September 1, 1885
10:30 PM PST

Emmett Lloyd Brown sighed, as he went to pour himself a glass of iced tea. It just felt very good, knowing that not only was he well-liked in town - but also that his services were simply needed and appreciated. He never quite expected to become as sociable as he became, as he used to feel very uncomfortable around large groups of people.

Back when he was living in the 20th Century, had had run Dr. E. Brown Enterprises - which had offered "24-hour scientific service". While the majority of of his customers were civil and polite towards him, he did also encounter some rather nasty types.

His best friend was a teenager who went by the name of Martin Seamus McFly. There was also Sabrina Artemis Palmer, who was an actual witch - and she was simply about a decade older than Marty. Indeed, he began to greatly miss his two closest friends.

He thought of the letter that he wrote to Marty, and he thought of how he instructed Marty not to go back and get him. While it felt a little painful for him, he figured that it was the very best decision for him to make. After all, he felt happier living in this era - and he certainly didn't wish to cause further disruption to the space-time continuum.

Nonetheless, he sure missed Marty - and he also felt a little concerned with how Marty would cope without the presence of the former scientist. He also felt a little concerned with how Marty would often react to being called a "chicken", and how it was quite the one flaw that would lead to Marty's bad future. He really did wish the best for Marty.

He quite hoped that Marty would learn from the events that occurred in 2015, as well as what happened on their return to 1955. Perhaps, he really should have mentioned Marty's bad future in the letter - figuring that that might scare Marty straight.

He quite recalled that Jennifer spent some time in her future home. If nothing else, he figured that Marty would learn from his girlfriend what his bad future would be like. He quite hoped that Jennifer wouldn't decide to end her relationship with him, as a result.

Emmett sighed, as he tried to put those thoughts out of his mind. He thought of how, in three days, he had offered to pick up a new female schoolteacher. He really hoped that she would appreciate his hospitality, and that she would not rather automatically consider him "crazy". Somehow, he really could not help but feel insecure about that.

He really considered Marty's ancestors, Seamus and Maggie McFly, to be amongst his dearest friends. He could recall how Seamus had rather taken an instant liking to him, and how Seamus was really about the most mild-mannered person he had ever met.

Maggie, on the other hand, had acted rather cool towards him - but he realized that it was because Maggie was generally quite distrustful of strangers. Within a few weeks, though, Maggie managed to warm up to him - and she genuinely was a caring person.

He had also befriended Ira Peabody, who was simply a jovial type of man. Ira's wife, Harriet, was a different story. Harriet rarely ever smiled, and she seemed to be very cross all the time. Emmett quickly learned not to take her very icy reception of him so personally, since there didn't seem to be too many people that she actually did like.

Suddenly, there was a loud knock on the door - which sure quickly jolted him out of his reverie. He swallowed, just as he started to walk towards the door. As he opened the door, he could hardly believe what he saw. He was staring into a rather familiar face!

"Emmett Lloyd Brown, at your service," he greeted, extending his hand. The man who sure resembled Biff Tannen, however, refused it. The man was also scowling, as were the three men who accompanied him. "So, uh, just how might I be able to help you?"

"Aren't you rather old to be a blacksmith?" chuckled the Tannen, as his lackeys began to snicker. Emmett swallowed, as he quite tried to keep his anger in check. "I demand that you shoe my horse for me, and you'd quite better have it done in an hour. You'd also better do a fine good job on it, or else I will done see to it that you regret it."

"Certainly, sir," replied Emmett, as he tried hard to keep the rage out of his voice. He rather began to suspect that the Tannen was the notorious Mad dog Tannen himself. "I'll get started on it, right away. That will be a five dollar charge, when I'm finished."

"We'll be back for you, in an hour," growled the Tannen. "If your job isn't done to my satisfaction, not only will I not pay you - but I will personally see to it that you regret it for the rest of your life. Let this simply be your one and only warning, blacksmith!"

Emmett was too stunned to reply, as the Tannen's lackey's hopped onto their horses - while Tannen himself hopped on the horse that his cigar-smoking lackey was riding. He swallowed, as he headed toward the horse that was hitched. He rather began to wish that he could just refuse service to that Tannen man. However, he simply didn't dare.

He knelt, as he took a look at the horse's fur. He was dismayed to see that horse was very dirty. Even if the rude Tannen had only asked for the horse to be shod, he quite felt an urge to also give the horse a thorough grooming. He felt so bad for the horse.

"Howdy, Mr. Brown," greeted a much more friendly voice. Just as Emmett glanced up, he caught sight of Seamus. "It sure looks to me as if you've already been accosted by the notorious Mad Dog Tannen. I do wager he must've roughen you up, quite a bit."

"He wasn't exactly polite to me," Emmett explained, as he stood up. "Actually, I guess that would be an understatement of the century. Essentially, he really did threaten to make my life a living hell - if I didn't complete the job to his satisfaction. Well, I sure do have only one hour to complete the job, so... I wish I could chat with you, but I..."

"I'll really be more than happy to help you," Seamus replied, softly. "You needn't even pay me. I know what it's like to be his victim, and it's... I guess he doesn't like the fact that I'm Irish. He's always calling me Irish Bug, and it's... My heart goes out for you."

"Well, I do quite appreciate your offer of assistance," Emmett replied, gratefully. "It'd certainly be nice to have your company. I sure can't even began to tell you how good it felt to hear your voice, after having been... It was like a breath of fresh air, to..."

"I can't believe that he had the nerve to..." Seamus started to say, scowling. "I don't get too cross, very much - as I'm simply well known for me even temper. Still, he sure has been a real... He has even been harassing me wife. I reckon that he deserves to be hanged. He has been a real menace to society, and I'm feeling scared that he..."

"Well, I remember hearing about how he just shot the newspaper editor," commented Emmett, "after an unfavourable article was printed about him. He also really hates his nickname, with a passion - if I recall correctly. I guess he does not think of himself..."

"He does want for people to be terrified of him," explained Seamus, "but he just hates it, when people act as if his actions are... quite wrong. He is just one of those people, I reckon, who thinks he should be able to shoot as he pleases... without compulsion."

"People like him quite make me sick!" Emmett replied, grimacing. "I've often considered myself to be a real open-minded person, who quite believes that people should not be judged or ostracized by society... for their eccentric life choices or mannerisms. When those choices hurt other people, though - then that is an entirely different... story."

"I completely agree with you," replied Seamus. "Me wife, on the other hand, is a bit of a traditionalist. She does believe that social norms are to always be abided by, even if doing thereof brings no harm to other people. I do blame that attitude on her family."

"It does sound like she came from an uptight family," replied Emmett, nodding. "At any rate, there's a very huge difference between a social custom and a more. Outlaws like Mad Dog Tannens are not merely going against social customs. They are breaking..."

"... mores about valuing the lives of other people," finished Seamus, nodding. "I know what you mean. Perhaps, I sure should try explaining the difference to me wife. Willie is still a mere infant, but I really... I do reckon that me wife is less uptight than Harriet Peabody, but... I would loathe for our children to feel as if they can't just pursue..."

"Your wife is definitely more laid back than Harriet," Emmett agreed. "After all, Harriet seems to be one of the only people people in town that... that still aren't that entirely fond of me. Granted, I do not expect to be liked by everyone - but I still feel as if..."

"I don't reckon she's too fond of me, either," Seamus pointed out, sighing. "Mags does tell me that the woman reminds her strongly of her mother. To Mags credit, she rather seems to be coming around... slowly but surely. Well, at any rate, I do reckon we..."

"Right," Emmett replied, as he grabbed a box of horseshoes. "He did give only me an hour to complete the job, so I guess we'd really better... If you quite do not wish for me to pay you, I was thinking that I would... How about if I treat you out for dinner, later this evening? Your wife, too - if she wishes to come along. Sound like a deal?"

"That rather would be appreciated," Seamus replied, warmly. Turning to the horse, he simply gave a look of disgust. "I reckon it's just like Mad Dog Tannen to not... properly groom his horses." He rolled his eyes, as he added, "We'd really better get to work."

Emmett nodded, as he knelt down. While he quite felt more than a little intimidated by the presence of Mad Dog Tannen, it also felt rather good to have Seamus beside him. Indeed, it certainly felt great to have the close companionship with Marty's ancestor.