Chapter Twenty-Four

Slim's nose had told him right. Hannah, Daisy and Cam were putting plates of steaming hot cakes, fried sausage and fried eggs on the table. Mike had already put out butter, jam, a pitcher of milk, maple syrup - shipped from the Midwest by friends of Hannah's - and the cream and sugar for the coffee.

The youngster was sitting at the table eagerly waiting to be served. He was cleaned up and dressed in brown pants and a blue figured shirt as well as his boots. His hair was neatly combed. The ladies wore skirts and shirtwaists of various colors. Daisy in a red skirt and white shirtwaist with a small cameo pin at her throat. Hannah in a gray skirt and a dark blue blouse and Cam in a dark green and yellow plaid dress.

"Smells good, ladies," Slim said as he and Jess seated themselves.

"We'll eat as soon as Gordon and David come to the table," Hannah told them with a smile.

No sooner had she spoken than the McAllister men entered the kitchen. David, looked tired but pleased, and Gordon smiling broadly.

"You look happy this mornin', Doc," Jess observed.

"I am. I delivered triplets early this morning."

"Uncle David! Triplets? Let me guess - Mrs. Callahan."

"Yes, Cam. Mrs. Callahan had triplets at five o'clock. Five, five ten and five-twenty this morning. All boys." David had a pleased and satisfied look on his face.

"How is Maureen?" Hannah asked as she placed a cup of coffee on the table next to him.

"Exhausted and exhilarated."

"What about Mr. Callahan?" Gordon asked.

"Oh, he'll be fine," David chuckled, "once he gets over the shock."

"You're not telling the whole story," Cam said. "What's wrong with Mr. Callahan?"

"Nothing really," David couldn't hold it in any longer. "He fainted dead away when the third one was born. He was in no way ready for triplets. They just figured Maureen had gained a lot of weight because Seth was feeding her so well."

Everyone but Mike got a good laugh out of that. The young boy just kept on eating and ignored the crazy people around him.

"My goodness, Mike," Daisy said. "You're going to burst if you keep eating like that."

"You keep telling me I need to eat if I want to grow up big and strong, Aunt Daisy. I gotta eat so I can grow up big like Mr. Gordy."

Slim almost choked on a mouthful of hot cake. Jess, who was seated next to him, helpfully reached over and pounded him on the back.

Cam giggled. David McAllister roared. Hannah simply looked amused. Gordon grinned. It took ten minutes for everyone to calm down.

Mike studiously concentrated on eating his breakfast but Daisy wasn't fooled. It was obvious to her that he'd found a new idol. Besides that the little boy was somewhat notorious for making insulting remarks just to give his guardians a hard time.

After a leisurely breakfast, David McAllister retreated to his and Hannah's bedroom to get some sleep. Though Maureen Callahan's labor had been relatively easy, it had been a long night and he was tired. He told his family and their friends that he would catch up with them in a few hours.

"Try to meet us for lunch, dear," Hannah said as she kissed him.

Daisy insisted on helping with the dishes thus freeing Cam to ensure that Duncan had a good romp before locking him in an empty stall in the barn again while they were at the fair.

"Cam?"

"Yes, Mike?"

"Are you sure we can't take Duncan to the fair with us? He looks so sad locked in that stall."

"I know he does, pal," the girl answered him. But it's like I told you yesterday - he hasn't learned to behave in crowds or around the cattle and such that are at the fair." Seeing the boy's disappointed look she said, "We need to give him a good run before we leave but we don't want to disturb Uncle David while he's trying to sleep. So we're going to take him over to the field behind the school where he can chase squirrels and rabbits and fetch sticks for an hour until we're ready to leave. How does that sound?"

"Okay."

Cam smiled at her young friend. "Then get your jacket while I tell the men and my aunt where we're going."

Five minutes later they were out the door. Slim and Gordon declined to join them but Jess went along. It was a good thing because it took all three of them to entertain Duncan and get control of him when it was time to go back. Jess' pant legs were streaked with dirt,. By day's end that would be nothing.

The puppy was once again locked in an empty stall in the barn with a bowl of water. Dr. McAllister, Cam knew, would check on him before he left for the fair. A little attention and a refill, if necessary of his water dish, and David would be ready to join his family and their friends.

At eight-thirty the group left for the fair. The women chatted about the displays, the men about the livestock and the two youngsters about the puppet show which they were planning to attend first thing. Along the way Hannah stopped at the General Store to place an order for such staples as flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Then she stopped at the butcher's to order some pork steaks, a pot roast and some stew beef. They would stop and pick it up on the way home or else the butcher would deliver it when he knew somebody was home.

Cam and Mike hurried ahead. She'd promised the boy that they would get to the puppet show early so they could get good seats this time. They left the adults far behind and were seated, in front row seats, when the show began.

It was eleven o'clock by the time the Three Billy Goats Gruff and the other shows were over. The two youngsters headed for the barbecue area to meet up with the rest of the group. Along the way they met up with some of the children from town who were talking about the upcoming pie eating contest.

"My brother, Jeff, is gonna enter," said Johnny Carlson. "He's gonna win too! I know it!"

"No, he won't. Pete Jackson's entered and so isn't Mart Riley. Either of them can beat your pa!" This came from Noah Hunt.

"I bet Jess could beat all of 'em!" Mike burst out. "Couldn't he Cam?"

"Anything's possible, Mike," Cam said. "But getting him to enter might be tricky." She closed her eyes and imagined the scene. A wicked grin came over her face. "I know just how to do it it too but first we better go sign him up."

Ten minutes later the the wheels were in motion. Jess' name was on the list of entrants for the first round which would take place in an hour and a half - plenty of time for Cam and Mike to set him up.

"Hi everybody. Sorry we kept you waiting. We had to check something out." Cam was all smiles and so was her young companion. If Slim and/or Gordon had been paying attention they would have been suspicious. Cam had that "look of angelic innocence" on her face and Mike's expression mirrored hers. "Did you have a good rest Uncle David?"

David hugged his niece, kissed her cheek and tousled Mike's hair.

"Yes, darling girl, I did. So well that I have something in mind for your cousin to do this afternoon. I've been thinking about it for several days in fact."

The group of Laramie and Evergreen residents got in line at the barbecue and loaded their plates with chicken, roasted potatoes, corn and biscuits. The food committee ensured that there would be plenty of butter, honey and preserves for the potatoes and biscuits. Gallons of coffee and milk were being consumed.

"I'm ready for dessert," Jess announced, not realizing that he was playing right into the hands of two young pranksters.

"I know a place where they're serving pie," Mike told him. "It looked real good too!"

"That sounds good," the Texan responded. "Let's go."

"It sounds good to me, too," Cam said. "Anybody else?" She crossed her fingers under the table hoping the answer would be "no".

It was. Jess' legendary appetite was working to the advantage of the two youngest members of the group. The three of them took their leave of the others. Jess was being led like a lamb to the slaughter. Poor innocent, unsuspecting Jess had no idea what lay ahead.