Dog whined, “I can’t believe I just missed that sound he makes. And while I was finding out I lost my money with Patrick.”
I added, “Guardrail, I’ve paid for the best extermination methods available in Potter’s Mill. I’m sure we don’t have mice in here. And the cats around the building finish off any that may be stupid enough to slip through the cracks. Now sit on your stool, properly.”
Guardrail complied with my request but he insisted, “I’m telling ya, there was more than one and I could see through them. Like they weren’t real.”
I was spared from more disturbing images of a cowering Guardrail when the front door opened to reveal my father. He had been out of town getting medical attention for a bad cough and the treatment must have had an effect. He sported a large smile and stood straighter than usual. I could swear his hair looked fuller, and a little less gray. He used large strides to move his large frame through the dining room and came over to give me a hug. I was glad he was back and it made me feel like things were truly getting back to normal. I saw the boys at the end of the bar were gawking as we hugged. My father was not known as a warm man and this was not the vision conjured up with the mention of his name. Dad said, “I’m so happy to be back at the Chicken. We had a real whodunit going on for a while I hear.”
“I guess you could say that.”
“I am saying it. Are you all right? I was so worried about you. You know, finding the body.”
“I’m fine, Dad. Just a little tired.”
Dad scanned me head to toe. “Well, I’m glad to hear you’re fine. You look good. And I got a surprise for you. Some very special people are coming to visit us. But that’s all I’m saying for now. I’m going to let them tell you all about themselves when they get here tomorrow. You’ll just have to trust me, it's better that way. And it’ll be fun, I promise.”
“That’s ... that’s kind of strange. But okay I guess.”
“You’ll love it. Trust me.”
“Ginger!” Bessie Houston had to raise her voice to be heard over all the background noise. I almost didn’t recognize it when I heard it.
I spun to see her with full hands as usual. “Bessie. Nice to see you. We’re rescheduled for tomorrow, or did I get my wires crossed?”
“No, I wanted to come by now to join the party for a little while. Right now, this is the place to be in Potter’s Mill.” Bessie nodded to my father and said, “Well, if it isn’t Thomas O’Mallory in the flesh. Welcome home, and I hope you’re feeling better.”
My dad coughed a little then snapped back, “Don’t call me Thomas, you know I hate that. Call me Tom.”
Bessie laughed, “Gruff and to the point. Wouldn’t expect anything else. A lot has happened since you were gone.”
“I heard.” My father then eyed what was in her hands. “What’s that?”
Bessie answered, “A gift for Ginger. She was so sweet, rescheduling craft night and working so hard with the police.” She handed me the large, heavy box with a big bow on top.
Tom said, “You mean reschedule Stitch N Bitch?”
Bessie cringed. “I’ll make you a deal, Tom. I’ll call you Tom if you don’t call craft night that name.”
Tom huffed and said, “Done. Now let’s drink on it.” And he waved a hand in the air like he was addressing an adoring Roman crowd, spun, and went to have a drink with the boys.
I turned to Bessie. “Sorry about him. He’s not himself today. He’s just happy to be home. And you shouldn’t have. Thank you.”
She pointed at the box. “You’re more than welcome. Go ahead open it.”
“And I’m glad we’re on for tomorrow. I ordered more wings and it should be well attended after the week we’ve had – plus it’s Friday night.” I spoke as I took the lid off the box. “Holy cow, this is a big one.”
Bessie beamed. “It’s an apothecary jar for the pickled eggs. I know you had the others broken. This one is big, but the manufacturer says it’s made with glass so strong and thick, it’s unbreakable.”
I laughed. “Guardrail will be happy. But this thing is so big I don’t think I can afford the amount of eggs it will take to fill it.”
Bessie pointed out, “Who says you have to fill it.”
A booming voice cut through the sound filled dining room like a fighter jet flashing through a wispy cloud. It was Guardrail's happy voice. “Is that a new pickled egg jar?”
Guardrail came rushing over through the crowd. Edith and Lily saw him and knew something was happening. So they decided to join in and came over too. Guardrail bubbled and put his arm around Edith. He dwarfed her and said, “And how are the best biker chicks in town.”
Guardrail shrugged and continued. “I don’t know. Not tonight for sure. We’re celebrating and I’ve had too much to drink.”
Lily added, “Is that a new pickled egg jar? It’s so pretty.”
I nodded. “Yes it is. A gift from Bessie Houston.”
Lily poked Edith and said, “You know, we should pay to fill the jar the first time for Guardrail. To thank him for the fun ride on the hogs. He loves those eggs so much.”
Guardrail shivered his big body and said, “No. That’s okay. And please stop calling my bike a hog; it’s just not right. You know what, I’m the one that eats all the eggs anyway. I’ll pay to fill it, in honor of Potter’s Gang getting to the bottom of the Holland murder.”
Lily objected, “No! We don’t have a name, do we?”
Dog Breath was just behind Guardrail and added, “I thought we agreed to the Grumpy Gumshoes?”
In unison, everyone screamed, “No!”
I smiled at the bedlam. It was normal small town mayhem and I couldn’t be happier to deal with it.
Catalog of Books
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The Grumpy Chicken Irish Pub Series
A Frosty Mug of Murder
Treachery on Tap
Old School Diner Cozy Mysteries
Murder at Stake
Murder Well Done
A Side Order of Deception
Murder, Basted and Barbecued
THE CURIOSITY SHOP Cozy Mysteries
The Curious Case of the Cursed Spectacles
The Curious Case of the Cursed Dice
The Curious Case of the Cursed Dagger
THE WE’RE NOT DEAD Yet Club
Fetch a Pail of Murder
Wedding Bells and Death Knells
Murder or Bust
Pinched, Pilfered and a Pitchfork
A Hot Spot of Murder
WITCHY WOMEN OF COVEN Grove Series
THE WITCHING ON THE Wall
A Witching Well of Magic
Witching the Night Away
Witching There’s Another Way
Witching Your Life Away
Witching You Wouldn’t Go
Witching for a Miracle
TEASEN & PLEASEN HAIR Salon Series
A Hair Raising Blowout
Wash, Rinse, Die
Holiday Hooligans
Color Me Dead
False Nails & Tall Tales
CAESAR’S CREEK SERIES
A FROZEN SCOOP OF MURDER (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book One)
Death by Chocolate Sundae (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book Two)
Soft Serve Secrets (Caesars Creek Mystery Series
Book Three)
Ice Cream You Scream (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book Four)
Double Dip Dilemma (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book Five)
Melted Memories (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book Six)
Triple Dip Debacle(Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book Seven)
Whipped Wedding Woes(Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book Eight)
A Sprinkle of Tropical Trouble(Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book Nine)
A Drizzle of Deception(Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book Ten)
SWEET HOME MYSTERY Series
Creamed at the Coffee Cabana (Sweet Home Mystery Series Book One)
A Caffeinated Crunch (Sweet Home Mystery Series Book Two)
A Frothy Fiasco (Sweet Home Mystery Series Book Three)
Punked by the Pumpkin(Sweet Home Mystery Series Book Four)
Peppermint Pandemonium(Sweet Home Mystery Series Book Five)
Expresso Messo(Sweet Home Mystery Series Book Six)
A Cuppa Cruise Conundrum(Sweet Home Mystery Series Book Seven)
The Brewing Bride(Sweet Home Mystery Series Book Eight)
WHISPERING PINES MYSTERY Series
A Sinister Slice of Murder
Sanctum of Shadows (Whispering Pines Mystery Series)
Curse of the Bloodstone Arrow (Whispering Pines Mystery Series)
Fright Night at the Haunted Inn (Whispering Pines Mystery Series)
MAD RIVER MYSTERY SERIES
A Wicked Whack
A Prickly Predicament
A Malevolent Menace