by Liz Turner
Trail Mix Murder
A Cozy Mystery In The Mountains
Liz Turner
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Other Cozy Mysteries by Liz Turner
A Cozy Mystery In The Mountains Series:
Murder on the Menu Book 1
Getaway to Murder Book 3
Murder at the Festival Book 4
A Rare Catch Cozy Mystery Series:
Murder at Starlight Resort Book 1
Murder At The Barbecue Book 2
Murder At The Renaissance Fair Book 3
A Margie Lauderdale Cozy Mystery Series:
French Cuisine Murder Book 1
Wedding Bells & Murder? Book 2
Copyright 2016 by Cabo Publishing Group - All rights reserved.
This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictional manner. Any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is purely coincidental. No part of this publication or the information in it may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from Liz Turner, Cabo Publishing Group.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
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Chapter 1
Steven had been looking forward to the hike all week. Even though Amanda would rather have been lazing around at home that Saturday after a long week at work, she decided to humor him.
At 42, with one marriage behind her, Amanda Rainer had never expected to find love again. Especially not in a town like Larch Hot Springs, whose population only just topped 1000.
But when Steven Boonsbury had moved into town five years ago, Amanda had felt something click in her heart the minute she saw him. There was a quiet intensity to him, a burning fire that lurked within his gray eyes that had drawn her to him.
Of course, she’d never imagined that he would be drawn to her. After all, Amanda was just a librarian. One that fit all the clichés of being quiet, introverted, and plain. She had grown up used to the idea that the boys that she loved would seldom love her back. Who could love her as she was? With mousy brown hair and eyes that she thought were merely adequate that were normally hidden away behind some square, unfashionable glasses. Her teeth were a little crowded and fit a bit haphazardly in her mouth.
No, by all popular notions of beauty, Steven Boonsbury, standing six feet tall, with sweeping brown hair, sparkling gray eyes and absurdly broad shoulders should not have loved her.
Yet he did and the thought made her want to hug herself each time it crossed her mind.
Steven Boonsbury, of the broad shoulders and the aquiline nose, was at that very moment trembling with fear.
He looked at himself in the mirror, feeling all bones and jutting cheekbones as he knelt on one knee, with the ring in his hand.
“Amanda,” He practiced. “Amanda Rainer, since I met you five years ago, I’ve never been happier. I knew I was attracted to you the first time those melting chocolate eyes of yours met mine, and you asked in that amazingly smooth voice of yours if you could help me. I knew I liked you when we went to the Milburn Fair, and you gave your shawl away to that little boy who was complaining that he lost his jacket. You didn't think twice about helping him out. I knew I loved you when you took care of me and my daughter. No complaints even though it meant canceling a weekend at the spa that you’d been looking forward to for a year.
But until last week, I didn’t know that I wanted, more than anything else in my life, to marry you. Because Amanda, I can’t believe a girl like you would ever want to. Would you do the great honor of...”
His daughter, Ida, scrambled up from the bed behind him and hugged him tight around the neck.
“No, no! The ring!” Steven exclaimed as it went flying out of his hand and in a crevice under the closet. Ida looked up at him with a horrified face, and Steven felt a pang of irritation. His daughter took after him, tending to be clumsy at times, and after her long gone mother, tending to be over excited and jumpy all the time.
Still, he gave a little smile and kissed her on the forehead. “Never mind.” He said. “I’ll have it back soon enough. It’s like a little quest. Find the ring, get the princess.” He laughed. “Well, queen. You’re my princess, Ida.”
“Did Amanda’s mother and father agree?” Ida asked, her voice a little strained.
“Oh yes,” Steven smiled. “I had to drive up to Calgary, and then another hour to his town to see her father, but he willingly gave me his blessings. As for Amanda’s mother, you know she loves nothing more than her daughter,except perhaps for planning weddings!”
Ida swung her arms around, managing to whack her father on the head accidentally as he bent down to retrieve the ring.
“So tell me again,” Ida said. “All about it.”
“Alright,” Steven said. “Ida, you won’t be upset about this, will you?”
“I’m getting a new mom, I guess.” Ida shrugged. “I don’t know. I like Aunt Amanda, and I’m used to thinking of her as an aunt.”
“Well, if she agrees to this, she’ll also legally adopt you,” Steve said.
Ida’s lower lip trembled. She sat on the bed.
“What is it, darling?”
“I know it’s silly,” Ida said. “I want you to be happy, daddy, and I want you to marry Aunt Amanda, but, I miss mom. I don’t even remember her anymore, but I miss her.”
“You were three when she… when..” Steve stumbled for words. “Ida… what is this about?”
“What if you get a new daughter and you and Amanda love her more?” she asked.
Steve laughed.
Ida’s eyes filled with tears again. “Promise me that won’t happen, Daddy?”
“I promise,” Steve said, hugging her. “Even if it did, Amanda loves you very much, Ida just as much as she loves me.”
The doorbell rang, making a trilling sound. Steven smiled. “I think I know what that is.”
He opened the door and nodded at the woman standing outside.
Dressed in jeans and a black shirt, Victoria Armstrong stood with a picnic basket in one hand, and a bouquet of flowers in the other.
“As promised.” She smiled, “One extra special picnic basket for you and Amanda.”
“Thanks, Vicky, you’re awesome.”
“Oh, I had to cater something a little extra special for my best friend’s soon to be husband.” Victoria laughed.
Steven nodded three times, in quick succession, and stamped his feet on the floor. “I feel like I’ve eaten an entire boatload of sugar and it's all exploding inside me.” He said.
“Nerves,” Victoria said. “Don’t worry about it.”
&
nbsp; “She’ll like it, won’t she, Victoria?” Steven asked. “Amanda, I mean? I know its… I mean do you think she’ll..”
“She’s going to love it,” Victoria said. “Steven, I haven’t seen her this happy in years.”
“But you haven’t seen her in years.” Ida piped up. “Amanda told me you lived in New York for fifteen years, and never visited here.”
It was true. After a fight with her parents, Victoria had run away to New York.
Victoria grinned. “Well, I’m telepathic.” She said. “I know she hasn’t been this happy in a long, long time.”
True, Victoria hadn’t been there for years but she had always kept in touch with Amanda and had consequently gotten to know quite a bit about her life. Steven, she knew, was going to be good for Amanda, great even.
Steven gave her a nod, took a deep breath, and then, grabbing the picnic basket, left with a final wave to Ida and Victoria.
“There you are,” Amanda said, smiling at him from the trailhead.
“Sorry, I’m late.” He huffed.
“No of course not. Are you alright, Steve? You look a little flushed.”
“No, I was just in a rush,” Steve said. “Come on, let’s start climbing fast.”
“Funny thing,” Amanda said. “I was on my way here and I thought I actually saw a bright red 67 Firebird. My dad’s car you know?”
Steven nearly choked. “Oh?” He tried to sound casual.
“Yeah. I guess I should pay dad a visit soon, I must be missing him. But I’m always too lazy to drive all the way up there, you know?”
“Yeah.” He felt a rising happiness inside him. She had no idea.
They had been hiking together almost every weekend. Apart from reading, the thing Amanda loved most in the world was going on a day long leisurely hike on one of the many trails that surrounded Larch Hot Springs. Situated near Banff National Park in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Larch boasted some of the most scenic natural beauty in the world. Now that spring was just touching the air, the trees seemed to look lusher than ever.
“What are you thinking?” Amanda asked, wondering why Steve had been so quiet. Something was wrong with him, she thought. She’d sensed it for nearly a week now. He seemed quieter, lost in a secret world of his own. What was he hiding from her?
“Oh, I was thinking a lot of things,” Steve said. “Mainly how grateful I am that you came into my life, Amanda.”
“Steve!” Amanda smiled broadly, her cheeks flushing. Steve wasn’t one for giving huge compliments.
“It’s true.” He said. “Ever since Ida’s mother… well… that was a long time ago, and I was determined never to give anyone else a chance. For Ida’s sake, I thought family meant just me and her. But then I fell in love with you and even more miraculously, Ida fell in love with you too.”
“You two saved my life,” Amanda said. “I was dying of loneliness, you know before you gave me stability.”
“Well…” Steve had reached his destination, a large meadow with flowers rising from every inch of it. In one corner, he saw the flash of a red jacket as someone hid behind a tree.
“Who is that?” Amanda wondered, squinting.
From the trees, a group of people appeared. Amanda’s mouth dropped open. First, in a red windbreaker, was her father, his face beaming with happiness. Next to him was Amanda’s mother, looking beautiful in a yellow dress and tan overcoat, even if her smile wasn’t quite as wide. Between them, in a blue dress with a satin ribbon tied to it, stood tiny Ida. She was smiling happily though her eyes looked slightly wary.
They were each holding things in their hands. Her father held a bottle of champagne, Ida held a cardboard piece decorated with hearts and kisses and her mother held a beautiful picnic basket.
Tears filled Amanda’s eyes as she realized what was about to happen.
Behind her, Steve dropped down to one knee and looked up at her with love in his eyes. The speech he’d so carefully rehearsed now seemed lost in some abyss of memory.
Instead, the words he said were simple and direct.
“Amanda Rainer, I love you more than I ever believed possible. Will you marry me?”
“I guess there’s only one thing left for me to say…”
Chapter 2
“And I said Yes!!” Amanda squealed, showing off the ring on her finger to everyone in the café. There were cheers and claps, as people rose up to congratulate her. Behind the counter, Victoria’s smile was blinding.
“My best friend,” Victoria said, giving her a hug. “I couldn’t be happier. You deserve a very long and happy life together. All three of you.”
“Oh, Steve told me you helped him plan it out,” Amanda said, hugging her tighter. “Thank you, Tory! Thank you!”
“It was my pleasure,” Victoria said. It truly had been. Victoria had gone all out in preparing the picnic basket that the family had shared immediately after Steve popped the question. She’d gotten up extra early and baked fresh Ciabatta bread, added little buttery rolls, smoked salmon, chorizo sausages, and a fresh salad. For dessert, with her sister Karen’s help, she’d baked a lemon plum pie that her family was known for.
“Congratulations Aunt Amanda.” Victoria’s daughter, 11-year-old Annie, gave Amanda a hug too. “Ida was so happy that you’re going to really be her mother now.”
“Congratulations.” Byron, Victoria’s son, a 16-year-old who wanted to someday be a rock star, temporarily lost his teenage cockiness as he hugged Amanda and smiled like the young boy he was.
“You’re all invited.” Amanda laughed. “Especially you, Victoria, I’m going to need a lot of help from you.”
“We can discuss it on a hike if you like,” Victoria said. “I was thinking of taking the Morrowind Trail this weekend. There’s going to be rain on Thursday, so hopefully things will be dry by the weekend. Plus, the fog will be gone and we’ll have a great view.”
“I love the idea of a hike,” Amanda said. “But there’s this new trail Steve was telling me about a month ago. The Ethereal Trail he called it. Let’s try that one, shall we? It’s not very touristy like the Morrowind trail, so it’ll be nice and quiet. Hanson Johannson told Steve about the trail.”
“Sounds good,” Victoria smiled.
The door of her café jangled, and a heavily muscled man in his late twenties walked in. Victoria gave Amanda a look that would be considered normal by an onlooker, although only a best friend could translate it as, “I hate this guy so much.”
“Ladieeees.” Declan Moran had a habit of stretching out his greetings like they were a wad of gum. “How are you this fine morning? Amanda dearest, I heard you did the unthinkable and got engaged to Steve? Congratulations!” There was nothing really wrong with his words, but the tone in which Declan said them somehow made Victoria’s skin crawl. “I know he’s this modern artist types. Personally, I can’t tell the difference between modern art and a pile of crushed paper. Honestly, LeeLee told me to guess which paintings in her house were worth a million dollars. I told her that I didn’t care. It has to look pretty, and that’s it for me. I can’t tell the difference between a watercolor and a million dollar painting, personally.”
Amanda, who was an art dealer besides being a librarian, looked even more annoyed at this. Still, Declan was the fiancé of one of the town’s richest women. The famous fashion designer LeeLee Brunt was a seasonal townie who made her way to Larch Hot Springs as soon as spring began and left as soon as winter showed signs of arriving. LeeLee’s arrival was always anticipated by the town, as she often threw grand parties at her mansion across the lake. The parties would go on for days, with food and wine flowing freely. As the caterer, Victoria couldn’t afford to be anything but nice to Declan or LeeLee.
“How’s your sister, Karen?” Declan asked, leering at Victoria. “I haven’t seen her around town these days.”
“Karen’s finishing up a big order from an American client,” Victoria said proudly. “Between that and her handling the General Store, t
here’s not much time for her to be social these days.”
“Pity,” Declan said. “LeeLee asked you to make sure she comes to our party this weekend. We feel it’s important to nurture dynamic young artists like her. Besides, being social makes you more creative, don’t you know?”
“I got no arguments,” Victoria smiled. “But once Karen gets into her creative phases, she seems to want no contact with the world.”
Truth was, Victoria felt that Karen should go out more often. Ever since their father’s death, Karen had been deeply unhappy, although she would be publicly brave. It was as if she was trying to fill the void he had left by focusing only on work. Victoria, who had burnt out as a writer after her husband’s death, knew that working that way would only lead to regret later on.
“LeeLee’s got a grand theme for this next party,” Declan said. “She said she’ll email you her ideas soon. But she’s planning to make it a sci-fi Egyptian party. How do you like that?”
“Sci-fi Egyptian?” Amanda looked amused.
“Yes, basically, imagine if the ancient Egyptian civilization were secretly astronauts, and are still alive somewhere in the galaxy,” Declan said. “We’re commissioning a few statues to be made just for this one party. Costs us plenty, but LeeLee’s earning plenty more.”
Amanda gave Victoria a sideways look. She never understood the logic of wasting so much money on hedonistic parties when it could be better served in improving lives. As someone who had scraped together every penny she earned, and still found time to volunteer and donate to charity, Amanda felt a natural dislike for LeeLee.
Not that LeeLee didn’t donate. She’d made plenty of donations to charitable organizations. It was just that she liked boasting about these donations a little too much. The townspeople mostly felt the same way about her as they did about Declan. They both were a little too arrogant to be truly included as townies.
“Did you want to order something, Declan?” Victoria asked.
“Oh, a chocolate chip mint smoothie for me,” Declan smiled. “I just finished a massive workout, and I deserve it.” He flexed his biceps, one after the other, and invited Amanda to touch one. “I’m actually going to participate in a powerlifting competition in Calgary next month.” He said.