Sounds good Shirley. Here's the holy water. I'll load up Bruce my mule after we've eaten this rabbit stew. I put in some dried garlic, onions, chillis, salt, potatoes, pasta, carrots and beans and it's almost ready. Even some Tumeric. Anyone want a stringed necklace of garlic cloves. I'm making myself one. I might put some hot chillis in it too. I read that book on Vampires you showed us Shirley. Good advice. Craig, here's your garlic necklace I made for you.
Surely Terence you dont believe in vampires. I hate garlic anyway. Shirley and I have been talking and as you are a former county sherriff we want you to scare the living daylites out of Ernie and extract a confession from him regarding his association with her mad uncle.
Craig and I have not been talking. He must have seen my Grandmother's ghost and talked to her. She may be here trying to warn me about something. Maybe she will come to me in my dreams tonight.
Don't know nothing anymore Craig, but best be prepared I always say. Need a bible? This small one was written by Gideon. I think I could scare Ernie but I don't like doing that stuff anymore. Maybe just cut off his hair? Or an ear? An' I was just a deputy, not a Sheriff, but was a temp sheriff for 4 weeks. Hated it, trying to read all that stuff... and having to scare or shoot at people. Couldn't we just trick him into telling the truth? I can look menacing. A ghostly visitation in your dreams Shirley, and it communicating with Craig.You must have a sense for these things. Have some of this cheese before you next sleep. Coffee too to make the dream more vivid, so I heard.
Terence he does have a big shotgun and looks as tho he knows how to use it. But no ear lopping please. We will now have to wait to see if Shirley's grandmother appears to her and shows her the way to the Money Tree.
My dearly departed Grandmother came to me in a dream. She said the our path leads to a sacred ancient Native American burial ground. Only people who have Native American blood are allowed to enter there. Since her Great Grandmother was Cherokee, I can enter, But when we get there, y'all will have to wait nearby. The clue to our search is engraved on the Jadaculla Rock. We can drive near to it and walk the rest of the way. So we need to head back to town and get supplies.
Sounds good Shirley. I'm happy to wait outside the burial ground. My ancestors were Irish and Catholic. Craig, shotguns are nasty but don't have the range of my rifle. I have great long vision too.
Good old granny Shirley. Hope y'all was not too scared. Ancient First American burial site. Sounds spookie. But what to do about this Ernie problem. Terence to afford any bloodshed I suggest we relieve him of his shotgun then if he will not come clean with the truth we threaten to turn him in to the county cops on suspicion over the death of uncle Eddie.. Everyone agreed?
OK, guys. We need to tidy up the cabin before we leave. I'll wash the dishes. Craig, you take the food scrapes away from the cabin and dump them. Terence, you put out the fire in the fireplace and make sure the ashes are cold. We may want to come back here soon for a nice vacation. There is a small creek out back that looks like it's full of trout. We'll leave the door unlocked in case some weary traveler should need to stop in and rest a while. Leave the canned goods, too. So...... we are on the way back down to the Old Man's cabin. ........ Stop! Shhhhhh. I just heard a twig snap. Somebody or some thing is following us. It might be Ernie or it could be a big animal. I'm going to hide behind a big tree. You guys see what or who is following us. Make sure your weapons are loaded and cocked. Leave me the pistol just in case.
Ok Shirley, here's a small calibre pistol n spare rounds. Think Surprise might let me grab his gun Craig if needed. I'll hide behind this bush with my rifle cocked. I'll listen to the ground for a moment.
Your plan worked Terence. It was Ernie stalking us and you did take his shotgun from him. He has confessed to not liking uncle Eddie but swears on his mother's grave that he had nothing to do with his death. He adds he knows nothing about a Money Tree. Do we believe him Shirley?
I'm highly suspicious of that. Maybe we should handcuff him and take him along with us. But that would make us kidnappers. People go to prison for kidnapping. There's no way we can prove he killed Uncle Eddie, anyway. So what do we do with him?