by Tegan Maher
Off near the tree line, a German Shepherd trotted around, stopping periodically to sniff a tree or a bush. That had to be his dog. I watched as Bear bounded toward the visiting dog, tail wagging in typical canine greeting.
Hard muscles rippled under his damp t-shirt as Scout swung the ax, splitting the big log in front of him in half with just one blow.
Dee grinned and waggled her brows at me, and I scowled at her.
“What?” she asked. “He’s hot, and he’s in your backyard. Do you know how many women in this town dream of just this scenario?”
I rolled my eyes and waved her off, then turned back at Scout. As he swung again, I had to admit he did look good doing it. Still, I didn’t get why he was there. People didn’t just randomly show up in your yard and do manual labor for free. “Hi!” I called between swings. “What are you doing?”
“Oh!” he said wiping his brow on his forearm. “Hey. I stopped by with breakfast and you weren’t here, so I thought I’d get some wood split for you.”
“Thanks,” I said, “but I can do it. I’m sure you have enough of your own chores to do without throwing mine into the mix.”
Scout swung his ax, lodging into a thick piece of wood next to where he’d been working and shrugged. “It gave me something to do while I waited.”
“So is it your concern for my nutritional needs that brings you by, or something else?” I asked.
Scout walked over to the tool shed and reached in, pulling out a covered basket. “Nothing else. I didn’t figure you had any supplies yet, so I thought I’d bring over breakfast. How’s it going, Dee?” he asked as he ambled over to meet us.
Dee shrugged, and a shadow crossed her face. “It’s going.”
“Well I brought enough for everyone,” he said, glancing between us. He’d apparently picked up on the fact that something was off, but was too polite to ask what it was.
The smell wafting from the basket made my mouth water, and I lifted the cloth that covered it and peered inside. “Blueberry muffins? Did you bake these?”
Scout grinned. “One of my many talents,” he said with a wink. “My mom used to joke that I’d make a good wife someday.”
I smiled as I lowered the cloth. “I guess there’s more to you than meets the eye.”
I scanned the yard. Bear was standing back by the house, and the German Shepherd was nowhere to be seen. “I suppose I should get him used to his new digs. Do you want to come inside? I’m afraid I haven’t unpacked yet, so I don’t have my coffee maker out. Come to think of it, I don’t have any coffee anyway.”
Scout offered me a big smile. “Are you insinuating I make dry muffins?”
I returned his smile. “Not at all. I’m giving away my deep, dark secret—I’m a caffeine addict.”
Dee, Scout, and Bear followed me into the cabin. “You can just set the muffins on the kitchen table,” I said, motioning in that direction.
“And if you do happen to know where the coffeemaker is,” Scout said, digging through the basket, “I came prepared.” He lifted a sandwich bag full of coffee grounds and a pint box of half and half.
I chuckled. “You’re a lifesaver. I went to grab a cup at the café, but events kind of made that impossible for a few minutes. When I did get around to making a pot, I only got one cup of it.”
“What events?” he asked as I walked to a box marked kitchen and began digging around.
“Dee can fill you in,” I said absently as I searched for another kitchen box. I vaguely listened as Dee recounted the morning’s events.
Par for the course, I dug through every kitchen box I had before I found the coffeemaker. I busied myself plugging it in and filling it with water, focusing more on the task than the story Dee was telling. I turned around to retrieve the coffee grounds from Scout and ran smack into his broad chest.
He smiled as he steadied me, and I couldn’t help but admire how white his teeth were in contrast to his tanned skin. “Sorry. I guess I should’ve told you I was right behind you.”
Heat spread from my neck and into my cheeks and I cleared my throat. “I guess I just need to pay better attention.” I took the grounds and poured them into the coffeemaker, pushed the button, and turned to face him once more.
“We’ll have coffee in exactly two minutes,” I said.
Dee had taken a chair at the table and was scratching Bear’s head.
“Who’s a good boy?” she crooned. It was obvious Bear loved the attention. His tail thumped and he leaned into her, a deep moan emanating from his throat. “I’m sure you’ll be much happier here than with that mean old Fiona.”
“So what are you going to do now that Fiona’s gone, Dee?” Scout asked, taking a chair on the back side of the table. “Are you going to keep the restaurant going or do something else?”
She continued to stroke Bear’s head as she looked up and shrugged. “I haven’t really thought about it yet. I mean, I know Fiona was awful and no one really liked her, but she gave me a place to work and stay. And after finding her like that, I just don’t know if I can do it. I mean, she died there. Not just died, she was murdered. What if whoever it was comes back? Plus ... I don’t even know what’s up with ownership or anything.”
Scout reached into the basket and grabbed a muffin. “I doubt it was a random act. Fiona wasn’t a nice person and she wasn’t well-liked, so my guess is it was personal.” He studied his muffin for a moment. “And I assume she left it to you. You know, you could always turn that old café into a bakery.” He shrugged as he pulled the paper from around his breakfast and licked his finger. “That’s my two cents, anyway.”
Dee stood up and wiped the dog hair off her apron, thinking. “Don’t you think people would be creeped out coming to a place where somebody was murdered? Even if they do all think she deserved it?”
Scout shook his head. “Nah. The way the people in this town are wired, you’d probably do better-than-average business. People would probably come in droves just to look around and speculate the fate of Fiona and gossip about who could have done it.”
“That sounds about right to me,” I said, “at least in my experience. People like a good piece of mystery, no matter where they live.
“Well,” she said as she reached into the basket to retrieve a muffin for herself. “I don’t know who owns the café, and I doubt an unemployed waitress who’s currently being investigated for murder would be able to score a loan to buy the place, so it’s all a non-issue really.”
Scout shrugged and waggled his hand back and forth. “Maybe. Maybe not. Unless I miss my guess, you own it.”
She shook her head. “No way. She’d rather burn the place down than see me in that kitchen. If she said it once, she said it a thousand times.”
“Yeah,” he said, “but she meant while she was living. I doubt that carried through her death.”
Dee lifted a shoulder. “I’ll be shocked. Plus, I don’t have the money to order supplies or anything, anyway. I mean, she just got her shipment yesterday, so I guess we could run for a few days, anyway.”
“There you go, then,” he said. “By then, ownership should be established and you’ll have an idea of where to go moving forward.”
I dug through the box that had held the coffee maker and pulled out three mugs, then filled them. Man, did I ever love that quick-brew coffeepot. Dee came up behind me and took one, handing it to Scout who had followed her, before grabbing one for herself. I took the third and joined them at the table, finally able to dig into the amazing-smelling basket for myself.
I had just taken a bite of my muffin when somebody knocked at the door. I shared a quizzical frown with Dee before setting my breakfast down and walking over to answer it. Bear whined and trotted off to the bedroom. I wasn’t sure what kind of sign that was, but I wrote it off to him being in new territory.
I opened the door and the sheriff stood there, gazing around.
He looked at me and tilted his head once in greeting. “I was wondering if you mig
ht know where Dee’s gone off to? I know she packed a bag and left with you.”
I stepped back and opened the door wider so he could see her sitting in the corner at the table. “Come on in.”
“Scout, Dee,” he said with a slight head nod. “I’m sorry to bother you again, Dee, but I’m going to need you to come down to the station with me.”
“Is there a problem?” She set her muffin down, her eyes never leaving Gabe.
“Well, it certainly isn’t a good thing. Did you know you were the sole beneficiary to your aunt’s estate?”
Dee’s mouth dropped open as she shook her head. “No, I didn’t.”
Her eyes darted to Scout, but he gave his head a little shake. He was apparently of the same opinion I was—better not to let the sheriff know we’d just been standing there debating the topic.
“Well we need to go down to the station and sort some of this out.” His voice was gentle but had a no-nonsense, this isn’t up for negotiation edge to it.
She stood up. “Of course. Let me just get my purse.”
I reached out and touched his arm. “Would it be all right if I drove her down?”
The sheriff glanced at Dee, then me. “I suppose that would be all right. Why don’t you just follow me?”
I dug in my pocket and pulled out my keys. “Scout, can you keep Bear company for me? Hopefully, this won’t take very long, but I hate to leave him here alone since he just got here.”
Scout nodded.
I smiled my thanks and followed Dee to my SUV. I really hoped all of this was going to work out for her, but right now, it wasn’t looking very good.
Chapter 8
IT WAS NIGHTFALL BEFORE we got back to the cabin. I didn’t understand how it could take so long to question someone about things they seemed utterly clueless about. Dee’d had no idea her aunt had left her the café, the house, or her bank account, or that she’d made her the beneficiary to her life insurance policy.
Dee was the last of her family, though, and Fiona didn’t have any close friends, so other than a charity—which everyone agreed was not Fiona’s style—it stood to reason, as Scout had predicted, that it all went to Dee.
“Thanks for going with me,” Dee said quietly as I opened my driver’s side door.
I turned and placed my hand over hers, offering what I hoped would pass for an encouraging smile. “It’s going to be all right. We’ll get this all sorted out, and then they can focus on who really killed your aunt.”
Dee nodded but looked shaken. “I hope so.”
We got out of the vehicle as Scout opened the cabin door. “That must have been some interview. Did you guys have anything to eat? If not, we can go to my place, and I can barbecue up some burgers or something.”
I glanced at Dee, who looked about as exhausted as I felt, and shook my head. “Maybe some other time. The sheriff had some sandwiches sent over, so we ate. Now I think we’d just like to go to bed and forget this day ever happened.”
Scout walked over to me and nodded. “I’ll just leave the muffins and you guys can have them for breakfast in the morning.”
I tilted my head from side to side, working out the kinks that had developed while sitting in the police waiting room. That place was not built for comfort. “Thanks. How did Bear do?”
Scout glanced back at the house. “Just fine. We walked over to my place, then when we got back, he explored outside some more. Looked like he was enjoying your bed a little bit ago, though. Might have to fight him for it tonight if you want to get any sleep. Oh, and I had a friend stop by with some food for him. Left that and some water in your room.”
I winced. “I totally forgot to get the food we got from Fiona’s out of the back of the SUV before we left. I’m sorry.”
He waved a hand dismissively. “Don’t worry about it. You guys had a bit on your plate, and I didn’t mind helping out a neighbor.”
I smiled, deciding he was just one of those truly good eggs. “You’re a really nice guy, Scout.”
He leaned in conspiratorially and whispered, “Don’t let that get out. Then I might have to be extra nice to everyone.”
“So not everyone gets this special treatment?”
He shook his head. “Nope. Just the really hot and mysterious women do.”
I rolled my eyes. “Please tell me that line’s not part of your A game.”
Scout put his hands up. “Who said it was a line? Just the facts, ma’am.”
I shook my head as he walked past me. “Did you walk here again?” I asked as I stepped up onto my small wooden stoop.
He turned so he was walking backward. “Always.”
“Did you want me to give you a lift home?” It was dark and there was a bite in the air, though it probably only felt chilly to my thin Florida blood.
He shook his head. “Thanks anyway, but there’s nothing like a moonlit walk to rejuvenate the soul.”
“I’ll take your word for it. Good night, Scout,” I said as I stepped inside and closed the cabin door.
Dee was kneeling by the fireplace, building a fire with some of the wood that stood in a stack next to it. She glanced back at me. “I hope you don’t mind, but the evenings tend to get a bit chilly.”
“Knock yourself out,” I said. glancing around the small room. “Sorry there isn’t a whole lot of room in here. The second bedroom is just through there.” I pilfered through the box marked linens and pulled out an extra set of sheets and a comforter for her, then set them on top of the box.
“It’s bigger than the space I lived in above the café.” She shifted one of the burning logs closer to the others with the old poker that had been leaning up against the rock wall. Do you mind if I just sleep on the sofa in here tonight?”
“Are you sure?” I asked, wondering why she’d prefer the sofa to a semi-comfortable bed.
“Yeah. I don’t know how much I’m gonna be able to sleep, and staring at the flames soothes me. Besides, this way, I can keep the fire going so it isn’t so cold in here when we get up.”
That would be nice, especially considering my epic fail the night before. “Do you need to borrow some sweats or anything?”
Dee stood up and placed the old, bent screen in front of the fire. “No. I brought some stuff. But I will use sheets and blanket. Thank you.” She yawned as she took them from on top of the box. “These’ll be great. Thanks.”
“Well, if you need anything ...” I indicated the bedroom.
She smiled and nodded.
I brushed my teeth, then headed back to my bedroom. When I opened the door, I sighed when I saw Bear hadn’t budged an inch. I walked to the side of the bed next to the wall and tried pushing the mammoth beast over so I could at least get in and share the bed with him. He groaned, but I couldn’t get him to move.
A high-pitched screeching noise pierced the air, and the dog bolted off the bed and crawled under it.
My heart pounded in my chest with such force I thought it might burst out of my rib cage. “What the heck was that?” I called out to Dee.
“Just a pheasant,” she replied, not so much as a flutter of worry in her tone. “Something must have spooked it.”
Great. Something out there scaring the wildlife, and me in here with a dog that weighed more than me, hiding from it. I shook my head as I climbed into bed.
Maybe tomorrow would be better for all of us. I couldn’t imagine that it could possibly get any worse, but then again, I’d thought today had to be better than yesterday. Joke was on me I guess, but at that point, the bar was pretty low.
Chapter 9
THE NEXT MORNING, I awoke to the sound of snoring in my ear. I rolled over to see Bear sharing my pillow, his nose right next to where my ear had been. Apparently, he had gotten over his fear and decided to come out from under the bed at some point and join me. I reached up and scratched him behind the ear. “Did you sleep well?”
The house was a lot warmer than it had been yesterday. Dee had done a great job keeping the fire going
—she was definitely better at this country living than I was, not that that was saying much.
Throwing the blankets back, I sat up and stretched, then got up and shuffled to the bathroom to splash cold water on my face. I glanced longingly at the shower, realizing that, in all the hubbub, I’d forgotten to make arrangements to have the hot water heater looked at. I walked out to the living room to find Dee eating a muffin and drinking a cup of coffee at the table.
“Morning,” she said past a mouthful of muffin. “How’d you sleep?”
I yawned. “Pretty well, I think. You?”
Dee nodded and gave me a thumbs up before picking up her coffee and taking a swig, washing down her muffin. “There’s a pot of coffee in the kitchen. Thankfully, there was plenty enough left in the baggie Scout brought.”
I nodded. “I need to get to town today and maybe get some supplies. I suppose it couldn’t hurt if I looked for a job, too.”
“I thought you were an editor?”
“I am. But sometimes I have a lag between jobs, plus the lodge is gonna be a money pit, and I used most of my savings and divorce settlement to buy it.” I sighed as I thought about the scarred floor, water-damaged ceiling, and crumbling fireplace up at the lodge. And that was just the damage that had been visible. I was almost afraid to think about what I’d find when I dug beneath the surface. “Buying the place and moving out here seemed like an awesome idea at the time, but now I’m not so sure.”
“It’s gonna be great,” she said, “just wait and see. I can pitch in. It would be nice to see this old place brought back to life, and I have some experience in the renovation department. My grandpa was a carpenter.”
“That’s going to take a ton of money, and I don’t have it.”
She lifted a shoulder. “Not as much as you’d think if you’re willing to put some sweat equity into it.” She paused, then took a deep breath. “Plus ... I’m sorta out of a place to lay my head, and I’ve been thinking. You were nice enough to offer me a place to stay, but I’m sure you weren’t thinking long-term. If you’re willing to rent out the extra bedroom to me, I’ll work off my rent, or part of it, anyway. I know I technically own Fiona’s house now, but that weirds me out thinking of staying there. Maybe later on down the line, but ... not yet.”