He’d turned over and died.
Everywhere I looked, I saw him. Leaning against the headboard of our bed. Combing his hair at the mirror. Tossing his dirty clothes onto the floor by the bureau.
“How could I sleep when you lay dying?” I asked aloud. “Why didn’t I know? Why didn’t I wake up? Why didn’t I sense you needed me?”
I’d awakened and found his body as cold and lifeless as this room was tonight. I dashed a hand across my eyes and turned away. I left the room, but this time I didn’t close the door.
Maybe I needed a change. I’d keep the flower shop. It was my rock. But maybe it was time to sell this house and find a place that didn’t have so many heart-wrenching memories. Carl’s life insurance money was sitting in the bank gathering interest. Before now, I couldn’t bare to touch a cent of it.
The idea of a bed-and-breakfast appealed to me. I’d hire a manager. My heart fluttered hopefully. Was I onto something? I’d have people around me, but more important, I wouldn’t have to come home to an empty house.
An image of the Beauchamp mansion flashed in my brain. When Carl and I were first married, we’d dreamed about someday owning a house like it. In those days it had been a pipe dream. But what if …
I’d heard the Beauchamp estate was for sale. Who had it listed?
The newspaper.
I opened the door and nearly stepped on it. A smile wavered at the corner of my lips. A pink carnation wrapped in tissue lay on top. I pulled the card from the envelope and read:
Dear Bretta:
Accept this flower as a token of my gratitude. I was joking when I first said you’re as wise as Solomon. Now, I know it’s true. Your wisdom in dealing with Jamie has put a gleam of determination in her young eyes. I know we have some rough roads ahead, but for now, thank you.
Bill Fenton
The glacier around my heart began to thaw. Then I took another look at the envelope. “Pick a Posie.”
“Allison Thorpe!” I muttered. “I’ve got to put some of this Solomon wisdom to use. What I need is a blockbuster ad campaign. I’ll be damned if I let that woman get ahead of me.”
Acknowledgments
The author would like to express her gratitude to the following:
Robert and Bruce Hadley of Hadley Funeral Home in Windsor, Missouri. The epitome of grace and dignity.
Jerome Wareham and Kent Oberkrom, past and present sheriffs of Henry County, Missouri.
Kelley Ragland, my editor. Your faith and insight have been a true gift.
Lori Pope, my agent, Faith Childs Literary Agency, Inc. Thank you doesn’t begin to express my appreciation.
Janice Young Brooks and June Rae Wood. You both give new meaning to the word friend.
And finally to all the florists I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the last twenty-five years:
MAY YOUR ROSES NEVER WILT,
MAY YOUR ARTISTRY BE EVERLASTING,
AND MAY YOUR HOLIDAYS BE SOOTHED
WITH BOWLS OF M&M’s CANDIES.
A RIDE WITH A DEADLY REPTILE …
Red lights flashed behind me. I released my seat belt. I had help behind me. I had help in front of me. I had a snake draped across my legs … . The air inside the car was frigid. How fast could a snake bite? How fast could I slow my car and leap out? If he was poisonous, at least I had an army of police to get me to the hospital. Ditto if I broke an important part of my anatomy.
I tensed, then threw caution to the wind. In one movement, I slammed on the brakes and opened my car door. The car was still moving when I rolled off the seat and hit the pavement …
“A nicely composed debut with a fine lead character. [Harrison] handles Bretta’s matter-of-fact, pervasive sorrow with a generally sure hand.”
—Booklist
“An interesting cozy that brings modern day Amish life to the forefront … Janis Harrison lays out her whodone-it in a fine fashion … Bretta is a fascinating protagonist … The audience will want Ms. Harrison to foster more novels like ROOTS OF MURDER starring a very admirable heroine.”
—Midwest Book Review
Other titles from St. Martin’s Minotaur Mysteries
MURDER WITH PEACOCKS by Donna Andrews
A COLD DAY IN PARADISE by Steve Hamilton
CROSSROAD BLUES by Ace Atkins
ROMAN BLOOD by Steven Saylor
TELL NO TALES by Eleanor Taylor Bland
FAREWELL PERFORMANCE by Donna Huston Murray
DEATH AL DENTE by Peter King
JITTER JOINT by Howard Swindle
LARGER THAN DEATH by Lynne Murray
A GIFT OF SANCTUARY by Candace Robb
THE SILLY SEASON by Susan Holtzer
SEARCH THE DARK by Charles Todd
EMERALD FLASH by Charles Knief
DEAR MISS DEMEANOR by Joan Hess
AGATHA RAISIN AND THE WITCH OF
WYCKHADDEN by M. C. Beaton
THE BEST-KEPT SECRET by Les Roberts
THE IRISH COTTAGE MURDER by Dicey Deere
BIG EASY BACKROAD by Martin Hegwood
ROOTS OF MURDER by Janis Harrison
THE COMPANY OF CATS by Marian Babson
St. Martin’s Paperbacks is also proud to present these mystery classics by Ngaio Marsh
ARTISTS IN CRIME
BLACK AS HE’S PAINTED
CLUTCH OF CONSTABLES
LIGHT THICKENS
ROOTS OF MURDER
Copyright © 1999 by Janis Harrison.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
eISBN 9781429931946
First eBook Edition : June 2011
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 99-22043
St. Martin’s Press hardcover edition / July 1999
St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition / July 2000
Roots of Murder Page 19