Fear of Frying

note died away, they were all silent for a long moment, then John started clapping. “Still got the talent, haven’t you, Sam? Good job!”
    Everybody else joined in the applause. Sam actually smiled, and Jane realized he was quite a good-looking man. It was a shame his smile was so infrequent. Everyone urged him into singing some more, and after consultation with the young men with the instruments, he obliged. He sang another folk song and then one of Jane’s favorites, “Love Hurts,“ which always reduced her to tears. Jane was surprised that a man who appeared to have so little personality and social grace could put so much feeling into a song.
    The concert was cut short by a crack of thunder and a sudden, short burst of rain. The campfire hissed and steamed. The young men put their instruments back in their protective cases. Edna and Allison started gathering up silverware and linens. Jane and Shelley tried to help, but were shooed away.
    “You’re our guests. We don’t let guests help,“ Edna said firmly. “Scoot on back to your cabins before you get drenched.“
    “The rain’s already stopping,“ Jane protested, but to no avail. She and Shelley got their flashlights and picked their way down the short incline to the road. Eileen was somewhere behind them, fretting about her pink slipper getting wet. Liz was advising her on the proper care of blisters.
    The cabin was warm and cozy. They got out of their ponchos and the top couple layers of their clothing. Jane went to pull the drapes and realized that it had stopped raining and there was moonlight filtering down through the trees. “What bizarre weather,“ she said.
    “That was one of the best meals and nicest evenings I can remember. Want a cup of coffee?“
    “I don’t suppose you have tea, do you?“ Jane asked. She lighted the fire she’d prepared and abandoned the night before. The kindling crackled, spit, belched smoke, and suddenly burst into tiny flames that licked hungrily at the bark on the logs.
    “I have tea bags and one of those little coil heaters,“ Shelley said.
    “I’m surprised you didn’t bring a cappuccino machine along.”
    They fixed their drinks and sipped them in friendly silence. Jane sat on the floor in front of the fireplace, marveling at what a nice little fire she’d managed to create and feeling hypnotized by the sight, sound, and smell of it.
    “I think I may just sleep in my clothes,“ Jane finally said. “I’m too tired to get up and take them off.“
    “We might as well go to bed early, I guess,“ Shelley said. “What time is it?”
    Jane glanced at her watch—or rather, her bare wrist. “Shelley, my watch is gone.“
    “It’s probably in your purse. Or on the bathroom counter.“
    “No, I looked at it when we got to the campsite. Oh, rats! I’ve lost my watch!“
    “We’ll go look for it in the morning.“
    “After it rains all night? Can’t you hear the rain starting up again?”
    Shelley groaned. “It’s not waterproof?“
    “I think so, but it could get washed away or covered with mud and I’ll never find it.“ She was donning her sweater. “The kids got it for my birthday. I can’t lose it.“
    “You’re not going out alone,“ Shelley declared. She was shaking the moisture off her poncho.
    It was raining in earnest by the time they slogged their way back to the campsite, which was now deserted. The fire was out, the cooking utensils were stacked together, getting a bath in the rain. The formerly festive table was naked, and its tentlike canopy had been dismantled and taken away. Jane and Shelley minced around, shining their flashlights at the ground, hoping to catch a glint of the missing watch.
    “I don’t think I was anywhere but right here at the table,“ Jane said. Cold rain had found a way under the hood of her poncho and was trickling down the side of her neck.
    “Didn’t I see you walk over to the far end to put your scraps in that wastebasket that was over there? It might have fallen off then.”
    Jane inched her way carefully, making small sweeps of the ground with her flashlight. “Here is it!“ she called. “Thank goodness! I wonder if it still— Oh, my God!”
    She’d held the watch up to her ear with her left hand while ignoring where the beam from the flashlight was pointing.
    “What’s wrong?“ Shelley asked.
    Jane stood frozen and speechless for a moment, then whispered, “Shelley, there’s a body here!”

Eight

    “A what!“ Shelley said,