The Milburn Big Box Set

by Nancy McGovern

  “Oh, I have a whole collection at home,” Wallis sneered. “I’m sure the manager will get me another too. The point is this careless, wretched boy needed to be taught a lesson.”

  The manager, a harried, balding man named James Crenshaw, rushed up on stage and tried his hardest to soothe Wallis. “JJ, I’m so sorry about what happened. I’ll see that the boy gets fired immediately, with no pay.”

  “No,” the boy protested behind them. “No, please! I’ll do anything.”

  “Surely this can be handled without causing a public scene,” May said, her upper lip curling slightly. “James, take the young man away to your office and do what you have to. Find Wallis a guitar too. As for you, Nora, the fair isn’t opened yet but I think I see someone at your stall.”

  Aware that May was just trying to make her leave, Nora planted her feet firmly and glared. “I’ll go to the manager’s office with him. It’s not completely fair to fire the boy without learning what happened.”

  “You should worry about being fired yourself,” May said. “Or did you forget rule 17, bylaw 3 of the committee’s rulebook for the Viking festival? It states that no stall shall be left unattended at any point in the evening. It’s a safety hazard, what with your cooking materials and gas stove.”

  “Oh, Rule 17, bylaw 3 of the committee’s rulebook,” Nora quipped. “Who could ever forget that grandiose piece of literature? Shakespeare himself used to quote from it, I hear.”

  May colored red. In a quiet voice that only Nora could hear, she hissed, “I’ll have you know, Nora, that I’ve been doing you a great kindness so far, allowing your stall to even enter the festival. God knows we have no real references telling us what you did in New York City. Big city, big sinners. How do I know you’re capable of dealing with the stall? You certainly haven’t done anything to prove it so far. There’s just one unopened diner in your CV. Now get back to that stall, or take it down. Your choice.”

  Flushing with anger, Nora walked off the stage and headed back to her stall. The good mood that had been building within her as she had worked all week now seemed tainted with events that had lasted only a few minutes.

  “Never mind,” Tina consoled her. “May is a hard-nosed stickler. Everyone knows that. Besides, the boy did drop that speaker onto JJ–er–Wallis’ guitar. He deserves to be fired.”

  “I know,” Nora sighed as she reached her stall. “I just wish that the world weren’t run by powerful men who don’t know how to treat those below them.”

  “Well, there are some that do,” Tina smiled. “Here comes one.”

  *****

  Chapter 3

  Nora looked up and saw the man who was leaning against her stall, whistling cheerfully. For once, he was out of his sheriff’s uniform, but even in a simple blue sweater and dark jeans, he looked official somehow. He was one of those men who looked capable and good-natured even the first time you saw him. It sure helped him catch people off guard, as his razor sharp mind would first disarm suspects and then trap them in their own words.

  He was holding a single flower in his hand, an orange long-stemmed gladiola. His face lit up as she approached him.

  “Was there some sort of ruckus going on down at Wallis’ end?” he asked. “I just got here, and things seemed to be cooling so I didn’t poke my nose in.”

  “Oh, Sean, It’s good to see you,” Nora said with a smile. “It’s nothing. Wallis got angry at a boy who dropped a speaker over his heirloom guitar.”

  Sean whistled. “Well I wouldn’t like to be that boy,” he laughed. “He’s getting fired for sure.”

  “Oh, don’t say that,” Nora fretted. “The poor child is barely sixteen and he looked terrified at the prospect of losing his job.”

  “He’ll manage,” Sean said. “Now, Nora, it’s my day off, and I haven’t had a day off in, about, oh, say a thousand years. So I’m going to spend today actively avoiding all conflicts. Today is going to be my day of fluffy clouds, sugary crepes, and chilled beers.”

  Nora laughed. “I can supply one of those to you.” she got behind the counter and began heating the grill. “For your other wish, the closest thing I have is Pepsi.”

  “Pepsi? Ugh. I’d rather drink water.” Sean scrunched his nose up.

  “You know, doctors recommend water,” she said. “Some people say humans are supposed to consume a gallon a day! I can’t imagine, everyone would be in the bathroom all day long!”

  “I consume two gallons of coffee a day,” Sean joked. “So I’m sure it works out in the end.”

  “Someone should show you to a nutritionist,” Nora said. “Your body belongs in a museum. How it’s suffered all the junk you put into it, with not a love handle or a potbelly — the Lord only knows.”

  “Some of us are born lucky,” Sean said. “Then again, it might be that I’m running after people constantly.”

  Nora scrunched up her nose in perfect imitation of his and handed him a crepe. “Nutella and banana,” she said. “I hope you approve.”

  “Oh… I do.” Sean grabbed it, and dug in, making little ecstatic murmurs as he gobbled up the crepe.

  “I thought I’d get one for my efforts,” Tina said, making a dramatic sigh. “But I suppose I’ll be sidelined now that Sean is here,” she teased.

  “Oh, no, I’m making you one too.” Nora blushed. “Here. Lemon, cinnamon and honey.”

  “Hooray! I’m telling you, Nora, there’s only one hour to go before the fair begins, and I guarantee that the crowd is going to trample down this stall in its rush to get to the goodies. I haven’t tasted crepes this good since I went to France back in 94.”

  “1994? You can’t say back in 1994 like some sort of teenager,” Sean said. “1994 happened just three days ago! Or that’s what it feels like, at least.”

  “Going by your fashion choices, I can see why you think so,” Tina laughed. “One more of these crepes, Nora? I’ll be a good girl and eat nothing but salad all week as long as you give me a tiny bit more of this.”

  “You know, the way Tina’s addicted, I’m starting to suspect you put some illegal addictive substances into this crepe,” Sean laughed. “Luckily for you, I’m bribe-able. One more crepe and I won’t start an official investigation.”

  Nora laughed too, feeling her good mood come back, and with it, a little of the nervousness. No matter how Tina reassured her, Nora knew that May was right. She was, by and large, an unknown in town, even now, a year later. Her catering jobs had mostly taken her to Cody and Jackson and, consequently, townies hadn’t had a chance to taste her food. Would there really be a crowd at her stall in another hour? Or would she be standing here all day, with only Sean and Tina for company?

  “Hey, I never gave you this flower,” Sean said, remembering suddenly. “Best of luck, Nora.”

  “Thanks, Sean.” She smiled gratefully at him and gently placed the flower into her purse. “I’ll make sure to water it when I get home.”

  Sean shrugged. “Sure. Personally, I never saw the sense in giving a girl flowers. Chocolates, yes. Flowers, no. They just wilt and die the next day. If I had my way, I’d prefer to take my date to a meadow, and show her flowers. That way she gets to see them, and they get to bloom.”

  “You’re a true gentleman, and a philosopher,” Tina said. “But this no-flower policy explains why you’ve remained single for so long.”

  “Oh, he’s just single because I haven’t said yes to him yet,” a voice croaked behind them.

  “Mrs. Mullally!” Nora shouted in delight, seeing the friendly older lady who was her landlord.

  “Nora, dear, the stall looks wonderful. You’ll be completely swamped in no time now.” Mrs. Mullally smiled.

  “Looking good, Mrs. M,” Sean said. “How’s that little rascal of a puppy of yours? What’s his name, Maynard?”

  “He’s good, Sean, thanks. Hasn’t crawled into any places he can’t crawl back out of.”

  Sean laughed. “It’s been a while since I’ve had to rescue him. Looks like
he’s developed some common sense.”

  “He’s developed a love of Nora.” Mrs. Mullally said. “Every day, he’s at the kitchen, whining to get some scraps. It’s a terrible habit for a dog to develop. Nora encourages him shamelessly.”

  “I do not!” Nora laughed. “Mrs. Mullally! I saw you sneaking him some junk the other night.”

  “Speaking of junk,” Sean’s voice grew guarded. “Here’s Harvey Nathaniel himself.”

  Nora’s heart did a little murmur, then settled again.

  She hadn’t seen Harvey in months. Not since a few days after she’d helped unveil Raquel’s murderer. For a very short while, they had dated.

  Now, he stood before her, looking impeccably handsome in a crisp white shirt, a light grey sweater, and light blue jeans. It was his accessory, though, that made him stand out. Leaning on his right shoulder was a woman so beautiful, every eye seemed to be drawn to her. His new girlfriend, clearly.

  *****

  Chapter 4

  Sean, as always, straightened his shoulders and managed to look every bit the aggressive bison when Harvey entered.

  “Fair’s not opened yet,” Sean said. “How come the guards let you folk in?”

  “Oh, we just dropped by here on our way to meet Wallis,” Harvey commented. “Thought we’d grab some breakfast first.”

  “Harvey, baby, you know I don’t eat carbs,” the model drawled. She pursed her excessively red lips together in a pout. “Take me someplace decent.”

  “I can mow up some grass for you, throw it in a glass of water, and charge you fifteen dollars for a healthy shake if you like,” Nora said dryly.

  “Nora, be nice,” Harvey said warningly. “Milly is new in town, and I’m helping show her around.”

  “Is that what they call it now?” Mrs. Mullally smiled.

  Harvey colored a little but then gave Mrs. Mullally a cheeky smile. “Well it’s your fault, Mrs. M, you refused to date me.”

  Mrs. Mullally, who had seen her 7th decade a long time ago, and was now cruising through her 80s, blushed. “You and Sean both share the same sense of humor.”

  “We share nothing,” Sean said, a little angrily, when he’d meant to be casual.

  Once again, sensing tension in the air, Nora defused it by saying, “Well, I’m going to start grilling up some kebabs now so those of you who are hungry can stay, and those of you who are on a diet, better run away before you cave into temptation.”

  “Diets are ridiculous,” Mrs. Mullally said. “I believe in eating sensibly, and doing what the body feels like. That’s what you young folk need, less ruthlessness about your own bodies and more common sense.”

  Milly, surprisingly, smiled at Mrs. Mullally. “You know, my grandfather owns a chain of bakeries back in Louisiana. He says the same things you do. You remind me a lot of my grandma, as a matter of fact.”

  Mrs. Mullally looked charmed, and Nora felt a bit more hospitable towards the girl. She couldn’t help having her hackles raised when seeing her draped over Harvey, but she supposed it wasn’t Milly’s fault she was born beautiful. If there was anyone Nora had full right to be angry at, it was Harvey.

  He looked at her now, and she quickly bent her neck to focus on the grill. Still, she felt his eyes pressing into her. Things between them had ended badly, to say the least, and she could almost hear the thoughts in his mind as his eyes slid between her and Sean.

  Defiantly, she looked back and met his gaze. It wasn’t her fault. She told herself. He had been the one to desert her when she needed him. He was the one at fault here.

  “Nora. I dropped by to say that… I wish you luck,” Harvey said. “I hope the stall is a success, and I hope you’re able to fund the diner soon.” Despite what had happened between them, his voice was genuinely kind and full of support.

  “Thank you,” Nora said, feeling her smile tremble slightly.

  “Yeah.” Sean slid himself slightly into Harvey’s field of vision. “Thanks, Harvey. Now maybe you should go talk to your main man, Wallis. I hear you’re supporting him this time?”

  “If you mean the elections for sheriff? You bet.” Harvey smiled. “This should be fun, I think.”

  “You better leave,” Sean said, pushing himself up close to Harvey. “I think Nora’s going to have a busy day, and the last thing she needs is us fighting right now.”

  “There’s going to be a fight, though,” Harvey said. “The election, that is.”

  “Yeah,” Sean said grimly. “And I think we’ll let the votes speak for themselves.”

  “You really think you have a chance, don’t you?” Harvey laughed. “I’d think you’d be able to detect what’s in the air. A new wind is blowing, Sheriff Dracon. You’re going to have to be satisfied with being called “Mr.” Dracon soon.”

  “I’ve been sheriff in this town for a long, long time,” Sean said. “This is the first time someone is challenging me, but I’m going to make sure it’s the last.”

  “Wallis will win, Sean,” Harvey said. “We’ve done a lot of marketing efforts, yes, but when push comes to shove, Wallis has experience in stage performance. So in every political rally, he’s going to have a big edge over you. Your little stoic boy in uniform act does well with the older ladies, I’m sure, but Wallis is going to sweep everyone away with his unbridled charisma. But you shouldn’t be worried. A little competition always spices up things, right?”

  “Oh, I don’t consider you or Wallis competition,” Sean dismissed him. “Advertise all you like. What works is results, and the town knows I deliver results.”

  “Do you, though?” Harvey asked. “Seems to me that you were completely off track on the Raquel Madden case until Nora intervened. Town lost a little faith in you after that.”

  Sean bristled with anger, and Nora felt a sad tremor move through her. Harvey’s eyes connected with her, and she could see the instant regret that flooded in his eyes. He hadn’t meant to hurt her with his words.

  Still, it hurt. To think of her best friend, once so alive, so full of dreams, and now only a statistic, a murder, being used as a simple talking point in an election, that hurt bad. To think that Harvey was recommending that she be used that way was nearly unbearable.

  “Get out of here,” Nora said, her voice sharp. “I don’t need this right now, Harvey.”

  “Nora…” Harvey stepped up, ready to say something, but Milly, sick of being ignored, grabbed his hand and tugged him back.

  “Come on Harvey. Let’s go check out the band!”

  Harvey’s eyes lingered on Nora for just a second more, then he nodded, and walked away.

  *****

  Chapter 5

  In no time, the celebrations had begun and were in full swing, and soon Nora had too much work on her hands to even raise her head and look about her. The hungry crowd milled in front of her, demanding everything from crepes, to kebabs, to coke. Nora handed these out, with a smile on her face, while Tina worked the cash register, and Mrs. Mullally helped by sitting in the corner and occasionally handing out ingredients as needed.

  Nora appreciated both their help, though at the back of her mind, she still missed Raquel. Her best friend would have worked in perfect sync with Nora at a time like this. Afterwards, the two of them would have shared the day’s events over a cup of peppermint tea.

  Still, this was nice too. The weather was hot for September, touching the 70s, and Nora soon removed her turtleneck and wore a simple white t-shirt as she worked.

  She had positioned her stall well, right in front of the arena for competitions. The crowd that gathered around to watch various feats of strength like the throwing of logs and lifting of boulders also smelled her wares and came running back to her for seconds and thirds. Quite a few of the customers assured her that she had made some of the best crepes they’d ever tasted, and each time she was complimented, Nora felt a golden glow in the pit of her stomach. True contentment.

  This was what she was born to do, to feed people, and make them happy. What be
tter way to spend a life? Surely, there were people out there, who thought it was far nobler to be a scientist, or an explorer, or a CEO, but to Nora, there had only ever been one purpose in life, and she’d found it on a distant summer day when her father had first allowed her to handle the barbecue with him.

  She remembered that day now, a garden party with balloons and jugs of pink lemonade, and her turning over the sausages carefully, as her father talked to her about how important it was that the meat be done just right. Not too well done, not too rare.

  He would be proud of me now, she thought and smiled to herself.

  May Almand wandered by the stall once and bought a crepe, though she threw it away after a bite, with a little exclamation of, “A little too sweet for me.” Nora didn’t let this distract her in any way though Tina was quite livid.

  “Horrible woman,” Tina said. “The worst part is that she’s the only writer for the Milburn Report. So she’s sure to be the one doing your review. I bet she’ll have some nasty words to say.”

  “Oh, never mind her,” Nora said. “The people love it and that’s what counts.”

  “The people have short memories,” Tina said, slightly depressed. “It’s what’s in print that counts.”

  “Don’t be sad, dear,” Mrs. Mullally said. “Cheer up. The archers are coming in for the finals.”

  There was a cheer from the crowd, and Nora declared a fifteen minute break for them to watch the archery finals.

  The first heat of the archery competition had been a simple target shot, with ten winners moving on to the next round. The next round had consisted of rings suspended with cables in mid-air, with the competitors aiming to shoot the fruits that were suspended within the rings.

  There were cries of applause as apples and watermelons fell to the ground, and a few of the triumphant archers raised their hands to work the crowd up.