January 7, 1885
1:30 PM PST

Emmett Lloyd Brown, formerly Emmett Lathrop Brown, smiled - as he glanced around the building that was his new bona fide home, as well as place of employment. It felt quite good, in fact, to finally have a place to call his own. It was even just about the same size as his old garage was, so he didn't really feel as if his home was too small.

His smile faded a little - as he thought about his teenage friend, Martin Seamus McFly. He hoped to actually get the DeLorean time machine repaired within in a week, but his efforts proved to be fruitless. As a result, it was rather time to put Plan B into action.

He had already used the cover story of being a blacksmith - and, after fixing wagons for Seamus McFly and Ira Peabody, both men had recommended for him to take on a more permanent position. Indeed, Emmett decided that might not be a real bad idea.

His smile returned, as he hung the calendar onto the chest. It didn't quite matter how long he simply stayed in the past. As soon as he managed to repair the time machine, he sure would be able to meet Marty just one minute from when he left. From Marty's perspective - it would actually be just as if the older man wasn't gone for long, at all.

Besides, not long before the lightning bolt that sent Emmett back to this era - he told Marty that he really dreamed of visiting his favourite historical era, the Old West. He had not expected for the opportunity to come like this, but he felt rather fortunate.

He figured that there was no real harm in making the most out of his situation, as long as he was careful not to do anything that would actually drastically alter history. In all honesty, he felt as if he deserved to enjoy himself - after all that he went through.

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Emmett felt a little nervous, since he did not feel as if he was quite ready to take on his first customer. After all, he still had not put the finishing touches on the shop. As he simply headed towards the door, he saw that it was only Seamus McFly - and, thus, someone he was already rather familiar with.

"Howdy, sir!" greeted Seamus, as Emmett opened the opened the door. "I really hope you don't mind me company, but I just wished to... Well, I just wished to see how you were doing." As he glanced around the shop, he added, "This place looks very nice!"

"Thank you!" Emmett replied, nodding. "In all honesty, I'm feeling just a little nervous. After all, what if the people didn't like how I do my job? What if they rather said that I was no good. I mean, I'm not terribly certain if I could take that kind of a rejection."

"C'mon, Mr. Brown," chided Seamus, as he gave Emmett's arm a gentle squeeze. "I do reckon that you'll make a fine blacksmith. I also reckon that you might be feeling just a mite nervous about really starting your..." Emmett blushed, as he could barely believe what he had just said. It was usually so unlike him to think that. "You'll be rather fine."

"You're quite right, Mr. McFly," Emmett replied, sighing. "I have been here for a week, now - and I... So far, the townsfolk sure seem to have taken a real liking to me. Still, I can't help but... I guess I'm feeling apprehensive about starting a job in a new town."

"I can simply understand that," Seamus replied, nodding. "As long as Mad Dog Tannen and his buddies stay away from this town, I think you'll be fine. Everyone seems to be quite laid back, and I... I remember the day that Mags and I first stepped into town."

"I actually appreciate your support," Emmett commented, softly. The name "Tannen" simply made his heart jump, though. The experience of the reality where Biff Tannen was rich and powerful was still a little fresh on his mind. "So, uh, what is this about... about this Mad Dog Tannen? It sounds to me as if he is a... very unpleasant fellow."

"That is rather an understatement of the century!" scoffed Seamus. In a softer voice, he added, "I do apologize, Mr. Brown. I really didn't mean to alarm you. I don't reckon that he would have the nerve to set book back in Hill Valley... Especially not after..."

"Oh, I don't blame you," Emmett replied, softly. "I have actually dealt with, uh, similar people. You will have to tell me more about this, uh, Mad Dog Tannen. Now, I assume that 'Mad Dog' is not his... his real name? Just how did he come about getting that..."

"As I understand it," explained Seamus, "he has a rather short temper - and, as such, he is simply quick on the trigger. He also has a tendency to drool. He actually bragged about killing twelve men, not including Indians or Chinamen. Although, I can't see why those groups don't count. Fortunately, though, he's been out of town for a rather..."

"Talk about an outlaw!" gasped Emmett, as he could hardly believe what he heard. He figured that it should just not come as a surprise, though - that Biff Tannen's ancestor was a notorious gunman and outlaw. "So, uh, what was the event that lead to him..."

"He shot a newspaper editor, last year," explained Seamus, "because there was quite an unfavourable story printed about him. Since then, the newspaper staff really were too afraid to continue keeping records on him. I think it's sad, really, how that man..."

"It is sad," agreed Emmett, nodding. "It is very sad to think that people like him would get his own way, just by... by using the trigger. It is simply not the type of thing that people should be allowed to get away with. Anyway, I guess that we should move on - and... Well, I rather would like to thank you for your encouragement and support."

"Aye," Seamus agreed, nodding. "You really seem to have adjusted well to this town, in spite of having been here for only a week." He smiled, as he added, "It is nearly as if you grew up in Hill Valley. I do still remember when Mags and I first came to town."

"I guess I am getting so familiar with this town," chuckled Emmett. Indeed, he did grow up in Hill Valley - but it happened to be in the future! "So, this town quite existed for... almost thirty years. I do suppose a lot has actually changed, within that time."

"I wouldn't know," Seamus replied, softly, "since we sure haven't lived here that long. I understand that Mayor Hubert has plans to start a clock, though - on the day of the town's anniversary. He really wants for this town to just have our own clock tower. It is supposed to be a big event, and I... I guess it's to be attached to the courthouse."

"I'm quite certain that it will," agreed Emmett, as his heart skipped a beat. It still was a strange sight to not see the legendary clock tower in downtown Hill Valley. It would be almost eight months away, which seemed like a long time. "I happen to be excited."

"I do love your cuckoo clock," commented Seamus, smiling. "I also wanted to get one, but Mags thinks that it might scare our new baby. I reckon she does have a point. On the other hand, I've actually known small children to take a fancy to the cuckoo bird."

"I'm very fond of clocks," explained Emmett, with a wistful sigh. He began to miss the clock collection he had in his garage, back in the year 1985. Back in a year that has not yet happened, Emmett added, with a sudden smile. "Time simply always was a very intriguing thing to me, and I do think it's great that Mayor Hubert wishes to..."

"So, Mr. Brown, you quite reckon that you'll be coming to the festival?" Seamus asked, smiling. Emmett swallowed, as he sure had quite mixed feelings on the prospect. While it might be nice to witness the event, he sure hoped to have his time machine repaired sooner. "This is one festival that I'm looking forward to. I reckon that you must come."

"I definitely will come," Emmett replied, nodding, "if I am still here. There is a possibility that I might, uh, return to Canada... before the festival arrives. Well, it was very nice of you to come - and I... Well, I was wondering if you would like a glass of iced tea."

"I sure have never heard of iced tea, before," Seamus replied, as he scrunched up his face. "I reckon I could give it a try, though. Those really are some interesting gadgets that you have here. I do trust your judgement, so I will try some of your... iced tea."

"I think that you will like it," Emmett commented, as he headed towards his homemade ice maker. "It is quite sweetened, and..." He poured some tea into a tall glass, and he added three ice cubes. "It's a secret recipe that I came up with, and I can understand how the beverage..." He handed the glass to Seamus, as he added, "Here you are."

"Thank you, Mr. Brown," replied Seamus, as he reached for the glass. As took a little sip, and then he added, "This is not so bad, at all - even if it is just a mite... unusual. Speaking of secret recipes, I still have yet to simply introduce you to my pancakes."

"I do like pancakes," Emmett replied, as his mouth began to water. "It has been some time, though - since I last had them. At any rate, I really thank you for your... words of encouragement. Usually, I'm the one doing the encouraging - but even I really..."

"We all could use a little reassurance, from time to time," agreed Seamus. "Thank you for the iced tea, Mr. Brown. Well, it's time for me to get going - but I'm very glad that I was able to help boost your confidence. This Sunday, why don't you come over - so that I can whip you up some of my special pancakes? Have a good day, Mr. Brown!"

"I would love that, Mr. McFly," replied Emmett, just as Seamus stepped outside of the shop. Upon closing the door, he muttered, "Seamus, why do you really remind me too much of Marty? You do look so much like your future descendant, who I really miss!"

Emmett sighed, as he prepared a glass of iced tea for himself. Indeed, he sure missed his teenage friend - but, in the meantime, it also just felt nice to establish a very close friendship with his friend's ancestor. Indeed, being stuck in 1885 would not be all bad.