Just as well; it was more a bean soup contest and not an event to be associated with.
That reminded me of a 'flash fiction' bit I wrote a while ago. Here it is :
Flash Fiction
Texas History 1001
The dust from the Indian raid hadn’t settled and Cookie was ranting and waving his arms. He threw rocks and shouted curses after the half-seen departing savages driving a half dozen steers over a knoll. He jumped around the tipped-over chuck wagon. “Them durn injuns took my stuff, our flour and sugar.” His voice rose a shrill octave. “They’s got my pans and ovens.”
The trail boss whirled him twice round to a standstill. “Now, Cookie, you sure ‘bout all that?”
‘Yes-sir-ee. Look for your sel’.” He stabbed his trembling arm at the wounded wagon. “Theys boxes is empty, ceptin’ for a solitary, second class kettle. How ’m I gonna cook for this crew in that.”
The boss scratched his head and resettled his Stetson. “Jist throw everything in thar and heat it up.”
Cookie goggled at the boss, horrified. “You mean beans and chili in the same pot?”
The boss scratched the back of his head, hanging an arm by a thumb in his waistband. “Yep, I see what you mean. Well, lookit, we’re in Oklahoma territory, nearly in Kansas, so it don’t matter. But after we sell the herd and come back this-a-way, we’ll be sure you have pots enough to cook prop’rly before we hits the Texas line. You don’t want to upset the Texians putting beans in the chili. Theys jist as likely to turn over their tin pans and dump it on the prairie and call it cow pats.
