by Lynn Cahoon
“But you might not make it to next weekend if you don’t pull one of us in to help.” Felicia put her hand on Angie’s shoulder. “How bad do you want to win?”
“Not bad enough to make either Matt or Hope feel like they’re less of a team member. We’ve already scheduled them to work the fair booth.” Angie sipped her soda. “Look, I know the two of you are better. We’d totally kick butt with all three of us, but I’ve got to put my faith in all my kitchen staff. Not just the superstars.”
“You are a good boss, Angie Turner.” Estebe glanced at the line, frowning. “I need to go figure out what they’re doing back there. People should not have to wait for their food.”
When Estebe left, Felicia glanced at her watch. “I’m expected back soon. Look, I’m off shift at ten. Do you want to go over to the booth where we’ll be cooking and check it out? I’d feel better if we knew there weren’t any issues going into tomorrow.”
“Sounds great. Ian and I will head over to the main building and wander around until then. I want to go through the exhibits and see what people sent in for judging.”
Felicia took her plate along with Angie’s. “Just don’t tell me if they already have the ribbons out. I haven’t gone over to check my entries. I’m a nervous wreck about it. Especially my banana bread. I’m worried my tweaks were too much for the judges.”
It was official. Felicia had fallen in love with the rural lifestyle. When she’d found out she could enter the baking competition at the fair as a professional, she’d spent the last three weeks baking and perfecting her recipes.
“I’m sure they won’t announce until tomorrow. You coming by before service?” Angie sipped on her soda. The heat of the day had wiped her out. She threw away the almost-finished bottle, then stepped over to the counter and bought three bottles of water. She handed the extras to Ian and Felicia before opening her own. “Remind me to put water on the shopping list. I’m sure that booth is going to be scorching hot by midday.”
“I’ll be here until about noon. You can send me for extra groceries then so you all can keep prepping.” Felicia stared out into the darkness in the direction of the main exhibit hall. “I have made a decision, though.”
“Oh, yeah?”
Felicia drained half of her water, then reclosed the bottle. She started walking toward the exit and back to her own booth. “Next year I’m entering the canning competition. You’ve canned before, right? You can teach me.”
“The ag extension office has classes going now. Do you want me to get you a schedule?” Ian called after her.
Felicia paused at the doorway. “That would be lovely. I’ve had a little too much time on my hands since Taylor and I broke up. This is just the project I need.”
Angie watched her friend disappear into the crowd. Even though the River Vista United Methodist Women’s booth was only a few feet away, it seemed like Felicia disappeared into a crowd of people moving down the street, looking for the perfect place to eat dinner. “She loves living here. Someday she’s going to walk in and tell me she’s married a local farmer and is going to raise goats and chickens.”
Ian put an arm around her waist as they made their way into the crowd to find the path to the exhibit hall. “Yeah, but she won’t quit the County Seat. That girl has too much energy to stay home. She likes having her to-do list a couple pages long.”
“She reminds me of you. How did the board meeting go?” Angie settled into the pace the crowd was moving. Not too fast, and she had to swerve to avoid traffic when the people in front of her stopped to read a menu board. The smells of fried onions, grilled burgers, and deep fat–fried everything made her stomach growl again, even though she knew there was no way she could be hungry after the meal they’d just eaten.
“We’ll come back for pie after checking out the competition site.” Ian chuckled as he turned her toward the new path and out of the crowd. “Let’s not talk about the board meeting. I swear, those guys think there should be absolutely no cost in setting up a booth. Even when I show them the numbers, they don’t get it.”
Ian had been fighting with the board for months now. The budget was calling for a slight raise in booth prices, but the majority votes on the board were farmers and didn’t want to increase costs. Which she understood, but electricity, advertising, and space rental weren’t free, either.
They cut through the back alley between the two main walkways. Ian pointed to a row of empty booths in the center of a large path of grass. A large sign over the Western-style entrance said Restaurant Wars. “I guess that’s where you’re working tomorrow.”
Angie stepped closer to the roped off entry. “There’s our booth. Right next to Copper Creek. I’m so glad. I haven’t talked to Sydney since the last time we had dinner there.”
“Should be fun.” Ian took her arm. “Come on, you’re on a date. I already spent dinner talking about work. Let’s go see what they have for sale.”
“Same old, same old. I don’t want a new phone service or my vents cleaned, but I might find the fudge shop.” She grinned as she stepped back onto the path. A crash sounded behind her. “Is someone there?”
She saw a dark figure running out of the area. She glanced at Ian, who was already on his phone. “I’m calling fair security.”
Angie paused, looking at him. “You have the number on your phone?”
“The farmers’ market has a booth in the exhibit hall. I was going to surprise you when we arrived. I’ve got volunteers manning it tonight, but I’ll be here most of the week. So we can hang out again tomorrow after your event. I hear they have bands at the dance hall every night.” He held up a finger. “This is Ian McNeal, and I’m over at the Restaurant Wars section. I think someone was inside and either broke or stole something.”
Angie shined her phone flashlight over the area, trying to see what the guy had been after. When Ian finished his call, she pointed to the Sandpiper display. “Does it look like the sign’s been torn down?”
“Maybe.” He pushed her arm down and took the phone. “We’re just standing here waiting for the security people to come secure the scene, then we’re out of here.”
Angie smiled up at him. “You worried I’m going to go investigating?”
“I’m worried that you’re going to find a dead body and ruin our date. Let’s pretend the security personnel have this in hand and just have a good time tonight, okay? Tomorrow we can start figuring out the whys and hows.” He put his arm around her and turned her away from the setup. “Look, there’s the small animal barn. You want to go see a thousand guinea pigs?”
“I’m sure there’s not that many.” She leaned up and kissed his jaw. “I’m not that bad about investigating, am I?”
“Oh, honey, there’s no way in the world I’m answering that question.” He pointed to the golf cart speeding its way toward them. Or at least as fast as the crowd would let the driver go. “There’s the officials. I think our date is almost back on schedule.”
Chapter 2
Ian had been about thirty minutes off on his planning. By the time the security guys had “secured the scene” and taken their statement, it was almost eight thirty. He glanced at her. “Still up for the exhibit hall?”
“Of course. I’d love to see your booth.” What Angie really wanted to know was what the guards had found, but they’d been closemouthed about what they’d seen in the Sandpiper booth. It was David’s booth, and Angie wondered if one of the other contestants was trying to set up some early sabotage.
“You’re almost a good liar.” Ian took her arm in his, and they made their way to the large building. “Hopefully it was just a kid playing around the site.”
“Yeah, I’m sure that’s it.” Angie pushed aside the doubt that maybe there was something more to the ruckus. “Let’s find that fudge shop before they sell out.”
“It’s the first day of the fair. I’m sur
e they will have plenty.” He paused at the hot tub display. “They have a fair order special. Do you think Dom would stay out of it if we bought one for your backyard?”
“I think he’d think it was a big bathtub. And you know how much he loves his baths.” Angie smiled as she thought about her Saint Bernard. At a year old, he wasn’t a puppy anymore, but still, he was clumsy in his growing body. “And Mabel would think it was a drinking pond. We’d have to keep a cover on it at all times.”
“Of course. I’m sure they come with covers.” He ran his hand through the water. “You could soak after closing up the County Seat at night.”
“I’d fall asleep, and your uncle would find my body the next evening when I didn’t come in to work.” Angie dipped her hand into the warm water. It was a lovely thought, though.
“Leave it to you to go dark on me.” He took her by the waist and moved her through the crowds. Booths of beauty products, multilevel marketing opportunities, and party sales lined the aisles. Finally, they stopped in front of a booth manned by a couple of teenagers she thought she recognized.
“Hey, Ty and Dru, how are things going tonight? Any interest in the market?” Ian picked up the sign-up sheet for their newsletter.
“Hey, Mr. McNeal. We’ve got two sheets of sign-ups already. Although I think they’re signing up for the chance to win dinner at Ms. Turner’s place. That’s a great giveaway.” Ty grinned at Angie. “My folks went there last month and said it was the best dinner they’ve had in town ever.”
Ian held up the plastic frame showing the giveaway. “Felicia helped me with the setup. I take it from the look on your face she didn’t talk to you about it.”
“She handles the marketing. I’m sure it would have come up in our next meeting.” Angie wasn’t worried about the cost of the actual giveaway. Having a signage and, she noticed now, postcards with a picture of the County Seat on the front, along with their reservation phone number, didn’t hurt promotion. She should have thought about this. She picked up a postcard and turned it over.
One of her Nona’s recipes for potato soup was on the back of the card. She tucked one into her backpack.
“We’ve almost gone through the first box of those.” The girl spoke up now, pointing to the postcard. “Everyone smiles when they see the recipe.”
That made Angie smile as well. “Everyone loves potato soup, right? At least if you’re from Idaho. It’s like a law or something.”
The girl laughed. “Definitely.”
“Well, just tuck everything under the table when you leave tonight. Thanks for volunteering. Did you get your free passes for tomorrow?”
“We sure did. Thanks a lot.” Ty patted his jeans. “I’m coming as soon as they open. I had enough saved to buy a weeklong pass for the rides. I’m signed up to work Monday too so I get another pass.”
“A man with a plan.” Ian tapped the table. “You’re doing great work. Thank you.”
As they walked away, Angie glanced back at the two, who were already pulling in another couple to the booth. “I think you should hire them full-time. They have the sales part down pat.”
“It’s easy when you’re giving something away. I just hope the receipts and attendance to the market increase after this. The board didn’t like shelling out for the booth rental.” Ian sighed as they made their way through the crowd. “Where’s the fudge booth? I think I need a sugar hit.”
“We only have a few minutes left before we’re supposed to meet Felicia at the Restaurant Wars site. I hope they let us in.” Angie pointed to the wall where the candy shop was set up. “There we go.”
After buying three pieces of fudge, just in case Felicia was hungry too, they made their way back to the empty booths across from the animal barns. Ian nudged Angie. “Looks like Felicia’s already there and interrogating the guard.”
“I’m sure she just knows him from one of her adventures. I swear, she knows more people here than I ever did. And she’s only been living here a few months.” Angie cut diagonally across the wave of people. Most were heading toward the exits, worn out by the fun and, probably, the heat.
“She’s a people person.”
She shot a dark glare at him. “What are you saying? I’m not good with people?”
He shrugged. “You’re better with recipes. You get lost in your head sometimes and forget others are around. Felicia wants to know everything about everybody. You didn’t even ask the kids where they went to school.”
“I assumed River Vista. Is that wrong?” She paused at the side of the walkway. What was Ian trying to tell her? Was she a bad girlfriend? Didn’t she notice things about him?
“They are both homeschooled by a local farmer. I about had to promise the mom I’d make sure they weren’t abducted from the fair just to get them time to come and play like the rest of the kids.”
“I didn’t realize…”
Ian held up a hand. “Stop blaming yourself. All I’m saying is Felicia is better than you are with people. No blame, no shame, just a fact. You’re better with food than anyone I’ve ever met. Including Felicia and Estebe. It’s your strength.”
“So we’re okay?”
He reached out and pulled her into a hug. “I’m sorry it came across the way it did. I’m frustrated with the board and taking it out on you. I’m a bad, bad boyfriend.”
“You know that’s a popular trope in the romance world.” She took a deep breath to settle herself. She knew she had overreacted as well. Probably nervous because of the news Estebe and Felicia had broken to her at dinner. “Let’s go see what Felicia has negotiated for us.”
When they walked up, the security guard nodded, then swept his hand for them to keep moving. When they stopped, he frowned and put a hand on his flashlight. “Look, there’s nothing to see here…”
Felicia giggled. “Roger, they’re with me. This is my partner, Angie Turner, and the River Vista Farmers’ Market manager, Ian McNeal. We’re just coming to see what we have to work with tomorrow.”
“I’m not sure I should let you all in. There’s been a break-in, after all.” He sighed and smiled at Felicia. “Go ahead. I’ll be out here if you need anything. Just don’t go into the Sandpiper booth. It’s the one with the crime-scene tape.”
“Did they steal appliances?” Angie wondered what exactly someone would do with a large microwave. With as many people coming through the fair, whatever was taken had to be small enough to be tucked into someone’s pocket to avoid the thief being seen.
“Mostly just trashed the place. We’re thinking teenagers. Don’t worry, your competition’s trailer will be up and functional long before your contest starts tomorrow.” Roger moved the wooden barrier that had blocked people from entering the area.
As they walked to the booth with County Seat’s banner on the top, Angie stared at the damaged booth. “David must be really unlucky to have his trailer be the only one messed with tonight.”
Ian held the door open as they climbed in the back of the booth and into a well-supplied and set-up kitchen. “Who said it was just bad luck?”
Angie ignored the comment, and they spent the next twenty minutes planning out her appetizer. When they were done, she had a lengthy shopping list that she handed to Felicia. “Check out the supply area at County Seat. We’ll have a lot of that. And it looks like I should have the equipment I need. As long as they don’t throw another curveball into the picture.”
Felicia glanced at the list. “You sure about this? I’m thinking most of the other guys are going a little fancier with their dishes.”
“Good food wins, no matter what. And if it doesn’t, well, then, I’ll be back working at the restaurant tomorrow instead of figuring out tomorrow’s recipe.” Angie glanced at her watch. “It’s still early. Do you want to join Ian and me for a drink?”
“One. Then I’m heading home.” Felicia paused at the door. “Y
ou didn’t go get pie.”
She handed off the piece of fudge they’d bought for Felicia. “I’ve got something better.”
As they walked to the beer garden to sit and talk, Felicia pointed out all the fun things they hadn’t gotten to do yet. “Tomorrow, after I drop off the supplies, I’m heading into the animal barns. I know I can’t get anything strange for a pet, but I am thinking of looking around for a kitten.” She glanced at Angie. “If my landlord says it’s all right.”
Angie shrugged, her mind on tomorrow’s competition. “You own half the building. I guess you need to ask yourself what you want.”
“I would like a kitten. I haven’t had one since I lived at home.” Felicia looked wistful.
“Where did you grow up, Felicia? Obviously, not here. You constantly look like you’re exploring a new country.” Ian studied her.
“Takes one to know one, huh?” Felicia said, referring to Ian’s English upbringing. She glanced at Angie. “I don’t think I ever mentioned it, but I’m from Boston.”
“Really? And you specialized in pastry, not seafood?” Angie studied her friend. Even in college, she hadn’t sounded like she’d come from New England.
“I’ve been worried about telling you this for years, and all you can think about is my food specialty?” Felicia hugged Angie, causing the crowd to swirl around them as they paused in front of the beer garden.
“Why would you be worried?” Angie eyed her suspiciously. “Do you have skeletons in your closet?”
“Probably some at the family home, but me? I’m as pure as the driven snow.” Felicia held up her hand. “And, with that, I’m buying the first round. Especially since I’m horning in on your date night.”
“You’re perfectly welcome to tag along anytime.” Ian motioned to a table. “Especially when you buy the drinks.”
The beer garden was crowded, as any alcohol consumed on the fairgrounds had to stay in the area. Guards stood at the entrances and exits keeping people inside if they tried to leave with a glass in hand and checking identification for customers who looked younger than the drinking age. Angie pointed to the entrance. “I’m surprised they’re letting us have leaded frozen cocktails tomorrow in the main area.”
