Lydia blushed a deep crimson. “I entered canned applesauce,” she whispered softly.
“Canned applesauce? What in the world is canned applesauce,” Royce asked.
Lydia laughed out loud her brown eyes sparkling. “The Food Canning Contest,” Lydia explained patiently. “We women enter our best canned items. The Judges taste whatever is entered then decides what taste the best.” Lydia continued to pull on Royce’s arm to hurry him along.
“What do you win,” Royce asked.
Lydia gave Royce a puzzled frown. “Haven’t you ever been to a Fair,” she asked impatiently.
“Not that I can recall,” Royce admitted.
“They give out ribbons,” Lydia explained. “Blue for the best, then red for second best and then white. The grand prize winner gets a special blue ribbon and five dollars.”
“You entered canned applesauce,” Royce asked intrigued by the girl’s proclamation.
“Not just canned applesauce,” Lydia continued to explain. “I used my grandma’s recipe for applesauce. Back in Pennsylvania grandma always won the grand prize. Come along we don’t want to miss out on seeing Imogen ride Get-a-long. She expects us to cheer when she crosses the finish line.”
“She does,” Royce asked. “Even coming in last?”
Lydia gave him a glaring look. “Of course,” she insisted.
“Father, look who I found,” Lydia announced a moment later. “Mr. Hargadon. He is going to sit with us.” Royce noticed Faith glance his way before she turned to stare at him. He looked different in a green plaid shirt and hip hugging denims. He wore a gunbelt and holster and carried his Henry rifle in one hand. The Shooting Contest was the next event after the Ladies Horserace.
“Mr. Hargadon,” Reverend Gaines greeted extending his hand towards Royce. “We have a nice day for the Fair. Usually it rains,” the Minister added looking up at the sky as if he expected to see big black clouds forming on the horizon.
“September can be an uncertain month,” Royce agreed.
Royce sat beside Reverend Gaines. Lydia climbed the bleachers and sat down beside Faith. “Move over,” she whispered in her sister’s ear.
“Lydia,” Faith whispered back. Lydia was pushing her against Mr. Hargadon’s thigh. Lydia opened wide innocence looking brown eyes. Having decided Mr. Hargadon was too old for her the next best thing was to have him for a brother-in-law. Since she did not like Mr. Cook, Lydia had concluded it would be better if Faith married Mr. Hargadon.
Mr. Pillsdale stood on a large wooden platform built at the side of the road. His booming voice rose as he announced, “Ladies and Gentlemen we are ready to start the Ladies Horserace. Riders will bring their horses to the starting line.” Eight horses lined up in the order Mr. Pillsdale had announced the young women’s names. All were seated on sidesaddle. Their long dresses hanging over the left side of their horses. They all wore wide brimmed hats. Some adorned with tall peacock feathers. Others decorated with paper flowers and ribbons. It was clearly a fashion show as well as a horserace.
Sheriff Walden raised his gun in the air and fired.
For a moment everyone held their breath. Then Miss Freeburg’s horse bolted across the starting line. Get-a-long was the last horse to cross the line with Imogen leaning forward on the saddle coaxing the animal into a run. It was a spirited race with the two Freeburg sisters out in front. Both Sarah and Susan determined not to let her sister win. As the riders circled a grove of trees they were hidden from view. A few seconds later they emerged on the other side of the trees with Miss Pillsdale now in the lead. A moment later Miss Randall the blacksmith’s sister was nosing ahead of Miss Pillsdale. The spectators on the bleachers were standing and shouting encouragement to their favorite rider. The men standing along the fence were shouting and waving their hats in the air. Miss Susan Freeburg regained the lead and crossed the finish line ahead of Miss Randall.
“Ladies and Gentlemen,” Mr. Pillsdale’s voice rose above the noise. “Ladies and Gentlemen the winner is Miss Susan Freeburg. In second place Miss Rose Randall.” The rest of what Mr. Pillsdale said was drowned out by enthusiastic applause.
Imogen raised one hand above her head and waved to her family. A warm smile brightened her face. She had come in last. Yet her smile was the smile of a winner. Sheriff Walden reached up to help Imogen off her horse. He stood beside the young woman with his hand resting on her arm. Imogen turned startled eyes towards the sheriff. Then her features softened. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Sheriff Walden breathed deeply not sure what to say. Imogen’s eyes sparkled with life. Her cheeks were aglow with excitement. “You are a grand horse,” Imogen said patting Get-a-long on the neck. “Don’t you think he did splendidly,” she asked Sheriff Walden.
“Yes ma’am,” Walden replied after dislodging a lump in his throat.
“Ladies and Gentlemen,” Mr. Pillsdale’s voice boomed above the noise. “The next event will take place behind the Feed and Grain. All men entered in the Marksmanship Contest please be ready in fifteen minutes.”
“I will hand Get-a-long over to Father then I will walk you over,” Imogen said shyly. Her heart thumped loudly in her breast before taking wing. Why had she not noticed how pleasant Sheriff Walden’s smile was before now.
“That’s you,” Lydia said leaning in front of Faith to speak to Royce. “We will come along and cheer you on,” she added hooking an arm through her sister’s arm. “Won’t we Faith.”
“Yes of course,” Faith replied. “Where’s Imogen, she . . .,” Faith stopped speaking and stared as she saw her younger sister being escorted across the field my Sheriff Walden. “What do you know,” she exclaimed.
“Miss Gaines,” Royce asked.
“Nothing,” Faith replied still shocked at seeing Imogen and Sheriff Walden together. It was not possible. Well maybe, she admitted to herself. It was time Imogen became interested in a man. But, Sheriff Walden of all men!
The shooting event was to take place in the
