Sarah covered her mouth to stifle a smile.

Despite Claudia’s digs, Maybelle started whipping out orders again, telling the boys to adjust where they’d put the tree and having Claudia wrap the skirt around the ball base. “Mr. Lewis, grab the box of lights and do the honor of putting them on the tree.”

“Me?”

“You have a problem with that?” Maybelle’s narrowed gaze said he’d best not.

“No, ma’am. Just that having never put lights on a tree before, I’m getting ample experience while in Pine Hill.”

“Well, it was high time you learned, son.” Maybelle’s drawn-on brows rose as she gave Sarah a look that told her she’d realized that Bodie had just admitted he’d helped decorate Sarah’s tree.

Sarah just smiled, refusing to say anything that might give the Butterflies something more to latch onto.

“Sarah, you get the extra ornaments organized so as soon as we sell one, we can easily replace it with a fresh one.”

Sarah and Bodie exchanged a look and Sarah fought laughing as Bodie held his hand to where only she could see his face and he mouthed the word, “Wasp.”

Maybelle’s gaze fell to Harry. The dog sat at perfect attention, quietly taking in the commotion. His head cocked as his gaze met Maybelle’s, as if he was waiting for her to give him orders, as well.

“You best be on good behavior,” she warned the dog. “Stay out of the way and no barking at the customers.”

Seeming to understand, Harry settled back into his corner, laying his head on his legs, and watching Maybelle as if he wasn’t sure about her.

Fifteen minutes later, the trees were positioned to Maybelle’s specification. The boys had gone to run errands for one of the women working the game portion of the tent, and Maybelle, Claudia, and Rosie were checking out the baked goods and discussing who’d made what this year with the other volunteers.

“Okay, you’re right. The wasps scare me,” Bodie said under his breath.

Sarah laughed. “There goes my big, brave, tough soldier image of you. Taken down by a group of elderly church ladies.”

“Pretty sure Maybelle was a general in a previous life. I can’t figure the sweet grandma-looking one out, Claudia. She comes in with a sharp tongue here and there just to keep you on your toes. Ruby seems to spend more time in marital bliss than flittering around with the rest of the swarm.” He finished wrapping the lights on the tree and plugged the end into the generator. “The other, Rosie, is a friendly sort. Always smiling. A few times now, she’s invited me to stop by so she could bake cinnamon bread for me.”

Sarah’s eyes widened. “Did you go?”

He shook his head. “Every instinct said for me to just say no.”