by Tonya Kappes
Now I knew Laura was delusional and it looked like she would have no problem killing me with that belt. I put my hands up to my neck as she walked closer and closer to me.
“She gave me the manuscript with all the writing on it. She knew I couldn’t send it off to publishers like that. I am going to have to retype it all, but without her around, it leaves the door wide open for me to claim my destiny.” She inhaled with a big smile on her face. A look of satisfaction in her eyes. “She gave it to me that afternoon then asked me if I could supply her with the special milk. Oh, yeah. I sure did. I even delivered the milk to her at the Normal Diner and waited. I didn’t realize she was going to go to the library, but it was perfect because I followed her there and when she was in the office I watched as the poison took her life. It was so satisfying.”
She stopped when she got a foot closer to me.
“Do you want me to tell you how she convulsed, falling into the chair, and I stood over her spouting off her lies about my book?” She grinned, bringing the belt level with my neck. “I’d been there a little white, making sure I would see her take her last breath. Then, I heard the front doors of the library open and hid behind the office desk. “Nadine’s back was to the door as she sat there dead in the chair. I heard Valerie call her name and before I knew it, Nadine’s body had dropped to the ground. Her face pointed at me while her eyes were open with a knife sticking straight out of her neck.”
As the faint sounds of sirens swirled in the air outside, my head told me help was on the way, letting me take a few deep breaths to regain my senses. When Laura turned her head toward the sirens, I jumped on her, tackling her to the ground.
She grabbed a fistful of my hair, sending my head back. She karate chopped my neck, making me gag and stumble to my knees. She lunged, wrapping her fingers around my neck and squeezing as tight as she could.
There was pressure on my esophagus. My lungs gasped for air, but a raspy wheeze escaped me. I tugged on both of her wrists to try to pry her hands off of me. Her mouth was open. Her teeth were clenched. Her eyes looked dead. She was a killer.
“Let her go!” Hank yelled. My eyes caught sight of him standing behind her with his gun pointed at her.
“Shoooooooot,” I tried to say in a last-ditch effort to save myself.
A shot rang out. Ringing in my ears forced my eyes closed. Laura’s hands fell away from my neck as she fell to the ground, grabbing her leg. Before I could even recover a full breath, Hank had her on the ground with her hands cuffed behind her back.
Twenty
“Merry Christmas!” Mary Elizabeth entered the recreation center in her full-length fur coat and matching hat. Her hands were full of presents.
“Merry Christmas,” I hurried over and greeted her, Bobby Ray right behind me. He grabbed the presents and I grabbed her, giving her a big southern hug. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas.” Hank Sharp came over and hugged her too. He looked so handsome in the ugly Christmas sweater that was on the flyer put up around town.
“My goodness.” Mary Elizabeth pulled back. Her eyes drew up and down his body. “Even in that ugly sweater, you’re finer than a frog hair split six ways.” She licked her lips.
“Stop it right now.” I rolled my eyes. “You’re early. We are getting the tablecloths on the tables and the food will be delivered any minute.
“I brought a friend.” As she said that, Dawn Gentry walked in. Of course her Christmas sweater had a Santa in a biker outfit on it. “I’ve got news. We’ve got news.” Mary Elizabeth nudged Dawn. “Tell her.”
“As you know, Kelli Sergeant and her husband put the Milkery Dairy Farm up for sale since they think their niece has ruined them.” She smiled so big that I already knew what was coming. “Since I’m a chef and Mary Elizabeth is looking to move closer to her children…” Obviously she was referring to me and Bobby Ray.
“We’ve decided to buy it and partner up!” Mary Elizabeth was worse than Bobby Ray. She couldn’t wait for Dawn to tell it and he couldn’t wait to open his presents.
He was already through three of the ones Mary Elizabeth had brought him.
“Really?” I bounced with excitement. “That’s wonderful news!”
I never in a million years thought I would say that I was happy to be living near my foster mother again. Especially after her no-nonsense talk had led me to pin the murder on Valerie. According to the final autopsy report, what clued Hank in was the timing of the stab wound and how the poisonous mushroom Boletus had been found in her system. It just so happened that Ty and Dawn didn’t try the recipe that called for special milk That’s how they weren’t poisoned. When Hank interviewed Dawn, she told him about the local writer who had dropped off the milk, but it didn’t click until he’d gotten a call from Colonel Holz while taking Valerie Young back to the station.
It was Valerie who told him Laura’s name. He put two and two together. That type of mushroom was found in the Daniel Boone National Park, which lead him to believe it was Laura who had poisoned the milk she gave to Nadine out of anger over the bad review Dawn said Nadine had told her about.
When he tried to call me at the office and Mary Elizabeth told him I was running out to the Milkery to pick up ingredients for the candy cane donuts, he knew he had very little time to get out there before I put two and two together.
“Hey, are you okay?” Hank walked up behind me and wrapped his arms around me, resting his chin on my shoulder.
“I’m more than okay.” I twisted around. Despite the noise from the caterers setting up the Christmas dinner that’d come from Normal Diner and from Christine setting up the dessert station, I got lost in Hank’s eyes. “I’m happier than I ever thought I could be.”
I took his hand in mine and turned back around. Everything and everyone that I loved was in this room. It was one of the best Christmases I’d had in a long time.
Dottie was holding Fifi as she, Queenie, Betts, and Abby were huddled in a corner. Ty and Abby had made up. There definitely wasn’t any chemistry between him and Dawn that I could see.
Then it happened. The Laundry Club circle opened just as I let go of Hank’s hand and joined my friends. Only I wasn’t the only stranger they let into their group. Dawn Gentry was the newest member of the Laundry Club.
RECIPES AND CLEANING HACKS FROM MAE WEST AND WOMEN OF
NORMAL, KENTUCKY and THE HAPPY TRAILS CAMPGROUND
RV Hack #1
Some campers don’t like to put holes on the walls inside of their RV and campers, but we love the luxury of having curtains hanging on the windows to offer that at home feel, not to mention privacy.
The sticky command hooks are the perfect item you need! All you have to do is
Need a temporary curtain to create separation in your RV, don’t want to drill holes into the
frame, or simply want a super easy way to hang curtains. Use command hooks to hold up your
curtain rod! Command hooks, or something similar has the perfect spacing for a small rod. And
they peel right off when you don’t want curtains anymore!
They are also great to hang Christmas lights and decorations for a festive fun holiday!
RV/Camping Hack #2
Camping and RV’ing is a lot of fun. But that fun turns quickly south when there’s too many pesky flies to shoo away!
Did you know that you can use Pin Sol to keep them away? Yes!
Dilute it with water to create a 50/50 solution and wipe down your counters, tables, and awnings with it. You’ll love the enjoyment this little hack gives you freedom from the pesky bugs.
Breakfast:
EGG IN A BASKET
INGREDIENTS
1 slice of bread
1 egg
2 pieces bacon or ham
DIRECTIONS
Brown meat in a skillet.
Tear a hole out of the middle of the bread slice (approx. 1 1/2 in diameter).
Place the bread slice on top of the strips of meat.
Carefully break the egg into the hole in the bread.
Cook until the egg is the desired firmness.
Supper:
BAG KABOBS
INGREDIENTS
beef or chicken
1 bell peppers
mushrooms
1 onion
10 small potatoes
1 zucchini squash
2-3 Tbsp olive oil
1 lemon or lime
McCormick's Salt-free Chicken seasoning
powdered butter flavoring
2 Tbsp soy sauce
lemon pepper seasonings
dill
DIRECTIONS
Boil potatoes for approximately 4-5 minutes depending on size.
They should still be firm and crisp, not mushy. They will finish cooking on the grill. Let potatoes cool completely before putting in foil bag. Chop bell peppers, onion and zucchini squash into large pieces.
Put chopped vegetables, whole potatoes and whole mushrooms into a large foil bag, olive oil, lemon or lime juice, soy sauce, butter flavoring, lemon pepper seasonings, and dill.
Cut meat into large stew size pieces.
Put meat in a separate foil bag with 1/4 cup of olive oil, garlic, chicken seasonings, butter flavoring and 2 tablespoons of soy sauce.
When using more than one kind of meat, put in separate bags. Place the foil bags into larger 2 gallon zip lock bags to store while traveling.
To cook, remove foil bags from plastic zip lock bags and grill for 8-10 minutes, turning after 5-6 minutes.
Let sit before opening bags.
Dessert:
APPLES ON A STICK
Apple pie anytime is amazing. But apple pie on a stick…that’s just taking it to a whole new level! This is a fun and tasty treat any camper is sure to enjoy.
INGREDIENTS
1 c sugar
1 Tbsp cinnamon
4 cooking apples
4 dowel or roasting sticks
DIRECTIONS
In a small bowl, mix together sugar and cinnamon and set aside.
Push the stick or dowel through the top of the apple to the bottom until the apple is secure.
Roast the apple 2 to 3 inches above the bed of hot coals and turn frequently. As the apple cooks, the skin starts to brown and the juice dribbles out.
When the skin is loose, remove the apple from the coals but leave it on the stick. Peel the skin off the apple, being careful not to burn yourself because the apple is very hot.
CANDY CANE DONUTS
MAKES 6 SERVINGS
Ingredients
Donuts
1 1/4 cups moist-style devil's food cake mix (a little less than half a box)
1/2 cup canned pure pumpkin
1/4 cup (about 2 large) egg whites or fat-free liquid egg substitute
1/4 tsp. peppermint extract
Glaze
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 tbsp. unsweetened vanilla almond milk, light vanilla soymilk, or fat-free dairy milk
2 - 3 drops peppermint extract
Dash salt
1 full-sized candy cane (or 3 minis), crushed
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 6-cavity standard donut pan with nonstick spray.
In a large bowl, combine all donut ingredients. Add 1/4 cup water, and mix until completely smooth and uniform. Evenly distribute batter into the rings of the donut pan, and smooth out the tops. (See HG Tip below.)
Bake until a toothpick inserted into a donut comes out mostly clean, about 12 minutes.
Meanwhile, place a cooling rack over a baking sheet.
Let donuts cool completely, about 10 minutes in the pan and 15 minutes on the cooling rack.
In a medium bowl, combine glaze ingredients except candy cane, and whisk until smooth and uniform.
One at a time, dunk the tops of the donuts into the glaze, coating the top halves. Return to the cooling rack, and sprinkle evenly with crushed candy cane.
Allow glaze to set, about 10 minutes. (Glaze will run off; that's why you've got the rack over that baking sheet.)
About the Author
Tonya has written over 50 novels and 4 novellas, all of which have graced numerous bestseller lists, including USA Today’s. Best known for stories charged with emotion and humor, and filled with flawed characters, her novels have garnered reader praise and glowing critical reviews. She lives with her husband and two very spoiled schnauzers and grew up in the small southern town of Nicholasville, Kentucky. Now that her four boys are grown boys, Tonya writes fulltime.
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Also by Tonya Kappes
Magical Cures Mystery Series
A CHARMING CRIME
A CHARMING CURE
A CHARMING POTION (novella)
A CHARMING WISH
A CHARMING SPELL
A CHARMING MAGIC
A CHARMING SECRET
A CHARMING CHRISTMAS (novella)
A CHARMING FATALITY
A CHARMING DEATH (novella)
A CHARMING GHOST
A CHARMING HEX
A CHARMING VODOO
A CHARMING CORPSE
A Camper and Criminals Cozy Mystery
BEACHES, BUNGALOWS AND BURGLARIES
DESERT, DRIVERS AND DERELICTS
FORESTS, FISHING AND FORGERY
CHRISTMAS, CRIMINALS, AND CAMPERS
A Southern Cake Baker Series ( under the pen name of Maymee Bell)
CAKE AND PUNISHMENT
BATTER OFF DEAD
A Ghostly Southern Mystery Series
A GHOSTLY UNDERTAKING
A GHOSTLY GRAVE
A GHOSTLY DEMISE
A GHOSTLY MURDER
A GHOSTLY REUNION
A GHOSTLY MORTALITY
A GHOSTLY SECRET
Killer Coffee Mystery Series
SCENE OF THE GRIND
MOCHA AND MURDER
FRESHLY GROUND MURDER
COLD BLOODED BREW
Kenni Lowry Mystery Series
FIXIN’ TO DIE
SOUTHERN FRIED
AX TO GRIND
SIX FEET UNDER
DEAD AS A DOORNAIL
TANGLED UP IN TINSEL
Spies and Spells Mystery Series
SPIES AND SPELLS
BETTING OFF DEAD
GET WITCH or DIE TRYING
A Laurel London Mystery Series
CHECKERED CRIME
CHECKERED PAST
CHECKERED THIEF
A Divorced Diva Beading Mystery Series
A BEAD OF DOUBT SHORT STORY
STRUNG OUT TO DIE
CRIMPED TO DEATH
Olivia Davis Paranormal Mystery Series
SPLITSVILLE.COM
COLOR ME LOVE (novella)
COLOR ME A CRIME
Grandberry Falls Series
THE LADYBUG JINX
HAPPY NEW LIFE
A SUPERSTITIOUS CHRISTMAS (novella)
NEVER TELL YOUR DREAMS
Bluegrass Romance Series
GROOMING MR. RIGHT
TAMING MR. RIGHT
Women’s Fiction
CARPE BREAD ’EM
Young Adult
TAG YOU’RE IT
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. The cover was mad
e by Mariah Sinclair and edited by Dianne Jessie.
Copyright © 2018 by Tonya Kappes. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. 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 and reviews. For information email [email protected]