CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Blue Ribbons and Ferris Wheels
The county fair arrived with all the excitement Luke and Emily remembered from growing up.
Colorful banners waved in the breeze.
The smell of kettle corn, barbecue, and fresh elephant ears filled the air.
Children laughed as carnival rides spun overhead.
Emily smiled as they walked through the entrance.
“I’ve waited all year for this.”
Luke grinned.
“I had a feeling you were going to say that.”
? ? ?
Their first stop was the horse arena.
Riders from all over the county competed in showmanship, barrel racing, and western pleasure classes.
Luke leaned against the fence, watching closely.
“Our horses could do this someday.”
Emily smiled.
“With enough practice.”
Luke laughed.
“And probably a lot more patience than I have.”
She nudged him playfully.
“You’ll learn.”
They spent nearly an hour watching the competitions before applauding the winners as blue ribbons were handed out.
Luke smiled.
“Maybe next year we’ll enter.”
Emily looked at him.
“You mean it?”
“I do.”
She slipped her hand into his.
“Then let’s start practicing.”
? ? ?
After leaving the arena, they wandered through the livestock barns.
Emily laughed as a curious goat untied one of Luke’s boot laces.
Luke looked down.
“I’ve officially been outsmarted by a goat.”
Emily couldn’t stop laughing.
“I don’t think he likes your boots.”
Luke retied the lace while the goat stared at him with complete innocence.
“I’m watching you.”
The goat sneezed.
Emily laughed even harder.
“I think he just answered you.”
? ? ?
Lunch was impossible to choose.
“So many choices,” Emily said.
Luke pointed toward a barbecue stand.
“I’m voting ribs.”
Emily pointed toward another booth.
“I’m voting pulled pork.”
A few minutes later, they solved the debate by ordering both and sharing.
As they sat beneath a shade tree, Luke looked around at the families enjoying the fair.
“I love places like this.”
Emily nodded.
“Nobody’s in a hurry.”
“They’re just making memories.”
? ? ?
That evening they wandered into the carnival.
The Ferris wheel slowly turned against the orange evening sky.
Emily looked at Luke.
“I know that look.”
“What look?”
“The one that says you’re about to talk me into riding that.”
Luke smiled innocently.
“It has a wonderful view.”
Emily sighed dramatically.
“I can’t believe I let you convince me.”
A few minutes later, they sat side by side in a Ferris wheel gondola as it climbed higher and higher.
At the very top, the ride paused.
The fair stretched out below them in a sea of lights.
Beyond it lay rolling fields and distant hills.
Emily leaned her head against Luke’s shoulder.
“It’s beautiful.”
Luke nodded.
“It sure is.”
Then he looked at her.
“But not as beautiful as you.”
Emily laughed.
“You’ve been saving that line all day, haven’t you?”
“Maybe.”
She smiled.
“It was worth the wait.”
? ? ?
Before heading home, Luke won Emily a small stuffed horse at one of the carnival games.
She held it up proudly.
“You know exactly what to get me.”
Luke smiled.
“I had a pretty good teacher.”
As they walked back toward the truck beneath a sky full of stars, Emily slipped her hand into his.
“You know what?”
“What?”
“I don’t think life has to be exciting every day.”
Luke nodded.
“I agree.”
“I think it’s the little days like this that matter the most.”
Luke looked back at the glowing fairgrounds one last time.
A horse show.
A Ferris wheel.
Shared barbecue.
Laughter over a mischievous goat.
Sometimes the happiest chapters of life weren’t the biggest ones.
They were simply the days that reminded you how good life already was.