Sean laughed as he watched Charlie in action. “Do you think he’s trying to tell us something?”
“That it’s their world and we just live in it?” Ashley joked.
She quickly opened the can of tuna filet and watched as the cats chowed it down.
“You know, he really is an amazing dog—considering he’s a cat,” Ashley said.
“Anybody overhearing that would think we’re nuts,” Sean replied.
“Of course. But to know Charlie is to love him.”
“It’s incredible how he always finds clues lying around,” Sean said.
Ashley picked up Charlie and stroked him. “You’re my little sidekick.”
Charlie purred and nuzzled her chin.
“I couldn’t have done it without you, buddy,” she added.
Charlie gazed at them both and seemed to say, “Just remember that I’m the big dog now.”
Ashley laughed. “Cat will mew, and dog will have his day.”
Sean paused then looked at her quizzically. “I think I’ve got it now. Hamlet?”
“That’s right,” Ashley said. “Robert Anderson thought he was pulling all the strings, and Jackson thought he was in control with his brute force. In truth, they were outwitted by the little guy. They should’ve boned up on their Shakespeare.”
Sean smiled. “Let’s go.” They gave the cats one more pet and locked the door.
***
On the way to their car, they ran into Nancy.
Ashley gave her a huge hug. “Thanks for everything.”
Nancy smiled. “Hey, I’m just glad it all turned out all right. And that you don’t think I’m weird.”
“Well, we didn’t say that,” Sean teased.
“How about dinner at our place next week?” Ashley asked.
“Sure. Can I bring a friend?” Nancy replied.
“Does your friend sense things before they happen like you?” Sean said.
“No, he’s clueless about all that stuff. Except he does ask me who’s going to win the basketball tournament before he places his bets at the local bar. And he loves to eat.”
Nancy laughed.
“Perfect. Can’t wait to meet him,” Ashley said. “I’ll give you a call.”
“See you,” Nancy replied.
Chapter Forty-Seven
A week later
It was a beautiful Sunday, and Ashley had asked Sean to take a drive to the ocean.
“I love the sea in the autumn. Soon, it will be too cold and rough. I want to spend the day relaxing on the beach while we can.” She smiled at him. “Let’s ask my parents to come. I’ll pack a picnic lunch for us all.”
Sean agreed it was a great idea. They set out with the windows down to catch the last of the season’s warm breeze. On the way to pick up April and Burt, he swung by the town playground.
“Let’s get out of the car for a minute. I want to show you something.”
As he pulled over and parked, her stomach dropped. This was where she had seen the little boy and then had been captured. Her throat tightened as she gripped the door handle.
“Sean, I don’t think—”
“Come on out, Ashley. I really have to show you something,” he insisted.
She reluctantly got out of the car and took his hand.
“Sean, please. It’s too soon,” she pleaded.
“Shhh.” Sean led her to the big swing set at the end of the park.
The swings had just been replaced a few years go, but the original poles were still standing after all these years.
Sean thumped his hand against the big frame.
“You know what I love about this swing set?” he asked. “Look how sturdy it is. Even though the original seats cracked and they put in new ones, the frame is still as strong as ever. Through all these years, all the bad weather, look at it. It’s a testament to how things last when they are built well. When they are built with love and care.”
She put her hand on one large pole. “Yes, it is. I used to love swinging on this thing when we were kids.”
“Me too,” he said. “You do remember this is where we met? With our moms?”
Ashley smiled. “My mom said you didn’t want to share your swing with any other kids, but your mom said you immediately got off when you saw me waiting for a turn.”
“That’s right. I had a crush on you starting at three years old.”
“Do you really remember that from being three years old?” she asked.
Sean laughed. “No, but that’s what our moms told us.” He reached for both her hands. “What I do remember is playing with you here all through the years until we got older, and how much I cared for you. And going to school and on field trips with you. Then watching you go to prom with that jerk, Thomas Andrews.”
“Oh—him. Guess I just wanted to see what it was like to date a football guy,” she said. “He wasn’t for me, as you know.”
“I know. You needed a geeky guy. And someone with a bakery.”
“So I could get a good tart or loaf of bread on demand.”
She smiled at him.
“And I needed a chef, who cooks with her heart and soul. And can make me the best dinners around,” he said.
Ashley began to squirm. “Did you bring me here just to tell me all this? I love these old stories, but I feel uncomfortable after what happened here, and I’d like to get to—”
Sean shook his head. “No. I brought you here to show you that despite what happened here recently, this place has wonderful memories for us. I want you to feel good about this park again.”
He dropped to his knee. “And I want to tell you that I love you very much and want you to marry me.”
He pulled out a small box and opened it.
Ashley peered at the box. There was a delicate emerald ring inside.
She gasped. “Now? Here? I—”
“Ashley, just say yes.”
“Yes!”
Ashley pulled Sean up and hugged him as tightly as she could. “You remembered that I didn’t want a big diamond!”
He slid the ring on her finger, and she gazed at the emerald. It was a deep, rich green surrounded by a few tiny diamonds on the border.
“It’s beautiful,” she said.
Ashley buried her head in Sean’s shoulder and started to cry. It was a relief after her ordeal to really let everything pour out.
Sean held on to her and patted her back. “I was going to wait for a romantic dinner, but after all that had happened, I wanted to do it here to help erase all the bad things.”
He pulled her face up and smiled at her. “There’s no other girl for me. Never has been.”
Ashley started to sob.
A young couple walked by with their baby in a stroller.
“Everything okay?” they asked.
Ashley looked up at them as she wiped her tears. “Everything’s wonderful. He just asked me to marry him.”
“Congratulations to you both,” the couple said.
They waved as they walked off. The baby looked out of the stroller at them and squealed and smiled and kicked its legs.
“That’s next for us,” Sean whispered in her ear. “Let’s go tell your parents.”
The End.
Long Paw of the Law 4
Chapter One
Ashley and Sean were on a well-deserved vacation in a beautiful mountainous region of the Southwest. They were so relaxed that time seemed to stand still. The views were spectacular from the balcony of their cabin, and the air was filled with the scent of wildflowers. It was heavenly. After a wonderful dinner cooked outside on the grill, they had gone to sleep with the windows wide open to breathe in the soft night air.
Then the murder happened.
They woke to screaming sirens in the pitch-black desert night. Ashley sat up in bed and yelled for Sean. He was already at the window, staring out. They peered out together and saw police cars huddled at the bottom of the next canyon rise. The bright lights of the squad cars looked
surreal in the inky night.
One officer shouted as he came down the hill. “We found the body!”
Ashley and Sean could barely see in the dark, but they realized that everything was being taken care of very rapidly. There was a grim look on one officer’s face as he stepped in front of the headlights of a squad car. He was speaking into his radio and Ashley studied his face.
“What do you think happened?” Sean said.
“Whatever happened, it was probably tonight while we were sleeping,” Ashley said.
They could see a body with a sheet over it as it got to the bottom of the hill. Two men loaded it in the ambulance and took off. A few cops stayed behind to talk, and soon they all drove off in single file. The landscape went back to pitch black and the only sound was a coyote howling off in the distance.
Ashley hugged Sean. “Let’s go back to bed. This isn’t our town and we don’t have to worry about it. All we can do is pray for the poor soul and his family.”
“How do you know it’s a ‘he’?” Sean asked.
“I don’t. Just guessing. But let’s go back to bed. I want to just go on enjoying our vacation.”
“I’m closing the window, though. And checking the doors,” Sean said.
Even though it was quiet again outside, Ashley had a hard time falling asleep. The deep dark out here made Comfortville seem like a big city.
Ashley had one more thought before she dozed off. It’s almost too quiet.
***
The next morning, they woke up later than they had planned because of the events of the night before. But as soon as Ashley started breakfast, they both were eager to chow down and get to the hike they had planned for the day.
“I can’t wait for this hike,” Sean said. “And it says the guide has some out of the way places to take us.”
“Yeah, should be nice,” Ashley said. “I’m excited.”
She sliced potatoes into a pan with olive oil, added some chopped garlic, and a pinch of salt. Then she added a shake of oregano, and some cracked pepper. Next she put thick slices of tomato in a pan, drizzled a little olive oil on top, added a pinch of salt and pepper, and put them under the broiler for a few minutes. She put thick slices of sourdough in the toaster, and while they were browning, she cracked eggs in a pan with sizzling butter.
Sean had made the coffee, and soon the scents of a hearty breakfast were wafting through their little cabin. As soon as everything was done, Ashley served up their plates, and they walked outside on the deck to take in the view of the mountains while they ate.
Neither of them said anything for a few minutes while they savored their meal. Sean took a break from eating and took a long, full sip of the dark coffee.
“Wow. I know you’re a good cook, but this breakfast tastes better than any other one you’ve ever made,” he said.
He mopped up the last bit of egg with the crunchy toast.
Ashley laughed. “That’s because we’re away on vacation, and sitting in the great outdoors.”
“Whatever it is, I could eat three of these,” he said.
She smiled. “No worries. I’ll make another one tomorrow, and I’m packing some great sandwiches for our picnic lunch today.”
He laughed. “Pack a lot. I’m already looking forward to it.”
Ashley got up to clean the dishes and make their picnic lunch. As she reached for their empty coffee cups, she saw a lone figure at the top of the mesa.
The person was bent over low to the ground as if they were examining something.
Then the figure stood up and raised its arms to the sky. They had a robe or cape on.
The figure circled a few times as if they were in a trance. As they did, their robe billowed out. They then turned and circled back the other way.
She poked Sean and gestured to the mesa and they both watched in silence for a few minutes.
“What do you make of that?” he asked.
“I don’t know. But it looks as if he or she is dancing. Like in a ritual.” Ashley squinted into the sun.
The figure whirled around a few more times, then fell to the ground and jumped up again. All of a sudden, the figure emitted a long shrill howl. Then they disappeared over the far side of the mesa. Neither Ashley nor Sean said a word for a moment.
“Ash, did you notice that person seemed to be in the spot where they recovered the body last night?”
Ashley didn’t want to start thinking about it. They had a fun day planned with hiking, and she wanted to get going.
“I don’t know. It was really dark last night. This could all be a coincidence.”
Sean peered at her. “Ash, we are in a remote location. Why would someone choose this particular hill to do a dance out of nowhere? It seems that person deliberately came here because of what happened last night. Maybe that person knew who was murdered.”
Ashley was already walking to the kitchen. “Maybe. Maybe not. This is not supposed to be happening while we are on vacation! All I know is I’m ready to get to our hike and explore. Let’s get going!”
Sean gave her a strange look and walked to the bedroom. Ashley muttered to herself.
I can’t do this. I can’t even begin to think of investigating. Every time I’ve gotten involved, people close to me are put in jeopardy. I’m leaving it to the professionals.
She started slicing the large loaf of stone-ground wheat bread, spread mustard and tapenade on both sides, and then piled it high with smoked turkey and cheese. She made two sandwiches for Sean and one for her, then put fruit, cookies, and several bottles of water into a backpack. She rubbed sunscreen on, got her hat, and stood by the door ready to go.
Besides, this isn’t my hometown. This is none of my business, she thought.
Sean grabbed his backpack with the emergency first-aid kit and more water, and they headed out to the car. They turned down the little road from their cabin toward the two-lane highway to take them into town to meet up with the guide.
As they rounded the corner, an older man with a beautiful robe on and face paint was standing on a rise off to the right. He stood completely still and looked solemnly at them.
“Is that the person we saw dancing up on the hill?” Sean asked.
“I can’t tell,” Ashley said. “But he certainly is an imposing figure.”
They stared at him as they drove by.
Ashley glanced in the rearview mirror and saw him staring back.
Soon he was a dot on the horizon.
Chapter Two
Driving into town, they passed a valley that had been razed. Huge mounds of dirt were everywhere, as well as the earth-moving machines beside them. It was incredibly ugly, and also heartbreaking to see the land scarred like that. By the site, there was a sign that said, “Dunphy Mining Corporation.”
Ashley sighed. “That looks so awful. I’m glad our cabin is in a spot that looks out onto pristine hills and valleys.”
“Yeah,” Sean said. “It reminds me of that logging company that came to Orton on the coast back where we live. I don’t think that town ever recovered.”
“It didn’t,” Ashley said. “It still looks beaten up. So sad.”
Once in town, they met up with their guide, Lawrence McShane, and loaded their backpacks into his four-wheel-drive vehicle. There was another couple about their age who were going on the adventure with them.
“Hi, I’m Andrew. And this is my wife, Veronica,” said the man.
“Hey, I’m Sean, and this is my fiancé, Ashley. Nice to meet you.”
They all smiled at one another and got settled in their seats. As they drove off, Lawrence filled them in on the backcountry they were heading into and what they were about to see.
“We will be hiking in some wild terrain, so please stay together and keep your eye out for snakes and other wildlife. Don’t want anyone getting hurt,” Lawrence said.
The morning was still cool, but it promised to be warm later on. Everyone had packed lots of water and sunscreen, and Ashley felt the
y were well-prepared. She took in the beautiful scenery as Lawrence talked on about the geography and history of the Native American tribes that had once flourished in the area.
“Are there still many active Native American groups around here?” Veronica asked.
Lawrence stared at her for a second before answering. “Sure thing,” he said. “I’m part Native American myself. My grandmother is still alive and practices the customs regularly.”
What a silly question, Ashley thought. Has she studied up on the area at all before coming on this trip?
She noticed Andrew put his hand on Veronica’s knee protectively. Ashley smiled to herself. Veronica seemed to need lots of protecting.
“What tribe do you and your grandmother belong to?” Andrew asked.
Lawrence tensed his jaw and stared ahead. He was dabbing at his face while looking in the car mirror.
“Look!” he suddenly shouted.
He pointed to the left, and everyone peered into the scrub.
Two large jackrabbits bounded off away from the vehicle. Everyone tried to get a photo. Ashley glanced at Lawrence and saw him peering at his face again. He didn’t look so happy.
He must be so tired of taking tourists out day after day and getting asked the same ridiculous questions every time, she thought.
Sean piped up. “I’ve done a lot of reading about this area and the history of the tribes. Can you tell us something that we may have not read about that’s current?”
Lawrence smiled ruefully. “Where should I start? Like, do we have computers and smartphones? Yes. And we all take trips to the mall and vacation on cruises. Regular stuff, just like you. But we also try to keep the ceremonial customs alive, so we can pass the history down to the young folks. It seems to get harder every generation.” He got quiet and stared straight ahead as he drove.
Ashley Crane Cozy Mystery Boxed Set Page 48