Tricia seemed happy to take a break and drank thirstily from her glass. She had many questions about the murder and her missing guest.
Apparently, the local gossip mill had passed on the fact that Heather had been found dead. Lacey was not about to share whatever inside knowledge Wyatt had given her.
She asked Tricia if she had always lived in Elkville.
“Oh no.” answered Tricia, “Very few people are actually from here. I moved here from Denver a few months ago.”
According to her story, she had tired of big city life and big city crime and a friend had told her about Elkville. She liked the small town atmosphere but still being close to a big city if she wanted.
Lacey couldn’t help it, she asked her about the Wyatt. Hoping not to be too obvious, she asked if the town was happy with their choice of sheriff.
Tricia replied, “Well, Sheriff Graves has only been here a year, but people seemed happy that they got “big city” experience right here in Elkville.”
Tricia was interesting to visit with and before she knew it, an hour had passed.
Charlotte came in lugging several cloth grocery bags. Lacey rushed to take a couple from her as Tricia did the same.
Lacey unpacked the wild caught salmon fillets and free range chicken breasts from the bags that Charlotte brought in. She felt very strongly that she should provide the best and least processed food to her guests that she could afford. Someday she hoped to have a fruitful garden that also supplied some home grown organics to her table.
Of course, that was very iffy considering the altitude of the Inn location.
As she whisked together a pungent teriyaki sauce to marinate the fish and chicken she enjoyed listening to the two women get to know each other.
Lacey announced that since everything was done except grilling the meat they should enjoy a happy hour drink before the first guests arrived.
This announcement was greeted by a cheer from Charlotte and Tricia. Lacey proceeded to make a pitcher of margaritas.
As the sun quickly slipped behind the still snow dusted peak the women laughed and compared lives around the granite topped work island in the kitchen.
Charlotte was delighted that the first guest to ring the old-fashioned dinner bell located on the front deck of the Inn was Cody Westerfield. Charlotte ran to let him in.
Charlotte was very petite, which was accentuated by the six foot two height of Cody. She was an attractive woman, definitely the prettiest of the three sisters. She was so tiny and delicate that men automatically wanted to protect her. They would be making a huge mistake to underestimate Charlotte’s strength. She was the strongest soul Lacey knew. Wide blue eyes, heart shaped face, and she had not fought the auburn highlights that all three sisters had in their hair. She had embraced this tendency to go red and had kept her hair a lovely shade of strawberry blond for the last five years.
Cody’s look appraised her at the doorway but true to Charlotte’s independent spirit, she quickly led him out to the sanctuary and put him to work getting the grill ready. His eyes looked after her speculatively as she went back into the kitchen. Charlotte sensed his look but he was wasting his time; Charlotte’s heart was still much too broken to even enter into a casual relationship. That didn’t mean that she didn’t appreciate his tall outdoorsy good looks.
Chapter 18
Several neighbors arrived including Lucy Wright and Mandy Grainger. Mandy was very excited that she had managed to get away from her children for an evening. She loved being an at home mother but how she longed for an adult conversation.
Handyman Dan came in with a few construction friends of his and finally the person Lacey had been holding her breath for came out into the sanctuary. Wyatt.
As she looked across the stone patio, she could swear everyone else disappeared. Their eyes met and he hurried over to her. While the two of them thought they were the only ones who noticed their fascination with each other, everyone there could see that there was something between them.
When he reached her side, he fought an almost physical ache to pull her into his arms.
Joan and Suzy joined the group on the patio, flushed from both their exertions hiking all day and the young handsome construction workers that looked at them appreciatively.
Lacey looked around at the faces that were reflected in the twinkling fairy lights and thought, this is what I wanted, creating a special evening for a group of people.
She blocked her mind to the violence that had marred her grand opening and instead reveled in this normal gathering.
Pitchers of margaritas and bottles of wine stood readily accessible for the guests.
Aromatic smoke rose from the grill, just as convivial conversation rose from the group of guests. Lacey felt content, this is how it would have been if murder had not intruded.
Wyatt touched her on the arm as if to say he understood.
Everyone prepared their plates and began sitting in cordial groups at the wrought iron tables scattered across the faux ancient stonework. As they were finishing the delicious al fresco dinner, Miranda and John Braverman came thru the old and weathered reclaimed barn wood gate.
Lacey was surprised to see them this early and rushed over to them.
“Was everything okay at your dinner? Did you enjoy it?” she asked anxiously.
They beamed at her and assured her gift of a romantic dinner for two had been wonderful. They sat down at a table that included Lucinda Wright and some other townspeople.
Lacey brought them each a brimming margarita glass and then did her best to circulate around to each table making small talk.
She was very aware of Wyatt’s eyes following her movements.
She brought out the brownie trifle to enthusiastic applause. Just as she had always told herself, dessert makes everything better. She scooped up the trifle making sure to include some of each layer in each serving.
As Charlotte helped her serve each table, she felt happy. For just a moment, she was able to forget the ugliness that had touched all of them in the last couple of days.
The impromptu party wound down and one by one, each guest made their exits.
The Inn guests headed to their rooms and the townsfolk headed back to Elkville.
Soon, only Charlotte, Wyatt and herself remained clearing tables, and turning off both spa and fairy lights in the outdoor area.
It felt so natural that the three of them didn’t really need to talk as they loaded the dishwasher and put away leftovers.
Charlotte hugged her sister and quickly left the Inn to drive the short distance to her rental house.
As Lacey moved through the kitchen wiping down counters, Wyatt grabbed her hand and pulled her in to nestle against his broad chest.
“Kiss me so I know it wasn’t a dream,” he whispered against her hair.
She raised her head and met his lips with her own.
Immediately the kiss turned fiery. His hands tightened around her back trying to pull her even closer. She tried her best to melt her body into his. Her hand rested on his chest and she could feel his heart beating fast and strong under her fingers. She kissed him hard and passionately. His tongue begged for entrance and she opened her mouth wider to allow him to explore.
Just when she thought, she would literally burst into flames he tried to pull away. She held on tighter to his body and he sighed against her lips and then pulled his body a few inches away from her. She felt cold and abandoned and tried to move closer to him. He held her at arms length and rested his forehead against hers. Both were breathing hard.
Finally, when he was able to speak in an almost normal voice, he said, “Oh Lacey, believe me I want you more than you know. But this is special; I want to make sure we don’t rush. We both deserve that.”
He was right. As she tried to control her ragged breathing, she tore her body from his and put as much distance between them as the room would allow.
She appreciated his ability to get control because she did not th
ink she would have been able to stop herself from going much much further in her exploration of him.
“I’m going to make us some coffee and we can sit in the library and talk. How does that sound?” she asked shakily.
He looked at her with that penetrating blue gaze. She knew he too would rather they had gone where they were headed.
He nodded and pulled his phone out and began checking messages while she prepared a tray with coffee and napkins along with a plate of homemade cookies that Tricia had brought with her from the Elkville Café.
As they entered the library, they consciously tried not to touch each other. She set the tray on the table in front of the comfortable couch. They both sat, maybe a little too close, but they had control now, right?
Anxious to finally have this conversation, Lacey said, “Tell me about your wife.”
He seemed relieved that although the subject was not easy it was less volatile then their attraction to each other.
He told her with sadness in his face and voice about his “sweet” Annie. They had finally had the beach wedding she had always dreamed about. Then less than six months afterwards she had been stricken with breast cancer. She was young and her chances were good. The doctors said she had a ninety percent chance of being cured. She did everything they recommended, chemo, radiation, even surgery. She fought a good battle but four months later, she was gone. He held his emotions in check, the effort making his face tight with strain. He told her that even the day before she died she was talking about having children with him. They would never have that chance; he came home from work and found her already gone.
Lacey held his hand tightly as sympathetic tears filled her luminous green eyes.
He looked at her and said very quietly, “I made up my mind that I would never love again, but I met you and I can’t help it. I think I’m falling for you Lacey.”
He started to tug at the gold band still on his left hand.
She grabbed his hands and said “No, don’t. Not yet. I want to honor your Annie too.”
He was speechless. Instead of feeling jealous about his feelings of loss, she felt that it only proved how much love he was capable of feeling.
They held each other tightly in comfort, not passion.
She rose quietly and led him upstairs to the remaining guest room. They kissed chastely in the doorway and then she climbed the last flight of stairs to her own third floor domain.
Chapter 19
Lacey slept deeply and dreamlessly. She had thought she would have trouble drifting off knowing that Wyatt was sleeping just below but apparently, murder and mayhem wore a person out.
Still her thoughts went first to the fact that Wyatt was here as soon as her cell alarm woke her. It was six am and she dressed quickly taking a moment to apply some light make up.
Then she hurried downstairs. She got coffee going and then began preparations for breakfast.
She had decided on a simple frittata. She would add fresh herbs and chopped spinach to the grated potatoes in the cast iron skillet. She cooked these ingredients until just tender then turned off the burner. Next, she added the milk and egg mixture. She topped the pan generously with cheddar cheese. She would pop the skillet under the broiler for just a few minutes to set everything right before serving. She then raided the refrigerator and fruit bowl to create a lovely fresh fruit salad. She whisked together a light poppy seed dressing.
She was placing this bowl back into the refrigerator to chill when she felt arms wrapping around her waist.
She turned into Wyatt’s arms and smiled warmly up at him.
He kissed her lightly on the lips and then murmured close to her ear, “Hmmmm what a fantasy, seeing this beautiful woman, my woman in the kitchen cooking breakfast.”
She swatted at his chest and said, ‘It’s for everyone buddy, don’t get too excited. ”
His eyes glinted and he growled, “Oh, but I am.”
Flustered she busied herself gathering plates and utensils to carry into the dining room.
Just as she finished setting the long table, he came in carrying two steaming mugs of coffee. She gratefully accepted the mug he held out and they settled themselves at the small table near the huge window. For a moment they looked out at the new day fully arrived in the light blue sky.
He set his mug down and began telling her about the preliminary results of the autopsy on Heather Mason. Her death was suspicious. It was difficult to determine anything for sure on a body that had tumbled hundreds of feet down a rocky hillside. The medical examiner had made the determination based on what appeared to be defensive wounds and two prominent bruises on the victims back. She felt these injuries could indicate that Heather had been pushed from behind and then grabbing frantically at someone or something trying to avoid going over the edge.
Lacey drew in a sharp breath; she had convinced herself that Heather’s death was a suicide over the guilt of killing her husband. She thought that would put the completely horrible ordeal to rest. This information however, created many more questions. Who else could be involved? Sensing there was more she looked expectantly at Wyatt.
He continued in a quiet voice, “There were two DNA samples found under Heather’s fingernails. One was a match to Adam Mason and the other is unknown. There were also a few hairs and fibers that are still being analyzed.”
He took her hand in his, “I’m telling you this Lacey because it means you and everyone else in this scenario is not out of danger.”
His hand tightened on hers as her fear was visible on her features.
She let herself look vulnerable for just a moment and then her features tightened and she pulled her hand out of his, straightened her shoulders, and said firmly, “I’m not afraid. I want to help you solve this. Tell me what I can do.”
He spoke more firmly, “No. You need to stay out of this and be safe. ”
She quickly replied, “Well it’s too late for that, I’m right in the middle of this.”
He sighed, she was right; the best thing was to get to the bottom of both of these deaths and remove whoever was responsible from the scene. They were both quiet as they absorbed the situation.
They looked up as Miranda and John Braverman entered the dining room.
Lacey jumped up to go finish breakfast.
When she came back in with piping hot wedges of frittata arranged, attractively on three plates with the bright colorful fruit salad side dish she was aware of tension in the room.
Apparently, Wyatt had been asking the Braverman’s if they could possibly stay for a day or two more in case there were more questions for the couple. John Braverman was angry and irritation marred his wife’s beautiful blond countenance.
Wyatt spoke in soothing tones but John pushed back his chair and said, “You can’t keep us here! We are leaving tomorrow morning and there is nothing you can do about it.”
He took Miranda by the hand and they abruptly left the room.
A minute later, Joan and Suzy breezed in, unaware of the previous conversation.
“I’m starving! What smells so good?” asked Suzy.
They saw the two plates on the table and assuming they were for them sat down and began hungrily attacking the food.
Lacey hurried back into the kitchen to get coffee and juice for her guests.
Wyatt followed her in and said, “Sorry about that.”
She studied his serious face and reminded him that it was true they could not make anyone stay here at the Inn.
She wanted to ask if he really thought the couple had anything to do with the murders but knew he probably wouldn’t be able to answer that.
For that matter, Joan and Suzy were supposed to check out this morning. Would he want to keep them here too? She could tell by his evasive expression when she asked that he did indeed want to keep everyone in place. Unless he was arresting everyone, they would most likely be leaving.
In addition, until their departure she was supposed to be providing a wonderful exper
ience. Ha- that would only be true if this was one of those haunted Halloween events! Hmmm… she thought that was a good idea, she would file that away as an option for another time.
She was sure that once the realness of these last few days passed she would be ready for a pretend mystery gathering.
Chapter 20
The morning passed uneventfully. Wyatt had left for work right after breakfast.
Lacey tended to the usual daily housekeeping duties.
Charlotte came mid- morning to help. They both worked on a thank you packet for their first guests. They added a free weekend stay at the Inn along with the usual discount coupons for tourist attractions and a nice framed picture of the guests smiling gaily with the beautiful sunset behind them in the sanctuary. Lacey felt that they had to give a murder free stay in an effort to make up for the drama this week had brought.
They split up the list of opening night guests and began calling each to thank them for attending. Lacey tried not to smile when Charlotte made sure Cody Westerfield was on her list.
Lacey spoke at length with both Lucinda Wright and Mandy Grainger. She wanted to offer tours of Lucy’s Llama’s to her guests and she profusely thanked Mandy for the delicious meal she had delivered.
Someday when the Inn was on its feet, she would like to hire the woman to provide special occasion meals for her guests.
If grand opening week was, anything to go by she had a lot of making up to do to get the word out that the Inn was a wonderful destination.
Handy Man Dan came in around noon to install the security system. Lacey had never thought she would need such an elaborate system at her quiet, country Inn, but that had sure changed. Dan did his best to flirt equally with both her and Charlotte. He was cute in an endearing puppy kind of way but neither of them could be seriously interested.
Joan and Suzy came downstairs with their backpacks ready to check out. Lacey apologized for the disruption and horror of their stay but they brushed her apology aside.
“Think of the great stories we have to tell when we get back to school,” Suzy said cheerfully.
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