High Country Cop

by Cynthia Thomason

  “Gladys Kirshner. I found an address stuck in the checkbook. She lives over in Wilton Hollow.”

  “I’ve never heard of her,” Carter said.

  “I haven’t either.”

  “What’s the money for? And why so much?”

  “Beats me,” Ava said. “But with fifteen hundred dollars going out of Mom’s checking account every month, I can understand why she’s watching her pennies.”

  Was his mother being blackmailed? Was she paying off some debt? Was Cora involved with bad people? None of this made any sense. No one in Holly River was as respected as Cora Cahill. “I assume the checks are being cashed,” he said.

  “Almost immediately. From what I can determine from studying Mom’s accounts, she’s barely making ends meet. So far the money coming in from Uncle Rudy is more than the sum she’s sending to this Gladys lady, but the money from the mill fluctuates, so Mom can never count on how much she’ll get.”

  “No wonder she isn’t keeping the house up.”

  “And I was surprised at the amount in the checking account she shared with Dad. It’s down to less than a thousand dollars.”

  “Wow. It’s no surprise she isn’t taking a vacation with Aunt Dolly.”

  Carter took his cell phone from his pocket and called the station. “Betsy, put me on with Sam.”

  “What’s up Carter?” Sam asked a moment later.

  “Get me all the info you can on a woman named Gladys Kirshner in Wilton Hollow. Age, address, any priors, and while you’re at it, any connections she might have had to the paper mill.”

  “I’m on it,” Sam said. “Call you back when I have anything.”

  When he disconnected, he sat at the table and let all sorts of wild thoughts fill his brain.

  “This worries me, Carter,” Ava said. “I hope Mom’s not in some kind of trouble.”

  “If she is, we’ll get her out of it.” He stood and headed to the kitchen door. Before he could open it, his mother came into the room.

  “Mama? What happened to your nap?”

  “I’ll take it in a minute. But I had a thought.”

  “How long have you been outside?”

  She chuckled. “I wasn’t spying on you, Carter, if that’s what you think. I just came down from my bedroom because I couldn’t sleep. I can’t help worrying about Miranda and that darling girl of hers.”

  Carter breathed a sigh of relief. His mother hadn’t heard the conversation between him and Ava. “She’ll be okay, Mama,” he said. “Sam is going to stay out at the inn tonight.”

  “That’s just not good enough, Carter,” Cora said.

  “Why not?”

  “I wasn’t going to say anything, but Lucy Dillingham called me today to see if I knew of any place Miranda could move to until she finishes her business with Lawton. As soon as my head hit the pillow upstairs, I realized that the old grouch must be intending to ask Miranda to leave. She won’t find any place on a weekend, and nothing as nice as that cottage at the inn.”

  “Sam and I will watch the cottage,” Carter said.

  “No. I want those two to stay out here with Ava and me. You and Jace can come by and check on us, and Buster will bark up a storm if anyone comes on the property.”

  The Cahills’ fourteen-year-old Labrador had gentled with age, but his vocal cords still worked fine. All the locals knew no one could sneak onto the Cahill farm.

  “Are you sure about this, Mama?” Carter asked.

  “Completely sure. You go on and tell Miranda to pack up her things and come out here.” Cora smiled. “Maybe now you’ll change your mind about showing up for dinner tonight.”

  * * *

  “I COULDN’T POSSIBLY, CARTER,” Miranda said when he called her on her cell phone. “It’s an imposition on your family. Ava’s there now, and...”

  “Look, Miranda,” Carter cut off her list of objections to Cora’s plan. “Either you agree to stay with Mama, or I’m going to take the heat for your refusal. She still hasn’t forgiven me for the cookie incident, and she’ll blame me if anything happens to you or Emily.”

  Miranda sighed into the phone. “I suppose there’s enough room.”

  Carter smiled at the relief in her voice. “You bet there is. Ava is staying in her old bedroom, and you can take your pick of mine or Jace’s room, or the guest room, for you and Emily.”

  His hands tightened on the steering wheel as he backed out of Cora’s drive. Miranda sleeping in his room. Years ago they’d spent many hours in that room, listening to music, doing homework, lying on his bed thinking about the future. They’d been happy hours, and now his blood heated just thinking of Miranda on that old plaid bedspread.

  “I’m so grateful,” she said, and Carter had to shake his head to bring himself back to the present.

  “You need any help?” he asked her.

  “No. We just have a bit of food and two suitcases. I can pack us up in a few minutes, and we’ll head out to Hidden Creek. Emily will be so excited. She enjoyed her day at the farm.”

  “Mama’s the one who’ll be delighted,” Carter said. “She’ll love having the two of you there.”

  “Thank you, Carter.”

  “Don’t mention it. Maybe I’ll see you later if I finish with Lawton in time for dinner. Mom had a chicken in the oven and it smelled pretty good.”

  There was a pause before Miranda took a deep breath.

  “You okay?” he asked her.

  “Yes, fine. I was just thinking how nice it would be if you made it to dinner.”

  He disconnected and turned onto Hidden Creek Road for the fifteen-minute drive to Liggett Mountain. What was she doing to him? Miranda had him thinking back to the happy times and even wondering what his life would have been like if she hadn’t left Holly River. But she had left, and she’d broken his heart at the time.

  “She’s just being nice,” he said aloud. “She’s grateful. And one kiss. That’s all it was. Certainly not worth risking your heart again to see if you and Miranda might make it this time.”

  He drove a little fast to Liggett Mountain, anxious to get with Lawton and force his mind away from thoughts of Miranda. Yet, all he could think about was that one mind-blowing kiss in the apple orchard, and the one he’d ached to give her last night.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  “HOW DID IT GO?” Carter had been waiting in the parking lot of Pine Grove Automotive Repair for thirty minutes while Lawton went inside for his job interview. Carter believed he had prepared Lawton well with tips on readying for a successful interview, but nothing was guaranteed. Once he went in the door of the auto repair place, Lawton was on his own.

  Lawton settled into the passenger seat. The smile on his face was all the answer Carter needed.

  “I start tomorrow,” Lawton said.

  Carter held up his hand for a high five. “I’m proud of you, Lawton. You did this by being yourself, and just like I told you, he hired you.”

  “You also told me what I needed to do to impress Mack, and it worked. I was up-front with him about my record as well as my skill with automobiles. I’ll need some training on the diagnostic machines, but if anyone brings in a clunker older than ten years, I’m the guy to fix it.”

  This was good news, of course. Miranda would be happy to hear it. Carter had mixed emotions. Yes, Lawton would make enough to be on his own now, but Miranda’s job would be done. She’d accomplished most of what she came to Holly River for. All that remained was for her to help Lawton adjust to the Holly River community and see that he had health insurance.

  Carter didn’t know how she would get folks to accept Lawton, but he’d seen firsthand that she could be persuasive.

  “I’m going to call Miranda,” Lawton said. “Mack said I could get health insurance through his business. I have to give a little out of my paycheck, but that’s okay
.”

  “She could be online with the bank right now,” Carter said, remembering that Miranda said she was going to try to secure the loan for the car Lawton needed. “You’ll have to carry liability on your car, too,” he said. “Shouldn’t be too much.”

  Lawton stared out the window at the passing scenery. “Things are really looking up for me, Carter. There’s no way I can ever thank you and Miranda for what you’ve done for me. A car, a place to live, the tree farm and now a real job...”

  “Hold on, Law.” Carter had just thought of a way Lawton could repay him. “There actually is something you could do for me.”

  “Anything. Just ask.”

  “I need some help clearing a couple of theft reports off my desk,” Carter said. “Mostly garden and cultivation equipment gone missing from the hardware store and the winery. I’ve been on this case for a while, even talked to you and Dale about it, and I haven’t gotten any good leads.”

  Lawton’s expression became guarded. “You don’t suspect me of taking that stuff? I mean, didn’t we clear that up when you came up to Liggett Mountain to question us?”

  “I don’t suspect you, Lawton, but I can’t say the same about Dale. His Jeep places him near the hardware store the night of the robbery. And let’s face it, he’s gotten away with far more in this town, and has remained as slippery as an eel.”

  Lawton shook his head. “I can’t help you, Carter. I don’t know nothin’ about that missing equipment.”

  Carter studied his face. The lines around his eyes, the vein working in his temple, the way he chewed his bottom lip. “I think maybe you know more than you’re telling me, Lawton. I believe you didn’t steal that stuff, but this happened when you were still living with Dale. You would tell me if you heard Dale say anything that might help me solve this case?”

  Lawton threaded his hands in his lap. “Carter, you’re putting me in a difficult place. I’m just so glad to be away from Dale. I don’t want him to get in any trouble, but he’s got a grudge against everyone in this town that just won’t go away.”

  “I’m glad you’re living away from him, too, Law, but I need you to tell me if Dale tried to get you involved in some of his dealings when you were with him.”

  A bitter chuckle escaped Lawton’s lips. “He tried all right. He said this town owed us Jeffersons, that we’ve always been treated like dirt around here. He talked about you especially, Carter, saying that you threw the book at me just because I’m from Liggett Mountain.”

  “Do you believe that?”

  “No. I was guilty. You did what you had to do.”

  Carter sensed he was beginning to tear down the wall of loyalty Lawton had built around him and his brother. “I hope you never listen to Dale again, Lawton. He’ll only use you and let you take the blame when it’s really him who should be in jail.”

  “Like he blamed you for me serving time,” Lawton said. “Dale said you were just out to get us Jeffersons. He gets things all screwed up sometimes.”

  Carter waited a moment and then tapped his index finger on the steering wheel. “One last time, Lawton, and then I’ll drop the subject. Do you know where that stolen property is? Do you suspect Dale of anything to do with these thefts?”

  Lawton released a long and deep breath. “I wouldn’t let him tell me anything, Carter, honest. I left the cabin whenever he tried to tell me about one of his cockamamie schemes. I knew I’d just get in trouble again if I listened to him.”

  “So you do suspect him?”

  “You might want to check some property out-of-town way. Dale’s girlfriend, Sheila, lives there. I’ve never been there, so I can’t tell you where it is exactly, but the three of them—Dale, Sheila and this gal who’s living with Sheila—might have answers for you.” He paused before adding, “But I don’t know anything for sure, and that’s the truth.” Carter grimaced. He wasn’t surprised to learn that Dale was involved, but Sheila? And now Allie was implicated. He thought of Sam, his best friend, who was hoping to build a lasting relationship with Allie. This news, if true, would devastate him.

  They’d reached the bottom of Liggett Mountain, and Carter drove the quarter mile to Lawton’s cabin. When Law got out of the car, he said, “Dale’s still my brother. Guess that’s why I wouldn’t let him tell me what he was planning. I don’t feel right going against him, and I didn’t want to lie for him.”

  “You’ve done the right thing, Law, telling me what little you know. You have a good evening, now.”

  Carter headed past the station and the Hummingbird Inn. He picked up his cell to call Sam and tell him not to worry about staking out the inn tonight. He could enjoy his date with Allie. If Lawton’s instincts were correct, this might be the last one Sam would have with her for a while.

  “I’ve got some info for you on Gladys Kirshner,” Sam said when they’d connected.

  “Go ahead.”

  “You were right. She worked at the paper mill as a secretary for a few months. I called Personnel out there, and the gal looked up the records and said Gladys quit after a short time, and never came back wanting her job.”

  “How long ago was that?” Carter asked.

  “Long time ago. Thirteen years. She’s still living in Wilton Hollow. According to the latest census, she shares a house with one other person, a male named Robert.”

  “Is it her husband? A boyfriend? What’s his age?”

  “He’s off the radar, Carter. Don’t know anything about him.”

  “Thanks, Sam. This information will help me.”

  Tomorrow morning was soon enough to check out Sheila’s property. He’d find this out-of-the-way dirt road and by noon he hoped he’d put an end to the case of the missing garden equipment. And then he’d swing by the farm to pick up his sister and they’d head out to Wilton Hollow. Together they would discover whatever was going on with his mother. It promised to be a productive day for Carter, one he relished. As for tonight, he was going to the Cahill farm for a chicken dinner.

  * * *

  “THAT WAS DELICIOUS, MOM,” Carter said, getting up from the table.

  “Sit back down, Carter. We still have dessert.”

  “None for me, Mom. What I need is a good walk.”

  Cora looked from her son to Miranda, a cunning gleam in her eye. Miranda began clearing dishes.

  “Never mind that, Miranda,” Cora said. “Why don’t you two go out on the porch or have that walk Carter seems to want so badly? It’s a nice night to take the air.”

  “No way, Cora,” Miranda said. “You and Ava cooked. I’m cleaning up.”

  Cora passed a suggestive look at her daughter, who quickly took the hint.

  “Let the dishes go a few minutes, everyone. I’m thinking Emily and I would like some ice cream. If I know Mom, she has sprinkles around here somewhere.”

  Ava and Emily set about finding the sprinkles, while Cora remained at the table. “The dishes will wait. Now go on, you two.”

  “Miranda?” Carter waited for her to deposit a stack of plates on the counter.

  “Sure. That sounds nice.” Truthfully, Miranda couldn’t think of anything she’d like better than walking the farm with Carter, even if Cora had been so obvious about setting it up.

  Dusk had fallen when they went onto the porch, but enough light remained to see the trees in the distance. Miranda immediately thought of her time in the apple orchard with Carter. The kiss. The way she’d felt. She hadn’t imagined that the last fourteen years would slip away so easily with just one kiss.

  “Where would you like to walk?” he asked her.

  “How about the barn?”

  “Sounds good. I have to round up Jasper and give him some fresh oats and water.”

  “You still have that horse? He must be getting old now. I didn’t see him the other day when I was here with Emily.”

  “He was p
robably in the far pasture,” Carter said with a smile. He was obviously remembering his youth with his beloved Morgan horse. Carter had gotten him when he was sixteen and the horse was two. Miranda did some quick math. Jasper was nearly twenty years old, quite a ripe age for an equine.

  They stepped off the porch with Buster trotting behind them. “What happened to Buster’s daddy?” Miranda asked, stopping to pet the soft yellow fur of the Labrador.

  “Mom and Dad had to put him down five years ago. It was sad but we had Buster, and he’s so much like his sire that we don’t have a problem remembering Chief.”

  They reached the barn and walked through the structure to the other end, open to a paddock. The early moon shone down on the grassy enclosure where Jasper, his dark coat glistening in the waning day, was munching contentedly.

  Carter whistled, and Jasper came to the gate. After slipping a cotton rope around Jasper’s neck, Carter opened the paddock stile and led the horse inside to his stall. Jasper went to his cozy straw bed willingly, waited for Carter to pat his neck and close the door. “It’s me today, boy,” Carter said. “Mama told Tommy not to come over this evening to feed you since I was coming to dinner.”

  Miranda petted the animal’s nose while Carter filled the feed bucket and hosed water into a trough inside the stall. “Who’s Tommy?” she asked.

  “He’s a neighbor kid. Comes over twice a day unless Jace or I happen to be here. If I’m around I usually take Jasper out for a slow ride. When I’m not here, Tommy rides him.” Carter smiled. “I think that’s why old Jasper still looks like a young stud.”

  “I recall how much you enjoyed taking him out.” And the times I rode with you, my arms around your waist as we cantered across the meadow grass.

  Carter settled his elbow on the top of the stall door and watched Jasper chew his oats. “I had hoped to teach a child of mine to ride on this horse,” he said. “Things change don’t they?”

  Miranda placed her hand on Carter’s back, feeling the soft flannel of a shirt he’d put on when he’d arrived for dinner, having changed from his uniform. “I’m so sorry for what happened to you,” she said. “So much heartache. I should have reached out to you, but it seemed awkward. How horrible that time must have been.”