With the name of Jesse Thomas Cromwell, he definitely belongs in the world of Renaissance Faires. Playing old instruments of yore and singing ballads and bawdy tunes puts him on stage. This is Jesse’s favorite pastime, and things are going well until bagpiper James opens up a competition on a neighboring stage. Jesse becomes louder and bawdier until security comes and kicks him out.<br><br>Later James finds Jesse and apologizes for the ruckus. Together with a young lad whose faire gear was stolen and James’s niece, or maybe now nephew, they hatch a plan to get back into the Ren Faire. There are signs James isn’t altogether straight, but can Jesse answer that question in a satisfying way? Especially when they just might get thrown out of the faire again?

The Troubador

This time we parked in the back, closer to the cabins but behind a large barn. I think maybe James didn’t want to push our luck at the front gate again. My car was parked between his and some trucks with empty horse trailers. James shook his finger at the kids. “You kids stay together. Sunset is around nine P.M. and let’s get together back over at your mom’s spot, Roddy, all of us, and figure out who’s doing what from there.


“If you need me before then, well, as you see we’re parked right behind the horse barn, and I’ll be back here for the late jousting bout. That’s around seven P.M. Wouldn’t miss it; and your mom’s in charge of the horses and the grooms and the costumes, remember, so don’t cause any trouble here.” He added that last line with a wink.


Chapter 11