Archie laughed loudly over the mic and almost deafened everyone. He cringed. ‘Whoops, sorry, folks! My bad! I think I’ll leave the singing to the professionals, Caitlin,’ he replied as the two women from The Toilichte Hens took their positions on stage for a soundcheck.
Even though it was just a quick run-through, Juliette couldn’t help stomping her foot along to the tune they played on the fiddle and the accordion.
Suddenly Caitlin grabbed her hand, tugged her into the middle of the room and swung her. Juliette almost lost her footing but was overtaken with giggles as her crazy friend twirled her round and round in time with the music. The gathered crowd took a break from setting up and clapped along as Caitlin shouted instructions at Juliette and, at the end, cheers and whistles joined applause and laughter.
‘I’ll make a Highland dancer out of you yet, Jules!’ Caitlin told her and they staggered back, arm in arm, to their stall.
As the sun beat down, Juliette was thoroughly grateful that she was undercover and she guzzled on water from the bottle she’d brought.
‘Well, this is all looking marvellous, ladies,’ Morag told them when she arrived at the stall.
‘Thank you. I just hope we manage to save some to sell. Grace has already eaten three fairy cakes.’ Caitlin laughed.
‘Well, it looks grand. I reckon you’ll have a busy day. And I’ll come and look after things for you later so you can have a wander around.’
‘Thanks, Morag, that’s lovely, but won’t you need to be at the shop?’
Morag laughed. ‘Not on your nelly, Jules! Kenneth and I will be here all day. We’ve a casual worker who runs the shop on gala day and holidays and such. That’s why we needed to make sure everything was priced up. Makes life easier for her. So, I’ll be glad to give you a wee break when you’re ready. The event will be opening in ten minutes, so I’ll be off just now.’ She backed away and waggled her fingers. ‘Toodle-oo!’
Juliette waved at Morag’s retreating form. ‘Thank you! See you later.’
‘Have you seen Reid this week?’ Caitlin asked once Morag was out of earshot.
Juliette spun round and frowned at her. ‘Me? Why should have I seen him? What do you mean? And no, I haven’t, anyway.’ Had someone said something? Was news of Evin’s predicament spreading around the village? Shit, what would happen if it was?
Caitlin’s eyes widened and she laughed. ‘I wasn’t interrogating you, honestly. I was just a bit concerned. He’s usually at the forefront of organising this thing. You could say he’s a control freak.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘Anyway, I heard he’s bad with the flu. Strange though, as illness doesn’t usually stop him from being a bossy beggar.’
Juliette feigned tidying a pile of biscuits. ‘He must be quite poorly then.’
‘Aye. I might take him some baking. It usually cheers him up.’
Juliette felt a change of subject was urgently needed. ‘So, where’s your gorgeous daughter gone? I thought she was helping.’
‘Oh, aye, she is. But she’s mad keen on gardening, so she’s gone to check out Archie’s plant stall before, and I quote: “all the goodspecimenshave gone”. Bless her. She’s a wee green-fingered wonder is my Grace. She’s all about the environment. No clue where it comes from. I can killfakeplants myself.’
Juliette snorted with laughter.
A voice she recognised as Kenneth’s came over the other sound system. ‘The event is now open, ladies and gents. I repeat, the event is now open! Have a wonderful day!’
A loud cheer followed and suddenly his voice was replaced by Big Country’s ‘In a Big Country’, the perfect soundtrack to get everyone smiling.
* * *
By half twelve, Juliette couldn’t quite believe how popular the little cake stall had been. She glanced over their rapidly depleting stock and cringed at Caitlin.
‘Worry not. I’ve some more on the go back at the shop.’ Caitlin tapped her nose.
Once again, Juliette had been in her element, chatting to the visitors, and, if it was clear they were holidaymakers, she made sure to tell them to visit the museum too, after the weekend.
Morag appeared at one thirty so that Juliette could have a spot of lunch and a wander around the other stalls and attractions. Grace had arrived to help Morag and Caitlin had gone back to the bakery to check on the ovens. Juliette wasn’t exactly hungry as she’d already munched on tiffin that Caitlin and Grace had made especially for the day, but the chance to have a walk around was welcome.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, the children’s talent contest will take place in the main marquee at three o’clock. You don’t want to miss it,’ Kenneth announced over the sound system as she walked towards Archie’s stall to look at the flowers.
‘Ah, Miss Jules. You won’t have met Kendric MacKinnon, will you?’ Archie said as she approached.
A tall, broad-shouldered man, wearing jeans and a pale blue shirt, stood with his back towards her. He turned round as Archie mentioned him by name, and when she was greeted by the full view of him, Juliette half expected Barry White music to play and for the sun to glint off his perfect white teeth.
He smiled warmly. ‘Jules? The dog saver?’
