Gunns & Roses(16)
“Wally told me to call him when we’re at the main parade field so they can meet us there.” Ian paused as he waited for a couple to walk past in front of the empty space he intended to fill. “They usually have big tents with different-color stripes around the field. If we find one with a unique color, it’ll make it easier for them to find us.” The way cleared, he pulled into the space and parked.
Annie exited the car, digging into her bag to retrieve a periwinkle blue brimmed hat. As she adjusted the hat over her forehead so she had just enough to shade her eyes from the sun without blocking her vision, she looked around. “And what direction would the parade field be?”
Ian was gazing at Annie, admiring how the color of her hat made her eyes appear even greener. He paused in answering long enough to draw the attention of Alice, who allowed a shadow of a smile to cross her lips. Ignoring Alice’s expression, Ian gestured ahead of them and to the left. “This way, ladies. Just let me grab the chairs.” He popped open the trunk with his key and ducked behind it to retrieve the chairs.
Alice pulled a Red Sox baseball cap out of her jeans pocket and settled it on her head, drawing her high auburn ponytail through the hole in the back while laughing to herself that the mayor would be much less enamored with her style choice. But since she had never been able to feel anything but a warm friendship for Ian, she was fine with that.
At the entrance to the Highland Games, Ian obtained brochures of the event for each of them. He glanced at his watch. “We have plenty of time to find a good vantage point for the parade of bands. Let’s check out the tents.” The three wove through the groups of people milling around the smaller tents near the entrance. Once they reached the perimeter of the large level main field, they stopped to take in the scene before them. Tall trees wearing their summer green lushness bordered the field, making a fine backdrop for the festivities.
“The tents look so cheery against the green trees,” Annie said. “I see three yellow-stripe tents, two green-stripes, and one blue-stripe over there.” She pointed to the blue tent positioned near the center of the field lengthwise. “Anyone see another blue-stripe tent?”
After a minute of scanning around the whole field, Alice shook her head. “I don’t.”
“Neither do I,” agreed Ian, “and it’s near the center of the field, making it a great vantage point. Let’s meet the Carsons there.”
As they made their way toward the blue-stripe tent, the mayor called Wally to tell him where they would meet. “Wally’s just parked,” he informed Annie and Alice after returning his phone to its case attached to his belt. “They won’t be long.”
When they arrived at the blue-stripe tent, a lot of people had already set out chairs behind the colorful flagged barrier, but there was still room for the Stony Point contingent. Ever the gentleman, Ian opened the camp chairs and made sure the two women were comfortable; then he strolled back and forth over the adjacent square of grass to keep it free for the Carsons.
Annie’s eyes sparkled as she watched the activity around her and felt the cooling breeze flow across the field to caress her. “I still can’t get over the difference between Maine and Texas Augusts,” she said. “There was no way I would go to an all-day outdoor event in August back home. OK, maybe I would go, if I had to, but I wouldn’t enjoy it.” She leaned back in her chair with a happy sigh. “Here I can people-watch all I want without sweating; I like that.”
Alice looked sideways in Ian’s direction. “I think Ian wants to person-watch.” She leaned closer to Annie and dropped her voice. “Did you notice how he looked at you while you were putting on your hat? Rarely is our mayor so entranced by headgear.”
Annie opened her mouth to deny Alice’s observation, something she’d begun to do instinctively over the prior few months, but she saw the Carsons making their way toward them. “Oh, there they are.” She waved vigorously at the parents and daughter.
Peggy had slung a large bag stuffed with an old quilt from her shoulder, her wrist now free of any bandaging. Alice called out to them, “Come stake your claim. Ian’s been working hard to keep that patch clear of squatters.”
“Thanks, Mr. Mayor,” Peggy said as she approached Ian. “The crowds are growing fast.” She lowered the bag to the ground and pulled the quilt free to spread it next to Ian’s chair. “Even Em won’t have any trouble seeing everything from here.”
Emily jumped up and down, pointing across the field. “Mom, look! All those people are in skirts, I mean, kilts.” She ran over to her father, who was talking to Ian. “Look, Daddy! Those are the kilts I was telling you about. Would you ever wear one?”