She shook her head. "My tummy hurts a little bit."

The trill of a cell phone sounded behind them. Everybody in the vicinity turned to stare. Sam pulled his phone off his belt, then shook his head. "Not me."

Ed yanked his out of the pocket of his denim shirt as Cassie noticed the wide lapels for the first time. Either Ed was getting a jump-start on a new fashion trend, or he'd hung on to that shirt for at least a couple of decades.

He put the phone to his ear. "Ed Farrell."

Cassie watched as his color deepened on his cheeks.

"Well, you just tell them that I had it surveyed and that's the damned property line. Show them the papers, for Pete's sakes."

He stayed on the line for a few more moments, shaking his head and muttering expletives. Finally, he ended the call and shoved the phone back into his pocket.

"I gotta go. Those idiots by the old MacLaren farm are threatening my guys with shotguns, telling them it's private property. I'm goin' to get the sheriff, and then we'll decide who's right."

He glared at Sam. "And if I find you're responsible for this, I'm hauling you to jail, too."

Sam didn't notice. He was too busy watching Knoxie. Mary Jane had moved to stand next to them and was smoothing the sticky strands of flaming hair off Knoxie's face. A distinct green tinge covered the little girl's pale cheeks.

"I don't feel so good." Without warning, she leaned over Mary Jane and vomited up what food had escaped her face and clothes and actually made it down to her stomach. The glorious red silk tank top now closely resembled an elementary-school art project.

Miraculously, no one else had sustained any damage. Sam sat Knoxie on the ground as the rest of the adults stood in shocked silence and the younger children added the requisite potty-humor remarks. Only Harriet, her skills honed by years of motherhood, flew into action. Delving deep into the diaper bag that hung suspended on Amanda's stroller, she pulled out a box of diaper wipes and a handful of cloth diapers. She handed several wipes to Sam for Knoxie's forehead, then set to work on Mary Jane's blouse.

Sam sent a wry grin to Cassie. "Guess it kinda runs in the family."

Cassie blinked, trying to understand what he meant, then remem-bered the humiliating scene on her father's porch the night of the fall formal. Patently ignoring him, she turned her attention to Mary Jane, who appeared close to tears as Cassie moved closer to help.

"Don't worry. If you take it to the dry cleaners tomorrow morning, I'm sure they'll be able to get it all out." The stench of throw-up mixed with scented diaper wipes made her throat constrict. She swallowed thickly and closed her eyes.

Mary Jane shook her head. "I need to go home. I reek to high heaven."

Cassie patted her friend on the shoulder. "But you just got here. Why don't you at least stay and see the parade and then see how you feel."

"No. I'm . . . I'm not in the mood anymore. I want to go home."

Sam looked up from a quickly recovered Knoxie, who was asking for more ice cream. "I'll take you home, if that's what you want. Harriet-I'll take you and Knoxie home, too, but I think she's back to form now. Just needed to empty her stomach."

Harriet cast a glance at her daughter. "Yeah-I knew better than to let her eat all that stuff. I'll let her stay if she promises not to eat anything else."

Knoxie frowned at her mother, but Harriet turned her attention back to Sam. "But it's silly for you to leave. It looks like Ed has to go, too, so why don't we have him drive Mary Jane back?"

Ed shifted impatiently, then eyed Mary Jane closely, his eyes focused on the middle of her chest. "Sure, I'll do it. Just hope you don't mind if I drive real fast. I got business to attend to." He cleared his throat. "And by the time I'm done, I'll swing back by your place to bring you back. That will give you plenty of time to get all prettied up again." He cast a quick glance at Cassie. "That all right with you, sugar?"

Cassie nodded, anxiously eyeing Mary Jane, who looked as if she might burst into tears. Mary Jane looked around at the adult faces as if waiting for an objection or another solution, but none seemed forthcoming. Straightening her shoulders, she moved toward Ed. "Fine, then. Let's go."

Without saying good-bye to anybody, she followed Ed into the crowd.

Cassie felt a nudging in her ribs and turned to see Harriet winking at her.

"What . . . ?" Cassie's eyes widened as she realized what Harriet was trying to tell her.

She started to give her sister a piece of her mind when a large roar went up from the crowd lining the main square. The tinny sounds of a marching band could be heard coming down the street. Everyone sit-ting on the curbs now stood and stepped back onto the grass, pressing the crowd backward. Cassie found herself wedged against Sam Parker but couldn't extricate herself.

A convertible came first, carrying the retired state senator and his wife, who were perched incongruously on the rear of the backseat and waving stiffly. Cassie recognized Senator Billy Thompkins. He lived in an old Victorian on the edge of town and raised chickens in his yard. She remembered being chased by the man as a child when she'd been caught trying to mix dish soap in their feed. She'd want-ed to see them cackle up bubbles. Senator Thompkins hadn't been amused. She laughed at the memory and found herself waving back.

Young girls in leotards of red and white stripes, the high school colors, marched by, their skinny legs off-step but their silver batons flashing in unison as they tossed and twirled them over their heads and across their bodies. One fell and rolled to the curb nearby. The girl rushed over to retrieve it and caught Madison's eye. With a wink and a smile, she ran back to her position.

Next came the marching bands, the members sweating under their tall hats and pom-poms, their capes rising limply in the humid air. The perennial disco favorite "Celebration" bounced around the crowd, encouraging not a few people to start singing.

Finally, the float carrying the Kudzu Queen ambled by, pulled by an old bright red pickup, the driver looking to be of the same vintage as the truck. Lucy Spafford stood on a tall platform, waving proudly, her chiffon-and-feather dress floating dreamily around her. Cassie smiled to herself, thinking how much she resembled cotton candy. Kudzu vines and bunches of plastic flowers and balloons clustered around Lucy like clouds, and her celestial expression added to the effect. Out of sight of the float's occupants, cream-colored balloons edged the rear of the float, jiggling up and down with every bump in the road. They seemed stiff and oddly shaped, making Cassie do a double take. She nearly choked when she realized what they were.

She turned to Harriet, who was squinting at the back of the float, where a whole line of the peculiar balloons were strung together like a tail. "What on earth . . . ?"

Cassie caught Sam's gaze over Harriet's head. Together, they turned to focus on Madison, who was now doubled over in a seeming coughing fit.

Harriet gave firm pats to the middle of Madison's back. "You okay, honey? What's the matter?"

Cassie leaned down to her niece and spoke quietly. "Do I take it that you were in charge of the decorations on the float?"

Madison only managed a nod.

Sam's hand gripped Madison's shoulder. "Come on, Maddie. Let's go get you some water." He steered her away from her mother just as Harriet's eyes widened in comprehension.

"Were those . . . ?" She lowered her voice to a mere whisper. "Condoms?"

Cassie patted her sister's arm. "I'm going to go check on Maddie to make sure she's okay. I'll be back." She turned and followed Sam and her niece into the crowd.

She found them standing by the drink stand, Sam holding a cup of water out for Madison. Her face was deep red, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Cassie fought the urge to laugh out loud and congratulate her niece on a prank well done. Sam's stern expression stopped her from patting Madison on the back.

Sam's expression didn't change as he spoke to the young girl. "When Lucy sees those, uh, balloons, she's going to be mighty embarrassed. And I don't think she'll need to look far to figure out who's behind it."

Madison looked up at Sam, her face now a fading pink, and took a deep swallow of water. "No, sir."

"How do you think your mother's going to like getting that call from Lucy's mother?"

For the first time, Madison looked chagrined. "I only meant to embarrass Lucy. She deserved it. But my mom doesn't need to get involved."

Sam straightened. "I think it's a little late for that."

They all turned to see Joe and Harriet marching toward them, pushing the stroller like a weapon, their faces grim. Joey and Sarah Frances ran behind them as Knoxie clung tight to her daddy's shoulders. They all came to a stop in front of Madison. Sam and Cassie took their cue to leave, but not before Cassie gave her niece's shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

Sam grabbed Cassie's hand and led her into the thick of the crowd.

"Where are we going?"

He didn't answer, but kept his hand firmly gripping Cassie's.

She asked again, "Where are we going?"

When he didn't answer, she dug in her heels. As he faced her, she realized that he was laughing-hard. His eyes sparkled with merriment. When he caught his breath, he gasped out, "That was about damned near the funniest thing I've ever seen. Almost as funny as that pig you got for Harriet's float when she was Kudzu Queen."

Cassie's lips twitched in an effort not to smile. "You mean you're not really mad at Maddie? I think you had her about ready to cry."

He swiped his hand over his face as if trying to sober himself up but didn't completely wipe the grin off his face. "Well, I had to at least pretend to be a grown-up with no sense of humor. I've got a reputation to keep in this town."

At that, Cassie finally lost the last of her control, and she burst out laughing, not able to stop. She clutched Sam's arms for support and looked up into his face. Breathless, she asked, "What are you staring at?"

His smile softened, but his eyes never dimmed. "You. Your laugh. I've always loved the sound of it."

The smile dipped on her face as she watched something flicker in Sam's eyes. Lou-Lou Whittaker walked by, her bleached hair teased out into perfect roundness, a bright red headband bisecting it and making it look like a beach ball. Her arm was tucked into the crook of the arm of a tall cowboy Cassie didn't recognize, but she practically purred as she passed Cassie and gave her a knowing look.

Cassie swallowed her laughter when she realized there were about another dozen sets of eyes staring at her and Sam and probably coming to the same conclusion Lou-Lou had. She dropped her hand from Sam's arm.

"I need a drink." She headed for a concession stand.

Sam moved in front of her. "Allow me. What would you like?"

She smacked her lips. "I want some of that kudzu punch. I was never allowed to have it when I was a kid, so I think it's about time."

"One kudzu and one water, please."

While waiting for their drinks, Sam turned around and leaned both elbows on the counter. "I'd join you, but I'm on call tonight. You do realize that there's mostly grain alcohol in the punch, right?"

Cassie looked at him with a practiced smirk on her face. "I can handle alcohol. We have that in New York." She took the Styrofoam cup and stared inside at the bright green liquid. "Perhaps not exactly any in this particular hue, but we do have alcohol."

She took a small sip and smiled. "It tastes like lemonade. I doubt there's very much alcohol in it." With that, she took a large gulp, ignoring Sam's protests. She slapped her empty cup on the counter. "May I have another one, please?"

Raising an eyebrow, Sam leaned against the counter while another cup was slid over to Cassie. "Guess you hadn't heard the rumors about this punch, then."

Cassie took a big gulp. "What rumors?"

Abroad grin split his face. "That it's what they call an aphrodisiac. More babies are born in Walton nine months after the Kudzu Festival than at any other time. I know never to schedule vacations or conferences in the month of April."

Cassie plopped her half-filled cup on the counter. "April? Oh, Lord- I was born in April!"

Sam straightened and winked. "So was I."

"Ew. I'd rather not think about that." She shook her head, won-dering why things appeared to be swimming in front of her. The rumbling and shouts from the roller coaster caught her attention. "Let's go on that."

Sam held her back. "You might want to rethink that. Aren't you feeling a bit woozy right now?"

"I'm perfectly fine." She stumbled over a piece of trash on the ground. "I want to go on the roller coaster. It's just a kiddy ride, anyway."

He studied her for a moment. "All right. I know better than to get in the way of a determined woman. Come on. We should go now before it starts to rain." He grabbed her hand and led her across the field to the roller coaster.

The first tremors of nausea didn't hit her until they had clack-clacked up the rickety track to the first plunge. By the time they had reached the second plunge, Cassie had her face buried in the side of Sam's shoulder. At the third one, she was holding her hand over her mouth and begging to get off.

Sam had to help her out of the car and almost carry her away from the roller coaster and to the open field behind the festival buildings. Without warning, she stopped abruptly and knelt on the grass. Unable to stop herself, she bent over and threw up.

With gentle hands, Sam pulled her hair away from her face and placed his fingers on the back of her neck. When she had finished, she sat back on her legs but kept her face down.

Sam rubbed her neck. "Just like old times, huh?"

She threw out a halfhearted punch that barely brushed his shoulder.

He dug into his back pocket and handed her a handkerchief.

Cassie took it and wiped her face. "Thanks. I'm starting quite a collection of these."

Sam said nothing, but continued to rub her neck and back.

Cassie sighed. "You know, if you weren't such a burr under my sad-dle, I'd say you were a pretty nice guy, Sam Parker."

"Thanks. I think."

A few sprinkles began to fall on them from the darkening sky, the moon all but obliterated by the hulking clouds.

Sam sat back on his heels. "Guess we're not going to make it to the watermelon-seed-spitting contest."

Cassie looked at him sharply. "I don't spit, and I have no intention of being seen anywhere near it." She clutched her forehead, the skin slick and clammy.

"Hmm. I seem to recall you winning it one year in high school- our senior year, right? You should have that trophy somewhere in your room."

She did. The faux brass trophy, an enlarged replica of a watermelon seed, was indeed still displayed proudly on her dresser. Whenever she got around to cleaning out her room, that would be the first thing in the garbage. For a brief moment, she pictured bringing it back to her apartment in New York and placing it on the black lacquer of their bedroom dresser and explaining its significance to Andrew. The thought made her laugh out loud.

Sam quirked an eyebrow. "What's so funny?"

She studied him for a moment before answering. Damn, he was good-looking-better-looking than such an annoying man had any right to be. He was comfortable in his skin, in the way he moved and talked. And in the way he dressed. Not like the carefully orchestrated persona Andrew constantly worked at portraying. Sam was cotton flannel to Andrew's linen, and she couldn't help but think that flannel was a heck of a lot nicer to cuddle up to.

Cassie shook her head. She needed to get away from this man. Now. "I need to brush my teeth. Where're the bathrooms?"

Sam threw his head back and laughed. "Let me guess. You carry a toothbrush and toothpaste in your purse at all times just in case you get caught at a client dinner with spinach between your teeth."

Her mouth fell open. Those had been Andrew's exact words to her when he'd given her the little travel set of dental hygiene. "Just show me where the bathrooms are."

In one fluid motion Sam stood and helped her up. The ground tilted a bit, then leveled out.

"I'll take you up to the high school. I know the night security guard. He'll let you in."

As they crossed the field, the sky opened up and dumped water on them, drenching them to the skin. She turned her face to the sky, welcoming the cool rain on her face. By the time they reached the high school, their clothes were plastered to their bodies. Sam waited out-side the building while she tried to make herself presentable.

She scrubbed her teeth with the toothbrush and paste, gargling twice, then splashed her face with water from the tap. After looking into the mirror, she realized she resembled a drowned rat and improving on the situation would be hopeless. She was more than ready to go home but had no idea how to find Joe and Harriet in the crowd. And she hadn't seen Ed since he'd left with Mary Jane.

She found Sam outside, leaning against the brick building in the shelter of an overhang and chewing on a strand of long grass. She hated asking him for anything, but her options were limited. "Would you mind taking me home? You could still come back for a chance to win the cutest-couple contest with Mary Jane."

He studied her for a moment as if weighing her request, then simply nodded his head and pushed off from the building. "Let's go." The rain had slowed to a light drizzle as they found their way through the soggy grass and muddy parking area.