Chapter 8: Founder's Day Race

Late spring had become a busy, yet happy time for the buzzard family. Avery had been early in the field, having some helping hands with friendly neighbors in planting the seed for the wheat in the half acre fields. Things were improving for them, even if it would be a long ways off before the wheat would be harvested in the fall before winter comes, since wheat takes four months to fully grow. By the advice of Mr. Pronghorn during another of Becky's shopping and food trading trips, he told her that wheat was expected to be at least ten bushels to the acre at fifty cents each. Even if the first crop doesn't turn out the way she and Avery want it to, there can still be uses for it to make a living, even if it meant sparing some of it for their horses. When she told Avery this, he was already intending to make plans for next year, especially since Becky wanted to be helpful by starting a small vegetable garden, having come to an agreement and raising a few chickens in the coop for their eggs and meat with the money they saved from selling what they could. They needed to give the wheat time before it would be fully grown and hopefully not worry about it too much.

Today was now the day of the Founders Day event and every family, old and new was invited to attend and enjoy each other's company, rich or poor. Baron was still no more than a year old, but they were taking him along in hopes he would be glad of the company in some way while she still gave him his bottle when he needed it.

"Do we have everything Becky?" Avery asked her, carrying a picnic blanket and several other items in his arms. "Or do you need another minute?"

"No, that's everything Avery," Becky assured him, double checking every spot in the house to see that nothing was forgotten, except maybe the napkins from the table she placed in at the last second. "Now we have it all. Let's get goin' now."

By now the buzzard family had since arrived in their wagon, where the picnic was happening right next to a beautiful lake. The elaborated, decorated stalls and games happening stretched as far as Becky's eyes could see. After reading the papers about the events, she thought it would be a good idea to sign up for the pie baking contest like the other women have, including Mrs. Hedgehog, Darla Dove, Ruby Hawktail, Hillary Badger-field, and many others. The family read that there would be races and contests for children of all ages including jump roping, hoop rolling, three-legged race, sack race, Bilbo Catcher, and for the adults, tug of war, horseshoe toss, air flying, wheelbarrow race, fishing, wood chopping, and a horse race that Avery signed up for, planning to ride with Checkers. Gleaming golds, yellows, oranges, and ruby reds shone from every angle, draping every attraction like a gift wrap, all tightly packed in, but still featuring large, already massively, crowded lanes of visitors, nearly the whole town. A mix of scents from the baked delights hung heavily in the air, and Becky found herself covering her beak to keep from drooling. The Founder's Day event was so much more than they both anticipated, and yet it also made Becky a bit nervous to know that it would be crowded, so many more folks in this town than she thought, even those she had not yet met. How would they react upon seeing a buzzard family in town? Would it be the feeling of being uncomfortable around them or something worse?

She did her best to shake off the lingering thoughts as Avery helped her down from the wagon once they parked it in a safe spot, even giving a helping hand with the picnic basket and with Baron, wrapped up in a light blanket. She was dead set on trying to be positive and not be overcome with worry on a day where they should be having fun. It was about spending time with family and friends, if not everybody.

"We're here today to have a good time Becky," Avery tried to assure her and be as supportive as he could to ease down his wife's worries for the sake of their child. "For Baron's sake." He wrapped his arm around her as they started walking through the crowd.

"I suppose you're right," Becky found no reason to argue or protest anything. They haven't had any trouble from anyone for the past couple of weeks ever since they started attending church on Sundays. And she had yet to speak of that horrible town drunk, but forgotten about him. "Let's find a spot."

It wasn't a very long trip towards the side of the lake as there had not been too many couples and families there eating as they thought. To their surprise they did see the familiar faces of Darla Dove, Bellamy Bighorn, Peterson Pelican, Dr. Hare, Clover Cottontail, even Sheriff Hawktail with his wife Ruby.

"Aw Becky, Avery, what a pleasure to see you here," Bellamy waved to them, having been leaning against a tree when talking to a goat in farming clothes. "There's an empty spot over there if that's where you're heading."

"Well howdy Bellamy, we promised that we'd make it," Avery greeted them. "It would not be so neighborly of us not to show up and join the rest of our friends at this gathering."

He let Bellamy give him a helping hand with setting out the picnic blanket before putting the basket on top, so that Becky wouldn't have to worry about putting Baron down just anywhere that she felt was not safe for him to be. It took some effort as the light wind picked up, forcing them to use stones in keeping the sheet from blowing away. Leaving Checkers to drink from the lake, Avery sat with Becky down on their chosen spot, crossing his legs as they ate and talked, enjoying this day together, even when it came time to give Baron his bottle. Lucky for him, the crowd noise was not that loud enough to scare him badly to the point in crying like most babies would do. It was a great day for a picnic and a fun event such as Founder's Day and there's been word that Callahan Condor would be the one making announcements for which games are about to take place, which would be for another hour.

"I'm so happy we had chosen to come here, Avery," Becky looked into Avery's eyes as he had chewed on a biscuit. "I was mighty doubtful at first after all the trouble we went through since we moved here, but even hard workin' folk deserve to have fun in between work days."

Avery smiled after he swallowed. "I hadn't forgotten to lock up the barn and the chicken coop before we left. So we don't have to worry about them runnin' loose on their own."

It seemed like Avery did think of everything days earlier before Founder's Day would arrive. Becky had rocked Baron in her arms after she finished eating, feeding him a bit of food from the basket and burping him. How did she and Avery get so lucky to finally have friends and become a family in their new home? There will be hard times every now and then, but they could not let that destroy whatever happiness and love carried through the good times. They were going to have fun today, and nothing or nobody was going to ruin that.

"Hey Avery, which contest did you sign up for again?" Bellamy had shown up half an hour later behind Avery, still sitting at their picnic spot.

"Oh, the horse race, have they announced it yet?" Avery looked over at the ram with concern.

"Not yet, but I feel that I must warn you that there is another contestant who signed up with the rest of them….can you guess who that is?"

Avery shook his head in response. "No, who is it Bellamy?" The answer he would hear would soon make Becky shudder and cringe, hearing Bellamy let it out.

"Hunter Smith!"

Just as nobody predicted, Avery turned when he heard Becky hacking on a grape, touching her throat when it happened.

"Becky darlin', you alright?" Avery rushed to her side, patting her back lightly until she finally stopped hacking, and was able to swallow carefully. "You must've swallowed too fast or something."

"I'm alright Avery," Becky smiled lightly, letting out another cough. "I guess I got a little excited thinkin' all about the pie contest. I know I might not win, but I just want to share the family recipe with other folks." She coughed three more times, her face a bit pink from it. Again, she couldn't bring herself to tell Avery what happened that day upon her first encounter with Hunter.

Avery waited for his wife, concerned that it was more than just a natural cough caused by a simple grape seed. "Becky, ain't there somethin' yah wanted to tell me?"

"No, I'm sure it was just a seed," she answered, but it was an obvious lie. The distressing look on her face made it clear that it was something other than coughing up the seed. "Avery, I heard about this Hunter Smith from the neighbors' weeks ago. He has a terrible reputation for bein' the town drunk and he works for that Nosedive creep down at the construction site. Avery, don't do this. I beg you. He's bound to cause a calamity."

"I can't quit now Becky; this might be what's needed to put that drunk in his place," Avery smiled bravely, under the circumstances. "We can't expect to live here if we don't learn to live among our opponents and show that we ain't scared."

Becky shook her head. This is what she was afraid of. She knew Avery better than anyone he knew himself, not wanting that drunken creep to do the worst if anything should happen to her husband or if he revealed what happened that day. "Avery, please reconsider."

"I promise that nothin' bad is gonna happen to me Becky," Avery said, hugging Becky tenderly before sitting up to go fetch Checkers from the lake. "And I think it might do Checkers some good to run along the other horses for good company."

"ATTENTION, LADIES N' GENTLEBIRDS!" The announcing voice of Callahan Condor had spoken through the megaphone as he walked around. "The horse race will start in fifteen minutes. All contestants that have signed up shall make their way to the racetrack and bring the horse they shall be riding on!"

"Looks like we better get on walkin'," Avery said, turning to Becky again before he started walking. "It will be a while before the pie contest starts, so that gives you time to get ready and watch us give it our best shot. It's gonna be alright."

The big race was announced, many folks attending and buzzing with excitement. Colorful flags flapped in the wind and stylish spectators filled the stands. Of course, to the buzzard family's disgust, Edward Nosedive had been there with his wife and child as well, revealing that he had built a reviewing stand from the judges, talking loudly and issuing commands to the unlucky employees who didn't duck out of his way in time. Still, in that position, the Nosedive family acted as the center of attention just how he liked it. Edna sat under her yellow umbrella, drinking lemonade and showing off her jewelry to others. Young Edmund sat by her side, wearing stylish clothes for someone of his age.

Within earshot of Edna, Peterson Pelican, being one of the racers, whispered to Bellamy where they waited at the starting line. "That boy Edmund is lookin' mighty stuck up in that outfit they put him in. At his age, you'd think he'd not be givin' such high expectations so early."

"You can only push a child so hard to be somethin' he's not," Bellamy agreed to this, nodding his head. "If they keep this up, he'll end up as bad, if not worse than his Pa." He then took a quick peek at Edna, seeing bolts of anger coming from her eyes, sensing that she must be the type who can read lips, quickly turning to face the race track and not look her way again.

Becky found a place to sit down next to a few of the women from town, seeing that most everyone in the county had gathered to watch the horse race, some even making bets with others to see who would most likely win as she overheard. The very idea of wasting money on a bet was what she never wanted to get involved with and would rather put that money to good use. She looked ahead and saw Avery ride forward on Checkers to the starting line, not yet seeing any sight of that horrid Hunter Smith anywhere, hoping he wouldn't dare stand next to her husband on whatever horse he was riding.

"Nervous Avery?" Bellamy spoke to Avery, sitting atop his horse named Ollie.

"I feel a little sick to my stomach," Avery admitted, holding the reins.

"Then that means you're ready to show them," the ram replied, giving him a bit of a pep talk. "Just don't listen to them other racers and let them do all the horsin' around. Cause it's best to save your energy for when it counts."

A thousand thoughts raced through Avery's mind when he thought back to when Becky sounded reluctant in the idea of him taking part in the horse race at the mention of Hunter Smith, as if worried for his life, having not asked her if there was anything about that guy she hadn't told him yet. But whatever it was, he would have to worry about it later and try to stay focused on the race. Even if he doesn't end up in first place, the important thing was to have fun.

His thoughts were then interrupted when a sneering voice spoke along with the sound of hoof beats. "You call that miserable thing a horse? I say you picked up a mule!"

Avery was frozen stock still, fighting to turn in the direction that the voice had come from. Please tell me it's not who I think it is. Avery pleaded in his mind.

"So it's true then? They decided to let a buzzard farm boy into the race?"

There it was the last painful bit of confirmation that the buzzard needed to guess exactly who it was possibly referring to him since he was the only buzzard about to race with the others. He knew what he was, but he didn't need to hear it from someone only using that word to be rude and spiteful. Avery kept his gaze low, first eyeing the ground at the horses' hooves, but eventually met the sight of the same brown bull with long horns, wearing coal miner clothes, a red shirt and blue overalls.

"Hunter Smith," Avery grumbled through clenched teeth.

The bull let out a laugh. "What're the odds I'd run into you of all the bird folk out here," He grinned. "I'm surprised you guessed my name so easily. I reckon the neighbors told you about me ain't I right?"

Avery let out a harsh sigh and before turning on the sarcastic pleasantries. "Oh they sure did, and it's a good thing they did. Hard to believe they allowed you to take part in this race, despite your bad reputation as a town drunk." Avery retorted, flashing a fake smile.

Hunter simply chuckled in response to this. "That sheriff threatened to kick me outta town, but what a relief my boss bailed me out a week later before that happened," Hunter returned the false smile. "I'd have nowhere else to go then."

Before Avery could fire off another biting comment, Hunter cut him off.

"By the way, I had a run in with another pretty lady…. right before they had me locked up for makin' a scenery since I drank too much that day. But she should've not gotten in my way then, not that I don't feel bad for what happened." He cooed.

"What are you talkin' about Hunter?" Avery demanded, hoping this did not have anything to do with Becky or his son. If so, it would answer why she's reluctant to have him race if Hunter was there. "If it's my wife you're goin' on about, tell me what…."

It was then that the judge's announcement had started and prevented what would have been a brawl. "Alright quiet down everybody. Quiet, attention please!" Everyone turned, seeing that it was really Callahan Condor speaking through a megaphone. "The Fourth Annual Avian Township Race is about to begin. Now ya'll know the rules, and the course is well marked. And the first one to cross the finish line wins the blue ribbon, one hundred dollars, and the beautiful gold trophy. Now is everybody ready?"

"We've waited a century, let's get it goin'!" One canary civilian had cried out, only joking about it for laughs.

"On your mark….get set….GO!"

On the word GO, a gun was set off and Avery shot out with Checkers, immediately taking the lead with the other horses thundering down the straightaway, just a few steps behind them, even Hunter's horse Trigger Hoof.

Checkers hugged the rail as the pack approached the first turn. Another bay horse passed him and took the lead as they rumbled around the curve. Trigger Hoof worked his way up past Bellamy's horse Buckskin and penned Checkers in. Avery looked for a way out without harming his horse, but Hunter had him trapped in the middle of the pack, and Trigger Hoof wouldn't budge. Anxious as he was, Avery was patient when he recalled some of the lessons that his father taught him when he learned how to ride horses, about staying where he was until it was time to make his move at the turn, hardly making any other response anything else, until Trigger Hoof muscled in on Checkers, slamming into his flank.

Avery shot an angry look at Hunter, sensing that this bull was desperate to break the rules and see that he never wins, even pushing him hard to run his horse into the rail and get him disqualified. Well he was not ready to let that happen.

"Getting' ready to lose farm boy?" Hunter hissed. "Don't take it too seriously now. You can't have everyone here thinkin' that you n' yer kind don't belong here! They don't need to know any further about yer history from long ago, cause they already know yer outta yer league!"

"Guess again Hunter!" Avery shot back, learning not to let those horrid words distract him from staying focused, allowing Checkers to find a way out from Trigger Hoof's grip and get ahead of him. "Eat my dust!" He didn't see Checkers stick his tongue out at Trigger Hoof.

"Oh no you don't, get back here!" Hunter demanded, not giving up so easily and ready to be beaten by a buzzard farm boy.

Standing back at the podium on the side of the track, Edward clenched his fist and hissed at the sight of his working bull running so far behind of that buzzard taking the lead. He just made a bet on Trigger Hoof and there was no way that other horse could ever win. Why hadn't Hunter used those special tools in his pockets like they had planned?

By now Avery spotted the finish line at the far end of the track, kicking Checkers into high gear with the world becoming a blur of motion around them. The other horses seemed to be moving in slow motion behind them, even Trigger Hoof.

"Looks like Trigger Hoof is coming behind Checkers!" The announcer's voice had proclaimed. "By now it's a matter of how large the margin of victory wills….but tarnation!" He interrupted himself. "Here comes Trigger Hoof chargin' along! The race is far from over!"

Avery and Checkers moved perfectly in sync, trying hard to keep away from Trigger Hoof catching up on them, having been riding together for as long as they can remember. The other horses fell away as Avery kept moving his horse forward, not looking back, remembering to keep focused on the track as he learned. Only Trigger Hoof remained between him and the finish line, both of them dueling for the win.

Mr. Pronghorn and a few of his companions had been cheering so loud, they almost lost their voices. "Come on Avery, you got this, don't fall behind! WE KNOW YOU GOT IT IN YOU!"

Trigger Hoof then pulled up behind Checkers, practically nipping at his tail. It seemed that would have been the losing point for Avery at the last five minutes, if not for a bee that was whizzing around Hunter's face that he did not see coming, stinging him on the nose, causing him and his horse to fall back off course, leaving Avery once again in the lead.

"Looks like Trigger Hoof is outta the race folks and Checkers is nearin' the finish line!" The announcer blared.

Checkers gave it everything he had and didn't dare to glance sideways, looking straight ahead and pushed for the finish line, not even hearing the angry, protest from inside the podium where Edward and his family had been watching everything. Sweat poured down Avery's face from the hot sun, every muscle in him ached and he just kept on focused with the lessons in his mind. The announcer's voice would then blare over the crowd through the megaphone once Checkers was the first to cross the finish line.

"Ladies n' gentle birds, the winner of the Fourth Annual Avian Township Race is Avery Buzzard with his horse Checkers!" The announcer cheered.

Mr. Pronghorn let out a whoop, soon joined by Sheriff Hawktail with his wife Ruby, before the crowd gasped and cheered, a combination of joy and disbelief.

Checkers slowed to a walk, panting heavily. Avery eased up on the reins and hugged him around the neck. "We did it partner! We won ourselves a race!" he said. He led Checkers toward the Winner's Circle, unable to believe that after years of trying and competing, he had won his first horse race, being congratulated by his close friends and neighbors who were not the least bit disappointed about not winning, as long as they would know that Hunter would not be the one in first place. Even Becky was cheering for him, Baron included, even though he was only a baby, he seemed to be smiling to see his Pa ride proudly to where many folks gathered, now walking down to go and see him, telling others that she was his wife, letting her stand aside Avery as Callahan Condor came with the race officials, handing the buzzard family the blue ribbon, one hundred dollar bill and the gold trophy.

AN: Oh my, how long has it been since I updated the last chapter? This is why it sucks to have writer's block, but also that I got myself distracted again by roleplaying and fan art works over at Discord and DeviantArt, which has been helping me out with how to continue the next chapters, so I'm hopefully not stuck on anywhere for too long. It sucks not to have further ideas. But now that I read enough books and did some roleplay, the next chapter is not going to be so hard since it will still involve a continuation on what happens on the Founder's Day Event. So stay tuned. And hopefully I will not take that long with the next update, not when I know what to do next.