The Oracle of Delphi (Greek Myth Fantasy Series) (27 page)

“Good!” She tapped her stirring spoon on the table that she’d been using to scoop out the pickles. Each bang against the metal folding table echoed like a cannon in his head.

“May I have your attention please?” she called to the other members of the council meeting. She went to rap it again, and Levi’s hand shot out and he stilled the weapon of war and destruction now rattling against his brain. The woman looked down at him in question and he just smiled. Everyone kept on talking, ignoring her altogether.

“Allow me, Mrs. Durnsby,” he said in a low voice, while getting to his feet. Then putting his fingers into his mouth he whistled loudly, getting everyone’s attention immediately. The room went silent instantly.

“That was unbelievable,” said the old woman. “I’ve been trying to do that for the last eight years and no one has ever listened to me like that. It usually takes me a good half hour to get everyone to quiet down. You are truly amazing, Mr. Taylor,” she said in admiration.

“It’s just one of my many talents,” he told her, turning on the charm, liking the way it felt to be admired, as he hadn’t had an ounce of respect from anyone for the last seven years being locked away behind bars. “And please, just call me Levi.”

He sat back down, putting his booted feet atop the table and leaning back on two legs of the metal folding chair. This meeting was going to take longer than he thought, so he decided to get a little shut-eye while they conducted their business.

He really wasn’t listening, and had just dozed off when something foreign to his ears got his undivided attention, dragging him from his peaceful slumber. He heard his name springing from the woman’s lips with the words ‘I nominate’ attached to them. He opened one eye, and then the other to see the dozen occupants of the room and his sister-in-law as well, all staring at him.

“I second the motion,” said Angel, and before he knew it, someone else agreed and everyone started talking at once.

“Then it’s settled,” said Mrs. Durnsby banging that damned spoon atop the table again trying to gain control of the room, and failing miserably. “Congratulations, Mr. Taylor,” she said, holding out her hand to shake his.

Arms crossed over his chest, his feet atop the table and his head still in a semi-conscious state, he looked over to Angel and shrugged his shoulders, hoping she would fill him in on what the congratulations was all about.

“You are the new food-tasting judge for this year’s fair,” Angel called out.

“What?” he asked, still confused, wondering when he had applied for this position. “No, no, I just couldn’t,” he said with a wave of his hand. Angel walked over to his side and bent down to whisper in his ear.

“You’d better not turn them down,” she warned him. “After all, you said you were looking for a new start, and this would be a perfect opportunity. Besides, it would help Thomas to be accepted back in the community if you were on Sweet Water’s town council.”

Levi had no idea what this position was, nor did he care. He didn’t like the idea of having to taste another dozen jars of propane cucumbers, but if it would help out Thomas, then he’d do it. After all, he was close to his older brother and Thomas had been through so much lately with the loss of two wives and almost losing his kids as well. His brother was a good man and would give Levi the shirt off his back if need be. He’d already been letting him freeload off of him since his return to Sweet Water. And Levi knew that one thing Thomas didn’t need was another mouth to feed.

“Oh, all right, if it’ll help Thomas I’ll do it.”

“So you accept your position on the council board?” asked Mrs. Durnsby.

“Levi thought it odd a pickle-taster would be an actual position and also qualify as board member, but hell, this town was small and had all sorts of strange policies and procedures, so he didn’t question it.

“Sure, I’ll do it, why not?” He reached out, still leaning back in his chair and shook the old woman’s hand. A smile came over her face and everyone clapped and cheered. Then she did the oddest thing – she handed him the pickle-scooping spoon.

“What’s this for?” he asked, amused, turning it over to look at it.

“Well, you may need it in your new position,” she explained.

“For tasting pickles?” Everyone laughed and he had a feeling he’d missed out on the joke.

“No, Mr. Taylor, for taking over my position. I’m too old for it, and everyone sees how you can command a crowd. That was something I could never achieve. You will be an excellent leader, so congratulations – as of today you will take my place.”

“Wonderful,” he said, not knowing what she was talking about. Everyone was making such a big deal out of tasting homemade, second-rate food. Hell, this town was crazier than Thomas’s high-spirited colt that had been born breech. “And I promise you all, I’ll take my position seriously and no pickle will hold me back.”

“You are such a jokester,” said Mrs. Durnsby with a laugh. “And I think you will be the best this town has ever had, Mr. Taylor. Or should I say – Mr. Mayor?”

“What?” Levi moved so suddenly, that the legs of the chair slipped out from under him and with a clank of metal against the ground, he landed on his back looking up into the smiling faces of a dozen happy council members staring down at him. The damned pickle spoon had hit him in the head, and the pounding in his brain just got louder. Hell, if he’d known giving Angel a ride to the meeting was going to land him the position of Sweet Water’s mayor, he never would have showed his face here today. Suddenly, tasting kerosene pickles didn’t seem so bad after all.