...Sarah grabbed Maggie’s hand, dragging her through the crowd.
“Now, where’s Dennis?” Sarah looked in all directions.
“Dennis?” Maggie asked.
“My partner. Oh, we didn’t find you a partner, did we?” She gave Maggie an apologetic look, then snapped her head around. “Ah, there he is!” She released Maggie’s hand and ran to a red-faced young man with curly blond hair.
“Come be my helper.”
Maggie turned. John stood behind her—sweating and grinning, and smelling none too clean. She saw Benjamin from the corner of her eye, within hearing distance.
“Hoping to find a red ear then, are you?” she asked in a too-loud voice. Why did she feel so flustered and self-conscious when Benjamin was near?
John threw his head back and laughed. “Ha! I should be so fortunate.”
The corn husking had already begun, and squeals of delight pierced the clamor as each new red ear was found. Maggie had been under the impression the red ears were rare, and thought it odd that so many men were already finding them.
Though she hadn’t consented or declined, John grasped her hand in his and pulled her into the midst of the activity.
Maggie giggled as she stood next to John, up to his hips in corn. Hundreds of the lumpy green and yellow ears surrounded her, silk spilling out the ends.
Maggie’s hands were soft, but no strangers to work. She deftly stripped the husks from the corn, and brushed the silk away.
Less than ten minutes had passed when John bounded up from the corn.
“Oho!” He turned in a circle, waving the red ear high for all to see.
Maggie laughed and offered her cheek for the obligatory kiss. To her surprise and dismay, John grabbed her face in both hands and kissed her, fully and deeply, on the mouth. The pungent taste of whiskey lingered on her tongue.
The subsequent loud howls and applause were no match in intensity for her shock and humiliation. She did spot Benjamin then, possibly the only person besides herself not laughing. He stood close by, his hands crammed into his trouser pockets. With a dark scowl on his face, he turned and walked away.
She wanted to slap John’s face, but instead composed herself and forced a smile. “I think someone’s had a bit too much whiskey.”
John feigned humility and bowed. “Apologies, ma’am; I couldn’t control myself.”
The laughter heightened, and inevitable tears of embarrassment caught in Maggie’s throat. She felt as though she were on display, and wanted only to get away. She smiled and excused herself, saying she’d had enough corn husking for one day.
She escaped the crowd and found a secluded spot of grass under a shady oak tree. She sat, pulled her knees up to her chest, and dropped her face into her hands.
“Having fun?” Benjamin stood beside her, watching the crowd in the distance.
His sarcastic tone didn’t escape her. She wished the kiss hadn’t happened, and more than anything that Benjamin hadn’t seen it. She brushed at her eyes and stiffened her jaw. “Yes, I am; thank you for asking.”
“I take it you won’t be staying for the dance?” Benjamin asked. “It usually starts at early candle-lighting—following the ritual bath—when everyone smells their cleanest. Or didn’t the sisters tell you about that little attraction?”
“I’ll not be poked fun at, thank you very much,” Maggie said, her voice quivering. “I’ll also not be in any mood to dance, tonight, and I’ve certainly no intention of watching anyone bathe.”
Benjamin cleared his throat and continued to look into the crowd. “My brother cheats.”
“Pardon me?” Maggie wanted him to face her when he spoke.
He nodded. “John has an entire hoard of red ears and manages to produce one when the opportunity arises. He’s not the only man to do this, of course. The sheriff and press have caught on, but in the spirit of the gathering, they allow it to continue.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Maggie’s shame was quickly turning to agitation, and she wished he would go away before she said something regretful. “Isn’t my embarrassment complete enough for you, or would you have me fade right into this tree bark?”
“Nonsense.” Benjamin glanced toward her, then faced away again. “I’m only looking out for your best interest, since you have no one else to do that for you and obviously don’t have the good sense to do it yourself.”
“I don’t need you or anyone else looking out for me. I can take care of myself.” Maggie’s pulse raced with anger and indignation.
“You did a wonderful job of it just now, didn’t you?” he asked.
The smirk on his face was more than Maggie could stand. She stood and placed her hands on her hips. “You’re a rude, arrogant man, Benjamin Driver. You’ve no cause to be acting so hateful.”
She stormed away without another word.