Page 92 of More Than Anything

“Until the next one, right?” Lydia laughed.

Avery grinned and nodded his head. “Until the next one!”

EPILOGUE

The text pinged in:Hurry! It’s almost her turn!Avery was tearing down the road as fast as he could safely go. He’d never get there in time if he wrecked or got stopped by the cops.

He slammed on the brakes in the gravel of the fairgrounds parking lot and took off at a dead run. Her message had said barn three, and it was at the far end, but he was going as fast as his legs could carry him. He rounded the corner and headed down the back of the stands just in time to hear the announcer say, “This is contestant number eighteen, LillianHolcomb.” Avery didn’t have time to climb the stands. He just stopped at the edge of the ring and watched.

Lillian led the calf away from the judge, turned it, and led it back. Then she led it from one side of the ring to the other and back again. Finally, she turned it to face the judge and moved Coco’s legs until the heifer calf was in the perfect stance. Avery watched as the judge ran an appreciative hand down the calf’s legs, down its face, and down the ridge along its back. When he was done, he motioned for her to lead it out of the ring. Avery headed that direction and, as he did, he looked up into the stands. Even from where he was, he saw Lydia wave, and when Lydia pointed his dad out, Landon waved too. Avery gave them both a big wave and headed to the holding area.

“Daddy, did you see? She did so great!” Lillian gushed. “I hope we win something!”

“Even if you don’t, you were the prettiest girl out there today, baby. I’m so proud of you,” Avery told her and leaned down to give her a kiss on the cheek.

“Thanks, Daddy. Hey, did you see Jeremy?”

“Not yet. I just got here. I couldn’t miss this. Oh, they’re done. Let’s see how you came out.”

The judge stepped to the microphone and announced the honorable mentions, then started on the ribbon recipients. “Third place goes to DanielleThompson with MightyMoe,” he said into the mic, and cheering erupted. Avery looked down to see his nine-year-old daughter’s fingers crossed behind her back, and he chuckled.

“Second place goes to FranklinBradford and Tinkerbell,” the judge called out, and they watched as the boy and his calf took the red ribbon. The young man proudly clipped it to the calf’s halter, and everyone cheered.

“And this year, first place in the elementary calf competition goes to LillianHolcomb and her calf, Coco, from over on the Flying H Ranch!” Lillian let out a squeal and hugged Avery’s waist.

“Go on, baby! Claim your prize!” he whispered to her.

He watched as his oldest took her calf’s lead and led the little thing out into the ring, eager to claim the prize that not only designated her as a skilled handler, but also celebrated the quality of Flying H Ranch’s stock. The judge handed her the blue ribbon, photos were taken, and Lillian clipped the ribbon to Coco’s halter. By the time she got out of the ring, Lydia and little Landon were there too, laughing and hugging her. Avery took the calf back to her holding pen and then rejoined his family.

They took seats in barn two and watched as JeremyDavidson showed his miniature Nubian goat. For a six year old, he was surprisingly mature, and he’d done a good job with Patches. But the goat had a bad habit of stepping on people’s toes, and it cost Jeremy first place. Still, he seemed happy with second, and he proudly showed off his ribbon when they’d all come down to congratulate him. Avery had lucked into the Atherton place next door, over two thousand acres, and he’d bought it and given Jason and Danette the house plus five hundred acres. They had use of the farm pastures for some animals, and the kids could walk back and forth without ever having to leave the property. It was a great setup, and one Avery and Lydia had never regretted. And Jeremy loved that goat, so everybody won.

“Guess we’re all done, huh?” Avery asked as he wrapped an arm around Lydia’s shoulders. Just as they started away, the announcer picked up the microphone.

“Ladies and gentlemen, for the final event today, we’ve got the greased pig contest! This contest is for kids three to eight, and we’ve got a pig ready to grab! If you’re a child age three to eight and want to join in the fun, come on down and get ready to chase this pig!”

“Thank goodness I’m nine,” Lillian sighed.

“Want to chase the pig?” Jason asked Jeremy.

“Ick! No! I don’t want to chase a greasy pig!” the little boy scoffed.

“I wanna chase da pig!” Landon yelled. “Can I chase da pig?”

Lydia looked at Avery, and he just shrugged. “I guess so, if you really want to,” he told the mini-Avery.

“If I catch it, do I get ta keep it?” Landon yelled.

“I don’t think so. But you get a prize. I don’t know what the prize is, but there’s still a prize,” Lydia told him.

“Dey got ribbons, but I didn’t get nuffin’,” Landon pointed out. “I wanna prize!”

“Well, okay! Let’s go!” Avery said and took his hand. They ran to the gate, Avery confirmed his age with the volunteers there, and Landon took his place in the line with the other kids.

“Are we ready?” the announcer called out, and the entire line of kids nodded. “Okay, then. Ready, set, GO!”

Someone opened a dog crate on the other end of the tarp-sided ring and a small pig all of about twenty-five pounds bounded out into the open. When the line of kids shrieked and headed toward it, the pig took off in the opposite direction as fast as it could and it was time for the chase.

Kids were everywhere, and everyone around was laughing at the top of their lungs. The pig darted in and out of kids’ legs, through their arms, and generally left lard on everything it touched. Avery and Lydia watched as the bigger kids jostled until Landon didn’t stand a chance, but Avery knew his boy. It was just a matter of time…

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