Free Peach Pies and Alibis by Ellery Adams Page B

to do some damage if necessary.
     Clean and oil your piece. We’re goin’ shootin’ tomorrow after work.”
    Ella Mae didn’t argue. Too overwhelmed to be scared, she simply nodded.
    On her way home, she glanced at her phone while at a stoplight and saw that she’d
     missed a call. She listened to a brief message from Maurelle Ambrose asking if she
     could come into the pie shop for an interview.
    “I’m hanging out at the Cubbyhole bookstore and I think I’ll be here for hours. I
     love this place.” She paused. “Um, anyway, if you happen to be in town, I’d love to
     come over and officially apply for the job.”
    Ella Mae was so close to The Charmed Pie Shoppe that it made no sense to drive past
     it and schedule the interview for another time. After her surreal day, she wanted
     to do something as normal as talk with a potential employee. Just the idea of being
     in her sunny kitchen among the aromas of buttery dough and fresh herbs made her feel
     as if her feet were still firmly planted on the ground.
    Without further hesitation, she parked in front of the pie shop. After calling Maurelle
     and inviting her to come over, she tied Chewy’s leash to the porch rail, gave him
     food and water, and then fixed two glasses of sweet tea. Normally, she’d conduct interviews
     in the main dining area, but today she felt like sitting in the rocking chair on the
     porch.
    Chewy issued a friendly bark when he saw Maurelle heading up the path, and Ella Mae
     shushed him. The young woman looked especially pale today, but she jogged up theporch stairs with a spry tread that belied the sickly appearance of her skin.
    “I thought we’d have an informal chat,” Ella Mae said, offering Maurelle a glass of
     tea. She then went on to describe what she needed from an employee and set out the
     hours and the salary she was prepared to offer. “And you can take home all the leftover
     food you want,” she added, watching as Chewy’s eyelids slid shut. She was always amused
     by how quickly her young dog dropped off to sleep.
    “I have waitressing experience,” Maurelle said when Ella Mae was done. “And I’ve been
     a line cook too, so I could pitch in around the kitchen whenever you need an extra
     hand. My energy level is fine, even though my skin’s the color of milk.” She dropped
     her silvery blue gaze and tugged the cuffs of her long-sleeved T-shirt. “Do you think
     how I dress will be a problem? Because I’d really rather not talk about, you know…”
     Swallowing hard, she continued. “I wouldn’t want your customers to feel uncomfortable.”
    “Because you wear long sleeves?” Ella Mae covered Maurelle’s hand with her own and
     was surprised by its coldness. “Fall’s on the way, and in two months we’ll all be
     dressing like you. If anyone pries into your personal life, tell them to shove it.
     I don’t care if we end up chasing off rude customers. And if someone bothers you,
     let Reba know. She’ll take care of them.”
    “Reba?”
    “She’s…” Ella Mae trailed off. It was nearly impossible to describe all that Reba
     was to her. Surrogate mother, sister, best friend, guide, and protector. “She’s our
     only waitress and a longtime family friend. I’m sure you two will get along great.”
    A fly buzzed by Chewy’s nose and the terrier shifted. Opening his eyes, he rolled
     on his back and stared at Maurelle.
    “I think he’s flirting with you,” Ella Mae said. “That’s his way of asking for a tummy
     rub.”
    “Then I can’t let him down,” Maurelle said with a smile. She reached over and gave
     Chewy a scratch. His mouth opened and he grinned in canine rapture.
    Ella Mae waved at her dog. “Chewy goes to doggie day care, so he won’t be able to
     take advantage of your good nature when the pie shop’s open.”
    Maurelle gazed at Chewy. “You’re a ladies’ man, aren’t you?”
    While Maurelle bonded with her dog, Ella Mae rocked in her chair. Gazing out at the