“It’s one of Emeril’s recipes. I’m kind of a fan. Actually I’m a big fan. I love to cook.”

“I’d be a fool to pass that up.” I looked at her ring finger. She wore a large diamond and emerald ring, set on a yellow gold band. “Are you sure it will be okay with your husband?”

“Matt will be fine. He’s really easygoing. He likes people.”

“All right. You talked me into it.”

She looked happy. “Great. I get off work at six.” She looked at her watch. “That’s in about forty minutes. If you don’t mind hanging around, I’ll drive you home with me.”

“Thanks. I’ll just wait outside.”

“You don’t have to do that,” she said. “Unless you want to. It’s not like anyone’s beating down the doors.” She put out her hand. “I’m Analise.”

“Alan,” I said.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Alan.”

“Are you from Sidney?”

“No. My husband is. His father owns a couple thousand acres just east of here. He grows corn.”

“There’s a lot of that going on around here.”

“Yes, there is a lot of corn going on around here.”

“Where are you from?” I asked.

“I was born about ten miles from here in Tabor. You probably walked through it.”

“I did. It was … quaint.”

“Quaint,” she said, smiling. “That’s a tactful description.”

“Do you have any children?”

“Two. Christian and Casey. Christian’s seven and Casey’s five.”

Just then a woman walked into the store. She was broad and red-faced, dressed in a blue velvet tracksuit. She was huffing as she walked. “Hello, Analise.”

“Hi, Terry.”

“Just need to pick up some cocoa powder,” she said, passing by the counter. She shouted back, “I forgot I was supposed to make brownies for Aiden’s den meeting tomorrow afternoon.”

“It’s in aisle three.”

“Got it. Is Christian coming to the den meeting?”

“He’ll be there,” Analise said. She turned back to me. “Where were we?”

“In Sidney,” I said. “Do you know everyone in town?”

She smiled wryly. “I know everyone’s business in town. You don’t have secrets in a town this small.” She leaned forward and whispered, “I could tell you things about Terry that would curl your toes.”

I looked down the aisle at the woman. “Please don’t,” I said.

She laughed. “Okay.”

A minute later Terry walked up to the counter. She had a box of brownie mix and some canned frosting. She also had a bag of coconut toasted marshmallows.

“So you decided to take the easy way out,” Analise said, checking the prices on the items.

“Oh, why go to the bother? I still have to get dinner on. Have any ideas what I could make Ben tonight?”

“Hamburger Helper usually does the trick.”