Chapter Five
The two men finished unpacking and headed downstairs. In the large kitchen they found the table set for eight people A large platter of ham sandwiches sat in the middle of the table. Plates with tomatoes, sliced cheese, lettuce, pickles and onions as well as lettuce fresh from Hannah's garden, were close by.
There was potato salad, cole slaw and a tossed salad as well. A large pitcher contained milk for Mike and Cam. Butter, salt, pepper, cream and sugar were also available for the diners.
'Looks good, Mrs. McAllister," Slim said to his hostess. "Why so many sandwiches?"
"You should know the answer to that without asking," Cam told him as she brought the coffee pot in and started pouring. "Half of it is for Jess. The other half is for those of us who have normal appetites."
Slim started laughing which garnered surly looks from his partner. Everyone else started laughing at that point.
"What's so funny?" David McAllister asked as he entered the room.
"Just having a little fun at Jess' expense," Cam explained through her giggles.
"My dear, dear niece. What kind of fun, at a friend's expense, makes you giggle so much?"
Cam struggled to stop laughing but it was Jess that spoke up.
"They're sayin' that half of those sandwiches are for me and the other half for the rest of you." The Texas was a little annoyed
"Ah." David McAllister's dark eyes twinkled. "Well considering how much you ate of the trout and pot roast, just before you and Slim left for home a year ago, I'd have to say that's just about right."
Jess' protest was drowned out by the laughter of the others present.
Doctor McAllister greeted his wife and niece with kisses and shook hands with Slim and Jess. , then he was introduced to Daisy and Mike.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Cooper," David said. "Cam speaks of you often and truly enjoys the letters you send."
"It's a pleasure to meet you as well and, please, call me Daisy."
"All right, Daisy, and you must call me David."
"David it is,", the lady smiled.
"And this young man must be the famous Mike Williams I've heard so much about," Dr. McAllister said, looking at Mike.
"Me? Famous?" the boy asked.
"Why yes. According to Cam, it was your good luck kiss that helped her win that horse race when visited you last summer."
"It was?"
"You bet it was," Cam told him as she squeezed him. "This is my Uncle, Dr. McAllister, Mike. Uncle David this is Slim and Jess' ward, Mike Williams as you guessed."
"It's nice to meet you, Mike," the man said as he seated his wife and their niece at the table.
After a short blessing, the McAllisters and their guests dug into the sandwiches and such. Cam got up to refill the adults' coffee cups. There was a pitcher of milk, on the table, for her and Mike and she took charge of refilling the boy's glass when it got close to being empty.
When they were through eating, following the delicious dessert of strawberry shortcake with plenty of whipped cream - of which Jess had three generous helpings prompting more jokes about his hollow legs - Cam helped her aunt with the dishes. Their guests were shooed into the living room.