Mayor Auggie Hornsbladt, dressed as usual in denim overalls and a cowboy hat, climbed onto a milk crate up front and spoke into a wireless mic. “Let’s call this meeting to order. Quiet down, now.”
The hum of chatter faded as people turned their attention to the mayor.
His eyes flicked to mine. Twenty minutes ago, we’d had an impromptu meeting with the mayor in a secluded corner of the barn while my brothers, George, and Devlin stood around acting casual, blocking people’s views. He’d gone white as a sheet, then teared up a bit and crushed Callie in a bear hug. We’d filled him in on the basics and she’d happily produced the DNA results that verified her identity. That had been easy to get. Apparently, June had a guy. I had no idea why June would have a guy who did DNA testing, but I appreciated it nonetheless.
“Y’all, the purpose of this meeting is something that we’ve been waiting a long time for. Thirteen years ago, we lost one of our own. Callie Kendall disappeared on a July evening, gone without a trace. And for most of those thirteen years, we didn’t know the truth about what happened to her.”
Murmurs ran through the crowd.
“Recently, we got the terrible news that her remains had been found and identified,” Mayor Auggie continued. “It was over. We didn’t know the how or the why, but we knew her fate. Or so we thought.”
The murmurs grew stronger, a hum of discontent and curiosity filling the air.
Mayor Auggie held up a hand for quiet. “I have the very special honor and pleasure of bringing you this announcement. Callie Kendall is alive and well. And she’s here with us tonight.”
The barn erupted with noise. Voices, questions, people shooting out of their chairs, knocking them over.
“I knew she wasn’t dead!”
“Where is she?”
“Can we see her?”
“I don’t believe that for a second.”
“Is this a joke, because it ain’t funny.”
“What if it’s another fake?”
“Do her parents know?”
That last question made me whip around in alarm. Callie rubbed a soothing hand on my chest and Jenny reached across to give my leg a squeeze.
“It’s all right,” Jenny said. I wasn’t sure if she was talking to me or Callie. Maybe both of us.
“Now, now, let’s all settle down,” Mayor Auggie said, holding his hand up. “Settle down, now. We’ll answer your questions, but y’all gotta be quiet.”
George glanced around at the increasingly noisy crowd. He stood, unfolding from his spot on a crate to his full and rather impressive height. “Quiet please,” he bellowed. His voice echoed off the ceiling and the audience went silent. With a nod at the mayor, he sat down.
“Thank you, George,” Mayor Auggie said. “First, let me address your concerns about her being another pretender. We have confirmed, with scientific evidence, that she is in fact Callie Kendall. There’s no question about it, folks. She’s real and she’s back.”
He paused and let that settle over the audience.
Millie Waggle was up front, sitting across the aisle from us. She caught my eye and gave me a subtle nod. I had a feeling she was one who’d already figured it out.
“Callie, sweetheart, would you please join me up front?” Mayor Auggie said, his voice gentle. He held out a hand to her.
My heart stood still as she emerged from under my protective arm. She seemed to move in slow motion, separating from me, rising to her feet. I could almost see the Maya façade fall away, the adopted identity dissolving into the air, leaving her raw, exposed. Real. The Callie I remembered. The Callie we’d all known.
Gasps and murmurs greeted her as she turned to face Bootleg Springs. Mayor Auggie handed her the microphone and gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
She took the mic and met my eyes. I could see her fear. It made me want to scoop her up and carry her out of here. But she took a deep breath and began.
“Many of you know me as Maya Davis. And that name wasn’t a lie. I’ve been Maya for the last thirteen years, since I left Bootleg Springs. But I am Callie Kendall.”
She shifted, re-gripping the mic, while the audience murmured again. I nodded to her. She could do this.
“I ran away and disappeared because I was afraid for my life. I’d been abused at home from the time I was young. The night of my disappearance—” She closed her eyes and a tear trailed down her cheek. It took her a