ask Perry and we will see what we can do. I’ve got to go attend to a million things, my brother and father will be around to introduce themselves.” Maggie was a bit overwhelmed in the unfamiliar surroundings but her babies came first so she went to get them settled putting them in the paddock as Perry held open the gate. She took the halters off them and gave each a slap on the rump as she freed them into the paddock. They ran off a few steps and turned to watch as she released another horse and then another until all of them except for Sampson were in the overgrown paddock. She quickly stripped her saddle and gear from his back and took off his halter as well before walking with him to the gate and releasing him. “ Where do you want this?” the old man who had driven the cart asked her. Maggie looked at Perry who shrugged and she glanced around noticing an overhang that would be out of the rain should it come again and pointed. In no time at all the three of them had the cart unloaded and the hay and grain stored. Maggie kept looking at her herd to make sure they were settling in okay and saw them exploring the unfamiliar place and nibbling at the overgrown grass. They were watching her too as well as the activity and unfamiliar noises going on all around them. “ Would you like a tour?” Perry offered after they were finished and the cart and man gone. “ I suppose so” Maggie said feeling a little intimidated. There were so many people here, more than her town she had grown up in and all so very busy. “ Ah, don’t be like that, we are just one big family” he assured her. He was right, everyone while peculiar to look at, some in very fancy costumes, very unusual poses as they practiced for tonight’s shows, were welcoming. Many made overtures of friendship immediately. They had heard about her and while not the only new act in the show they were curious about her and willing to help her out to get comfortable. “ You come see me honey if you want makeup on that pretty face of yours for the show” one offered. “ I saw your horses and wow they are a beautiful bunch” another complimented her. Compliments about her horses she could handle, the ones about herself made her a little uncomfortable. The people were honest and open and few had personalities she wouldn’t like. Most had come across as family members and she relaxed in that way towards them even if she could never remember all their names. “ See honey, we are just one wild and wooly family” Perry assured her as he introduced her to his fellow clowns some of whom were already in makeup. Some were midgets such as himself, some were fat, some were skinny, and they all made her feel welcome. She laughed as they teased her and found out that they did much more than make people laugh; many of them were hard workers behind the scenes or roustabouts and set up many of the side shows that people flocked to. It was as she was returning to her paddock and tent that a man came running up “Are you Maggie O’Malley?” he asked breathlessly. “ Yes?” she asked alarmed. “ I’m Carlton Bigelow and I need you to come with me now!” he told her importantly. She was surprised but she nodded and found herself following him. Feathers had got up at seeing her approaching the paddock where he lay in the shade but she signaled him to stay where he was. He led her to an important looking tent and following him in she found Cecil inside with a much older man that could only be their father. “ Hello Maggie” Cecil said to her warmly holding out his hand to shake “have you settled in okay, are the horses okay?” “ I’m settling in, Perry showed me around” she didn’t mention the horses because she hadn’t had a chance to go back and see them. “ Do you think you might be up to showing them off tonight?” Cecil asked worriedly. “ Wow, you don’t wait around do you?” she asked surprised. “ Well our elephants are