Chapter Thirteen

"Did you get your things safely to the Grange Hall?" Hannah asked as the laughing duo walked into the living room where she and Daisy were doing some mending on the family's wardrobe.

"Yes, ma'am. Jess didn't drop a thing and he didn't get snared by Jeannie Riley either. I made sure of that."

"Who's Jeannie Riley?" Daisy asked.

"Trouble with a capital 'T'," Cam replied.

Hannah explained. "Jeannie is the daughter of one of the wealthiest families in the area. She likes to use people for what she can get out of them. She snares young men whom she believes have money to spend. If they don't she ends the relationship immediately. If they refuse to spend money on expensive gifts or take her to the theater or to fancy restaurants she either pouts, complains or sics her older brothers on them.:

Kissing Jess' cheek she told him, "You better listen to us - Cam and me. We won't play matchmaker - though the idea is tempting I must say," she teased him. "Yet we will keep an eye out for the troublemakers. Cam's friends have older sisters. I'm sure Slim remembers some of them."

"Especially Kerry's older sister and Tami's and Lori's got two just about the right age."
Cam couldn't resist putting her two cents worth in.

"No thanks," the Texan responded.

The women laughed.

"The fair opens to the public the day after tomorrow," Hannah told their guests. "Cam and I will be back and forth, today, checking in with exhibits and distributing fliers. You're welcome to come with us or amuse yourselves. I believe Slim is going to go with David on his rounds to the outlying farms today to keep him company. Gordon is finishing up some paperwork for his next court case."

"I promised to take fliers to the outlying farms and ranches," Cam said "I thought, if Jess and Mike want to help we could ride as far as Red Bluff and pass them out. It'll be good publicity for the fair and a chance for them to see some of the area. Plus I'm sure Smoke, Galway and Yankee Doodle could use some exercise."

"That's a fine idea," Hannah agreed. "Jess, why don't you get the horses ready while Cam changes her clothes?"

"Sure, the Texan agreed. "Where is Mike anyway?"

"Out back playing with Duncan," Hannah told him. "I told him it was all right as long as they stayed in the yard. I believe he's throwing a ball around for him. Or a stick. The nice thing about this house is that we have a good sized back yard."

As Cam started toward the hallway, to go upstairs, she told Jess, "I'll only be a few minutes. I need to change into my riding skirt and a blouse since we're going on horseback."

"I'll go saddle the horses," Jess said.

"Send Mike in with Duncan would you? That pup will be more hindrance than help if we take him with us. Mike can put him in his corner by the fireplace. Aunt Hannah will see that he stays put until somebody has time to take him out again."

Ten minutes later the girl came back downstairs wearing a brown divided riding skirt and a royal blue blouse that was open at the throat. On her head was the hat Slim and Jess had bought her on her first visit to Laramie and the blue bandanna - dark blue - was fastened around her throat. She wore a fringed leather jacket as well since the day was quite cool.

After checking that Duncan was where she wanted him she kissed her aunt good-bye promising they'd be home for supper. She had money she'd earned, doing sewing jobs and mending for neighbors who didn't have the time, or the skill, to do them themselves. She planned on treating Jess and Mike to lunch at a restaurant in one of the towns they would be passing through.

Out in the barn, the Texan was just finishing up with Smoke. Galway and Yankee Doodle were ready to go.

"That hat looks familiar," he joked.

"It should since you and Slim insisted on buying it for me last summer - and the bandanna as well."

"Thought it looked familiar, "Jess said.

Cam just wrinkled her nose at him as he helped her into the saddle.

"Ready for a long ride Mike?" she asked the youngster.

"Sure!"

"Well, then, let's go. First stop is the Grange Hall where we will pick up some fliers and posters about the fair." She turned Smoke toward the center of town. Her two companions flanked her.