The Thanksgiving Trip
by
Kathi Daley
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2018 by Katherine Daley
Version 1.0
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.
I want to thank the very talented Jessica Fischer for the cover art.
I so appreciate Bruce Curran, who is always ready and willing to answer my cyber questions; Jayme Maness for helping out with the book clubs; and Peggy Hyndman for helping sleuth out those pesky typos.
And, of course, thanks to the readers and bloggers in my life, who make doing what I do possible.
Thank you to Randy Ladenheim-Gil for the editing.
And finally, I want to thank my husband Ken for allowing me time to write by taking care of everything else.
Books by Kathi Daley
Come for the murder, stay for the romance.
Zoe Donovan Cozy Mystery:
Halloween Hijinks
The Trouble With Turkeys
Christmas Crazy
Cupid’s Curse
Big Bunny Bump-off
Beach Blanket Barbie
Maui Madness
Derby Divas
Haunted Hamlet
Turkeys, Tuxes, and Tabbies
Christmas Cozy
Alaskan Alliance
Matrimony Meltdown
Soul Surrender
Heavenly Honeymoon
Hopscotch Homicide
Ghostly Graveyard
Santa Sleuth
Shamrock Shenanigans
Kitten Kaboodle
Costume Catastrophe
Candy Cane Caper
Holiday Hangover
Easter Escapade
Camp Carter
Trick or Treason
Reindeer Roundup
Hippity Hoppity Homicide
Firework Fiasco
Henderson House
Holiday Hostage – December 2017
Zimmerman Academy The New Normal
Zimmerman Academy New Beginnings
Ashton Falls Cozy Cookbook
Tj Jensen Paradise Lake Mysteries by Henery Press:
Pumpkins in Paradise
Snowmen in Paradise
Christmas in Paradise
Puppies in Paradise
Halloween in Paradise
Treasure in Paradise
Fireworks in Paradise
Beaches in Paradise
Thanksgiving in Paradise – fall 2019
Whales and Tails Cozy Mystery:
Romeow and Juliet
The Mad Catter
Grimm’s Furry Tail
Much Ado About Felines
Legend of Tabby Hollow
Cat of Christmas Past
A Tale of Two Tabbies
The Great Catsby
Count Catula
The Cat of Christmas Present
A Winter’s Tail
The Taming of the Tabby
Frankencat
The Cat of Christmas Future
Farewell to Felines
A Whisker in Time
The Catsgiving Feast – November 2018
Writers’ Retreat Southern Seashore Mystery:
First Case
Second Look
Third Strike
Fourth Victim
Fifth Night
Sixth Cabin
Seventh Chapter
Rescue Alaska Paranormal Mystery:
Finding Justice
Finding Answers
Finding Courage
Finding Christmas – December 2018
A Tess and Tilly Mystery:
The Christmas Letter
The Valentine Mystery
The Mother’s Day Mishap
The Halloween House
The Thanksgiving Trip
The Inn at Holiday Bay:
Boxes in the Basement – November 2018
Haunting by the Sea:
Homecoming by the Sea
Secrets by the Sea
Missing by the Sea
Christmas by the Sea – December 2018
Sand and Sea Hawaiian Mystery:
Murder at Dolphin Bay
Murder at Sunrise Beach
Murder at the Witching Hour
Murder at Christmas
Murder at Turtle Cove
Murder at Water’s Edge
Murder at Midnight
Seacliff High Mystery:
The Secret
The Curse
The Relic
The Conspiracy
The Grudge
The Shadow
The Haunting
Road to Christmas Romance:
Road to Christmas Past
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Up Next From Kathi Daley Books
Books by Kathi Daley
Chapter 1
Friday, November 16
“Morning, Hap,” I said to Hap Hollister as my dog Tilly and I entered his home and hardware store to deliver his mail.
“Mornin’, Tess; Tilly. Are you all set for your trip?”
I nodded. “We are. When my mom first suggested that we head up to Timberland Lake for Thanksgiving, I wasn’t sure that was what I wanted to do. But Mom seems to really want to go, and with Aunt Ruthie at Johnny’s for the holiday, they decided to close the restaurant from this Sunday until the Monday after Thanksgiving. It seemed like a good opportunity, and I hated to have her waste her time off.”
Hap ran a hand through his thick white hair. “Sounds like it might be fun. Is Tony going with you?”
“He is. I have an adoption clinic tomorrow, and Mom and Aunt Ruthie plan to be open as well, so we’re all heading out on Sunday morning.”
“Mike going as well?” Hap asked as he began to sort through the stack of mail I’d left on his counter.
“Actually, he is. He got Frank to cover for him, so he has the whole week off.” My brother, Mike Thomas, is a police officer right here in White Eagle, Montana, and Frank Hudson is his partner. “Bree is closing the bookstore and coming with us, so I imagine we’ll have a nice time. Are you going to Hattie’s for the holiday?” Hattie Johnson was Hap’s wife, or ex-wife, or something. I wasn’t exactly sure about the details. What I did know was that they used to be married and lived together and now they didn’t live together, but they did date.
“Yup. Hattie’s planning a traditional meal with all the fixin’s. Should have enough leftovers to last several days at least.”
“That’s what I love about Thanksgiving. All the leftovers. Do you have any outgoing mail?”
Hap nodded. “Hang on, I’ll get it.”
I walked over to Hap’s woodburning stove to warm up while I waited. We’d had a cold November so far, as well as several snow showers. I had to admit I had a few reservations about heading up to Timberland Lake despite what I’d said to Hap. Not that I wasn’t looking forward to cuddling up by the fire with my boyfriend, Tony Marconi, but Timberland Lake was the same place where my dad went fishing alone every fall, and I had to wonder why, out of all the possible vacation spots, my mom had p
icked that specific one to have our family holiday. To be honest, ever since I found out my dad was most likely not dead, as we’d all believed for years, I’d been questioning a lot of things.
“Here you go.” Hap handed me a stack of mail. “I’m going to miss your sunny face next week, but I hope you have a wonderful time.”
“Thanks, Hap. And I hope you and Hattie have a wonderful holiday as well.”
After Tilly and I left Hap’s store, we continued down the street, dropping off mail and pausing to chat with the people we met along the way. I really love my job. Not that I’d lay awake at night when I was a child dreaming of life as a mail carrier for the US Postal Service, but delivering the daily mail to the merchants in White Eagle gave me the opportunity to stay current with the local news and the local gossip.
Not that I couldn’t have stayed up-to-date by hanging out in the restaurant my mom owned and operated with my Aunt Ruthie, but there was something pretty perfect about being outdoors in the fresh air for most of the day. I glanced up at the dark clouds overhead. Well, at least it was usually nice to be outdoors. I had to admit that when the cold Montana winter took hold, there were days I found myself wishing I’d been a hairdresser, a florist, or even a podiatrist.
“Morning, Bree,” I greeted my best friend, Bree Price, who also happened to be Mike’s girlfriend. “The store looks fantastic.”
“Thanks. I figured the Christmas rush will have started by the time we return from our trip, so I wanted to have all the decorating taken care of before I left.”
“I love the little Victorian village. It’s so quaint and perfect. Very bookish.”
Bree smiled. “I like it. I got the idea from your mom. The Santa’s Village she sets up in the restaurant every year is adorable. I wanted to do something similar yet smaller, with a Dickens feel. I’m also going to put a tree in the corner I cleared out near the front door. I want a fresh tree, not a fake, so I figured I’d cut one down while we’re up at the lake. When people ask where I got it, I’ll have a story to go with the tree.”
“I’m pretty sure Tony is bringing his truck, although we do have two dogs and two cats to transport. Let’s make sure Mike brings his truck too. He has a back seat, so you can bring Mom with you. We’ll have cat carriers on our back seat.”
Bree continued to hang the white twinkle lights she’d been stringing around the store when I walked in. “I’m excited about the trip. I’ve never been to Timberland Lake, but I hear it’s beautiful.”
“I’ve never been either,” I answered. “In fact, I don’t think any of us have, so it’ll be a new experience all around.”
“I wonder why your mom chose that specific lake if she’d never been there,” Bree mused.
“My dad used to go up there every year. I guess he must have told her about it.”
Bree’s smile faded. “Maybe she’s missing him.”
I paused. “Maybe. Although he’s been gone for a long time. I have a feeling there’s something else behind her desire to rent a cabin at that lake, although I have no idea what it is.”
Bree shrugged. “I don’t suppose it really matters. A cabin at the lake sounds like the perfect place to spend a good old-fashioned Thanksgiving.”
“It does sound relaxing,” I agreed.
“I have a couple of new holiday-themed mysteries that arrived today. They won’t even officially be on sale until after Thanksgiving, but I nabbed us a couple. I’ll grab one for your mom as well. Maybe we can all read the same book and then hold a discussion.”
“Sounds like a lot of work for a vacation.”
“It’ll be fun.”
I groaned. While Bree found reading relaxing, I much preferred a video game. Not that I never read. I did. But I was a slow reader, and I didn’t want the extra burden of reading so many pages a day in order to participate in a discussion.
Bree and I chatted for a few more minutes, then Tilly and I continued on our way. I wanted to take a minute to chat with everyone as I dropped off the mail so I could remind them that they’d have a substitute mail carrier the following week, but I also wanted to finish my route at a decent time. Tony was coming over for dinner and gaming tonight, and I wanted to get home in time to clean up a bit before he arrived. Not that it mattered all that much if I didn’t manage to get my laundry tucked away in the hamper. I was sure Tony loved me, messy home and all.
“Afternoon, Brick,” I said to local pub owner Brick Brannigan. “You have mail today.” I held up two envelopes. Brick didn’t have mail more than once or sometimes twice a week, so I didn’t come in every day, as I did with the other merchants on Main.
Brick reached out a hand. “Thanks. I’ve been waiting for a letter from my uncle, who’s coming into town next week. I still don’t know what day to expect him.”
“Why don’t you just text or email him?”
“He doesn’t do cell phones or texts or emails. He’s currently on a road trip, so I can’t call him on his landline. He said he’d drop me a letter once he’d narrowed things down to a specific date.” Brick ripped open one of the envelopes. He took a minute to read whatever was handwritten on the enclosed piece of paper. “It looks like he’ll be here Wednesday.”
“That’s good.” I smiled. “He’ll be with you for Thanksgiving.”
Brick frowned. “Yeah, but then I’ll have to cook. Maybe I’ll just take him to your mom’s place.”
“She’s closing the restaurant for the whole week. I think pretty much everyone’s closed on Thanksgiving Day. Maybe you can buy a precooked turkey from the meat market and add a few sides. Actually, you might be able to buy the sides precooked as well.”
“Good idea. I’ll do that.”
I’d turned to leave when Jordan Westlake walked in. Jordan was new to White Eagle. He’d moved to town the previous month after inheriting an old house he was in the process of renovating. It was huge, so the renovation was going to take some time, but I couldn’t wait to see what he’d done with the place so far.
“Afternoon, Tess,” Jordan greeted.
“Afternoon, Jordan. How’s the renovation going?”
“Pretty well. The kitchen is just about done, as is one of the bathrooms on the first floor. I have a long way to go, but I finally feel like the place is functional.”
“I can’t wait to see what you’ve done with the house. It really does have so much potential, and when we discussed your plans, they sounded wonderful.”
“It’s been a labor of love, although love isn’t the only emotion I’ve felt for the place.”
“That’s understandable after everything that happened there. I heard you went to visit Hannah and Houston last week.” Hannah and Houston Harrington were twins and Jordan’s cousins. Sort of. It’s a long story, but basically, Hannah and Houston spent two years living in the house Jordan now owned after their father dumped them, along with their three other siblings, in White Eagle while he went on with his life in San Francisco. The legend surrounding the house had been both creepy and incomplete, so Tony and I, along with Mike and Bree, had helped Jordan track down the truth, which led to the information that the two youngest of the Harrington siblings hadn’t died as teens as everyone had thought after all.
Jordan nodded. “I did go to visit them.”
“And how was it?”
“Strange, but nice. I felt a little weird to be the one who ended up with the house, even though I’m not a Harrington by blood. It does seem the house should have gone to one or both of them, but they assured me that they were fine with my having it because neither had any intention of returning to it or White Eagle ever again.”
I understood that. Their time in White Eagle had been its own kind of hell.
Jordan continued. “I’m happy to be able to confirm that both Hannah and Houston have gone on to have fairly normal and happy lives. They most definitely had a rough start, but once they got out from under their father’s control they seem to have blossomed.”
“I’m really
happy to hear that. Any news on Hillary?” Hillary was Hannah and Houston’s older sister. She’d run away long before they did.
“I haven’t had any luck tracking her down. I have a feeling the twins know where she’s been since her disappearance, and whether she’s still alive now, but it was very apparent that, while they were interested in meeting me, the subject of their sister was off the table.”
“If they do know where she’s been, and if she’s still alive, I imagine they’re protecting her. It’s a complicated situation.”
“It really is. I have plans to see them again. I think we can be a family of sorts. I’m hoping over time they’ll be willing to fill in the blanks about Hillary.”
“I hope so. It would be nice to have the rest of the story.”
“It really would. I’m heading to San Francisco next week to spend Thanksgiving with family, but I’d love to get together with you and Tony when I get back.”
“Call me and we’ll set up a date. Maybe for dinner.”
“Sounds good, as long as we go out or you’re planning to do the cooking. I’m afraid that isn’t one of my talents.”
“Tony’s an excellent cook. I’ll invite Mike and Bree too, and we’ll meet up at his place. Feel free to bring a date, or if you don’t know anyone, I can invite someone to even things out.”
“I have someone in mind,” Jordan said. “I’ll call you when I get back.”
I said goodbye to Brick and continued on my route. It looked like Tony was going to have to live with socks and underwear on the floor. I should have done the picking up in the morning, but I’d gotten a late start and really did think I’d have time to get to it this afternoon. I sighed. Oh well; there were worse things than a messy cabin.
I was just finishing up when I got a call from Brady Baker, the veterinarian in town. About a year ago, Brady had taken over for his uncle, who had been the only vet in White Eagle for a long time. In addition to running the veterinary clinic, Brady owned and operated an animal shelter.
“Oh good, I caught you,” Brady said. “I wanted to ask if you could come to the clinic early tomorrow morning.”