by Teresa Trent
I opened my mouth to speak and heard the crowd behind us shouting, “Yes! Yes! Yes!”
We both laughed, and then I uttered a single word.
“Yes.”
Leo stood up, encased me in a giant hug and then lowered his lips to mine just as a fireworks blossom went off above us in the Texas sky. From behind us I heard more cheers. As I put on my new engagement ring, I noticed the light hit it – and it sparkled. It was by far the prettiest sparkle tonight in Pecan Bayou, and I was pretty glad it wasn’t followed by gunfire.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
“Cousin Leo! I have a Cousin Leo!” Danny said as we all raised a glass on my front porch in the moonlight. I sipped at my champagne and gazed over at Leo. The boys were out on the front lawn chasing after fireflies. Leo and Tyler had stayed the weekend, and my father spent most of Sunday dealing with his newest visitors in the Pecan Bayou jail.
“You surprised us all there, Leo. We never expected you to propose.” Maggie patted him on the shoulder.
“In the middle of a pot bust,” Dad said.
“In the middle of catching a killer,” I added.
“Well, there never seemed to be the right time with you people. I had to move when Betsy was standing still and not being shot at.”
I reached over and ran my hand along his cheek. “Thanks for working with me.”
Dad set down his glass and put his hands behind his head and stretched. “Once we got Coop Bonnet down to the station, he started talkin’. Seems he’s not such a tough guy when he’s facing a prison sentence. Told us Allison was the driving force behind all of it.”
“Now you know his daddy isn’t going to let him take all the heat,” Maggie said.
“His daddy is facing some heat of his own. Adam got over there with the subpoena, and they found enough pot in the trees to supply another Woodstock. He’s looking at a marijuana cultivation conviction with a sentence of two to twenty years, we figure.”
“What about Lina?” I said.
Dad took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. “From all that we can tell, Lina was in on it but never took part in any of the business side. It was her job to manage the legal part of the farm. If the judge gives her anything, it’ll probably just be a fine.”
“So will she stay on out there?” Leo asked.
“No, she said she can’t manage it without her husband and son – but here’s the kicker, Libby is moving out there.”
Maggie laughed. “Libby? The poor little rich girl?”
“Yep. She’s taking over the farm and with the help of some hired hands will be running it. She is also moving the Charlie Loper museum out there. It will be Pecan Bayou’s newest tourist attraction.”
“That’s good to hear. This might be just the thing Miss Libby needs to make her happy,” I said.
“That is, if she makes sure she hires good people,” Leo added.
“I’ve already suggested she do a background check on anyone she puts in her employ,” said my dad.
“Is Dr. Springer better?” Danny asked.
“I called the hospital this afternoon, Danny,” Maggie said, “and she came out of her coma. The doctors say she will make a full recovery. Your boss is going to be all right. Probably the best part of all of that is she’s talking. She’s already said she’ll be glad to testify against Allison and Coop.”
“She’s another one who needs to do a background check on her help,” I said.
“Yes, well, Allison’s parents are on their way. They were out of the country, of course, and have already warned Chief Wilson that they are hiring the finest lawyer money can buy,” Dad said.
Leo reached over and squeezed my knee. “Lawyer or no, it’s pretty hard to get out of a murder and attempted murder.”
“I still don’t get how a girl who has everything could do something like that,” Maggie said.
“Oh, she had everything, but the one thing she wanted her parents couldn’t buy.” I looked out at the boys now lying down on the lawn, looking up at the stars in the Texas summer sky.
“Well, I guess she has her parents’ attention now, doesn’t she?” Dad said, and then he leaned over and patted Leo on the back. “So, now that you’re engaged, where do you think you’re going to live?”
“Dallas,” Leo said – at the same time I said, “Pecan Bayou.”
“Betsy, I’m a meteorologist, and my office is in Dallas,” he protested.
“You are in hurricane country, Leo. You can work anywhere,” I answered.
“Okay you two,” my father said. “You have a few things to work out. In the meantime, a toast – to two of the most mismatched and most in love people I’ve ever met.” We all raised our glasses, and I clinked my against Leo’s. Butch jumped up between us and planted puppy kisses on my face.
“Hey, boy, that’s my job!” said Leo.
“It sure is,” I said and planted my own kiss on my brand new fiancé.
Chapter Thirty: Helpful Hints
There are thousands of pets available for adoption every day in the United States. If you choose to adopt and provide a home for a puppy like Butch, here are few things to keep in mind:
• Investigate the breed of the dog you are thinking about adopting. This will help you make decisions about temperament and maintenance.
• Make sure you have food and water bowls, toys, collar and leash.
• Figure out the household rules for the dog before he gets in the door. Will he be allowed on the furniture? Will he get scraps from the table? Who will walk and train the dog?
• Just like if you brought home a new baby, you’ll want to make sure there is nothing on the floor or anything that the dog can ingest that is dangerous to him. Be sure to provide plenty of toys for chewing if you have a new puppy.
• Make an appointment with your veterinarian for the pet to have a thorough exam. Make sure the dog’s shots are all up to date, and consider spaying or neutering.
• Be prepared to spend time with your pet playing and helping it to feel at home in your home.
How to Clean Paving Stones (like the blood-stained ones around Charlie Loper’s fountain)
1. Sweep away any dirt and debris on the stones and then spray the area with water from the hose.
2. Cover any grass or plants that might come in contact with the cleaning formula. You can use a drop cloth or something like an old shower curtain.
3. Make a solution of half bleach/half warm water and pour it on the affected area, being careful not to touch any surrounding greenery.
4. Scrub the area with a long-handled brush and then hose it down with water again.
Recipes
Berry Watermelon Smoothie
Ingredients
1/4 watermelon
125 g frozen mixed berries or 125 g fresh mixed berries
1 or 2 bananas
1/4-1/2 cup milk (optional – soy or rice milk works too, or use any juice as a substitute)
ice (optional)
cinnamon
honey
Directions
Blend watermelon into a juice.
Add bananas (use mainly to thicken).
Throw in other ingredients, all according to taste.
Watermelon Lemonade
Mix together these ingredients.
6 cups watermelon
1 cup water
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup lemon juice
Peanut Butter Pie from the Pecan Bayou Diner
Ingredients
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup milk
1 (16-ounce) package frozen whipped topping, thawed
2 (9-inch) prepared graham cracker crusts
Directions
1. Beat together cream cheese and confectioners’ sugar. Mix in peanut butter and milk. Beat until smooth. Fold in whipped topping.
2. Spoon the mixture into two 9-inch graham cracker pie
shells. Cover and freeze until firm.
Aunt Maggie’s Yo-Yo Pattern
Cut out a circle of fabric. You can use the bottom of any jar for a template, depending on how big of a yo-yo you want to make. Just remember you will be gathering the yo-yo, so don’t make it too small. A regular-sized peanut butter jar or bigger is a good size.
Once you get your yo-yo cut out, heat up the iron and press a 1/4-inch seam all the way around the circle of fabric.
Sew a running stitch all the way around your seam using small, even stitches. Do not backstitch. You want to be able to gather the stitch when you finish.
Pull the thread tight. It will make a much smaller circle with a hole in the middle. Tie it off with two small stitches and a knot.
Flatten your completed yo-yo with your hand so that the hole is centered.
When you have several yo-yos, you can sew them together to create a quilt top, a pillow – or even a costume for a dog in a parade.
Helping Dogs Handle the Noise of Fireworks
Many dogs are frightened of fireworks. There are many ways you can get your favorite pooch through this stressful time. You may want to try and desensitize your dog to the sound of the fireworks. They can listen to a video or recording featuring fireworks to try to accustom them to the sound. Gradually turn the volume up – but if your dog becomes fearful, turn it back down. You may need to do this several times. You can also reward your dog with a treat for sitting calmly while listening.
Lavonne’s Homemade Window Cleaner
Mix equal parts of water and vinegar. Because there is no rubbing alcohol in this recipe, it will take longer to dry. Use a microfiber cloth to clean the glass. It will make a difference on all your museum cases!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Teresa Trent lives in Texas and loves writing about small town life. She first got the idea to create Pecan Bayou after visiting the Texas Hill Country to view the millions of springtime flowers alongside the roads and highways. The town of Pecan Bayou does not exist in Texas, but there is a body of water in the state with the name. Pecan Bayou does exist in Teresa's imagination and heart.
Teresa is the parent of a child with Down Syndrome. After realizing there is so little fiction with characters having disabilities, she wanted to create someone with a developmental delay who worked, was part of a loving family and who even helped solve a few mysteries.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to Rachel for helping me once again. Your assistance is invaluable. Thank you to Susan for your help on the book and sharing your experiences with weimaraners. Thank you to my husband for his information about Colt 45s and for always supporting me in my writing.
Other Works by Teresa Trent
Pecan Bayou Series
#1 A Dash of Murder
#2 Overdue for Murder
Visit Teresa Trent's Blog
teresatrent.wordpress.com
For more information on Teresa, upcoming books, free days on Kindle, and giveaways.