn't pry like that."

"So no progress." Grammy Norma shook her head. "Ted why don't you just tell her how you feel? She obviously likes you."

"Yeah but I'm worried about how her parents would take it." Ted shrugged. "I mean they're a high-class family and we're poor country folk."

"*Psh*, it's up to Audrey who she wants to be with. It's not her parents' decision." Grammy Norma frowned.

"Try telling that to her parents." Ted said dryly.

Meanwhile Arsenio and Mr. O'Hare visited Mr. and Mrs. Sommers. Audrey was still painting the river, but when she got back hours later she obviously was unhappy to see Arsenio there with her parents.

"Ah Audrey, wonderful news." Mr. Sommers smiled. "Arsenio has asked for your hand in marriage."

Audrey's face changed from a look of annoyance to one of shock.

"What?" She gasped. "You didn't accept his proposal did you?"

"Well of course we did." Mrs. Sommers was surprised to hear that Audrey wasn't happy. "The O'Hares are an old and rich family, and Arsenio is a fine young man. He'll be a wonderful husband for you."

"More like an awful husband." Audrey said angrily. "I refuse to marry that jerk."

"Why Audrey." Arsenio was hurt. "What would ever make you say that?"

"I dunno, maybe your calling my paints a waste of money?" Audrey retorted.

"Audrey!" Mrs. Sommers was shocked. "Arsenio would never say something like that."

"Well he did." Audrey glared. "You cannot make me marry him, I'd rather stay single for the rest of my life than marry him!"

"Audrey!" Mr. Sommers snapped. "I will not tolerate that attitude. You are marrying Arsenio this coming spring and that is final!"

"I won't!" Audrey was furious.

"Go to your room until you realize that we're right and you're wrong!" Mr. Sommers ordered.

Audrey ran up to her room and cried on her bed.

"Dear, I think that was a little harsh." Mrs. Sommers said to her husband.

"Well I meant just for today." Mr. Sommers muttered. "She'll be allowed back down tomorrow. We have to prepare for the wedding anyway."