Free Black Beans & Vice by J. B. Stanley Page A

corn
in here too." He squirted on another dollop of ketchup. "Doesn't
taste like McDonald's, but it's okay."
    The three of them ate their lunches and watched the thickening crowd. James noticed Roslyn Rhodes working her way through
a knot of people. She looked utterly frazzled. Her long hair was
tangled, her face was shining with perspiration, and her eyes
darted around wildly.
    "That's the woman who came to the library with the event
posters," James told Jane.
    Jane followed his gaze. "She looks a little freaked out."
    In a few minutes, the reason behind her anxiety became clear.
A group of grim-faced farmers barreled past, clearly following
in Roslyn's wake. Concerned that Roslyn might need assistance,
James darted after them.
    Just outside the tent, James found Roslyn, Harmony, Skye, and
two men standing on one side of a folding table while five farmers
shouted at them from the other side.

    "We're locals too!" one of them hollered with a clenched fist.
"You only kept us out because we're livestock farmers!"
    A second one slammed his hand on the table. "Your fruit-loopy
friends are gonna make us lose business! It's bad enough you
didn't invite us to this damned fair, but now you're tryin' to ruin
our livelihood too!"
    Roslyn held out her hands in supplication. "I did not invite
those demonstrators and I do not have the authority to make
them leave! They're on public property."
    The man standing next to Harmony put his arm around her in
a protective gesture. James assumed he was her husband. "Gentlemen, the Wellness Village merchants decided to promote vegan
and vegetarian lifestyles during this festival. It was their prerogative to make that call. No one involved with the Village is speaking
against your farms, so please stop yelling at us."
    The young man next to Skye who wore a tie-dye Grateful Dead
shirt, frayed denim shorts, and an armful of beaded hemp bracelets, flicked a sandy-colored dreadlock off his shoulder. "Yeah.
Chill out, dudes," he added.
    Skye smiled at him and took his hand.
    Temporarily derailed, one of the farmers glanced around
as though in search of support from members of the public. He
called out someone's name and a man in a purple polo shirt and
tan chinos halted mid-stride and turned to face them. James recognized him. He was Ned Woodman, one of the town councilmen.
    Seeing the standoff in progress, Ned pivoted away as though
he hadn't heard his name shouted above the din of festival goers.
More enraged than ever, the farmers darted after him and before James could offer his assistance to either group, the situation had
been diffused. At least for the moment, he thought.

    "Everything okay?" he asked, stepping up to the table.
    Roslyn sank into a metal chair, wrapping her long hair around
her hand as though her locks could offer her protection. "For now,
but I'm afraid those men are too upset to behave rationally. The
picketers out front ... well, they really taunted those men."
    James didn't like the sound of that. "Who are they? Animal
rights demonstrators?"
    Harmony nodded. "Yes. They often congregate at fairs like
ours, as they are able to recruit volunteers and solicit donations
from a receptive public. But it's a shame the day couldn't have
been more peaceful." To change the subject, she introduced her
husband Mike, and pointed at the young man standing next to
Skye. "And this is Skye's boyfriend, Lennon Snyder. He's in charge
of the maintenance here at the Village."
    James shook hands with the men and then focused on Roslyn
once again. "I'm going to give my friend Lucy a call. She's a sheriff's deputy and will know how to restore peace and order."
    Roslyn and Harmony readily agreed to the suggestion and
James went off to find a quiet corner behind a budding Crepe
Myrtle tree. He dialed Lucy's number and was relieved when she
answered on the first ring.
    "I'm on my way!" she exclaimed when he'd finished relaying
his concerns. "I've got Lindy with me