BUCKAROO WAFFLE MURDER (The Wicked Waffle Series Book 5)

by Carolyn Q. Hunter

  “Hold on.” Vaughn stopped him, stepping away from Frank and toward the doorway. He pulled the short baby-faced man inside and shut the door.

  “Hi, big brother,” the man whispered.

  “Nathan, what are you doing here?” Vaughn asked with a firm voice.

  “You can’t seriously just let him in like this,” the first man interrupted.

  “Be quiet, Robert,” Vaughn ordered.

  “We’ve already lost so much money on this guy. If it weren’t for him, this place would be up and running months ago. Don’t you dare let him walk in here.”

  Vaughn turned to the man named Robert with a furrowed brow. “This is my brother. He’s family. I’m not going to just turn him away into the snow when he’s traveled all this way.”

  Robert’s nostrils flared. “Fine, have it your way. Drive our business into the ground before we’ve even gotten started.” Throwing up his hands, he stormed out into the cold wintery day.

  The room was silent for a moment until Vaughn turned to face the patrons who were standing amongst the museum displays. “My apologies, folks. Please go on enjoying yourselves. I’ll make an announcement in a few moments and then we will start boarding the train.” Turning to Frank, he whispered a polite excuse me and then placed his arm around his brother and ushered him through the door behind the counter.

  “Seems like your friend is having a little opening day drama,” Sonja noted as she walked up to her fiancé.

  “Yeah, but that’s to be expected.”

  Sonja thought of the earlier argument and realized that Nathan, Vaughn’s brother, might have been the reason the two men were arguing.

  “That’s Vaughn’s brother.”

  “Well, why does that other guy seem so opposed to him being here?”

  “Robert?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Robert Sandoval is Vaughn’s business partner and one of his best friends too.”

  Sonja had always been told it was bad practice to go into business with friends, but she’d never had any trouble running the diner alongside Alison. It seemed that Vaughn and Robert had a few more bumps, though.

  “Rob owns half of the museum and train experience. He’s sort of the money man behind all of this while Vaughn has the historical knowledge and brains.”

  “And he hates Vaughn’s brother?” she asked again, still confused. It seemed highly unprofessional to have an outburst like the one Robert did in front of guests. Maybe the tension between the men was simply that bad.

  Frank tilted his head, lowering his voice. “Well, truth be told, Nathan was also a partner in the early stages of this project. However, at one point Vaughn sent his brother down to Texas to buy a few expensive antiques for the museum here. Instead, he disappeared.”

  “And he’s just showing back up now?” she gasped.

  “No. It was a few months after he went missing that they found out that Nathan had spent all the money on drugs instead. He’d been a recovering addict, was clean for over a year, and being a business partner was an extended hand on Vaughn’s part to help him get back up on his feet.”

  “Wow,” Sonja mouthed. “That’s so sad.”

  “Vaughn always has had a big heart. Knowing him, he’ll try to help his brother again now. Give him a job here maybe, something like that. Honestly, Nathan was always a good kid growing up. He just got mixed up with the wrong crowd.”

  “I see.” She hoped that Frank was right and that his old friend was making the right decision by allowing his brother back into his life.

  She completely understood Robert’s opposition to the situation, especially on the opening day of a huge project they’d both obviously sunk so much money, energy, and passion into.

  Sonja was silently hoping all of this panned out—but something about the drama had her feeling uneasy.

  She didn’t want to end up with another whopper of a birthday this year.

  CHAPTER 4

  * * *

  “All aboard,” Jake yelled fifteen minutes later, opening two barn style doors on the side of the room and revealing the wooden platform just outside next to the train cars. It was nine a.m., right on the dot.

  “That’s us,” Frank exclaimed with a quiet excitement.

  “What about our bags?” Sonja asked.

  “They’ll load them on for us,” he noted, heading in that direction.

  The heavy feeling in the pit of her stomach was growing stronger, the tense situation between Vaughn, Robert, and Nathan weighing on her mind. Not to mention, she had the strangest inkling that Frank had more to do with all of this than he was letting on.

  He’d already neglected to inform her that this birthday trip also involved one of his closest childhood friends. That led her to believe he was hiding something else, something even bigger from her. What could it be?

  She wasn’t getting onto the train until she had a clearer picture.

  “Frank,” she whispered, grabbing onto the crook of his elbow to stop him from walking forward.

  “Come on. We’re boarding,” he urged her.

  “But Frank, listen to me.”

  He paused, hearing the strain of worry in Sonja’s voice. He furrowed his brow with concern. “What is it?”

  “Why didn’t you tell me about Vaughn?”

  Frank hesitated. “What do you mean?”

  “Why wouldn’t you tell me that this weekend trip, on my birthday of all days, was being run by your childhood friend?”

  His eyebrows squeezed together as he thought of an answer. Sonja was trying to read his face and see if it was oblivious confusion or a concerted effort to cover his tracks. “I didn’t think it mattered,” he finally replied.

  “It just seems like a big deal. That’s all. I mean, this is their opening weekend.”

  Turning all the way to face her, he placed his hands on either side of her shoulders. “Look. The long and short of it is that I thought this could be a fun thing to do together. Vaughn invited me and offered me two free tickets and it just seemed serendipitous that it was on your birthday.” He paused, looking into her eyes and attempting to understand her expression. “Do you not want to be here? Should we go?”

  Sonja felt her cheeks growing warm, despite the cold wind coming through the doors and looked at her feet. She realized that she was probably overreacting. Frank was one of the most honest and sincere men she’d ever met. What reason would she have to doubt him?

  He probably just wanted to have a good time with her, and she was putting a damper on it.

  “No, I want to go,” she finally answered.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah. Let’s have a great time, okay?”

  Frank’s eyes lit up as he smiled. “Okay. I love you. Let’s make this a great birthday.”

  Standing up on her tippy toes, she kissed him on the lips, feeling a rush of excitement about smooching with a cowboy. “Let’s go.”

  Gripping his hand, she followed him out onto the platform. Getting in line to board the train, a few flecks of snow began to fall from the sky. Jake, the conductor, was checking everyone in via a clipboard list he’d taken out of a metal box attached to the car. A string connected it to the box.

  “They’re going to have actual tickets for later train rides,” Frank commented.

  “You can’t do everything one hundred percent on the first go,” Sonja added. She busied herself looking up and down the platform at her surroundings. An old wooden sign hung from the roof with the name of the station on it. Last Chance.

  The train itself appeared longer than Sonja had expected, the red caboose disappearing around the bend and behind a cliff wall at the end. All in all, there appeared to be six cars not including the engine.

  She was just wondering what each of them was for when she spotted a man moving around among the trees near the caboose. He wore a large floppy hat, tattered clothing layered over with a bearskin coat, and a scraggly white beard that looked as if it hadn’t been washed in ten years.<
br />
  He looked vaguely familiar.

  She wondered if he was part of the attraction, like a mountain man or something.

  Then she remembered something. The picture from the front of Frank’s book. The guy looked just like the prospector on the cover.

  “Frank, look at the guy down there. Is he part of the attraction?”

  Frank tilted his head to have a peek. “What guy?”

  “That one. He looks like the picture on the front cover of your book and he’s climbing onto the caboose,” she said pointing.

  Frank shook his head. “Sonj’, I don’t see anyone.”

  That stopped Sonja cold. She felt a familiar shiver up her spine.

  It didn’t appear anyone else could see the man.

  That only meant one thing. He was a ghost.

  * * *

  “Please tell me you did not just see a ghost boarding our train,” Frank whispered as they stepped into the surprisingly warm train car. The room appeared to have once been something like a president’s private car but had been converted into another segment of museum displays. It appeared to be completely dedicated to firearms. Antique weapons of every kind were laid out against velvet backgrounds. Corresponding bullets were displayed in a fan formation of three each next to their respective guns.

  “Please continue through to the next car,” the conductor instructed.

  “Sonja,” Frank urged from behind closed teeth, impatient for an answer from his supernaturally sensitive fiancé.

  Walking through the sleeper car and into the passenger car, Sonja noticed a wood burning stove in the corner with a fire glowing inside. Again, she couldn’t help but be amazed about the old technology and how innovative things had been for the time. Red velvet seats lined both sides of the lounge-style interior, each with its own window looking out.

  “Right here, please,” Jake said, motioning for them to sit down in a spot about midway down the car.

  The couple slid in and settled down. “I think it was a ghost, yes,” Sonja answered his question in a quiet voice.

  “No. No way. You can’t be serious,” he groaned under his breath. While Frank was aware of Sonja’s inherent ability to see spooky specters, he had never been exactly comfortable with the idea.

  “It’s probably not a big deal,” she reassured him, giving his hand a squeeze.

  “How can you say that?” he accused her, a line of sweat appearing on his forehead. He knew that trouble always seemed to follow Sonja’s ghostly sightings.

  Sonja let out a stress-laden breath through puckered lips. That was just what she needed. Right after she’d calmed down about the whole train ride, Frank was getting riled up thanks to a ghost. He’d seen ghosts himself at times, thanks to being near Sonja, but it didn’t bother him any less.

  “Look. This is a historic train with a lot of old antiques. There is bound to be a spirit or two on board.”

  “Well, I don’t like it,” he admitted, folding his arms and peering out the window at the snowy train station.

  “I’m sure there is nothing to worry about, Frank. Most ghosts aren’t out to bother anyone. They are just like normal people, hanging around places they liked while they were alive.”

  “Yeah, normal people who happen to be dead.”

  Sonja rolled her eyes. “It’ll be fine. I’m here with you and I’ve had experience exorcising ghosts if I need to.”

  After a moment of hesitation, Frank let out a whoosh of breath. “Okay. You’re right.” He put a smile back on. “Let’s forget it and try to enjoy the ride.”

  “Sounds good to me,” she agreed.

  CHAPTER 5

  * * *

  “Welcome aboard the Last Chance Train Ride Experience,” Vaughn declared as he stood up in front of everyone with his hat still on. He held his arms out wide in a gesture of hospitality and had a smile to match. “Today, you will be the first set of patrons to take this historic stretch through the mountains and back around to this station. Thank you all for being here.”

  There was a round of applause from the car.

  “Now, in just a few moments, we will be on our way, at which time we will adjourn to the dining car for breakfast.”

  More like brunch, Sonja thought, checking her watch. It was ten after nine.

  “As soon as that whistle sounds, the employees and I will step into our characters. We encourage each of you, as well, to immerse yourself as much as possible in this old west experience. Feel free to explore the train throughout the trip. Everything is open to you except for the kitchen car, the engine, and the employee’s private quarters in the caboose.” He pointed toward the back of the train. “The car you entered through contains our full display of historic firearms, and there are other informational plaques and historical items in each car for you to read about and see. This is a learning experience as much as it is an entertaining one.”

  “Edutainment,” Frank whispered jokingly.

  “Each of your bags has been placed in an assigned room on the sleeper car and you’ll find your names next to their respective doors. Once again, thank you all for being here and enjoy the ride.”

  The people in the car applauded again. Sonja took a moment to look around at the other patrons and realized a few of them had notepads out. She assumed that there were probably a few reporters and travel columnists on board—most likely personally invited by Vaughn himself.

  As the museum owner took his seat, the train whistle screamed from the engine, rocking the chilly mountainside with its power.

  A few low chugs echoed back to the passenger car and seconds later, the whole train lurched forward, jostling the guests in their seats.

  “Here we go,” Frank exclaimed with the excitement of a child.

  Sonja had to admit, the feeling was contagious.

  Within a matter of seconds, they were on their way. The train was picking up speed, sending powerful vibrations of energy through the cars with each rotation of the wheels.

  At the announcement of the conductor, everyone stood up from their seats and carefully made their way into the dining car. Sonja had to stop again and admire the craftsmanship around her. Wood molding with hand-carved embellishments gave the room a rich flair.

  Taking their seats at the table, they were presented with their menus. “Actually, I already know what I want,” Sonja noted to the conductor.

  “Very well, if you tell me I’ll head right into the kitchen and let the cook know.”

  “I want to try the Buckaroo Waffle if you don’t mind.”

  Jake smiled widely. “A very good choice, ma’am. That is a recipe I myself actually suggested.”

  “It is?”

  “Yes, ma’am. A delightful combination of smoked breakfast sausage and real maple baked right into the waffle itself, topped with a black coffee syrup for that authentic cowboy flavor.”

  “A black coffee syrup?” she asked, curious about the combo of flavors.

  “Trust me. It’s divine. I hope you’ll enjoy it.”

  “I’m sure I will,” Sonja agreed without telling him that she ran one of the most popular waffle-based restaurants in the region.

  “And you, sir? Do you already know what you want?” He turned to Frank.

  “I’ll have the same,” he said, handing the menu back.

  “Coming right up.” Turning, the gentleman disappeared into the kitchen.

  “They have a lot of the employees double up on roles and duties on the train, making it easier to keep a small staff,” Frank noted, indicating how Jake the conductor also acted as a server. “I also know that Robert helps in the kitchen.”

  As they sat waiting, Sonja kept her eyes on the passing scenery outside. The snow was coming down harder, encompassing the rocks and trees in a fresh white blanket. Her mind considered the ghost from earlier and wondered what specific attachment the long-dead man had with the train. Slowly becoming lost in thought, she was jarred from her daydream when a loud thunk came from above. Jolting in her seat, s
he looked up toward the roof. “What was that?”

  “I don’t know,” Frank said, also looking with some concern toward the ceiling.

  “It’s nothing to worry about. Sometimes snow or ice will fall off tree branches as we go by,” Vaughn announced, seeing the concern from everyone.

  “That sounded a lot heavier than some snow,” Sonja noted to her fiancé.

  “It may have been a falling tree branch.”

  “What if something like that fell on the tracks?” she worried.

  “The train has a large metal plow on it for just such things,” Vaughn added.

  Deciding to not let it bother her, Sonja settled into her chair to await the warm breakfast dish. Her stomach growled for food and time seemed to crawl by. She began to wonder if there had been some sort of hold-up in the kitchen.

  She herself had experienced little stumbling blocks in her own kitchen from time to time which would slow down progress.

  Just when she felt like she might fall over from hunger, Jake emerged from the kitchen car with two plates in hand. “Here you go,” he announced, setting the steaming waffles in front of the couple. “And I have some fresh coffee waiting in the kitchen, as well.”

  “Looks lovely,” Sonja sighed, all too thankful to finally have some food in front of her. Grabbing a cloth napkin, she laid it on her lap and picked up her fork.

  However, much to her disappointment, she never got a chance to cut into the dish before the kitchen door blasted open again.

  “Nobody move,” screamed a man in a black suit and hat, a bandana over his face, and a revolver in one hand.

  Sonja let out a startled gasp at the person’s appearance. On closer inspection, she deduced that it was Robert, Vaughn’s business partner, who was behind the mask.

  Two more men in bandanas were behind him, wielding guns.

  “It’s part of the experience, I think,” Frank whispered, a twinkle of excitement in his eye at the prospect of being robbed on a train.

  “Now, all of you turn out your pockets. You ladies empty your purses. Do as we say, and no one will get hurt,” Robert demanded, trying to disguise his own voice in a gruff tone.