Recipe for Trouble

by Jackie Griffey

  "This will save you from that." Connie pointed out, "And get your good deed for the week behind you."

  "Being lazy and bored wasn't my first choice for the weekend. I called Hannah McLaughlin, but there was no answer. Should have done it sooner, I guess."

  "Hannah's out of town. I took some books back to the library and talked to her yesterday. She said she was going to visit a friend in Fort Craig."

  Connie volunteered the information in spite of a slight warning pressure from Cas's knee against hers.

  "Oh, I didn't know," Tim said thoughtfully. "It's funny, when the phone kept on ringing, I felt like she didn't want to answer it or something. Must have been my own negative personality vibes," he smiled self-consciously.

  "Or you've been around Connie too much," Cas gave her a glance that didn't have far to go to irritation. "She doesn't need many facts to come to not necessarily right or to downright far out conclusions."

  "I'll let you get by with that," Connie frowned at him. "But only because we've arrived."

  She peered at the flower shop's windows as Cas parked.

  A light rap on the door as they went in brought light streaming from the small office in back as someone came out. The warmth and light were accompanied by the scent of coffee and cinnamon which drifted out to them past Miss Mayme's welcoming presence.

  "Look," Miss Mayme called to her sister. "They're here, and they've snagged another Good Samaritan!"

  * * *

  Mattie had, as tactfully as she was capable of, told Katie to stay out of her way while she decided what she wanted to take with her. Katie concentrated on her own preparations and changed to more comfortable shoes. But she hovered watchfully near the stairs in case Mattie should need her for something.

  "It does get cold up there at night, remember. The agent said so," Katie called up the stairs.

  "I know. That's why I called and made sure all the utilities will be on. Also, I'm taking some warm things and my electric blanket with me."

  "Oh, Lord, have mercy, I'll just bet," Katie agonized silently. "I can just see us!"

  She visualized her little car and the flower shop van piled too high with belongings to see out, and with various electrical cords flying out behind them as they sped down the freeway like a gypsy caravan.

  A little later Mattie called to her and Katie entered the room to see two suitcases and a neat stack of sweaters and outerwear; shoes including loafers and house slippers; a new coffee machine still in its carton; extra bed linens, the electric blanket neatly folded on top; a halogen lamp, dubbed an absolute necessity; and all of that was in addition to the word processor, paper, ribbons, and other paraphernalia which were also in the absolutely necessary category. Absolutely necessary things had multiplied like weeds in a flower bed.

  Mattie looked over the piles of belongings nearest her as if trying to think of everything she might need. Katie had been blissfully unaware she even had that much in the way of personal belongings. In a state near shock, she simply stared wordlessly at all that had been dragged out to be carted to the lake.

  "I'm not going to unplug my word processor until I know we will be able to take it safely, and not damage it. If I decide to write any more books, I'll probably get a computer, but at this point, well, I'm just going to make sure I've got all I need for now."

  Katie only nodded, struck dumb at all that would have to be moved just for the spring and part or all of the summer. And to think it was all classified absolutely necessary, according to her sister. She shook her head.

  "Oh, and put me in a few grocery items," Mattie said over her shoulder. "A small box or sack of things to tide me over."

  Katie hadn't moved. She took a deep breath.

  "I mean things with a long shelf life like soup or pork and beans if we have any down there."

  "All right," Katie turned to go. "I'll put in the new can of coffee, since you have the new coffee machine and we don't know if the store at the crossroads will be open or not."

  "I'm glad you mentioned that. If it is, we'll stop and look at what they have and make sure they still deliver. Mayme and Minnie won't mind."

  Katie nodded. That their cousins wouldn't mind was about the only thing Katie was sure of at that point. She paused to bless them both.

  * * *

  The drive to Fort Craig was pleasant. The promise of an early spring in the air lifted Hannah's spirits. She wore a smile as she parked in front of Gina's neat little house.

  "Hey," Gina called from the doorway. "Look to your left and admire my jonquils."

  Hannah promptly obeyed. "They're pretty, but I'm afraid they're going to get nipped. They've come out so early."

  "They do it every year, Gloomy Gus. So I guess it won't hurt them."

  She reached out as soon as she got near enough and hugged Hannah close, then shut the door behind them.

  "Oh," Hannah stopped just inside the door. "You've got a fire going in the fireplace." She happily tossed her purse into a chair beside her overnight bag and held out her hands to warm them.

  Gina's small house was just right for her and she had fixed it for her own tastes and comfort. She smiled at Hannah's reaction to the fire.

  "I lucked up on a good wood source I could afford so I always have a fire when I'm home. The savings on the wood offsets having to paint," Gina glanced up at the white ceiling.

  "It's never that bad. I could hardly see the part you fussed so about last time you had it painted. And I love the open fire."

  "Me too. And we're going to have your favorite things today for lunch," Gina's eyes sparkled.

  "You don't mean - chili dogs?" Hannah had been addicted to them since high school.

  "Yep! With lots of chili, coleslaw, smelly old onions, and all that good stuff."

  "Heavenly! But I was going to take you out for burgers today."

  "We can go tomorrow. Flora's not coming until about three o'clock."

  "Flora. Is that who you said you wanted me to meet?"

  "Yes, Flora Keeper. You'll like her. She's a little older than we are, but she's such a good, sweet person. And she's fun and good company. She likes to shop as much as we do."

  "Does she work at Carroway Communications where you do?"

  Gina nodded, "That's where I met her. She came to the company very highly recommended from some other communications company."

  She paused, "It was at the Christmas party I found out about what she can do."

  "What she can do? You said she sees things sometimes?" Hannah asked, curious.

  "Yes, she does sometimes. And sometimes she knows what other people are thinking, or maybe what they're feeling is closer to it. She knows if someone is not telling the truth or means someone harm, or if someone is in pain or needs help."

  "In pain?" Hannah frowned.

  "That's the main thing about her gift, helping people. I told her she's a healer, but she says she only knows when someone needs help. And if she can help them, she does. But she doesn't call herself a healer."

  "What happened at the Christmas party? How did you find out she's a healer, if she is one?"

  "The only way I could, I guess. I needed her help. You know how we always have a spread at the office instead of an evening party—we have ever since I've worked there. That way we can have our celebration and eat and exchange gifts before we leave for the holiday. Anyway, I was getting drinks set out on the table and the ice had frozen back together. I was chipping away at it with an ice pick."

  "Oh," Hannah cringed, "You didn't!"

  Gina nodded. "I hit my other palm with it. My hands were so cold it didn't hurt and I didn't realize what I'd done when I first did it. I was just standing there with a dumb look on my face, staring at the blood going down the drain when Flora came to me and took hold of my wrist. Her hand was so warm, and in just a second or two, my fingers began to tingle. The feeling coming back made my hand hurt and I looked up. Flora's eyes were so understanding and loving, I just sort of forgot about the pain. She sai
d it would be all right and I knew it would be, just like that. Then I looked down at my hand. The bleeding was stopping and the water washed away the blood in the sink. I remember wondering why it didn't hurt anymore, and Flora still held my wrist. Hannah, she stood there with me, holding my wrist, until the hurt place was gone! Completely gone! It was a deep wound, and there's not even a scar there now, see?"

  She held out her hand for Hannah to look at.

  Hannah examined the hand Gina held out to her. There was no trace of any wound and unbidden, Hannah saw for a few seconds Gina's hand with the blood going into the sink, a hand firmly around Gina's wrist.

  "She really is a healer." Hannah spoke softly, her eyes full of wonder. "Whether she calls it that or not, she's a healer."

  Gina looked sideways at Hannah, "Do you call yourself a psychic?"

  "No, I've never understood what that is. I just see things sometimes."

  "Me too. So I respect Flora not calling herself a healer. She says she only helps someone if she can. You know, I only started seeing things after my accident, and it seemed so strange to me. But you've seen things you don't understand all your life." She giggled, remembering some of the things Hannah had told her about the troubles her gift had gotten her involved in. "I don't know how you ever managed to grow up."

  "It wasn't easy, you're right about that. I can see now, the most dangerous thing about it was I didn't know everybody didn't see things as you call it. I didn't know to hide what I saw. Some people that remember me at all probably still think I'm a witch or a mental case. My mother saw what was happening and warned me not to tell anyone about the things I saw. I finally learned to keep the problem to myself."

  She shook her head, looking unhappy. "I certainly don't consider it a gift, do you?"

  "Goodness no," Gina winced. "Since mine was brought on by a knock on the head, there have been times when I've considered banging my head on something to make it go away."

  "I'm afraid it won't work, all you'd get is a headache to go with your other misery. Just be thankful you have someone who understands. I am. And I'm looking forward to meeting Flora."

  "I know you'll like her." Gina got up, "I'm going to stick the chili in the microwave and bring the wieners to you. You can roast them while I get everything out. We'll sit in here and eat by the fire."

  * * *

  Miss Minnie was setting out cups when Miss Mayme led the little troop into the office. She looked up at Tim.

  "Now I know what all the joyful noise was about out there. How did we rate a brand new county judge to help move?" She smiled at him thinking he looked cute in his sweats.

  "Caught him jogging on the way over and just drug him into the truck," Cas explained.

  "I wasn't kidnapped, I volunteered," Tim protested. "Cas thought I might be some help getting Mattie's word processor and things set up. But I'm not so sure about that," he added dubiously. "Please, just think of me as an extra pair of hands in the strong back, weak mind category of help."

  "Don't waste time worrying about that word processor. It wouldn't surprise me a bit if Mattie wouldn't let any of us touch her things like that word processor anyway. Besides, I'm sure she knows all she needs to know about it."

  "Carry on with your conversation, I'm eating." Miss Mayme didn't miss a nibble as with her free hand she set two bakery boxes on the desk. She held the Danish between her teeth long enough to open the second box and more wonderful scents filled the little office.

  "We should just keep in mind we're going to help Mattie do whatever it is she wants to do, then nobody will get hurt feelings." Cas reminded them of their goal. Even with good company and conversation, it didn't take long to finish off the goodies and pot of coffee.

  When they left the Anderson sisters brought up the rear, locking up the shop behind them. Miss Mayme whispered gleefully to Miss Minnie, "I think that shot my calorie count up to about the middle of next week!"

  Cas moved over letting the van take the lead. Connie had decided to ride in the van with Miss Minnie and Miss Mayme. Cas and Tim followed in the truck.

  "We're going to be a three vehicle caravan to the lake," Tim observed. "We should have more than enough room for everything."

  Cas nodded, keeping an eye on the van and stayed about three car lengths behind them. Tim watched the scenery as they covered the miles, something unspoken on his mind.

  "Good road," he finally commented.

  "Yes, it's an easy trip. And good road all the way to the lake when we come back."

  "Cas," Tim finally got to what was bothering him. "As an honest man and a friend, tell me. What's wrong with me?"

  "Wrong with you?"

  Startled, Cas took his eyes from the road half a second to stare in surprise at Tim. He was handsome, intelligent, good hearted, and the youngest judge the county had ever had. And he was wondering what was wrong with him?

  "What makes you think there's something wrong with you?" Cas explored cautiously, wondering what could have brought this on.

  "It's nothing I can put my finger on. It's Hannah McLaughlin's reaction to me, I guess."

  "Don't tell me you really thought she was home and not answering the phone when you called? That's not so. Connie told you she's gone to Fort Craig."

  "No, it's more than that. I did feel that way, but that's just in addition to other things. And don't tell me it's imagination on my part. I know it's more than imagination," he insisted.

  "Okay, what other things?"

  "When you introduced us at the Smithy, I liked Hannah. Immediately. Without reservations. I just felt, right then, I'd found the right one for me. And even better," his face brightened briefly, "I thought she liked me."

  "Has she said something to make you think otherwise? Or is she seeing someone in Fort Craig?" He gave a short bark of laughter, "Connie doesn't know everything that goes on in the county and surrounding area, she just tries to."

  "No to both of those things as far as I know. I don't remember her saying anything negative, not out loud."

  Tim's impish grin suddenly appeared like sun coming out on a foggy day. "I took your advice, got up the nerve to go and ask for a library card. Hannah helped me with it, just like you said she would. And she was nice as you said she'd be. And the older librarian came by and kept smiling at us like she was giving us her blessing." He chuckled, remembering Jo Beth.

  Cas nodded. "Jo Beth voted for you too," he smiled, nodding encouragement. "So, what happened?"

  "That's what I don't understand. Nothing happened. But somehow, Hannah doesn't seem as warm and natural as she was at first. I know I didn't say anything out of line, and I haven't got any dark secrets or skeletons in the closet for her to have found out about. Running for public office will usually air out all the closets," he allowed himself another brief grin.

  "Yeah, that's what makes elections so much fun." Cas waited a few seconds then prodded, "So it's just a feeling?"

  "At first, I thought I'd imagined it, and asked her to a movie. She was nice, but said she had something else to do."

  "Well, maybe she DID have something else to do. It happens," Cas could see no problem.

  "Then I took her to lunch a couple of times. To the Roadhouse for barbeque, and to the Smithy once when she said she really didn't have time to go anywhere else." A worry wrinkle appeared above his eyes. "Maybe I'm being too pushy or something. What do you think?"

  Cas didn't answer immediately. Giving it some thought, he approached the problem as he would one of his case files.

  "For starters, there's nothing wrong with you. Get that out of your head. Look at the vote that put you in office."

  Tim didn't comment.

  "The whole county can't be wrong," Cas pronounced positively. "Look at the vote. All those people who put their confidence in you."

  "The other candidate didn't want the job. You know it, I know it. So I've got the job I wanted. Why don't I feel better?" Tim rolled his eyes.

  "You will. Work on it. You don't th
ink it hurt my feelings to be unopposed for Sheriff, do you? So forget that line of thought. Let's see, you and Hannah are both young, attractive, good people. When you met you liked each other. Don't interrupt," he ordered when Tim opened his mouth.

  "You're not married. Have you ever been?"

  "No. I had a fling in college. It was fun, but neither of us was ready for a serious commitment like marriage."

  "Hannah has. She's a widow. They weren't married very long. He was killed in the service. Air Force, I think. And it was quite a while ago. I think she told Connie they married right out of high school, and he went into the service."

  "I didn't know. Could it be she's still emotionally tied to him and not ready to move on? Or worse, compared me unfavorably to him?"

  "Anything I say will only be guesswork. I don't know any more about it than you do. But since you seemed to like each other, why don't you slow down and give her a chance to get used to you and make up her own mind about you and having you around?"

  "What you say makes sense, maybe I am expecting too much too soon. I didn't know about the earlier marriage. I'll keep it in mind and try again."

  Tim's usual grin returned to his lips, his eyes mischievous, "How much do I owe you for this session, doc?"

  "I'll make out a bill when I have time to think up a lot of eighty-nine cent words. You'll get it sometime when you least expect it."

  "Remind me to look up the statute of limitations on something like that."

  Tim turned his attention to the van. "Hey! They're slowing down up there."

  Cas stopped several feet from the driveway ahead, noting the little pile of debris still lying near the backyard fence. "This must be Mattie Carrington's house. We've arrived."

  Mattie had come out to welcome them and stood on the porch to meet them as Katie came out to the van.

  "This is wonderful!"

  Miss Minnie hugged Katie and opened the side doors of the van, gesturing at all the room inside.

  "Maybe the word processor could be put in here. I don't know how big it is, what do you think, Katie?"

  "This is plenty of room. When I saw how much Mattie has to take, I got worried. But this looks like plenty of room. And all the rest of you here to help, too! It's so good of you to come and help us like this."