text: > describe your surroundings
  Empty lot, on an old black mare
  Standing where you are, in the middle of a thicket of weeds, you're faced by a wall of impenetrable brush to the north. Just to the right of the trees, to the northeast, is the entrance the local stable. Back east is Main Street.
  Little Jimmy is here, looking sullen.
  Bobby is here.
  
  > go east
  To walk, you will have to get off of the old black mare. Otherwise, try "ride" or "gallop" and a direction.
  
  > Ride east
  North end of Main Street, on an old black mare
  Now leaving the bustling metropolis of Tumbleweed Flats, pop. 59.
  The local stable is off to the northwest, just north of an empty field. To the east is the north end of the hotel, although it doesn't look like you'd be able to get by the stack of crates and barrels. A dusty road continues north out of town.
  To the south, you can see a gang of deputies lounging around outside Grady's Saloon--presumably waiting for you.
  
  > eat the taffy
  You nibble at the sticky taffy. It's not too bad. Gums up your mouth and fingers pretty good while you're at it.
  
  > Inventory
  You are wearing your holster on your hip where it belongs. You are holding a whiskey bottle. You are also carrying a skeleton key, two pistols (your six-shooter and Roy's gun), a handwritten note, a scrap of cloth, and some sticky taffy.
  
  > wait
  Time passes...
  
  > Wait
  Time passes...
  
  Time passes...
  
  Time passes...
  
  A woman slips into the stable behind you. She stands off to the side, almost in the shadows, regarding you warily. She looks vaguely familiar.
  
  The woman seems relieved. "Good. I wasn't sure if you'd actually come," she says.
  
  She goes to the stable door and looks outside, making sure that the two of you are alone before she closes it.
  
  > Kiss woman
  She pushes you away. "Hey, hayseed. I don't know what you think you've got coming for helping me out, but if that's it, you can just forget it."
  
  "That must mean you remember what I told you last night in Grady's, right? About Glen Heffer? I mean before his bastard son showed up and started causing trouble."
  
  That's when it hits you: this is the woman for whose honor--directly or indirectly--you ended up in a gunfight this morning. Sarah or Sandra or Samantha or something like that. Sarah. That's right: Sarah. Whew. Nice memory on you.
  
  > examine Sarah
  Sarah's long brown hair is tucked up under her wide-brimmed cowboy hat. There's a look of seriousness about her face, and strain, as if she's got a little bit too much to deal with right now.
  
  > ask Sarah about Glen
  "I guess he can add kidnapper and blackmailer to his list of accomplishments, right after thief, murderer, and son-of-a-bitch."
  
  Sarah looks at you skeptically again. "Okay. Here's what you have to do," she says. "You've got a horse. Good. You know the road going east just north of town? Ride east, all the way to the end. You'll know when you're there because you'll find me waiting for you."
  
  > ask Sarah about the last night
  Sarah doesn't seem to know anything about last night.
  
  Sarah's face softens a little, and some of her tough facade fades away.
  
  "Look, I don't know if you're a hero or just not very smart or what.
  It was more than enough that you stood up for me against Roy. Now this. It's probably more than I can ask, but...thank you."
  
  > ask Sarah about Glen
  "I guess he can add kidnapper and blackmailer to his list of accomplishments, right after thief, murderer, and son-of-a-bitch."
  
  > ask Sarah about Roy
  "Last night in Grady's? Last night Roy knew exactly what I was talking about, about Uncle Bucky. Today? Well, today I'm glad you shot him."
  
  > ask Sarah about Bucky
  "He may be a little strange, but, hey, he's my uncle, and he's dear to me--and it's not just because he's got a lot of money. But I'm not going to let that rotten snake Glen Heffer force me into coming up with ransom money--Uncle Bucky wouldn't want that."
  
  > ask Sarah about Grady
  "Hmmm. I don't really know him that well. Doesn't seem like the happiest guy, though, does he?"
  
  > ask Sarah about the mare
  Sarah doesn't seem to know anything about the old black mare.
  
  Sarah moves to the door. "I've got to go now. I'll see you there."
  
  > Ride se
  North end of Main Street, on an old black mare
  Now leaving the bustling metropolis of Tumbleweed Flats, pop. 59.
  The local stable is off to the northwest, just north of an empty field. To the east is the north end of the hotel, although it doesn't look like you'd be able to get by the stack of crates and barrels. A dusty road continues north out of town.
  To the south, you can see a gang of deputies lounging around outside Grady's Saloon--presumably waiting for you.
  
  Old Dan arrives from the south.
  
  > Ride north
  Edge of town, on an old black mare
  You can still see Tumbleweed Flats behind you where the road curves around from the south. A dead, rotted tree stands here, marking the memory of the last living thing between here and where the road disappears into the eastern distance.
  
  > examine the tree
  The tree is now gray and rotted. It marks the point where the road comes up from the southwest and turns east.
  
  > Ride east
  Long and dusty road, on an old black mare
  Brambles and cactuses all over the place. Some might call it the desert. Not all that lucky for you, seeing as you're wandering around in the middle of it.
  
  > Ride east
  The old black mare continues plodding eastward... (Now would be a good time to decide that a younger, stronger horse would be a good idea.)
  
  Long and dusty road, on an old black mare
  Brambles and cactuses all over the place. Some might call it the desert. Not all that lucky for you, seeing as you're wandering around in the middle of it.
  
  > Ride east
  The old black mare continues plodding eastward...
  Common sense says this old mare ain't gonna make it. Common sense says go back.
  
  Long and dusty road, on an old black mare
  Brambles and cactuses all over the place. Some might call it the desert. Not all that lucky for you, seeing as you're wandering around in the middle of it.
  
  > Ride east
  The old black mare continues plodding eastward...
  The mare wheezes as she plods along.
  
  Long and dusty road, on an old black mare
  Brambles and cactuses all over the place. Some might call it the desert. Not all that lucky for you, seeing as you're wandering around in the middle of it.
  
  > Ride east
  The old black mare continues plodding eastward...
  
  Long and dusty road, on an old black mare
  Brambles and cactuses all over the place. Some might call it the desert. Not all that lucky for you, seeing as you're wandering around in the middle of it.
  
  > Ride east
  The old black mare continues plodding eastward...
  In your wisdom, you have driven the old black mare past the point of exhaustion. To be a little more exact (and graphic), the poor horse suddenly collapses, moaning and wheezing, sending you tumbling to the ground. Then she coughs her last and dies.
  
  Brambles and cactuses all over the place. Some might call it the desert. Not all that lucky for you, seeing as you're wandering around in the middle of it.