I’m all but guaranteed my own line of sauces and rubs along with my very own TV show on the Outdoor Livin’ channel.” He rubbed his tummy as he visually devoured Francesca. “Lots of money there, darlin’, and I’d be more than happy to spend some on you. Folks would see you as the gal lucky enough to be with Jimmy Lang, champion pitmaster and the face of barbecue.” He held up his hands as though reading a banner upon which his new title had already been written.
“Uh, thank you, Mr. Lang.” Eleanor stepped in front of her daughter. “Francesca needs to get ready for tonight’s opening ceremonies.” She took a firm hold of her daughter’s arm and smiled at an elderly guest. “She’s the Hudsonville Festival Princess.” Eleanor beamed. “She gets to drive the Queen Sow in the victory parade and her photograph will be in all the area papers.”
“Francesca’s or the pig’s?” Jimmy asked and then guffawed.
Eleanor looked irritated. “Why, my daughter’s, of course. She’s won so many local pageants over the last five years that she’s a shoo-in for the top five at the state competition.” She pushed a lock of Francesca’s hair off of her smooth cheek. “You might just be talking to the next Miss Virginia and after that, maybe even Miss America.”
Now it was Francesca’s turn to be annoyed. Breaking away from her mother’s grasp, she sneered. “I’m going to get scholarship money based on my brains, Ma! Not my boobs!” And with that declaration, Francesca stormed into the house.
Jimmy laughed heartily and began to sing “There she is, Miss America” as he kissed the hands of the ladies seated nearby, who giggled and twittered among themselves in response.
Visibly trying to conceal her displeasure, Eleanor asked Jimmy if there was something she could assist him with. Jimmy announced that he wanted to meet the contest judges and the representative for Heartland Foods.
“Word around the campfire is that they’re all staying up here at Fox Hall,” he said, winking at Eleanor. “I’m just gonna help myself to some free lunch and start my campaign for the championship!” Rudely turning his back on Eleanor, Jimmy filled his plate with three sandwiches and six tartlets, singing the Miss America theme song all the while.
Except for Lucy, the supper club members exchanged panicked stares as they realized that the only available seat was at their table. James swallowed his Key lime tartlet in two bites and gestured frantically at Lucy to finish her meal.
“It’s not good to shovel food in,” she said defensively and then took a deliberate bite of watercress salad. However, as soon as Jimmy Lang pulled out the empty chair next to her and asked, “This seat ain’t taken, is it?” Lucy obviously changed her mind and began to eat as though it were her last meal.
As she chewed, Lucy scooted her chair close enough to James for him to be able to smell her almond-scented body lotion. Swallowing hurriedly, she said to Jimmy, “We’re just about done, so if anyone’s planning on joining you …”
“Don’t rush away on my account.” Jimmy shoved half a sandwich into his mouth and continued talking. James noticed that the skin of his face was dry and flaky and that overall, the man appeared swollen, as though his body tissue was retaining large amounts of water. Wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his arm, Jimmy raised a thick pair of eyebrows and asked, “Y’all judges?”
“Yes. We’re judging the sow contest,” Lindy replied importantly, turning her face away as Jimmy began to noisily lick chicken salad from his fat fingers.
“Aha!” He pointed at Bennett. “Y’all are those crime-solvin’ folks, ain’t ya?” He surveyed the group while pushing an entire tartlet in his mouth. “These things don’t taste like nothin’,” he said, but he ate the dessert anyway. After several chews he declared, “I don’t mean offense, but y’all don’t look like no
“Uh, thank you, Mr. Lang.” Eleanor stepped in front of her daughter. “Francesca needs to get ready for tonight’s opening ceremonies.” She took a firm hold of her daughter’s arm and smiled at an elderly guest. “She’s the Hudsonville Festival Princess.” Eleanor beamed. “She gets to drive the Queen Sow in the victory parade and her photograph will be in all the area papers.”
“Francesca’s or the pig’s?” Jimmy asked and then guffawed.
Eleanor looked irritated. “Why, my daughter’s, of course. She’s won so many local pageants over the last five years that she’s a shoo-in for the top five at the state competition.” She pushed a lock of Francesca’s hair off of her smooth cheek. “You might just be talking to the next Miss Virginia and after that, maybe even Miss America.”
Now it was Francesca’s turn to be annoyed. Breaking away from her mother’s grasp, she sneered. “I’m going to get scholarship money based on my brains, Ma! Not my boobs!” And with that declaration, Francesca stormed into the house.
Jimmy laughed heartily and began to sing “There she is, Miss America” as he kissed the hands of the ladies seated nearby, who giggled and twittered among themselves in response.
Visibly trying to conceal her displeasure, Eleanor asked Jimmy if there was something she could assist him with. Jimmy announced that he wanted to meet the contest judges and the representative for Heartland Foods.
“Word around the campfire is that they’re all staying up here at Fox Hall,” he said, winking at Eleanor. “I’m just gonna help myself to some free lunch and start my campaign for the championship!” Rudely turning his back on Eleanor, Jimmy filled his plate with three sandwiches and six tartlets, singing the Miss America theme song all the while.
Except for Lucy, the supper club members exchanged panicked stares as they realized that the only available seat was at their table. James swallowed his Key lime tartlet in two bites and gestured frantically at Lucy to finish her meal.
“It’s not good to shovel food in,” she said defensively and then took a deliberate bite of watercress salad. However, as soon as Jimmy Lang pulled out the empty chair next to her and asked, “This seat ain’t taken, is it?” Lucy obviously changed her mind and began to eat as though it were her last meal.
As she chewed, Lucy scooted her chair close enough to James for him to be able to smell her almond-scented body lotion. Swallowing hurriedly, she said to Jimmy, “We’re just about done, so if anyone’s planning on joining you …”
“Don’t rush away on my account.” Jimmy shoved half a sandwich into his mouth and continued talking. James noticed that the skin of his face was dry and flaky and that overall, the man appeared swollen, as though his body tissue was retaining large amounts of water. Wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his arm, Jimmy raised a thick pair of eyebrows and asked, “Y’all judges?”
“Yes. We’re judging the sow contest,” Lindy replied importantly, turning her face away as Jimmy began to noisily lick chicken salad from his fat fingers.
“Aha!” He pointed at Bennett. “Y’all are those crime-solvin’ folks, ain’t ya?” He surveyed the group while pushing an entire tartlet in his mouth. “These things don’t taste like nothin’,” he said, but he ate the dessert anyway. After several chews he declared, “I don’t mean offense, but y’all don’t look like no
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