Scott scrambled to get dressed and downstairs. Staying up late talking to Kinsey made for a late riser this morning. The fact that Murdoch wasn’t pounding on his door at daybreak indicated his father’s approval with sleeping in a bit. Scott stopped by Kinsey’s room to listen for any movement.
Quiet. Good. Let the girl sleep.
Entering the kitchen occupied by only Maria, Scott poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down to devour some biscuits.
“Good Morning, Maria.”
“Buenos días Señor Scott.”
“Kinsey will no doubt be rising later.”
“Ella ya ha comido.”
“Wait…She’s already up?”
“Si.”
“Where is she?”
“El Señor Johnny le está mostrando las avestruces.”
“Johnny is showing her… what?
“The ost-tree-chez.”
“The OSTRICHES?”
Using his hat as a basket, Scott threw in a few more biscuits, grabbed his coffee cup, kissed Maria on top of the head and hurried out the kitchen door.
Squinting against the morning sun, he was greeted with the sight of Kinsey at the ostrich pen standing on the next highest rail in order to lean out to feed one of the birds.
Where the hell was Johnny?
Luckily, Scott’s long legs could cover a substantial amount of ground in a short period of time. Scott hooked his fingers around the back of Kinsey’s belt.
“Get down.”
“I’m feeding the ostrich.”
“And now you are not.”
Stepping up on the bottom rail, Scott encircled Kinsey’s waist with his arm and pulled her off the fence.
“Found you some clover, half-pint. They love this stuff.”
“Wonderful!!”
Taking the bundles of clover from Johnny’s hands, Kinsey began to climb the fence.
“Wait!” Scott pointed. “Bottom rail. No higher. Hold the clover up and let them come to you.”
Kinsey shot Johnny an eye roll. Johnny returned it with a grin.
“You’re turning into a fussy old man, Boston.”
“If not wanting my cousin to be eaten alive by a large bird then yes, I’m turning into a fussy old man.”
“What are their names?”
Now it was Scott’s turn to grin. “Johnny named them. Go ahead Johnny. Tell her their names.”
“Well….this one here…her name is Maddie.”
“Who’s Maddie?”
“Ohhhhh….just a friend of Scott’s.”
“Ohhhh! A friend of Scott's! What kind of friend? A serious friend? A VERY serious friend?”
“None of your business, young lady.”
Kinsey clutched her chest. “Oh Maddie… I love you with all of my heart.”
Scott abruptly ended Kinsey’s dramatic acting career with a swift swat to the seat of her britches.
Still smiling at his little brother, Scott continued the discussion. “And the name of the other ostrich Johnny?”
Donning a sheepish grin, Johnny muttered “Kinsey.”
“Kinsey? You named this one Kinsey?? How delightful! I’m honored. I will never wear an ostrich feather hat again without thinking of you!”
Scott watched as Johnny showed Kinsey how to “safely” feed the large birds. It was obvious they were growing closer. Considering in just a few days Kinsey would be on her way to Philadelphia, he decided to keep his thoughts to himself but still keep an eye on his little brother.
“Do you know ostriches have been known to out race a horse?”
“What?”
“It’s true! I read it!”
“You can’t believe everything you read half-pint.”
“Well, I believe it is true. I know. Let’s put this theory to a test. We’ll hold a race!”
“Wait…wait…” Scott stopped himself from sounding like a fussy old man and mentally changed his response. “Let’s ask Murdoch. If he approves then we’ll do it.” Let the fussy old man sound like a fussy old man.
“Perfect! I’ll go ask him now!”
The brothers watched as Kinsey headed towards the hacienda in search of their father.
“You sent her to get Murdoch’s approval? That girl has got him wrapped around her little finger.”
“I was trying to buy us some time Johnny.”
“Well, if you were serious about buying us time you would have first sent her to get Jelly’s approval.”
And thus were the humble beginnings of The Great Ostrich Race of 1870.