Warm Nights in Magnolia Bay, Babette Jongh [book club books txt] 📗

“You want to be in charge of the kiddie rides?” Sunshine and Midnight were saddled for pony rides, their lead ropes tied to a metal round pen at the back of the yard. Their manes and tails were braided with ribbons and flowers, their coats and hooves glossy and clean. Elijah and Miriam were dressed up and saddled, too, wearing flower-bedecked straw hats—with strategically placed holes for their long ears to stick through—and matching bouquets tied to their tails.

“Sure. I can do that, just tell me what the job entails.”

Abby explained that he’d be ensuring that parents helped their kiddies on and off the equines and walked beside them for safety during the ride. (Volunteers would lead the animals along the fence line and then back again; it was more about the photo op at the end of the ride than the ride itself.) He’d also have to schedule several minutes between each ride to give the critters time to rest under the shaded awning and drink water from the portable trough.

“The girls from the high school will be taking turns leading the ponies and donkeys.” Abby tilted her chin toward a clutch of pretty girls standing by the goat yard and petting Gregory, who hadn’t been invited to participate because of his penchant for wandering off in search of adventure. “You’ll have to make sure that the girls take breaks and stay hydrated, too. You think you can handle all that?”

Sean grinned. “You bet.”

“Thanks.” Abby glanced at her watch: 10:40 a.m. More than a dozen volunteers had shown up to help, and they all stood around chatting, but when visitors started streaming in, they’d take their places. Abby could tell by the smell of charcoal in the air that Mack was already grilling hot dogs and burgers in the pavilion. The buttery scent of popcorn floated her way, too, reminding her that she’d hardly eaten anything for breakfast.

Quinn and Edna were back, walking toward Abby with a willowy redhead and a young kid with the same bright hair. Edna waved at Abby and shouted, “Yoo-hoo!”

Abby met them by the extra-large round pen—this one reinforced with a layer of fence wire—that held the cuddle critters: two spring lambs and a few of the friendliest goats, three of the big Flemish giant bunnies, and an assortment of chickens and ducks. Arnold, the potbellied pig, had managed to squirm out of his bow tie twice and was finally allowed to be naked, but most everyone else wore some sort of adornment; ribbons, flowers, whatever nontoxic folderol they would tolerate (and hopefully refrain from eating). Several extra-large wire crates were lined with hay and placed inside the enclosure so any of the animals who weren’t interested in cuddling could decide to take a time-out from the festivities.

“Abby,” Edna said, “I’d like you to meet Sara Prather and her son, Max. Sara is the editor of the Magnolia Bay newspaper.”

It wasn’t an actual newspaper—Magnolia Bay didn’t have a local newspaper anymore because it had long since gone bankrupt—but the chamber of commerce issued the small advertising circular that was printed free of charge by a local company and delivered to every address in Magnolia Bay. Aside from the coupons and advertisements from local businesses, it did contain some interesting articles and announcements of the town’s current events. Abby wouldn’t have known any of this if Wolf hadn’t started delivering the paper to her doorstep; she’d have chucked it into the bin after running over it a few times. But since he had, she felt obligated to honor his effort by at least looking, maybe clipping a few coupons to use at the grocery store. She hoped that on some level, he knew that she appreciated his offering.

Abby shook Sara’s hand. “Hi, Sara. We spoke on the phone. Thanks for advertising this event for us.”

“It’s what I do,” Sara said, her green eyes smiling. She held up her camera. “Do you mind if I wander around and take pictures today for the flyer?”

“That’d be great, thanks.” Abby set aside her reluctance to ask for help and asked for what she wanted. “Sara, do you think you could also do a little write-up about Bayside Barn? Let people know how important it is to the community? Maybe tell them where they can sign the petition to help us keep our animals? Mack has said he’ll keep a clipboard of blank petitions at his office.”

“Of course. There’s one at the chamber of commerce, too.” Sara put a hand on her son’s shoulder to keep him from squirming while the grown-ups talked. “Maybe if you’re not too busy all day long, we can find time for a quick interview?”

Abby nodded. “I’d love that.”

“Welcome, Bayside Buddies,” someone screeched from across the yard.

Abby jumped. “Oops, I forgot all about Freddy.” And guests were beginning to stream through the gates.

“I’ll get him,” Quinn volunteered. Abby watched him walk away, all lean grace and hard muscles under a plain T-shirt and cargo shorts. He’d come a long way since he moved next door, she realized. He still didn’t mess with the Amazons after the bite one of them gave him, but he’d made friends with Freddy the macaw. And Abby had seen him feeding his granola bar snacks to Elijah, but she hadn’t let on that she knew. That could remain their secret.

* * *

Reva called the afternoon of the next town hall meeting, when Abby was busy changing from one outfit to another. She’d given up on her own clothing and was now rifling through Aunt Reva’s closet.

“Hey.” Abby put the phone on speaker and whipped off the dress she had just tried on. Cute, comfortable, colorful, but maybe a little too hippie-earth-mother for Abby.

“I’m calling to wish you luck in the meeting tonight. I kind of wish I’d decided to come home for it, but I’m also kind of glad I didn’t. I’m learning so much every day that I do hate