Wiping her hands on her jeans, she, Buddy, and Bandit got out of the car. She let herself in, hurried upstairs to her room, grabbed some clothes, and showered. Once that was done, Lani ran back downstairs and fed the animals.
“Oh, you’re back. Your Bronco was missing when I arrived.” Mrs. C wore a pumpkin-colored sweater dress that came to her knees. On the front were leaves and more pumpkins. On her legs were thick green wool tights. She wore a small brown hat on her head.
“I…. Ah, nice outfit. A bit subdued for you, don’t you think?”
Mrs. C waved her neon green fingernails at Lani.
“Much better.”
“Okay, well, I have your outfit, you need to change.”
“Outfit?”
“All the shop owners are dressing up.”
“I don’t own a shop,” Lani said in what she thought was a reasonable voice.
“But I do, and you work for me. Now put this on.” Mrs. C thrust a bag at her.
“You’re kidding me.”
“No. Hurry, we have to set up. You come here, sweetie, and I’ll put your costume on too.”
Lani watched Buddy trot up to Mrs. C. She then proceeded to fit him into a pumpkin-colored dog shirt and a green ruffle. Bandit ran upstairs.
Smart cat.
“Oh, come on, surely you don’t expect him to humiliate himself by walking about in that?”
“He loves it.”
She was right. Buddy didn’t appear too worried that Mrs. C had just emasculated him.
“Now go and change.”
Knowing when she was beaten—and who put a roof over her head and paid her wages—Lani dragged her feet all the way upstairs. She pulled on the costume, which consisted of green leggings and a short tunic. The hat had a point and was in the same fall colors. In fact, her outfit was identical to Mrs. C’s, only shorter. Refusing to look in the mirror, as she’d never leave this room if she did, Lani stomped her feet back into her boots and headed down the stairs and into the shop.
“Right, the trestle is set up, we just need to take the baked goods outside. I’ve already started,” Mrs. C said, running her eyes over Lani. “Nice.”
“Nice is not the word I’d use.”
“Stop muttering and get working.”
She grabbed up a tray of muffins and walked out the front door. Main Street was bustling. Beside her, the Howler’s staff were setting up a fryer for french fries and loading the tables with plates and condiments. Thankfully, Noah was nowhere in sight. She was doubly grateful that there was no sign of either Katie McBride or Sheriff Hawker.
At least they wouldn’t uncover anything if they googled her.
“Make it look nice, Lani.” Mrs. C dumped a cake beside the muffins.
Lani proceeded to spend the next twenty minutes taking stuff from inside the store and setting up the table so it looked good.
“The Roar looks amazing.” Lani looked around them at the other stores. “I particularly like the blow-up pumpkin on the roof.”
“Mac’s had that for years,” Mrs. C said. “There were three of them, but a Findlay brother shot a hole in one, and the other blew away when we had a bad storm back in 1972.”
“Good that one survived then.”
“Look at Sheriff Hawker. He and Katie are spray-painting potatoes on the window of the Lair,” Mrs. C, clapped her hands. “I love how this town gets behind a festival.”
