Chapter 4: Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show
Annie immediately started jumping up and down. "I know who you are! We had to do a project at school about a famous person with the same name as us. My name is Annie too!"
Annie Oakley looked down at her in surprise. "And you chose me?"
"Well, you're the most famous shot in the west! I've always wanted to meet you."
Jack quickly pulled out his book while the grown-up Annie was distracted by his sister.
Annie Oakley was the most famous performer in Buffalo Bill's Wild West after Bill himself. She was widely regarded as the best sharpshooter in the country despite being a young woman.
Jack wrote in his notebook.
Annie Oakley – best sharpshooter
"Ms. Oakley, are you a part of the show here?" Jack asked after putting away the book and notebook.
"That I am, kid," she answered, spinning her rifle. "Now, what are the two of you doing here in camp?"
"We wanted to see the show," Annie said quickly. "But we weren't sure where it started. We followed a cowboy to the camp."
"A cowboy?" Oakley thought for a moment. "Maybe you saw Bill. I think he was out this morning."
"Buffalo Bill is here?" Jack asked, his eyes wide.
Oakley laughed. "Of course he is. It's his show, isn't it? Do you want to meet him?"
Jack and Annie looked at each other and then together said, "Yes!"
"Well come on then. He should be in the command tent."
Oakley led them through the rows of tents until they reached a big one near the wooden stands. Outside of this tent were a bunch of posters showing the cowboy they'd seen earlier as well as Native Americans, Annie Oakley, and buffalo.
They followed her into the tent.
"Hey Bill, I found some kids wandering around the camp. I think they followed you here."
The cowboy they'd seen earlier stood up and looked at them. He had long grey hair and a goatee and was dressed all in brown leather with fringes. He smiled at them.
"You followed me back to camp eh?"
"Yes, sir!" Jack said quickly. "We wanted to meet a real live cowboy!"
Bill laughed. "Well, you've met one now. I'm Buffalo Bill and you've followed me back to my Wild West show. All these folks are my Rough Riders."
"Can we be in the show too?" Annie asked, giving Bill her puppy dog eyes.