Chapter Fifteen
The next morning breakfast consisted of oatmeal, eggs and sausage with fresh biscuits, several kinds of jellies and jams and the usual coffee and milk.
Cam, clad in dark green with yellow braid, left for the fairgrounds immediately after she ate. She was helping exhibitors check in their poultry and rabbits.
She came home for lunch and took Mike back with her thinking he'd have a chance to see the rabbits. Some of the children exhibiting them were around his age and he made friends quickly. The teen let him go off with them on the promise that he'd be ready to leave when she was and told the other youngsters to stay within hailing distance. They all agreed and didn't stray too far. Mike didn't want the privilege of being away from his guardians and Daisy to be taken away. At home he only had friends to play with at school or when he was sent to a neighbor's for a day or two.
When it was time to leave Cam called to Mike. They were stopped by a rather short man with brown hair and green eyes who wore a big smile on his face.
"Mike, this is Mr. Morse. Mr. Morse, this is Mike Williams. Mike and his family are visiting us this week and will be at the fair tomorrow and all weekend."
"Hello Mike. I hope you enjoy our little fair this weekend. I'll be looking for you but you may not recognize me."
The boy looked puzzled.
"I'll be in disguise," Morse joked.
"Disguise? Why?"
"It's all in fun, Mike," Cam told him. There will be clowns and stilt walkers and all kinds of characters walking around."
"Tell you what, young fella, since this is your first visit to our fair I'll give you an extra special prize if you recognize me." Looking at Cam he warned, "And no help from Cam."
"I promise," Cam laughed. 'Mike's a smart boy. He can figure you out without any help from me."
With that the trio separated. Once they were on their way home, Cam challenged Mike to a foot race proving to him that they could still have fun together even if she was wearing skirts. They arrived at the front door of the house breathless and laughing.
"What have you two been up to?" Slim asked as they came into the living room."
"Me and Cam..."
"Cam and I," the tall rancher corrected him.
"Cam and I raced from the end of the street and I won!"
"You did? That's great Tiger." Slim gave the girl a look that said he didn't quite believe it. "Go tell Jess and then get cleaned up for dinner."
The youngster scampered upstairs to tell his other guardian about the race. Five minutes later he was cleaned up and arrived in the kitchen with Jess.
Dinner was beef stew with fresh bread and strawberry rhubarb pie for dessert.
The men caught up on their various activities and discussed plans for the visit to the fair.
"You know I've heard there is a contest to win a pig. Sure would be a nice donation to the orphanage," David said.
"A pig for the orphanage?" Slim was surprised.
Yes. They intend to teach the children how to raise animals for breeding, food, milk, wool eggs.." Dr. McAllister continued. "They'll get training in the house hold arts and such as well as the usual reading, writing, arithmetic plus science, history and geography"
Hannah added, "There will be music lessons, art classes, furniture making, pottery and other hobbies that can lead to a job once they're old enough to leave the orphanage after they turn sixteen."
"It sounds like a wonderful place, Daisy said.
"If we can raise enough money to rebuild and get other towns - like Red Bluff to take an interest in the place, it will be," David said. "My family has been promoting it for months."
"I think Gordy should go for the pig," Cam said. "It would look great when prospective clients look into his reputation."
Slim laughed heartily at that garnering a dirty look from his old friend.
"Gordon McAllister. Graduate of Harvard Law School. Prominent citizen of Evergreen, Wyoming. Donor of the first pig to the Brimfield, Wyoming orphanage."
"Very funny. I happen to think Matthew Jacob Sherman, Jr. prominent Laramie, Wyoming rancher donated the first pig to the Brimfield Orphanage sounds even better."
The whole group laughed except Mike who didn't quite understand it all.
"Never mind, sweetie," Hannah said to him. "My family is prone to bad jokes and silliness.
"The fair opens at nine but there won't be much to see except the judging of the larger animals in the show ring," Cam said. The tents that house the small animals - rabbits and the poultry - are off limits during judging."
"You and Jess might want to check out the cattle and horses," David said to Slim. "Some of the champions may be up for sale before the fair closes Sunday afternoon."
"It's worth a look pard," Jess said.'
"I suppose so. Can't hurt anyway. I can always wire the bank in Laramie for the money if we do bid and win."
"And we can vouch for his honesty and integrity and that Jess isn't as mean and nasty as he seems," Cam started giggling.
"Cameron." Hannah warned.
"Sorry. I just couldn't help myself," the girl said.
"If you still had your pigtails, right about now..." Jess playfully growled without finishing the implied threat.
"A good thing I don't wear them down any more," she stuck her tongue out at him.
"Enough silliness!" Hannah said. "You're both setting a bad example for Mike."
"I'll help you with the dishes, Hannah, so you can be ready to leave quicker," Daisy said to their hostess. "It will get the men - and children - out from under foot faster as well.
"That's our cue," Cam said. "I just need to get my purse."
"Cam? Can Duncan come with us?" Mike wanted to know.
"No, Mike. He doesn't know how to behave in crowds or around a lot of bigger animals yet." She hugged the little boy. "When we come home, this afternoon, we'll take him for a long walk and throw sticks for him to chase. OK?"
"Ok."
"Why don't you go get him and lock him in the empty stall in the barn? I already put a dish with fresh water in it in there for him." She tousled the boy's hair. "Be sure to lock the door behind you or he'll be chasing the chickens and following us."
Ten minutes later, Cam, her cousin, Slim and Jess were on their way to the fair.