Town hall. Eric finds Hawkins looking over Mitchell's arrest record. Hawkins reads, "Home robbery, assault, gun trafficking." Eric says that he hasn't been a problem lately: "He stays on the edge of town in a sort of compound with a bunch of guys." Hawkins pegs them as "survivalists," and probably makes a note to go introduce himself. Then he mentions the dust-up Jake had with Mitchell at the bar, and Eric's suddenly concerned and asks how Jake handled it. Hawkins says, "Kept his cool. Didn't engage." Yeah, except for when he threatened to kick Mitchell's ass. Eric figures they should just stay out of it, then.
Mom and Jake are tossing around bales of hay at the stable. I like how they're hanging a lantern on the fact that these people have horses, but choose to walk everywhere. And the horses are, as we'll see in a moment, all in the stable, which is why Mom has to come feed them every damn day. Apparently, the Greens haven't heard of this thing called a "pasture." Mom reminisces about Jake's riding prowess, and says that if he'd been more like his "dinky Uncle Dennis" he could have been a jockey. Although that might have interfered with him becoming an expert at every other thing in the world. Then Mom says, "Talk to me. I'm tired of hearing my own voice." Jake silently walks away, carrying a pail, which makes me think he was tired of hearing her voice, too. When she prompts him again, Jake finally says that he's tired, and explains that he's going to get water. The horses start whinnying, and Mom hurries into the barn to see what's going on. As she reaches the door, whoosh, the horses come storming out, knocking her down. Zombie horses! Aieee! Seriously, wouldn't zombie horses be awesome? There aren't enough stories about zombified animals. Jake rushes back and shouts at her to stay down as more horses rush out, leaping over her. Jesus, how many horses do they have in there? The last couple of horses have riders. Mom gasps, "Who are those guys?" Jake looks at the departing herd, and the two riders in camouflage, and makes a sad face.
Commercials. So, let's say you and your friend are horse thieves. You go out to a stable. In broad daylight. Then, as you are preparing to steal the horses, the owners arrive. Do you just lurk around quietly until the owners leave, or do you start a stampede while there are witnesses around who might well be armed? Before you answer, remember that you're a horse thief in Jericho, which means that your cognitive development peaked in kindergarten.