Wicked Stitch by Amanda Lee Read Free Book Online Page A

forward, I drew myself up to my full five feet no inches, pasted on a broad smile, and said, “Hello, Nellie. Hello, Clara. Isn’t this meeting going to be exciting?”
    “I don’t know what’s so exciting about it,” said Clara. “It’s just a lunch where we all fight over who gets the best spots at the fair.”
    “I feel it’s more than that,” I said. “I think it’s an opportunity for us to come together as a community and help each other succeed.”
    Captain Moe put his beefy arm around me and turned me away from the sisters. “Let’s find us a seat, Tinkerbell.”
    I loved Captain Moe. He was a big guy withwhite hair, a fluffy beard, and a fatherly disposition. And he made the best burgers and fries around.
    I smiled up at him. “What will you be cooking up at the Ren Faire?”
    “I’ll be serving steaks on stakes, turkey legs, Scotch eggs, and barbecued ribs.” He winked. “And I might be talked into making cheeseburgers for a certain wee merchant and her faithful hound.”
    I giggled. “I’m so looking forward to this. It’s too bad Mom’s on location in Arizona. She’d be in her element at a Renaissance festival.”
    “She would at that,” he agreed. “And I believe you will be as well.”
    “I will . . . if I can see any peace while I’m there.” My eyes strayed to Clara and Nellie.
    “Pay them no mind. They can only bother you if you allow them to do so.”
    “Wise words,” I said.
    “But hard to put into practice.” He grinned. “I know. I’ve been there. All of us have at one time or another. You’ll emerge stronger because of this trial.”
    We sat down at a table in the designated part of the coffee shop, and Sadie called our meeting to order. She then introduced us to Nancy Walters, chairperson of the merchants’ society.
    Nancy was a small woman with a stiff helmet of brown hair. She wore sensible black shoes and a brown tweed suit. She stood on her chair in order to be heard and to command our attention.
    “Good afternoon,” she said. “I imagine many of you are surprised to learn that there is a chairperson and/or a merchants’ society.”
    I know I was.
    “I’m on the board of the Tallulah Falls Fairgrounds Committee,” she continued. “As such, I was elected to oversee the merchants during the two-week festival. My job is to assign booths and tables to registered vendors. I have a map drawn up indicating where each of you has been placed. Sadie, dear, would you pass those out, please?”
    “Of course.” Sadie began passing out the maps.
    “While the map isn’t written in stone, I do have things the way I want them,” Nancy said. “I’m not saying I won’t budge on the arrangements, but it would have to be for a darn good reason.”
    I got my map and looked down at it. It was organized as I’d have expected. There was a food court where all the food vendors would be located: Captain Moe, the Brew Crew, MacKenzies’ Mochas, and some I didn’t recognize but would look forward to investigating, such as the Cheesecake Consortium, Festive Fudge, and Carol’s Cake Creations.
    I quickly spotted Ye Olde Seven-Year Stitch nestled right in between Nellie’s booth, Scentsibilities, and Clara’s Knitted and Needled. My heart sank. It was going to be a long two weeks.
    “If anyone has any requests to change the arrangements, now is the time to speak up,” said Nancy. “After today, no requests will be entertained.”
    Clara stood. “I’d like to request a change. I don’t want Marcy Singer’s booth beside mine.”
    “Why not?” Nancy asked.
    “The woman has been an aggravation to my poor sister, Nellie, and her thriving business ever since she came here to Tallulah Falls,” said Clara. “People have died in Marcy Singer’s shop, and she’s caused all manner of upset in the community. Neither Nellie nor I want anything to do with her.”
    “Request denied,” Nancy said. “Perhaps you, your sister, and Ms. Singer will find common ground