Murder Comes to Notchey Creek by Liz S. Andrews

Author:Liz S. Andrews [Andrews, Liz S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Liz S. Andrews

32

Zombies and Grievances

“This town is being overrun by hooligans.” Mayor Montgomery blew through the shop’s door, a whirl of leaves entering with her. “It’s that Beau Arson character. Word is getting around that he’s here, and they’re all congregating like those zombies on that TV show. I swear if it weren’t for all of the publicity and money he’s bringing in I’d …”

“What?” Harley asked.

“Well, I don’t know what I’d do. But I’d do something. Anyway, I’m not here to discuss Mr. Arson or his minions, I’m here to speak with you about the festival.”

“I’m listening.”

“I need to know your plans, Miss Henrickson. You never submitted your proposal to the Chamber of Commerce as you were supposed to, and Alveda didn’t want to deal with you. She begged me to meet with you instead.”

“Well, it’s pretty simple. Uncle Tater will host a moonshine demonstration out on the sidewalk.”

“Not offering samples, I hope.”

“No. We couldn’t offer samples even if we wanted to. The moonshine wouldn’t have had time to age. It would taste terrible.”

Ruby heaved a sigh of relief.

“Then,” Harley said, “Wilma will be inside the shop, greeting customers and serving cocktail samples.”

Ruby held up her index finger. “I’m not sure Wilma True is the best person to represent this business or this festival. Her grammar is atrocious and her fashion sense leaves much to be desired.”

Harley Henrickson rarely grew defensive with Ruby Montgomery or with anyone else for that matter, but this time she did. “Aunt Wilma may not have mastered the finer points of English grammar or of fashion, but she has mastered one thing: The art of conviviality. She is pleasant and warm and genuine and kind, traits that are far more endearing and difficult to hone than the superficial ones you mentioned. She will represent this business in the way I intend for it to be represented, in the way my grandfather intended it to be represented. Without pretense and with a sense of welcoming. When people enter this shop, I want them to feel like they can be themselves, be comfortable, and be treated like family.”

A stunned Ruby Montgomery stared at Harley, speechless. She had never raised the young woman’s ire to this degree before, and she seemed to flounder in her response to it. After a few moments, she cleared her throat and lowered herself to one of the bar stools. “I apologize.” She rested her hand to her forehead. “I’ve just been so stressed out with this festival. So much is weighing on it.”

“Your reputation as mayor being the first.”

She glanced up at Harley, an injured expression on her face. “Yes, that is one of the reasons, but you don’t have to put it that way.”

Realizing her defense of Aunt Wilma had bordered on unkindness to Ruby, Harley reeled in her emotions and adopted a friendly tone. “Everyone is stressed out about the festival,” she said. “It’s okay. Everything will work out.”

And Ruby would just love Aunt Wilma’s new hairdo.

“Oh, I don’t know.” Ruby shook her head.

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