Diana figured out immediately why Cait had volunteered Sinnie to drive them to Spalding Farm. It was clear she and Colin Spalding were an item.
Colin said, “Ewan came all this way. Can’t ye do something to make Ms. Dixon get a picture with his prize sheep?”
Diana nodded, though she wasn’t holding out hope. “I’ll try.” If Diana had any control at all—and a time machine—she’d force Marta to go back in time and undo the last book.
Marta had been a pill ever since they’d arrived in Gandiegow. She’d pitched a fit about coming to the farm this evening, saying she wanted to stay in and call a masseuse. As if she hadn’t been to Gandiegow before and knew perfectly well there wasn’t a spa within a hundred miles of the place.
“I’ll do what I can with Marta,” Diana added. “I thought coming to the farm was a brilliant idea. The tenth quilt is made of wool and flannel, so I figured readers would get a kick out of seeing the sheep who provided the wool for the fabric she used.”
Sinnie gave Diana a pointed look. “Plus, ye hoped they’d forget all about what Marta did to the Buttermilk Guild.”
“That, too,” Diana confessed.
She smiled weakly at Colin. “Don’t expect much. Marta doesn’t understand that she has a serious image problem.” Diana’s own words gave her an idea. “I’ll go talk to Marta now.”
Colin grinned. “At least yere friend is enjoying the scenery.”
True. Parker was falling all over herself flirting with Ewan McGillivray.
“Laird Ewan, how about I get a photo of you with the sheep?” Parker purred. “You can show Ms. Dixon how it’s done.”
Colin had introduced Ewan as Laird, explaining that he was the owner of a large estate that had been in his family for generations. Ewan had insisted they call him by his Christian name, but Parker was too besotted from the get-go for the words to sink in.
Ewan tipped his hat. “Certainly.” At least he has a full head of hair to go with those ears.
As Parker snapped pictures, Diana made her way over to Marta, which meant she was also making her way over to Rory. Her insides did somersaults and back handsprings. Calm yourself. But Diana was pretty sure the pep talk wasn’t going to work because her insides weren’t listening.
She told herself to concentrate on Marta. There was only one way to motivate that massive ego.
Diana took the rope from Ewan and sidled up to Marta. “You’re the consummate professional, Marta. Your image is everything. I know you can do this. You’re the face of the Quilt to Death empire and this one picture will go miles to entice your readers to follow you to your new series.” She held out the rope.
As expected, stroking Marta’s ego worked. She took the rope and slapped on her game face. “Take the picture.” She smiled brightly as Parker got the winning shot.
Diana glanced at her watch. “Let’s wrap it up. We need to be back in Gandiegow for dinner, then you’re going to have your interview with Cait Buchanan.”
“Will Graham Buchanan be with her?” Marta asked.
I wish! But Diana said, “No. Cait said he can’t make it.”
Marta frowned and dropped the sheep’s rope in the dirt. She walked away toward the edge of the barn, saying, “Get me a bucket of hand sanitizer.”
Tilly ran after her sister, digging frantically in her bag.
Parker hurried over to Diana. “If it’s okay with you, I’d like to hang around for a while. I want to get more shots of the farm.”
And spend more time with Ewan! But Diana wouldn’t waste her breath preaching to Parker. Diana was having her own troubles controlling herself with the Detective Chief Inspector around. Which was a problem she had to fix. She was the Fixer after all, and she had to fix her attraction to Rory. Stamp it out! She had to keep reminding herself that she didn’t date cops under any circumstance, not even when they were as enticing as Rory. “Sure, Parker. You can stay. But I need you back within the next hour for the interview, remember?”
Ewan smiled brightly. “I’ll give her a lift.”
Diana gave Ewan points for knowing there was chemistry between him and Parker, and for taking the initiative.
Ewan kept his eyes on Parker, but seemed to be speaking to Diana. “I’m going to Gandiegow, too, as Deydie wants me to bring her three of my milking ewes. She said the milk would help some of the older women in the village with their osteoporosis.”
Like Deydie wasn’t one of the older women!
“I’ll see you both there,” Diana said.
Sinnie must’ve been listening in. “I can take you back now.”
Colin pecked her on the cheek. “See you soon, luv.”
Awww. Diana wished she had her own Scottish guy calling her luv. She couldn’t help but glance over at Rory, who hadn’t seen a thing, as he had his eyes on Marta. It was just as well.
Diana caught up with them. “Ready to go?”
“It’s about time,” Marta muttered.
Jacques ushered her toward the car.
Though Diana needed to figure out the carpool arrangements for the trip back, she ran after Tilly instead. “Can you hold up for a second?”
Tilly stopped and gave her a quizzical look.
“While we have a moment alone, I want to talk to you. From what I overheard, I gather you didn’t know Marta was writing book ten?”
Tilly nodded cautiously.
“Does that mean you’ve been working on book ten as well?”
“Yes,” Tilly said timidly, as if she might get in trouble for admitting the truth. “I’m nearly done.”
“Can you do me a favor?” Diana asked. “Keep writing that book. I’m going to talk to Three Seals about how we might revive the Buttermilk Guild.”
Tilly’s face lit up. But a second later, her eyebrows crashed together, as if they’d been shot down with a single arrow. “Marta…Marta would never allow it.”
“Don’t worry about Marta.” Diana could tell Tilly wasn’t convinced. “Just keep writing the book.” Surely Three Seals would want to continue the series, especially since Diana had come up with a possible way to get them out of the mess they were in. If she could get the publisher onboard soon, then maybe Marta’s on-camera interviews could tease how the Buttermilk Guild might just be alive and kicking. But that begged the question, what would she do about Cait’s interview with Marta this evening? Maybe do the planned interview, but not post it until I can get an answer from Three Seals?
Rory motioned to Diana. “Are ye riding back with me?”
Was it her imagination or did his voice sound hopeful?
She had to shut this down, for her own sake. “Tilly, can you ride with DCI Crannach?” Diana had heard him refer to himself that way earlier. “I need to go over the interview questions with Marta.” Which wasn’t exactly true.
Rory frowned, but quickly recovered as Tilly dutifully made her way to his vehicle.
As soon as Diana got in the car with Marta, she wished she’d gone with Rory. He was a much better conversationalist. He also didn’t rail on Diana for not having the foresight to get Graham Buchanan in on the interviews with his wife.
Once back in Gandiegow, Diana watched as McCartney met Rory at the car. They left together down the walkway next to the ocean, both of them scanning the cottages and wynds. And leaving Diana, ridiculously, longing after Rory’s presence.
Diana went with the others to Quilting Central, as directed by Deydie before they left for the farm. As soon as Diana got there, one of the elderly quilters pulled her aside.
“Me name is Bethia. It seems baby Hamish has a bit of a fever. Cait is at home with him now. She told me to give you her apologies.”
“Not a problem,” Diana replied. She breathed a sigh of relief. Not because the baby was sick, of course. But because pushing the interview off into the future would give her time to get ahold of Nicola Jacobson, the publisher of Three Seals, and pitch her idea of how to restore the successful Quilt to Death series. “Thank you for letting me know.�
�
Before she could tell Marta, Diana saw Rory out the large storefront window, by himself this time, carrying a duffel bag.
“Can you excuse me?” she said to Bethia.
Bethia smiled. “Go on.”
Diana hustled outside and stopped Rory. “Where are you staying?” Duncan's Den she hoped.
“Partridge House,” he said. “It was the only B and B I could find online.” He studied her for a second and she wondered if he was trying to read her mind. “Where are ye staying?”
Before she opened her mouth, she made sure to sound upbeat. “I’m at Duncan's Den.” Then, because she was foolish, she added, “It’s two doors down from Partridge House.”
“Good to know.” His eyes skimmed the village. “I’m trying to get the lay of the land. Gandiegow is small so it won’t be hard.”
Which also meant she’d be running into him. “I better let you go unpack. See you around.”
“Aye.” He lingered for a moment, then took the wynd between the buildings to the back of the village, where Partridge House sat.
She watched him go and then turned to go back inside. Instead, she saw Parker and Ewan approaching with three sheep in tow.
“Making your sheep delivery?” she said with a grin.
“Aye,” Ewan said. “I hope Deydie is at her cottage.”
“She’s inside,” Diana said, and waved through the big window to get Deydie’s attention. “Your sheep are here,” she called.
Deydie emerged rubbing her hands together like a little kid. “Good. I think the women of Gandiegow are going to find the sheep’s milk verra valuable to their fragile old bones.”
“Parker,” Diana said, “The interview is off for tonight. But I still need you to record. I want Marta to help the quilters of Gandiegow hang the Quilt to Death quilts on the wall.” This was something Cait had suggested, since between them, the villagers had every Quilt to Death quilt.
“I’ll only be a minute,” Parker said.
Deydie took one of the ropes from Ewan and the three of them took off down the walkway to the other end of town.
Marta repeatedly complained about hanging the quilts, but when Parker came back, she turned on the charm for the camera, as Diana directed. Just as they were finishing up, Rory and McCartney came in and conferred with Jacques in the back corner of the room.
Deydie came over to Diana and said grouchily, “Dinner this evening is at Pastas & Pastries, Gandiegow’s restaurant. How many of yere people will be coming?”
Diana glanced over at Marta and Tilly, who looked as if they were getting ready to leave. “I’ll ask.”
As she approached Marta, the men—Rory, McCartney, and Jacques—did, too.
“How about dinner at the restaurant tonight?” Diana asked casually, trying not to look at Rory. She didn’t want to make it obvious that she wanted him to come along.
“I’m headed back to Partridge House,” Marta said. “I’ll just order in.”
“We’ll be going with Marta,” Rory said on behalf of the men.
“Okay.” Diana was disappointed but decided it was for the best. She was in Scotland to get a job done, not to have a cozy dinner with the Detective Chief Inspector.
All the quilters of Quilting Central joined them at the restaurant, and Diana enjoyed having dinner with them. What she didn’t enjoy was going back to Duncan's Den alone. Parker, she decided, must’ve slipped out to be with Ewan.
Since she had Duncan's Den to herself, Diana settled herself on the sofa in front of the fireplace and pulled out her phone. Her first call would be to Nicola Jacobson, the publisher.
“Nicola Jacobson’s office.”
“Hi, it’s Diana. I’m calling with an update.”
“Oh yes, she wants to talk to you.” Diana was surprised to get through immediately. And also a little disappointed the call hadn’t gone to voicemail.
When Nicola picked up, Diana took a deep breath and explained her concept for publishing the book Tilly was working on.
“It would be a do-over and we can use Marta’s upcoming interviews to promote the Buttermilk Guild’s revival,” Diana explained. “I know it will take some time for you to make a decision.” But she hoped Nicola would hurry.
Nicola paused for a second. Diana could almost see her tapping her long, manicured fingernails on her mahogany desk. “I’ll have to talk to Marketing and Sales and run some P&Ls to see if it’s a viable solution.” Nicola paused. “In the meantime, I want to see a heartfelt Marta Dixon splashed all over social media with that expensive quilt retreat you insisted upon. Right now, you have one job to do. I want you to fix Marta Dixon’s image problem.” Nicola didn’t say or else, but it was implied. Her final words felt as sharp and clipped as Nicola’s sleek New York haircut. She hung up.
Diana congratulated herself for not mentioning that it was Nicola who had signed off on killing the Buttermilk Guild in the first place. But Diana knew Nicola had tried to convince Marta otherwise. And no one could’ve anticipated the real murders that had happened since the book launch.
Diana took a deep breath. What if it took months for Nicola to make a decision? Publishing was known for being slower than a glacier, even when it was as time-sensitive as reviving the Buttermilk Guild before the whole fanbase revolted, dissolved, and couldn’t be won back.
At least Diana had taken the first step. Next, she called her sister Liz and talked to her for almost an hour. It felt really good to catch up. When the call ended, she created a weekly reminder to check in with Liz. Diana was the older sister and it was her responsibility to keep in touch.
She put her phone away and got ready for bed. She lived alone in New York and never felt lonely. But here in Gandiegow, with Rory only two doors down, Diana felt isolated and unsettled, and wishing for his company.
There was nothing she could do about it. She left the hall light on for Parker and went to sleep.
The next morning when Diana woke, Parker was asleep in her bed. Diana hadn’t heard her come in. She slipped out to make coffee. After she got it brewing, she looked in the refrigerator. Someone had stocked it with eggs, butter, juice and cream. On the counter sat a loaf of bread and a plate of scones. She wouldn’t go hungry this morning.
When the coffee was ready, she slipped on her coat and sat on the back porch to drink it. The air was crisp and clean, and as the caffeine started to take effect, she felt like this new day was going to be great.
But an hour later, when she got to Quilting Central, Rory pulled her aside the second she walked in the door.
“I’m leaving,” he said.
7
“Why do you have to leave?” Diana asked, feeling irrational and letting her unfiltered words stand without backpedaling.
“McCartney and I have been called back. Jacques can handle things here.” He didn’t look happy about departing so soon. “Be safe, Diana.”
“I will.” She wanted to take his hand. She wanted to thank him for everything. There was no knowing if she would ever see him again.
“Goodbye,” she said awkwardly. If only she was brave enough to kiss him, even once, it might help her let go of this overwhelming attraction she felt for him.
Or it might leave her desperate for more.
He walked away without touching her.
For a second, Diana considered running after him, but a young woman came over and introduced herself as Sadie. Diana was surprised that she, too, was an American.
“I run the library here at Quilting Central,” Sadie said, giving her a welcoming smile. “Do you think Ms. Dixon would mind signing all the Quilt to Death books for us?” She gestured to the shelves.
Diana’s first thought was maybe Tilly should sign the books. “I’ll ask her.” And then she amended her answer. “I’ll ask her, when things calm down.” Like when the taste of murder was out of their mouths and when Marta was in a better mood.
Sadie’s nod said she understood, as everyone in Gandiegow must know about the two Quilt t
o Death murders. “Are you going to make the Rook quilt during the retreat?”
“I haven’t sewn anything in years,” Diana confessed. “And I’ve never pieced a quilt. The Rook quilt looks like it’s for someone more advanced than me. I wouldn’t know where to start.” And she wouldn’t know how to concentrate, either, with her thoughts swirling about Rory.
Sadie’s smile was sympathetic, but then she looked as if she’d gotten an idea. “I have the perfect quilt for you to start with.” She pulled out a sheet of paper from her clipboard and handed it over. “It’s the Gandiegow Library quilt.”
Sure enough, it depicted a bookcase filled with books, most shelved vertically, some stacked up, and a few tilted. Scattered about the shelves were other items—two potted thistles, a sheep figurine, and Wellies leaning against the shelf at the bottom. The rosette in the top left corner resembled the one Sadie wore pinned to her shoulder.
“This looks way too complicated for me,” Diana said.
Sadie shook her head. “It isn’t.” She pointed to a row of books in the sketch. “Look, you could add all ten of the Quilt to Death novels right here.”
“Thank you, but even back in the day I wasn’t that good at sewing.” Well, she had made some pretty cute outfits when she was in college.
“You’ll be fine. I’ll be with you every step of the way. Besides, you would be helping me out.” She laughed, confirming she might have an ulterior motive. “You don’t mind being my guinea pig, do you? Deydie wants me to teach a new quilt and this is what I came up with.”
Diana studied the picture. “Do you really think I could make it?”
“Piece of cake.”
* * *
If it wasn’t for Sadie helping Diana with the Gandiegow Library quilt, the next seven days would’ve been agony. Diana missed Rory, and every day she thought about asking Jacques if he had talked to the Detective Chief Inspector. Of course, all Diana wanted to know was whether Rory had asked after her! But instead of making a fool of herself, she sewed.
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