A Man to Trust by Carrie Turansky

morning she’d called him over to the computer and told him about the scarecrow contest among the business owners in Fairhaven’s historic district.
    Scrolling down the page, she pointed out photos of her favorites from last year’s contest. “If we have a prize-winning scarecrow this time, they’ll put it in the paper, which gives us some free publicity and possibly some new customers.”
    Ross hoped she was right. Marian had called him in the office last night just before closing to tell him sales were running significantly lower than last year. She hoped things would pick up with the approaching holidays. She asked him to pray they did.
    But what if sales didn’t improve? Would he be job- hunting again by New Year’s? He’d never get his photo studio up and running again if he didn’t hold on to this job and build up his savings account.
    “Ross, can you bring that hay over here?” Adrie called. She set a black plastic trash bag on the sidewalk next to the bookstore’s front entry where she’d already arranged two large pumpkins, several gourds and some colorful mum plants in bright autumn colors.
    Ross lowered the hay bale to the sidewalk and wiped his hands on his jeans. “What’s in there?” He nodded to the trash bag.
    She smiled up at him. “Everything we need to make our prize-winning scarecrows.”
    He chuckled. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”
    She reached in and pulled out an old pair of denim overalls and a broad-brimmed straw hat. “I’m thinking we want a traditional harvest look, but with our own creative touch.” She set aside the hat and overalls and pulled out two small folding beach chairs and a red-and-white-striped beach umbrella.
    He nodded toward the umbrella. “That should get people’s attention.”
    “I hope so. I want to impress the judges, but I also want people to stop and take a look.”
    He couldn’t help smiling as he watched her. Lately she seemed happier and more relaxed. The faint lines around her eyes and mouth had faded, and the healthy glow on her cheeks made her more attractive than ever. He shifted his gaze away, determined to stay focused on the project. “So what’s the plan?”
    “I thought we’d make a guy and a girl scarecrow seated side by side, reading books.” She took a sign from the bag that read A Harvest of Great Reading at Bayside Books . “What do you think?”
    “I like it, but what’s going to make ours stand out from all the rest?”
    “The way we dress them, of course.” With a lighthearted grin, she took out a red plaid flannel shirt, a navy-blue bandanna, a pair of old hiking boots and a rubber mask that looked like an old man’s face.
    “I’m not sure that fits your happy harvest theme.” Ross pointed to the mask. “It’s more a haunted house look.”
    “Really?” She studied the mask. “Maybe when we dress him and add this cute hat and sunglasses he’ll look more like Farmer Brown than Freddy Krueger.”
    Ross chuckled. “Do you have one of those masks for Mrs. Brown?”
    “As a matter of fact, I do.” She sent him another teasing grin and pulled out a Marilyn Monroe rubber face mask.
    He whistled. “That’ll stop traffic.”
    She gave his shoulder a playful shove. “I should’ve known you’d say that.”
    “Who could resist that come-hither look in her eyes?” He grinned and wiggled his eyebrows.
    She snorted and shook her head. “You’re too funny.”
    So much for his attempt at flirting.
    Working together, they stuffed the first scarecrow’s body and seated him in the chair. Adrie filled the mask and attached it to Farmer Brown’s neck, while Ross knelt and shoved the scarecrow’s legs into the old boots. Adrie tied the kerchief around the scarecrow’s neck, added the sunglasses and placed the hat on his head at a jaunty angle.
    Ross stood, and his gaze slid from the scarecrow to Adrie. A gentle breeze blew a few strands of her fiery auburn hair around her face. She lifted her hand and gracefully