Jack Beale 00 - Killer Run

course.”
    “Right,” said Max with more than a hint of sarcastic skepticism.
    “What?” He was immediately cut off by giggles and comments about his culinary prowess.
    “Don’t worry. It’s easy,” said Polly, coming to his rescue.
    * * *
    Once again Jack and Dave took their coffees out to the porch, but this morning the girls decided to stay in the kitchen with Polly.
    “You have so inspired me,” Max said to Polly as she picked up some dishes from the table.
    “I’ll get those,” said Polly, taking them from Max.
    “No, it’s okay. Let me give you a hand.”
    Before things escalated into a tug-of-war over a dirty plate, Patti said that she was going to get her camera and shoot some pictures outside. Considering how many dishes she cleared each day at work, this morning it was a real treat to simply walk away.
    After Patti left, Max blurted out, “Polly, would you help me get started making a quilt? Your book really inspired me. I’ve never done anything like that, but now that I’ve seen the ones here, I definitely want to give it a try. Patti and I went shopping for fabric at home, but once we got to the store, I wasn’t sure what to buy.”
    Polly stopped and looked at Max. At first, she didn’t say anything. Then she continued picking dishes up off the table and walked to the sink. Max grabbed several plates and followed her. As Polly turned the water on, she smiled and said, “Sure. Why not. I have some time today, and I haven’t had a girls’ day out in a while. Plus, Malcom won’t be back until tomorrow. The first step will be to buy a pattern and some fabric.”
    “Oh, thank you, thank you.”
    * * *
    Again the guys were left behind to run and do manly things while Max and Patti went out shopping. This time though, they went with Polly, so Jack and Dave had a car and wouldn’t be stranded.
    “I could get used to this,” said Dave as they finished another really good run on the trails. “Nothing to worry about, great running trails in the backyard.”
    “It is pretty sweet,” agreed Jack.
    “What say we head into North Conway and find some lunch, see what the big deal is.”
    “Sounds like a plan. Race ya’ to the house,” said Jack.
    Their sprint ended in a dead heat and both men started to laugh. “I think there were a couple beers still in the fridge. Want one?” asked Dave.
    “Yeah, why not. We deserve it.
    * * *
    No more than an hour had passed before Jack and Dave were pulling out of the drive and heading for North Conway. Thirty minutes later they were driving down the stip. “It looks just like Kittery,” commented Jack.
    “Same stores, same crowds, I don’t get it,” agreed Dave.
    “On your right. There’s a parking place.”
    Jack yanked the wheel and slid into the vacant spot. “Nice job,” said Dave. “Hey look, there’s Horsefeathers. I read about them in one of the tourist guides. Sounds like a pretty good place to eat.”
    “Works for me.”
    As they walked toward the restaurant, a train whistle pierced the afternoon. They turned in the direction of the sound and saw a train station across the street. After another long whistle blast, a steam locomotive pulling several cars began to move.
    “That’s so cool,” said Jack. He watched the train belch black smoke and white clouds of steam.
    “C’mon, let’s eat.” Dave gave him a nudge as the train slowing chuffed away.

CHAPTER 39
    FOR THE SECOND DAY in a row, Jack and Dave were the first ones back at the Inn. They were hanging out on the back porch with beers and snacks left over from the previous day when the three women returned home.
    “Thank you so much.” Max’s voice could be heard in the kitchen amid the rustlings of a great number of plastic bags.
    “No, thank you. I had a great time.”
    Patti was the first to come out onto the porch. “There you are.”
    “Hey, Patti, how was your day?” said Jack.
    “It was good. What did you guys do?”
    Dave spoke up first. “We went for a run out back and then into town for some lunch. You?”
    “Polly took us to a fabric store and …” Before she could finish her sentence, Max came through the door with several large bags in hand.
    “Look at this cool material I found.” Max put the bags on the porch floor next to Jack and began rummaging through one of them. She pulled out a piece of fabric and held it up for everyone to see. “Polly said she’d help me make a quilt. This is going to be the background.”
    Jack looked at