Kathy waited until everyone was assembled before she pulled the drawstring open and spilled the bag’s contents onto her waiting left hand. The gold coins glinted dully in the wan light.
“Holy crap!” Anissa said in a hushed voice.
“Are they what I think they are?” Noreen asked.
Paul plucked one of the gold coins from Kathy’s palm. “They sure are. Gold double eagles, and worth a mint.” He looked Kathy straight in the eye. “Santa was very good to you today, Kathy.”
“Is there anything else in the sack?” Anissa asked.
Kathy just stood there with her mouth open, so Tori took the bag from her and poked her fingers inside. Sure enough, she found yet another piece of paper. She unfolded it and read it aloud. “’To whoever finds this sack of gold, please take care of this home I love.’ It’s signed Hector Parker, August seven, nineteen thirty-three.”
“Take care of this home,” Anissa repeated. “Well, I’d say the right person found the treasure, but I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what Kathy will do with that gold.”
“I don’t believe it—I just don’t believe it.”
Paul counted the coins. “I’m no expert, but I’m betting that you’re holding about twenty grand in your hands, Kath.”
“Twenty THOUSAND dollars,” Kathy repeated, sounding shell shocked.
“Wow. I’ll bet that’s the best Christmas present you’ve ever received—better than the little play stove and fridge you got as a kid,” Tori said and laughed.
“I just can’t believe it.”
“Believe it,” Noreen said, smiling. “Maybe now you’d like a beer to celebrate, too.”
“I need something,” Kathy agreed, returned the coins to the little sack, then she turned to look at Tori.
“Let’s crack open one of those bottles of wine I got you for Christmas,” Tori suggested.
Kathy faced her friend with tears in her eyes. “How can I ever thank you, Tor. You kept looking when the rest of us gave up.”
“You don’t have to thank me. I’m happy because now you’ll be able to make the repairs and enhancements you wanted but thought you might not be able to do for years to come. The person you need to thank is Hector Parker. He’s the one responsible for this not-so-little windfall.”
Kathy nodded and they all trudged into the kitchen, where Noreen cracked the cap on a bottle of Merlot and poured four glasses. They raised their glasses and Paul raised his bottle in salute.
“To Hector Parker,” Kathy said.
“To Hector,” the others repeated.
Just then, the sound of the generator, which had been roaring for hours, cut out, but the lights stayed on. The power was back on!
“Whoa!” Anissa called out. “What do you make of that?”
“After all these years, I think Hector is still looking after his house!” Kathy said, and they all laughed.
Christmas dinner was a wild success. Despite the fact it was a chicken, and not turkey, there’d been more than enough potatoes, stuffing, vegetables, and dessert to fill all five of their bellies. They’d toasted over and over again with the wine Tori had provided, and then they’d all congregated in Swans Nest’s kitchen to wash dishes, and dole out leftovers.
The plow had finally arrived and cleared the main road, but Paul still drove Anissa back to her house on his snowmobile after she’d turned the water back on at all their properties.
No doubt about it, one way or another, it was a Christmas to remember.
Tori and Kathy had settled in the living room in Tori’s little bungalow with yet more Christmas music filling the background. Tori had poured them both another glass of wine and Kathy had two cats vying for her lap while Daisy had plunked herself down on Tori’s.
“Now that was a Christmas to remember,” Tori said.
“I’ll say,” Kathy agreed, but then she sobered. “I’ll never be able to thank you enough for—”
But Tori held out a hand to stop her. “Kath, what was meant to be was meant to be. You were meant to have that house, and someone knew that. I don’t understand how or why it happened, but it was meant to be. Why don’t we just leave it at that?”
Kathy shook her head. “I could never have asked for a better friend than you. And … I hope we can talk frankly about real stuff.”
“Of course we can. We always have.”
Kathy nodded. “I know I told you I wanted to move into my house by the end of the year, but I’m no longer sure that’s the best thing I could do. The truth is, I think I would be terribly lonely. I know you’d be right across the street, but I’m not really sure now is the time to do that.”
Tori nodded. “You could be right. In fact, I’m pretty sure you are.”
“You wouldn’t mind if my boys and I hung out here in your house for a little while longer?”
“As long as you keep making me a pot of tea in the morning before I go to work and have supper waiting when I get home, you can stay for the rest of your life.”
Kathy laughed. “I don’t think either of us would want that—but for now, I’m good with this arrangement.”
“Then all is good,” Tori said. She raised her glass. “Merry Christmas, Kath.”
“Merry Christmas, Tor.”
2
Kathy’s Christmas Cookie Recipes
Crispy Molasses Cookies
Ingredients
3/4 cup granulated sugar
½ cup butter, softened
½ cup molasses
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon cloves
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ginger
* * *
In large bowl, combine sugar and margarine; beat until light and fluffy. Add the molasses and egg and blend well. Add all the remaining ingredients and mix well. Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 30 minutes for easier handling.
On waxed paper, shape the dough into a roll 9 inches long. Wrap the roll in waxed paper or plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 6 hours or until firm.
Preheat the oven to 375ºF (190ºC, Gas Mark 5). Cut the dough into ½-inch slices, then cut each slice into quarters. Place the slices 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 6 to 10 minutes or until set. Immediately remove from cookie sheets.
* * *
Yield: 8 dozen cookies
Powdered Tea Cakes
1 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup chopped walnuts (or pecans)
1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar
* * *
Preheat the oven to 350ºF (180ºC, Gas Mark 4). In a medium bowl, cream the butter and vanilla until smooth. Combine the 6 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar and flour; stir into the butter mixture until just blended. Mix in the chopped walnuts. Roll dough into 1 inch balls, and place them 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake for 12 minutes in the preheated oven. When cool, roll in remaining confectioners' sugar. Kathy likes to roll hers in the sugar a second time.
* * *
Yield: 3 dozen cookies
Kathy’s Shortbread
Ingredients
½ cup (1 stick) butter
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
More granulated sugar
* * *
Preheat the oven to 375ºF (190ºC, Gas Mark 5). Beat the butter and the sugar together until smooth. Stir in the flour to get a smooth dough. Turn onto a work surface and gently roll out until the dough is ½-inch thick. Cut into rounds or fingers and place onto a baking tray. Prick evenly with a fork. Sprinkle with more sugar and chill in the fridge for 20 minutes. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes, or until pale golden-brown. Set aside to cool on a wire rack.
* * *
Yield: 20-24 pieces
The immensely popular Booktown Mystery series is what put Lorraine Bartlett’s pen name Lorna Barrett on the New York Times Bestseller list, but it’s her talent--whether writing as Lorna, or L.L. Bartlett, or Lorraine Bartlett—that keeps her in the hearts of her readers. This multi-published, Agatha-nominated author pens the exciting Jeff Resnick Mysteries as well as the acclaimed Victoria Square Mystery series, the Tales of Telenia adventure-fantasy saga, and now the Lotus Bay Mysteries, and has many short stories and novellas to her name(s). Check out the descriptions and links to all her works, and sign up for her emailed newsletter here: http://www.lorrainebartlett.com
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You can also find Lorraine Here:
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http:www.LorraineBartlett.com
Also by Lorraine Bartlett
The Lotus Bay Mysteries
Panty Raid (A Tori Cannon-Kathy Grant mini mystery)
With Baited Breath
Christmas At Swans Nest (A Tori Cannon-Kathy Grant mini mystery)
* * *
The Victoria Square Mysteries
A Crafty Killing
The Walled Flower
One Hot Murder
Dead, Bath and Beyond (with Laurie Cass)
Recipes To Die For: A Victoria Square Cookbooks
* * *
Blythe Cove Manor
A Dream Weekend
A Final Gift
* * *
Tales of Telenia (adventure-fantasy)
THRESHOLD
JOURNEY
TREACHERY
* * *
Short Stories
Love & Murder: A Bargain-Priced Collection of Short Stories
Happy Holidays? (A Collection of Christmas Stories)
An Unconditional Love
Love Heals
Blue Christmas
Prisoner of Love
We’re So Sorry, Uncle Albert
* * *
Writing as L.L. Bartlett
The Jeff Resnick Mysteries
Murder On The Mind
Dead In Red
Room At The Inn
Cheated By Death
Bound By Suggestion
Dark Waters
Shattered Spirits
* * *
Short Stories
Evolution: Jeff Resnick’s Backstory
A Jeff Resnick Six Pack
When The Spirit Moves You (A Jeff Resnick novelette)
Bah! Humbug (A Jeff Resnick story)
Cold Case (A Jeff Resnick Story
Spooked!
Crybaby
Eyewitness (A Jeff Resnick Mini Mystery)
Abused: A Daughter’s Story
Off Script
* * *
Writing as Lorna Barrett
The Booktown Mysteries
Murder Is Binding
Bookmarked For Death
Bookplate Special
Chapter & Hearse
Sentenced To Death
Murder On The Half Shelf
Not The Killing Type
Book Clubbed
A Fatal Chapter
Title Wave
A Just Clause
* * *
With The Cozy Chicks
The Cozy Chicks Kitchen
Tea Time With The Cozy Chicks
Christmas At Swans Nest Page 4
