Page 15 of Rumors in Bayberry
He walked straight toward a wall of hay bales.He had to choose to go left or right.He chose to go to the left.There was no rhyme or reason.As he moved farther through the maze, he found that was the case for every choice he made.After a while, he came to a point where he recognized a particular stack of bales.He’d gone in a circle.So, he went right instead of going left again.
He had no idea how far he was through the maze when he spotted Sadie.He saw her through a small gap in the bales.It was much too small to walk through.And there was no way to reach Sadie, because even though she was in the next row over, he didn’t have a way to get to her.
And so, he kept meandering around.He felt as though he were going in a great number of circles.Finally, he worked his way to what he thought was the outside wall of the maze.He kept to the edge, but then he found himself directed back to the center of the maze.Whoever had designed the maze had done a good job.
Even though it was late September, the afternoon sun was hot and making him wish he’d grabbed a bottle of water before heading into the maze.He kept walking.He knew he’d been in there a long time when more of the hay bales began to look familiar.
He had no idea how much time had passed when he finally made it to theFinishbanner.Hot and thirsty, he stepped out of the maze.
He glanced at his wristwatch.It had been well past a half hour.He inwardly groaned.He could only hope that Sadie had gotten more turned around than he had.
But when he looked up, a cold-water bottle was thrust at him.He looked to the side and saw Sadie standing there.She didn’t look hot and sweaty.She looked relaxed and beautiful.
Sadie continued to hold the bottle out to him while wearing the smile of a winner.He inwardly groaned again.What exactly had he gotten himself into?
“Did you have fun?”she asked.
He held up a finger.Then he opened the water bottle and took a long drink.He wiped off his mouth with the back of his arm.
It was only then that he looked at her.“Do I even want to know how long you’ve been standing here?”
“Not long.”When he started to feel better, she said, “When I finished, I went to talk to my friend Abby, who has a booth here at the festival.While I was there, I got us some waters.”
His shoulders slumped.She was telling him he was a total failure at the maze.He would have to concur with her.
She studied him.“I take it you didn’t like it.”
He met her gaze.“Why would you say that?”
“Because you’re frowning.”
“I am?”He hadn’t realized it.“I guess it’s because I’m trying to figure out how you got through the maze so fast.”And then he wondered if she really did know the path through the maze, but he wouldn’t put voice to his suspicions.
Her gaze narrowed.“No.I didn’t cheat.”
“Hey, I didn’t say that.”
“But you were thinking it.”She arched a fine brow as she smiled, as though proud of herself for reading his thoughts.“I’ll have you know that I’ve been doing mazes my whole life.I guess I have a knack for them.”
“Mind sharing your tips?”
She shrugged.“I guess since you’re going to be working the maze I should clue you in.Look up.”
“What?”
She pointed upward.“Look up.What do you see?”
He couldn’t tell if she was pulling his leg or not, so he tilted his chin upward.“I see a cloud in the blue sky.”
“What else do you see?”
He turned his head and decided to have some more fun with her.“I see a bird.”
She sighed.“Try to find something stationary.”
“Oh.”He lowered his head to give her a teasing grin.“The second floor of a red brick building.”
“Yes.You can use the buildings to sort of help you find your way through the maze.”
