“I can handle it.”

“And I’m probably going to have to knock out a few teeth and flatten a few noses to keep the men away from you and that dress.”

Maggie looked down at the dress. “It’s okay now. I’m wearing a slip.”

“Honey, we’d have to cover you with full chain mail and armor to discourage men from drooling over you in that dress.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“There might be one in there somewhere. Mostly it’s a warning. Don’t expect me to act like a rational person when Slick Newman tries to cut in on a dance.”

The doors and windows of the barn had been thrown open, and the thump of the band spilled out into the darkness. People shouted over the music, and laughter rose above it all. Inside the light was dim enough for romantic dancing but bright enough to see the details on Emily Palmer’s new dress and the red highlights Laurinda Gardner had the beauty parlor put in her hair. Laurinda said the red highlights were natural, but Sandy Mae Barnes had been there when Laurinda was having her hair highlighted, and Sandy Mae had told Kathy Kutchka what she’d seen, and Kathy Kutchka had told Iris Gilfillan which was as good as telling the whole rest of the town.

Children somberly danced with the grownups, or sat sipping soda on the side lineup of wooden folding chairs that had been donated by the funeral home. Three little girls dressed up in party dresses chased a little boy across the dance floor. His face was flushed and white shirttails had escaped from his gray dress slacks.

“That’s Mark Howser’s kid, Benji,” Hank said. “He’s a real terror. He probably dropped a frog down Alice Newfarmer’s dress.”

“Do children always come to the dances?”

“Yup. If there’s a wedding or a dance, everybody in town’s invited and no one would dare stay home or they’d get talked about. There’s no one left to baby-sit the kids, so the kids come too. The Christmas party is the best. Santa Claus hands out candy canes and coloring books, and Big Irma makes her famous eggnog. The Christmas party was the highlight of my life when I was a kid.”

It was the PNA Hall transported to Skogen, Vermont, Maggie thought. There was the same dusty wood floor, the same raised stage for the band, the same cash bar in a separate room. Trestle tables and benches had been lined up on one wall, and a door led off to what she knew would be the kitchen.

It was Riverside all over again. But worse. She was even more of an oddity here, she realized. She and Hank stood in the doorway of the grange hall, and every head turned in their direction. “Good thing I wore a slip,” she whispered.

He slung an arm around her shoulders and grinned down at her. “Feeling conspicuous?”

“This must be what it feels like to stand in the middle of the road at rush hour while you’re naked.”

“It’s just that you’re new, and Skogen’s a little pressed for excitement.”

“It’s not just that I’m new,” she said. “I’m different. I’m from New Jersey. I talk like I’m from New Jersey. I walk like I’m from New Jersey. Look at me! I even have New Jersey hair!”

Hank chuckled. “I don’t think New Jersey should take credit for this hair. I think this is Maggie hair.” He bent down and kissed the top of her head. “I love your hair.”

“You think all these people know about Aunt Kitty?”

“I’d bet my life on it.”

Maggie groaned. “Guilt by association. They probably think you married a loose woman.”

Hank guided her through the crowd to the cash bar, muscling his way in front of Andy White and stomping on Farley Boyd’s instep when he tried to approach Maggie.

“They just think you’re sort of a celebrity since you’re a writer.”

Henry Gooley lurched in front of Maggie and winked. Hank lifted him three inches off the floor by his necktie. “You want something, Henry?”

“Urk.”

“Put him down!” Maggie said. “You’re choking him!”

Hank set Henry onto the floor and smoothed out his tie.

“Jest wanted to say howdy,” Henry said, backing away.

Maggie closed her eyes and counted to ten. “This is fast becoming the most embarrassing night of my life, and considering the life I’ve led that’s really saying something. You’re acting like the village goon.”

“Yeah. You bring out the beast in me.”

Elsie elbowed her way through the crowd to Maggie. “This here’s a humdinger of a party. I bet everybody for fifty miles came to this dance. I bet those guys who broke into our house are here.” She patted her big black patent leather pocketbook. “I brought Little Leroy along, just in case.”

“It isn’t loaded, is it?” Hank asked. “I’d hate to see you shoot up the grange hall.”

“Of course it’s loaded. A woman’s got to protect herself.”

Slick Newman sidled up to Maggie. “Howdy,” he said, “I’m Slick Newman and I was wondering if you’d like to dance.”

Hank gripped Maggie’s arm just above the elbow. “Elsie, you mind if I borrow your pocketbook for a minute?”

Maggie glared at him. “Don’t you dare borrow Elsie’s pocketbook.” She turned to Slick. “I’d love to dance.”

“Oh no, you wouldn’t,” Hank said, still holding tight to her arm. “You promised the first dance to me.” He smiled amiably at Slick. “I’m a little tense to night. I’ve never been married before.”

“Sad,” Slick said, giving him a consoling slap on the back. “You were one of the really great ones too.”

Hank moved Maggie out onto the dance floor. “Okay, here goes,” he said, assuming a dancing position. He took a deep breath and swayed a little. “How am I doing?”

“Good start,” Maggie told him.

He held her closer and continued swaying. “Dancing isn’t so bad after all. I think I’m going to like this.”

“It’d be more interesting if we moved around some.”

“I don’t know-moving around sounds complicated.” He eased her forward and stepped on her foot. “Oops, sorry.”

“You’d better get the hang of this,” Maggie said, “because I’m not marrying any man for real who can’t dance.”

“No problem. It’s just a matter of timing. Oops, sorry.” He carefully steered her around Evelyn Judd and Ed Kritch. “So, are you saying that if I learn to dance you’ll marry me?”

“No. I was making conversation. I was providing incentive. I think I was teasing.”

Evelyn Judd tapped Hank on the shoulder. “Is this Hank Mallone dancing? I don’t believe it. Fifteen years ago we were named king and queen of the fair, and this bum misses my coronation dance! I know you’re newlyweds and everything, but I think Hank owes me a dance.”

Maggie stared openmouthedly as Evelyn deftly maneuvered herself into Hank’s arms and glided away with him. Then she heard Evelyn gasp, and she heard Hank say, “Oops, sorry,” and Maggie felt a little better.

“Guess it’s you and me,” Ed Kritch said.

He was tall and rangy with sandy-colored hair that fell straight down onto his ears and across his forehead. He held Maggie in a loose-jointed slouch as they traveled across the dance floor, making the usual inane dance floor conversation.

“How do you like Skogen?” he said.

“I like it fine,” Maggie answered.

“The weather’s been dry most of this week,” he offered.

Maggie agreed.

There was a pause and they both knew he was working up to the big question. “I hear you’re a writer.”

“Yup,” Maggie said.

“Is it true that your aunt left you her diary with…um, personal stuff in it?”

“My aunt was a madam, and while there are some personal observations, most of the diary consists of pretty mundane information.”

They’d traveled halfway around the grange and were in the shadow of the open side door. “You mind if we stop here for just a second,” Ed said. “The fresh air feels great.”

Maggie momentarily turned her back to Ed and the door, taking the opportunity to look for Hank.

“Sorry to have to do this,” Ed said. “Hope I don’t mess up your hair none.”

And then he snatched her out the door and threw a grain sack over her head. Her scream was cut short by a hand clamped over her mouth. She kicked out, but strong arms lifted her off the ground, carried her a short distance, and dumped her into a car.