The Pickled Piper Read Online Free

concern.
    Piper looked off in the direction that Nate had gone with Amy. How badly might it impact that young musician, she wondered, that he had managed to cross someone like Alan Rosemont? But then she shook her head. It was, after all, just one argument between them. In a day or two, everyone involved would forget about their differences and move on.
    Or so she hoped.

3
    â€œW hy don’t you take a break, Piper?” Aunt Judy suggested. “I’ll be glad to watch the booth for you; that is, if you trust me to handle it?”
    Piper laughed. “Since you’re the one who taught me everything I know about pickling, I don’t think you’d have any trouble. But if you’re sure you don’t mind, I’d love to find a quiet place to sit down. Just for a few minutes.”
    â€œThen go. Scoot!” Aunt Judy made sweeping motions with her hands. “Jack can lie here in the shade and people watch. You’ll like that, won’t you, Jack?” Currently crunching on the dog biscuit Aunt Judy had slipped him, Jack seemed just fine with the arrangement. A thoughtful look crossed Aunt Judy’s face. “There’s a nice, shady bench behind the youth group’s concession stand. You could grab something cool to drink there and relax.”
    â€œSounds good.”
    â€œOh, and would you mind giving Will Burchett a message for me while you’re there?”
    â€œSure. Who’s Will Burchett?”
    â€œWill bought the Christmas tree farm from the Andersons two years ago. He’s running the barbecue grill at the stand today, to help out with the fund-raising. Tell him if he runs low on onions for the barbecue, I threw a couple of bags in the truck. He can just call Frank or me if he needs them.”
    â€œOkay. See you in a bit.”
    â€œTake your time,” her aunt called out as Piper took off in the direction of the food concessions and the youth group stand. She didn’t have to search hard, as the aroma of spicy barbecue soon wafted her way, allowing her to follow her nose.
    She waited her turn at the counter, watching as a busy group of teens filled orders for hungry fairgoers, looking like they were having a great time while raising money for their organization. They scuttled back and forth between the front counter and a smoke-spewing grill at the rear, manned by someone in a blue T-shirt who Piper assumed was Will Burchett.
    When she got her tall cup of lemonade, Piper went around to the back to deliver her aunt’s message. She’d been expecting someone about Uncle Frank’s age, but the closer she got, the more off the mark she realized she’d been.
    â€œWill Burchett?” she asked of the tall man whose back was to her. The T-shirt topped trim khaki shorts, and the arms wielding the cooking tongs were muscular and tanned. A huge, sauce-stained apron was tied at his back.
    â€œBe right with you,” a baritone voice answered as Burchett flipped two meaty ribs and slathered them with thick red sauce. He set his tongs down and turned around.
    Piper gazed up at the bluest eyes she’d ever seen, set into an even-featured face. But what she liked most was the solid, open expression on that face, a kind of what-you-see-is-what-you-get, no-games look. She smiled.
    â€œJudy Lamb asked me to tell you she has plenty of onions on hand, and you can call her or my Uncle Frank whenever you need them.”
    â€œGreat! You’re their niece?”
    Piper held out her hand. “Piper Lamb. I have a pickling booth across that way.”
    Burchett grabbed a towel to wipe his hands before shaking hers. “Nice to meet you.” He kept on shaking. “Your aunt mentioned you, and I meant to stop by your shop sometime. But things have been kind of busy at the tree farm.”
    â€œYes, I can imagine there’s a lot to do.” Piper thought she should probably pull her hand back, but it felt really nice enveloped in his