* Millie follows with her father for a little and takes a deep breath, turning 
towards him when they're out of earshot. She hesitates for a moment and speaks 
sadly, "I can't stay, Pa. You know I can't stay..."
<Ardweden> [He turns and looks at his daughter.  Frown.  "Why not?"]
<Millie> We're already losin' the trail for this...this tablet.  If we wait too 
much longer, we'll lose it entirely...an' well...
* Millie turns her head off to the side. "You ain't raised no quitter, right?"
<Ardweden> [Harold keeps frowning.  "Sometimes, I wondered, what with you 
runnin' off an' all."]
* Millie throws her hands down frustrated and turns back to her father. "Now Pa, 
that jus' ain't fair...I ain't like..." She takes a breath again and tries again 
in a calmer, but sadder voice. "I ain't like Ma. I swear you that."
<Ardweden> ["Yer sure."  He takes a step closer, and he's practically looking 
through Millie.  "Ya promise that?  Ya did leave, just like her.  An' I don't 
think ya meant to come back."]
* Millie gives out another frustrated huff and looks at him for a second, 
gritting her teeth and clenching her fist. "God dammit, Pa. I--"
* Millie gives up and just wraps her arms around him in a tight embrace.
<Ardweden> [Her father blinks, totally frozen for a moment, and then he wraps 
her in a rough bear hug.  "I don't want ya leavin' me, Millie," he tells her, 
voice thick with emotion.  "I can't take ya goin' away again.  Not both of ya."]
* Millie speaks softly. "I know...but I hafta go...I hafta, Pa..."
<Ardweden> ["I know, but Millie, I jus'-"  He gives up and just keeps hugging 
her.]
<Brett> ( Millie's spine is crushed and she's paralyzed. Her dad grins, "Ha! Now 
you CAN'T leave!" )
* Millie half whispers. "I'll be back...and if I find Ma, I'll tell her to come 
back too. I want you to be proud of me, Pa...I want--" She sniffs herself and 
half-chokes on her own words.
<Ardweden> (How'd you know?  I mean...)
<Ardweden> (Wait, of course you knew.)
<Ardweden> ["'Sokay Millie."  He sounds like he's in danger of choking, too.  
And then he pushes her back by her shoulders.  "Lemme get a good look at you."]
* Millie nods and wipes her eyes, snickering between the sniffs. "I don't think 
I look too good right now..."
<Ardweden> ["I'll be the judge of that."  Harold looks his daughter over and 
wipes one of the tears from her cheeks with a calloused hand.  After a long 
while, he says, "My little girl's grown up."  Harold looks her in the eyes.  
"Yer beautiful, Millie.  Ya might not be yer mother, but ya look jus' like 
her."]
* Millie chuckles as she looks at him, half grinning. "But I get my personality 
from you, y'know."
<Ardweden> [He smirks. "An' who better, on either side a' the Sallies?"  Harold 
pulls Millie in for another hug.  "I'm gonna miss ya, y'know.  You'd best come 
back safely, or I'm gonna have ta track Calamity Jan down myself."]
* Millie laughs. "Now that I'd like ta see...ya even know how ta ride those 
horses anymore, Pa? I mean takin' care of 'em ain't the same as ridin'..."
<Ardweden> ["Are you kiddin'?" he actually sounds offended.  "Ya can't forget 
how ta ride a horse!"]
* Millie smirks. "I'd hope not." She pokes her father in the stomach. "Y'are 
gettin' a little pudgy though..."
* Millie then looks a little embarrassed. "..speakin' of which..."
<Ardweden> [Harold was about to retort, but when Millie mentions that, he raises 
an eyebrow.]
* Millie sighs. "I hate ta ask this but..can I borrow one of the horses this 
time?" She looks sheepish.
<Ardweden> ["Hrm.  Well, I dunno."  Harold grins.  "What if ya fergot how ta 
take care of a horse?"]
* Millie looks offended. "Why I never! The only reason Pepper died is because of 
that stupid Injun an' his stupid trap and stupid arrows.." She huffs and gets a 
pouty expression.
<Ardweden> [He holds his hands up.  "Now, don't go gettin' that look on me.  
I'll let ya take one on two conditions."]
* Millie sighs and rubs her head. "I guess yer entitled...name 'em..."
<Ardweden> [He holds up a finger.  "One.  If this turns out too hard, or it gets 
too dangerous, I want ya back here.  If it takes too long, I want ya ta visit.  
You promised you're not yer mom.  I want ya ta live up to it."  His expression 
softens, just a little.  "Ya don't need ta capture the greatest bandit in Teck 
ta make yer pa proud."]
* Millie starts to object for a moment, but cuts herself off. "Okay..so...what's 
the second?"
<Ardweden> [Second finger.  "Ya be careful.  An' *try* ta avoid Injun traps an' 
arrows this time, okay?"]
<Millie> Well...technically the ninja set the trap.  But I will.
<Ardweden> [Harold nods.  "All right.  That's all I ask.  Ya can go pick out yer 
favorite, Millie."]
* Millie squeals and throws her arms around her dad's neck. "Oh thank you, Pa! 
Thank you! I take back all the things I said 'boutcha when I was younger!"
<Ardweden> [Harold laughs and hugs back. "All of 'em, eh?  I'll hold ya to that, 
too."]
* Millie laughs and winks. "Come on...they weren't ALL bad...they're probably 
wonderin' if we've killed each other or somethin' yet though..."
<Ardweden> [Harold shrugs.  "Yer the one who has ta deal with 'em."]
* Millie laughs and slaps Harold on the back before walking back.