David dismounted his horse and walked into the Inn, there was nobody there except three men and the Inn Keeper. David sat at the table where the other three men sat.
"Hello, mind if I join you?"
"Not at all." Said George.
"As I was saying," Said Peter. "Michael can play the Psaltery and I'll play the lute but I'm not sure what you can play."
"Well," Said George. "I can play the Organetto and I can play the Hurdy-Gurdy."
"You guys are musicians?" Asked David.
"Yes, we are." Said Michael.
"Nice to meet you, I'm David Jones."
"I'm Michael Nesmith and this is George Dolenz and Peter Tork."
"Neswash?" Said David.
"Nes-MITH."
"You're not from around here." Said George.
"How did you know?" Asked David.
"I've lived in this part of the Kingdom all my life, I know everybody here."
"I'm from the third part of the Kingdom." Said David.
"I'm from the third part too." Said Michael.
"What do you do for a living?" Asked Peter.
"I was a stable boy but I'm never going to be one again. Excuse me." David got up and walked over to the Inn Keeper.
"Do you have any rooms?" David asked the Inn Keeper.
"Nope, I rented the last room." He answered. David walked back to the table.
"I heard." Said George. "You can stay at my house if you want; we've got plenty of room."
"Are you sure your family wouldn't mind?" Asked David.
"Nah, they love having guests over." Normally David would have refused but he needed a place to stay for the night.
"I guess I can stay for the night." Said David.
"Great, we'll leave right away." Said George.
"But we still haven't decided what instrument you'll play" Said Peter.
"Surprise me." Said George.
"Why the hurry?" Asked Michael.
"One reason is because this boy looks tired and hungry, but the main reason is Mom is cooking a giant dinner tonight and it took all of my will power to stay here this long."
George grabbed David's hand and almost dragged him out of the Inn.
"His hunger is going to kill someone one of these days." Said Peter.
----
George and David got on their horses and rode to George's house.
"I'm home!" Called out George as he entered the house.
"George!" All of his Sisters jumped onto him and nearly knocked him over.
"Who's he?" Asked Coco.
"This is our guest; he's going to stay with us for awhile."
"He's short." Said Gina.
"Don't be rude." Said Debbie.
"I know why you're home," Their Mother said. "You're here to eat."
"Mother's know everything." Said George.
"Did you meet Sa-?"
Coco covered Gina's mouth.
"Don't say her name!" Said Coco.
"Who's name?" Asked David.
"We have to go to bed." Said Coco and she rushed her Sisters into one of the bedrooms.
"Is Step-Dad here yet?" Asked George.
"George, why do you call him Step-Dad?" Asked his Mother.
"'Cause he is. Sorry David, where are my manners? This is my Mom, Janelle, who is the most wonderful and beautiful lady in the whole world and the three girls you saw are Gina, Debbie and Coco Sunshine, the best Sisters anybody could ever ask for."
"Coco Sunshine?"
"That's not her real name; it's a nick name I gave her."
----
After dinner everybody went to bed. David shared a room with George while George's parents were in one room and the girls in the other. David tossed and turned but couldn't fall asleep; he opened his eyes and noticed that George wasn't there. He got up and looked around the house but he couldn't find him. He looked outside and saw George walking toward the meadow.
"Where is he going this late at night?" David asked himself. He slowly followed him and soon they were near a willow tree that was near a pond and fireflies were blinking in the night.
"I hope she was able to make it." Said George. David hid in the bushes as he watched George rest agenst the willow tree. Then a young lady with long blondish brown hair appeared and George got up and held her hand.
"Did anybody follow you?" Asked George.
"No, I made sure everybody was asleep."
"What are they talking about?" Wondered David. David stepped on a twig.
"Did you hear something?" The girl asked. George pulled out a small dagger.
"I'd better get out of here." Said David. He turned to leave.
"Don't move." David had been caught. George held the dagger agenst David's back.
"Did the King send you?" Asked George.
"What are you talking about?" Asked David. "I noticed that you left and I followed you."
"Please put the dagger away." Samantha said.
"What if he works for the King?" Said George.
"I don't think he does." Said Samantha. "Father wouldn't go through all this trouble just to spy on me."
"Father? You're the King's daughter?!"
George put away his dagger. "Well, back to the dungeon I go."
"Don't say that George." Said Samantha. "Please don't tell anyone."
"Tell who what? I don't have any idea what's goin' on here!" Said David.
"She is a Princess," Said George. "And it's the law that she can only marry a Knight, Lord, Prince or King. Seeing anybody who isn't any of those is against the law and the punishment is death, so we see each other secretly, but we have to be extra careful, 'cause I've already been thrown into the dungeon once already."
"But if the punishment is death how are you still alive?" Asked David.
"Thankfully the King has a very bad memory." Said George. "He asked me to be one of his musicians and he doesn't remember me."
"Yet." Said Samantha.
"Why don't you guys just run away?" Asked David.
"We have family here, this is our home. We're not leaving unless there's no choice." Said Samantha.
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone." Said David. "So please don't kill me."
"Kill you? I wouldn't hurt a fly." Said George. "I use this dagger for cutting cheese."
David breathed a sigh of relief.
"But," Said George. "I will keep my eye on you until I know that I can trust you."
"Fine with me." Said David.