It was raining when Mort woke up the next morning. He sighed as he stretched and went out to his main room to start a fire. It was going to be a dreary day and a challenging one. Besides reading a book, what else could occupy the moments of Mike's day while he waited anxiously for Jess's arrival? Jess should be back today but with the rain coming down and beating against the window, Mort figured that Jess had probably sought shelter and would be riding into Laramie on Saturday. He left Mike sleeping and after dressing, pulled on his slicker and trod through the mud to his office. The streets were quiet. No one was out. He rescued the mail from the doorknob and viewed the wanted posters. It was too early to receive an answer from Judge Henry so he decided to go home.
As he sloshed his way through the pelting rain he wondered what he and Mike could do with their time. He had a few ideas but they involved Indians and tracking. Suddenly he remembered a game he used to play as a child - hide and seek. There weren't many places to hide in but the house did have nooks and crannies, perfect to hide things in.
Mike was up and dressed when he came in. Even though he had slept well, there were dark circles under his eyes. Mort shrugged off his rain gear and boots and without a word, pulled Mike into a tight hug.
"He probably found shelter from the rain Mike," he comforted the boy. "He'll probably ride in tomorrow hungry as a bear," he added.
Mike grinned. "He'll probably want coffee first!"
Mort chuckled. "Well, we'll be sure to have some ready for him, won't we?"
Mike nodded and then the two sat down to breakfast.
"Hide and seek?" Mike asked, curiously, "how do we play it?"
"Well, normally, you play the game outside and this house is too small to hide in but we can hide things in it instead. So, I'll find something to hide. I'll show it to you first so that you'll know what to look for. Then while I'm hiding it, you count to 30 and then go look for it. When you find it, you win. How about I go first?"
Mort showed Mike his coffee cup. It was old and battered but it had been his father's and so it was special to him. Mike counted and then looked for over twenty minutes before finding it hanging by a peg by the door. Then, when it was Mike's turn, he hid his belt buckle which Slim and Jess had given him the week before. Mort looked and looked and almost gave up until he spied it on the top shelf of his bookcase. They played the game a few more times and then settled down in front of the fire - Mike with milk, Mort with coffee.
"Did you have fun this week, Mike?" Mort asked, looking down at the youngster.
Mike nodded. "I learned a lot about life in Laramie that's for sure. I think I liked my time at the blacksmith's and the school the best." He was quiet for a few minutes and Mort thought that he might be falling asleep until Mike looked up at him with tears in his eyes.
"Sheriff Mort, what happens to me if you don't find anyone to claim me as kin?"
"I thought that was settled, Mike," Mort was confused. "Slim and Jess want to adopt you, you know that, right?"
Mike squirmed on the sofa. "What if," he stopped then began again, "what if that 'ole circus judge says no?"
Mort reached out and pulled Mike onto his lap. "Mike," his spoke seriously, "Slim and Jess love you very much. They're trying to make a home for you. So far, they've done everything the law requires. It's going to be up to the judge when he visits to see for himself how the three of you get on. But," he looked straight into Mike's fearful eyes, "he's going to find a loving family, the three of you, closer than brothers, living on a working ranch with you helping and doing chores and going to school and being cared for by two men whom I am proud to know." Mike hugged him and they rocked for awhile until Mike fell asleep.