“Sure!I’ll help.”
While they were putting up the garlands, Mayor Beekins waddled up, out of breath.In everything he did, he seemed to be in a hurry.“Sarah,” he said, straightening his vest over his rotund belly, “so glad you’re home for the festival.”
“Thank you, mayor,” Sarah said from the third step of a short ladder.On the ground, Ben steadied it.“I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”
“I heard you two ladies discussing the parade,” he said, clasping his hands behind him and rocking back and forth on his heels.“You’ll make the perfect parade marshal.”
“We’ve had this talk before, Sir.”Sarah knew he could be pushy.She’d just have to push back.“That’s your job.You’re the marshal.And a darn good one, at that.”
Ben leaned in.“Sarah will not be getting on any float.Too much exposure.”
“What are you worried about?”Mayor Beekins said.He spread his arms wide.“Everyone knows that horrible man who attacked her years ago has been apprehended by law enforcement.He wasn’t even in Montana.”
“Beekins, we don’t know who threatened Sarah or caused the other havoc,” Ben said impatiently.“We can’t safely assume it was Kemper.Until we’re certain, Sarah will remain under the radar.”
“But she’s safe here,” the small man argued, “among all of us.You must understand that our township prepares long and hard for this day.For months!”His face grew pink.“It’s our biggest retail opportunity of the year.The shopkeepers count on it.”
“Uh huh.”Ben was clearly unmoved.
The mayor appealed to Sarah again.“My dear, it’s not the time for you to be selfish.Why, you’re a super star!The world knows you.Loves you.If we could announce that you’ve accepted the title of marshal, and that you’ll be riding on the float where you belong, we’ll draw even more people.They’ll come from all over the county.Maybe even from across the state!”
Ben helped Sarah down from the ladder and faced the shorter man.“Sorry, mayor.Not gonna happen.As it is, I don’t want her here tomorrow at all.”
From down the block, Franklin observed Ben’s more aggressive posture and immediately started coming their way.
“Not here at all?”the mayor echoed, aghast.He tugged again at his vest.“That won’t do!She’s our resident celebrity.People will expect to meet her, have her sign autographs.We need her here.”Suddenly he noticed the big, intimidating man approaching and took an alarmed step back.He pointed at Franklin.“Who—who is that?”
“He’s one of my men,” Ben said.
Franklin came to a halt a few feet away.With his height and sheer size, he resembled a hulking grizzly.In bear-like fashion, he let his head swing from Ben to the mayor.He pinned the small man with a fearsome glare.
The mayor swallowed hard.“He won’t be here for the festival, will he?We can’t frighten the women and children.”
“Don’t worry about Franklin,” Ben said.“He’s a teddy bear.”
The mayor’s jaw dropped.
Franklin’s glare turned into a glower.
Mayor Beekins reeled back.“Sarah, just consider what I’ve asked.If you are marshal, it will make our day a smashing success.”
With that, he turned and rushed away.
