Free Maud's Line by Margaret Verble

here?” He held out a page illustrated with several pair of hands and ropes in different positions. “It shows all the angles.”
    Maud pretended interest in the pictures, and Booker named a price. Billy pulled more coins out to pay and then stuffed the book into his right hip pocket. Maud couldn’t see a graceful way back to the original conversation. Worse, she didn’t see any way to dump Billy without looking heartless, and she knew males sometimes sided with each other in their sympathies even if they were rivals. She didn’t want to look cruel, but she didn’t want to leave. So she was stuck. And she was fishing around for something to remark on when a commotion arose on the other side of the wagon. Booker said, “Excuse me,” and stepped away.
    Maud was still on the book side of the rig, her view blocked by the pyramid, when she heard an official-sounding voice: “Are you Mr. Booker Wakefield?”
    Both she and Billy moved toward the voice, and Booker said, “Yes, sir. What can I do for you?”
    â€œYou can come with me.”
    Maud knew the sheriff. And she was about to say, “That’s just stupid gossip,” when Booker said, “What for?”
    â€œIt’s about the school burning.”
    Booker rubbed the back of his neck. Then he laid his hand on the edge of his wagon and gripped it, his elbow stiff. “Do you have probable cause?”
    The sheriff said, “Do ya want to come peacefully, or should I persuade you?” He put his hand on the butt of his gun.
    The crowd had grown thicker. The faces were lit by lanterns. Most were women of childbearing age with little ones at their skirts. Husbands were sprinkled around in groups behind their wives. The deputy was at the sheriff’s right shoulder. Booker said, “I need to close up. I can’t leave my wares.”
    Maud felt heat rising up beneath her dress and her slip, and with it, the urge to blurt out, “That silly woman just wants attention.” But she realized that accusation would only complicate the situation and that she didn’t have any proof except her intuition. Besides, she knew it made matters worse that she was there, that men hated to be humiliated in front of women. She felt embarrassed for Booker and wanted to back away, to disappear, and then to reappear again, maybe at the jail, to save the day. But she also recognized that was a foolish desire. Heroic moments happened only in the pages of books. She touched Billy on the arm and jerked her head as a signal to step away.
    They moved outside of the ring of light, and Maud watched without speaking as Booker, in silence, rolled down the netting over his goods, rolled down the bright blue canvas, killed his lanterns’ lights, and hung the lanterns on hooks on the side of his wagon. By the time that was done, most of the crowd had dispersed and one child’s voice was yelling in the distance, “They’ve arrested the drummer!” Only the glow of the dim yellow lights of the dancing patch remained in the air. But that was light enough for Maud to see Booker look in her direction. As though they were alone in the world, he shook his head. She nodded and mouthed the words
I know
. Then he climbed into the seat of his wagon, picked up the reins, and after the sheriff climbed in on the other side, flapped them, and clucked at his horses.
    Maud said to Billy, “There’s no justice in that. Some ignorant woman accused him and the sheriff needs someone to pin the fire on.”
    â€œWhat makes you so sure he’s innocent?”
    â€œI don’t have to be sure. They have to be. That’s how the law works.”
    â€œReally?” Billy looked at Maud sideways.
    â€œWell, no. But that’s the way they tell it.”
    â€œThey tell a lot of things, Maud. None true as far as I’ve ever seen.”
    There was no denying he was right. So she and Billy walked in silence around