Pasture Postmortem (Mandy Bell DVM Series Book 2)

by Abby Deuel

  They woke up to the smell of something burning. Lyle kept nudging Mandy to wake up. Mandy jolted from her slumber and could hardly see in front of her. There was smoke everywhere. Mandy walked, turning the corner made of shrubs and trees to find that the RV was engulfed in flames.

  "Lyle, get back," Mandy said. She placed the puppy and Lyle in a safe zone far away from the RV. She went to the front door where she had a fire extinguisher bolted in case of anything just like this. She unhinged the pin and started spraying the flames. The size of the fire was no match for Mandy's little fire extinguisher. Mandy had another idea. She went to the back of the RV where the water tank was. The outside shower spigot was far enough away from the flames so Mandy could handle it without getting too hot. She made a ring of water around the RV, attempting to contain the fire at least to the RV and not to the surrounding woods that were highly flammable due to the time of year.

  "That's all we can do," said Mandy to Lyle and the puppy. They sat far away from the flames and watched as the RV burned. Mandy pulled her cell phone out of her pocket, proceeding to call Gillian, who would come and get them as soon as possible.

  Chapter 35

  Gillian arrived to the camping spot and was distraught at the scene she found. The RV that offered Mandy so much freedom in this world was not salvageable. The fire retardant core of the RV preserved some of Mandy's belongings but there would be no living in it again.

  "Are you guys OK?" asked Gillian.

  Mandy could barely answer. She was just shaking her head. "Bad things come in threes, eh?"

  "Well, maybe fours or fives," said Gillian.

  They started laughing hysterically. It was better to laugh than to cry and this occasion required a substantially emotional reaction. Mandy and Gillian embraced, comforting each other. The puppy was wiggling and wanted to be put back to bed. Unfortunately, the basket was now a pile of ashes. Lyle licked Mandy's ankles, joining in the display of despair.

  "Let's get you guys home. I have called Gerry and Larry. They will be here shortly to investigate. It seems a little too suspicious to me that you are involved in Derek's murder investigation and then suddenly your RV burns down. They too are convinced it was arson, requesting that you not touch anything in the motorhome. When they have towed it to town, you will be able to gather whatever belongings you can," said Gillian, matter-of-factly. She had done her homework, protecting her friend like a mother hen.

  "I will submit to that. At least the most important things of mine are either already in the clinic or at Anna's. What better time to have a property purchase on the horizon," said Mandy. They loaded up Lyle, the puppy and Mandy's lawn chairs into Gillian's truck. Mandy had not towed her Jeep behind the RV on this trip since she was just planning on parking and camping with no trips to town needed.

  Lyle seemed quite confused about the preceding events. Mandy had to settle her down with a calming hand across her paw. The puppy, on the other hand, was exhausted and sleeping well in a bundle of blankets. Gerry and Larry passed them on the way back to town. They really had taken the call seriously, dropping whatever they were doing to go to the scorched campsite.

  "I think it would be better if you stayed with Hamish and I for a while," said Gillian. "Hamish has offered up his room and he will sleep on the couch. That way, we can keep an eye on you and your safety."

  "Do you really think that is necessary?" asked Mandy.

  "I do. I believe that you are getting closer to solving the murder than you think. Someone doesn't want the nosy vet to get in the way this time. Last time, it was just little notes. Arson is an entirely new level."

  "Alright, I guess so. It will only be for a little while since the closing on the house is soon," said Mandy.

  "Now, did Lyle get special treatment for her birthday, yet?" Gillian asked, changing the subject before Mandy changed her stubborn mind.

  "No. We didn't even get to light a fire and have marshmallows," Mandy said, with a twinge of emotion in her voice. The magnitude of what had just happened was starting to wear her down. She was normally a strong, independent woman. This was getting personal, however.

  "I think we should take the poor lass to the Inn and see what Myrna can put together for her," said Gillian. "We can drop off some of your things and grab Hamish. OK?"

  "I won't argue with that. Let's do it," said Mandy. Lyle, too, answered in the affirmative by licking Gillian's neck from the back seat.

  They drove to Gillian's house, where Hamish was doing some homework. Gillian whipped together some puppy milk to tide over the infant Pyrenees. Mandy took a quick shower to erase the smell of burning plastic that had impregnated her clothing. Luckily, she had a change of clothes at Gillian's from a time when Gillian brought home all of their messy gear from a calving to wash. Mandy felt refreshed and ready to be jovial.

  At the Inn, Gillian must have called ahead for the occasion because Myrna had balloons and special decorations at one of the tables. Lyle somehow knew that it was for her, striding in with her tail proudly wagging behind her. Myrna had their usual drinks ready with a saucer of milk for Lyle.

  "I am making a special meal for you tonight so there is no need to order. I took the liberty of assuming what might be suitable for the birthday girl. Do we need an appetizer?" asked Myrna.

  "I am pretty famished myself. Maybe a little something? I am so grateful to you guys for putting this together on such short notice. This turns the day around," said Mandy.

  "You are most welcome, Dr. Bell. I am awful sorry to hear about your home on wheels," said Myrna. "When we catch the culprit, you can bet there will be a line of people wanting to give them a piece of their mind."

  The phone rang in the background. Merv answered it, putting the phone on the counter to retrieve Mandy.

  "It's Gerry, Mandy. It's for you," said Merv.

  Mandy left the table to see what Gerry could be calling about. It turned out that they had already searched the RV. The fire did not start from any mechanical failure. It was arson which meant someone had it out for Mandy. They were processing the surfaces for fingerprints but it would be a while before they had any results. Gerry wanted to relay the information so that Mandy could take proper precautions. When she said that she would be staying with Gillian for a while, he was relieved. He would let her know as soon as the forensics on the RV came back. For now, she was not to be alone at any time. And, he said, Lyle did not count for someone to be with her; it had to be a human.

  When Mandy returned to the table, she didn't have to say anything. The entire restaurant had been silent to overhear her conversation. Mandy needed to watch her back. Instead of focusing on the martyrdom that had transpired, she redirected the conversation to the fact that it was Lyle's birthday. Everyone tried to be light-hearted, but the bubble had been burst by the idea that someone was trying to hurt Mandy Bell.

  Myrna brought out the birthday feast. It was a honey-roasted ham, glazed with pineapple, sweet potato casserole, buttered Lima beans, homemade rolls, creamed corn, and for Lyle a macaroni and cheese tower featuring mostly cheese. Smiles replaced the worried looks on everyone's faces as they passed around the hearty dishes. This meal would have taken all day to prepare. It was impressive that Myrna and Merv had prepared it with such short notice.

  Gillian, Hamish, Mandy, and Lyle dove into the food with gusto. They had all worked up an appetite and were pleased to be celebrating a milestone for Lyle. The plates were all but licked clean when they were done. The ham had been a huge hit. For dessert, Myrna brought out a small tray with a special flame in it. A second tray contained all of the fixings for gourmet S'mores, which made Lyle start to drool. Nothing could rival a well-toasted marshmallow nestled in melting chocolate in between a crunchy graham cracker. The day may have had a major disaster in it, but the ending eclipsed the negativity.

  They each set about making the perfect S'more. It can be such a personal choice, whether to burn the marshmallow beyond recognition or lightly toast it. Mandy opted for l
ightly toasting while Gillian was a scorcher. The first S'more Mandy made was given to her faithful black and white sidekick. Lyle licked it gently, savoring each nibble. Although chocolate was technically toxic to dogs, Mandy took extra care to ensure that Lyle's helping was very light on the chocolate. Plus, it was milk chocolate which did not have near the potential for side effects as dark or baking chocolate.

  When everyone had eaten as many S'mores as they could, all that was left was to clean the sticky evidence off of their hands. Lyle even had some marshmallow smeared on the top of her nose. Myrna appeared with a platter of hot washcloths to help clean everyone's hands and noses.

  "Thanks, Myrna. That helps a lot. I feel like a little girl around the campfire again," said Gillian.

  "Yes, thank you. This has been a special birthday for Lyle. I never dreamed that anyone would invite us to an eating establishment to cater to my dog's birthday wishes. This is," Mandy paused, "like finding a long lost family. You guys all mean so much to me already."

  "Aw, thanks Mandy," said Merv. "We are glad you are here."

  "You are becoming a fixture here," said Myrna. "I have started saving little tidbits as potential meals in case you bring Lyle with you when you come. I think it's safe to say that you have won our hearts."

  "Crestview loves our Dr. Bell," said Gillian.

  "Thanks. I don't want this night to end. However, this has been a major day. I am exhausted. I think I need to lay my head down and hope that my RV burning up in flames was all just a nightmare," said Mandy.

  "That is completely fair. Let's take Dr. Bell and the belle of the ball, Lyle, home," said Gillian.

  Gillian, Mandy, Hamish, Lyle, and the puppy all filed into Gillian's house to start figuring out how sleeping arrangements would work. Although Hamish offered to sleep on the couch so Mandy could have his room, Mandy could not oust him. Instead, she insisted that she sleep on the couch with Lyle at her feet.

  "It will only be for a few nights. Soon, it will be safe enough for us to sleep at Anna's," said Mandy.

  "You never know. I want you to know that you can stay here as long as you like," said Gillian.

  "Thanks," said Mandy. "On the bright side, we can work on the bobcat pen tomorrow and get him moved outside."

  "Let's just get some sleep for now. We can tackle that in the morning," said Gillian. "I will feed the puppy through the night so you can have a break."

  Chapter 36

  Mandy woke up to the smell of pancakes. She was normally not a sound sleeper and was shocked that she managed to sleep through someone making a full breakfast in the adjoining room. She stretched, rejoicing in the fact that she had actually slept in.

  "Good morning. Do you like pancakes, bacon, eggs, and hash browns?" asked Gillian.

  "Before I answer anything, I need to kick-start my engine with some caffeine," said Mandy.

  "I suspected as much so I made you a fresh pot," said Gillian, pointing at the coffee maker.

  "Thank goodness," Mandy said, beelining to the java station. She poured herself a steaming cup with cream and sugar which started the blood flowing to her brain again. She was ready to process what was happening around her. She could see a mountain of food that Gillian had made for only the two of them as she didn't see Hamish up, yet.

  "You are not used to having house guests, eh? You are in danger of them never leaving if you serve up breakfast like this," said Mandy. "And, yes, to everything."

  "I'm not worried that you will overstay your welcome. It's open-ended," said Gillian. "Pull up a chair and make yourself at home. There is juice in the fridge."

  "Thanks. This all looks lovely. We will need a hearty meal to keep us going today. A bobcat pen doesn't build itself," said Mandy.

  "Very true. It looks like Hamish won't be up for a while. I figure teenagers have to sleep in forever because that's when they have their growth spurts. He did all of his chores yesterday so I don't have to bug him." Mandy had no experience with teenagers so she had to take Gillian's word for it.

  "The puppy slept well through the night but was hungry at the feeding times," said Gillian. "I already fed the dogs. Lyle has been helping me make breakfast."

  "Thanks for taking care of the puppy and Lyle. I'm not surprised that Lyle has been helping. She is always my buddy when I am making pancakes. I typically make her a special one at the end," said Mandy.

  "I thought as much so I gave her a little one," said Gillian.

  "Sleep hit the spot," said Mandy, stretching her arms. "Unfortunately, it still seems that my RV did burn down to the ground. Sleep didn't cure everything," said Mandy, sighing.

  "True. But, we can distract you for today with watching the bobcat that you saved from the jaws of death. You will be able to see him explore a more normal surrounding, like the bobcat we have been working so hard to raise. I know, it's not the same as having your RV back. Maybe it was a sign that you have made the right decision to buy Derek's farm in Crestview. It will all work out in the end, you'll see," said Gillian.

  "I am not nearly as convinced as you. I think having something else to concentrate on is the best medicine right now," said Mandy.

  "It's settled then. Let's have one more cup before we go. We are a tad ahead of schedule anyway," said Gillian.

  "Now that's something I rarely hear. Lately, it seems like we are always in a rush," said Mandy.

  "Sit back and relax, at least for a little while," said Gillian, filling both of their mugs with fresh coffee and tea.

  They had only made a small dent in the feast on the table, though they continued to nibble as they filled up on their respective stimulants. When they had eaten all they could fit without the risk of becoming ill, they packaged the rest into containers for Hamish to discover when he woke up. Gillian disappeared into her room and came out with some clothes that would fit Mandy. They needed to dress to be outside and the weather was predicted to turn colder as the day went on.

  "Thanks, Gillian. I will have to scrounge together my stuff from Anna's and the clinic to see what I actually have. I can't live off of your clothes," said Mandy.

  "This will work for now. We can find you some more to get you by," said Gillian.

  "I hate shopping. I will do it all online. It'll come right to the door without worrying about parking, lines, or trying things on," said Mandy.

  "That sounds like a good idea. You'll save tons of time, too," said Gillian.

  "Yep. I am a super shopper online. I shop for deals like nobody's business," said Mandy. "I didn't want to be shopping for a whole new wardrobe right now. I suppose it was time to retire some of my belongings."

  "See, now you're seeing the positive in the situation," Gillian added. "Did you have insurance on the RV?"

  "Of course. My Dad is an insurance broker. Insurance is something that I always double and triple check. My Dad taught me well. As soon as the RV has been released from the police, I will be able to submit a claim," said Mandy.

  "Good deal. I look forward to meeting him," said Gillian.

  "You will, don't worry," said Mandy.

  "Now that we are dressed for all of the possibilities in the forecast, are you ready? I can drive," said Gillian.

  "We should feed the puppy one last time before we go," said Mandy.

  "Good call. There is some freshly mixed milk in the kitchen for her. You do that and I will scope out what kind of tools I can bring with us to make this project the best it can be," said Gillian.

  Mandy settled on the couch with the puppy to give her a solid meal before they headed out. Lyle helped comfort the puppy while she ate. Gillian had done a remarkable job feeding the puppy through the night as evidenced by the fact that her belly was still pretty full. She was falling asleep while she was eating which meant that she was full enough to leave for a few hours. Mandy tucked her into her basket. Knowing that she could not take her to the pen-building field trip since it would be too cold, Mandy felt confident that the puppy would be fine in the comfort of Gillian's home. It wo
uld also give Gillian's dog a chance to be in her home alone; Bella had put up with guests well but could use some downtime.

  Lyle, on other hand, would need to go with them. Mandy could not trust her in someone else's house without supervision. She had been known to pee in people's living room floors in an effort to dominate the territory as her own. That, and her occasional obsession with licking people to greet them, were her only two major flaws. Considering the number of people Mandy had met in her life who had far more than two flaws, Lyle was still the top of Mandy's short list of loved ones.

  Gillian came back into the living room with a duffel bag in each hand. They looked heavy and made a thud when she dropped them on the floor. Lyle immediately approached them to sniff for morsels of food, toys, or animals. Mandy's eyes lit up at the site of tools. She had a long-standing love for all things related to carpentry.

  "This stuff might help. I knew I had them altogether tucked away somewhere smart. I haven't needed any of them in a while since this trailer is in pretty good shape," said Gillian.

  "Let's check and see what you have so we don't have to lug both bags to the car if we don't have to," said Mandy.

  They pulled the contents of both duffels out onto the floor, organizing as they went. There were a couple of solidly made hammers which would be quite handy for their day's activities. A trusty fencing tool was next on the stack to take. The rest of it were odds and ends that a person might find in anyone's home improvement pile: electrical wire, an assortment of screw and nails, a stud finder, picture-hanging wire, and some duct tape.

  "I think that'll do it. We shouldn't need the power tools. They will have some out there. What do you say? Are you ready to go?" asked Gillian.

  "I am. Let's get this show on the road," said Mandy.

  Gillian's Ford pick-up confused Lyle but she got in since Mandy was going. It only had a half cab so Lyle had to sit in the back instead of the passenger seat in the Jeep to which she had grown accustomed. The trappers were far out of town so they had a good drive ahead of them. With the leaves glowing in Fall colors, it was a scenic ride out of town. Some leaves had begun to fall, creating piles of reds, yellows, and browns in any nook or cranny in the landscape.