that led either to the customer parking lot on the left or the dealer parking lot on the right. They turned right, around the side of the exhibit hall that was toward the south field, where the overnight dealers were parked.
“Maggie, you told the policeman we were going to see someone. We’re not going to see anyone.”
“Oh, Ben, I hope we are. We’re going to see that man you knocked down.”
“I don’t think the policeman understood that.”
“It’s all right, Ben. It was just a little lie. Sometimes you have to compromise a little.”
“I never lie.”
“Well, you’re right, Ben. That’s the way it should be. No one should lie.” They were almost to the end of the last building. “Okay, Ben, where do we go from here?”
“Over toward the bathrooms.” Two separate, large wooden sheds, one labeled LADIES and one GENTLEMEN , were ahead of them and to the right; the worn white paint and the chipped letters on the signs were clearly visible in the lights over their doorways. They were the only lights in this area, although there had been several high halogen safety lights near the entrance.
The mud was heavier here, in the area around the fair buildings where vans had been parking and unloading. The sneakers Maggie had worn all day had been damp when she’d changed to her heels earlier. Now the replacement loafers she’d slipped on were covered with heavy mud. Almost every other step hit a puddle and splashed her long skirt. There must be a small hole in the seam of her left shoe; she could feel a trickle of water making its way across her toes.
Dealer vans and trucks were parked in three haphazard lines along the field. She could see figures moving near the vans, but it was too dark to make out who they were.
“Hey, you’re Maggie Summer, aren’t you?” She jumped as a deep voice came from beside the dark van on her right. “I thought someone told me you were staying in comfort with the motel crowd!”
Will Brewer, the new dealer from across the aisle, stepped out of a shadow.
Kindly women might have called him a teddy bear, complete with beard and slight beer belly.
Maggie hesitated. Lydia had whispered to her that Will was a nice fellow; she’d done shows with him before. Until recently he’d taught woodworking at a private school in western New York State and spent weekends traveling to antiques shows. He was now trying to make the antiques business a full-time job.
Maggie hadn’t had time to more than wave at him before the reception started.
But clearly he remembered her.
And she was glad he was there. The more the merrier.
“And this is?” Will looked at Ben. “I got in late this afternoon, but I think I saw you helping to set up.”
Ben nodded.
“This is Ben Allen. He’s Gussie White’s assistant. We are staying in the Kabins across the street, but…” Maggie was torn. Will seemed like a nice guy, but she didn’t know how this would turn out. On the other hand, if there was a problem, she could probably use some help. Ben was trying hard, but this was a situation far from his normal world, and she wasn’t sure how long he’d be able to cope.
He was shaking slightly as they stood in front of the GENTLEMEN sign.
Maggie looked over his shoulder and saw Vince talking with someone over by the exhibit building.
“Ben was running on the track, in the back of the rest rooms, and he—he left his jacket back there. So we came to see if we could find it.”
Maggie hoped Ben wouldn’t say anything. She’d just told another falsehood, but she couldn’t tell the truth. It sounded too far-fetched.
She took a quick sidelong glance. Will was an attractive man. What was she thinking! This was not the moment to revive hormones best left dormant.
“It’s pretty dark back there. Mind if I walk over with you?” Will just naturally turned them toward the track. “Lydia Wyndham told me about your husband, Maggie. Sorry. Must be rough.”
Lydia must really have been
“Maggie, you told the policeman we were going to see someone. We’re not going to see anyone.”
“Oh, Ben, I hope we are. We’re going to see that man you knocked down.”
“I don’t think the policeman understood that.”
“It’s all right, Ben. It was just a little lie. Sometimes you have to compromise a little.”
“I never lie.”
“Well, you’re right, Ben. That’s the way it should be. No one should lie.” They were almost to the end of the last building. “Okay, Ben, where do we go from here?”
“Over toward the bathrooms.” Two separate, large wooden sheds, one labeled LADIES and one GENTLEMEN , were ahead of them and to the right; the worn white paint and the chipped letters on the signs were clearly visible in the lights over their doorways. They were the only lights in this area, although there had been several high halogen safety lights near the entrance.
The mud was heavier here, in the area around the fair buildings where vans had been parking and unloading. The sneakers Maggie had worn all day had been damp when she’d changed to her heels earlier. Now the replacement loafers she’d slipped on were covered with heavy mud. Almost every other step hit a puddle and splashed her long skirt. There must be a small hole in the seam of her left shoe; she could feel a trickle of water making its way across her toes.
Dealer vans and trucks were parked in three haphazard lines along the field. She could see figures moving near the vans, but it was too dark to make out who they were.
“Hey, you’re Maggie Summer, aren’t you?” She jumped as a deep voice came from beside the dark van on her right. “I thought someone told me you were staying in comfort with the motel crowd!”
Will Brewer, the new dealer from across the aisle, stepped out of a shadow.
Kindly women might have called him a teddy bear, complete with beard and slight beer belly.
Maggie hesitated. Lydia had whispered to her that Will was a nice fellow; she’d done shows with him before. Until recently he’d taught woodworking at a private school in western New York State and spent weekends traveling to antiques shows. He was now trying to make the antiques business a full-time job.
Maggie hadn’t had time to more than wave at him before the reception started.
But clearly he remembered her.
And she was glad he was there. The more the merrier.
“And this is?” Will looked at Ben. “I got in late this afternoon, but I think I saw you helping to set up.”
Ben nodded.
“This is Ben Allen. He’s Gussie White’s assistant. We are staying in the Kabins across the street, but…” Maggie was torn. Will seemed like a nice guy, but she didn’t know how this would turn out. On the other hand, if there was a problem, she could probably use some help. Ben was trying hard, but this was a situation far from his normal world, and she wasn’t sure how long he’d be able to cope.
He was shaking slightly as they stood in front of the GENTLEMEN sign.
Maggie looked over his shoulder and saw Vince talking with someone over by the exhibit building.
“Ben was running on the track, in the back of the rest rooms, and he—he left his jacket back there. So we came to see if we could find it.”
Maggie hoped Ben wouldn’t say anything. She’d just told another falsehood, but she couldn’t tell the truth. It sounded too far-fetched.
She took a quick sidelong glance. Will was an attractive man. What was she thinking! This was not the moment to revive hormones best left dormant.
“It’s pretty dark back there. Mind if I walk over with you?” Will just naturally turned them toward the track. “Lydia Wyndham told me about your husband, Maggie. Sorry. Must be rough.”
Lydia must really have been
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