Just in case she ran out of projects, she added the bag holding Tony's Christmas present. She was making him a new lap quilt and still had a couple of months until the deadline. Even so she hoped to get the binding done this weekend. Once the twins arrived, she might never have another free moment. The top was alternating stars and snowball shapes pieced with fabrics printed with cowboy, and the back was a flannel barbed wire print. Theo had sewn it extra long so it would cover him from nose to toes when he napped in his recliner.
Needing a little rest, Theo sat and propped her feet up. She closed her eyes and immediately fell asleep.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Theo relaxed in the Blazer's passenger seat, relieved to let Tony deal with the drive. The road to The Lodge was ten miles of inclines and switchbacks. At night the dangerous drive seemed much farther. At noon, even at this time of year, it was a beautiful drive. In the protected valley where Silersville sat, the fall foliage was fading, but some colorful leaves remained on the trees. Not up here. The Lodge was not only at a much higher elevation but perched on the side of the mountain overlooking the national park. Up here, all of the deciduous trees were stripped of their leaves, leaving stark gray or brown limbs twisted against the dark of the evergreens. The even higher peaks of the Smokies were swathed in a deep blue haze.
After next weekend, when The Lodge would be filled with wedding guests coming for Patrick's wedding, The Lodge would close for the season. Because the quilters normally came on the last weekend of the season, they were charged only a minimal rate for their rooms and meals. This would be the third year for their event, and while some of the ladies were repeats, it would be the first year for Melissa, Susan and Eleanor. Fresh young faces and a harpy. What a combination!
The tiny sign reading “The Lodge” with its faded red arrow pointing toward a gravel road was almost hidden under the drooping foliage of an overgrown mountain laurel. If she had not been up here many times, Theo would have hesitated to make the turn, unsure if this was really the correct road. As Tony guided the car around the sharp bend, she wondered how many first-time visitors either missed the sign or didn't believe it. Heavily wooded on both sides, the road could lead anywhere. A fanciful imagination could see a witch's house through the trees. Theo anticipated the end of the driveway, and Tony slowed the Blazer even more.
Suddenly, The Lodge was directly in front of them. Its native stone edifice fitted onto the side of the mountain as if it had grown there, much like lichen on a rock. Shaped in a V, the point aimed at the bigger mountain to the south. The lobby filled the ground floor in the point of the V. A covered veranda, open from front to back, made up the upper level point. Peeled log rails prevented tourists from leaning out too far while admiring the various magnificent views. The veranda was designed and decorated to be a wonderful area for relaxing. The flowers in the whiskey-barrel planters were faded, but there were still evergreen topiaries and clusters of locally made ladder-back chairs arranged around small tables, forming conversational groupings.
On the ground level, a flagstone terrace surrounded the whole hotel. Except for a postage stamp−sized grassy area near the front, shrubs and trees—rhododendron, dogwood, mountain laurel and balsam fir—grew right up to the edge of the terrace. Concrete benches had been placed in niches, giving the occupants privacy.
The small parking lot was actually a little past The Lodge and hidden from view by more trees. Tony turned into the semicircular drive and stopped in front of the big hotel door. Several empty luggage carts stood waiting.
As Theo climbed out of the Blazer and glanced around, she shivered. Although she knew The Lodge was staffed with good people, for just a moment she felt threatened. Swallowing back a bubble of panic coming from nowhere and threatening her peace of mind, she watched Tony stack her things on one of the luggage carts. She couldn't shake the feeling someone was watching her.
The feeling vanished the second Tony dragged her luggage cart into the lobby. Immediately, two-able bodied men jumped to help. Art Trimble, the owner of The Lodge, beat his young assistant to the cart by inches. “Do you have more in the car, Theo?” Art took the handle of the cart.
“Not this time.” She had to laugh as much in relief as in amusement. “You've seen us arrive with truckloads of stuff before.”
Art smiled widely. “Just testing.” He indicated his assistant. “This is Gavin Thompson. He's Beth's nephew.”
Theo extended her hand to the young man who looked big enough to carry a small truck up the flight of stairs without breaking a sweat. “Nice to meet you.” Theo had to tug a little to get her hand free. “Have you been working up here for very long?”
“I started this summer after I finished at the university.” He grinned at his brother-in-law. “Working for Art and Beth, I get to save just about everything I make so I will start grad school after Christmas.” Ignoring Tony, he grasped the cart. “Which stuff do you want in the sewing area?”
Thinking the young man looked familiar and older than most college students, Theo pointed to the small bag. “Everything except this.”
Without another word, Gavin picked up the two largest items and dashed away.
“Thank you.” Theo said to his vanishing back. She turned to face Art. “Do I need to check in?”
“Let me get Beth for you. She wanted to go over the room assignments and other arrangements with you.” He headed for the back of the hotel at a near run.
“You have fun. I'll be back for you on Sunday about noon.” Tony bent and gave her a kiss. “I'd better move the Blazer before one of your group decides it's in the way and pushes it off the mountain.”
Theo waved goodbye and wandered toward the sunken lounge. A low stone wall kept the unwary safe. The lounge area was about four feet lower than the lobby, gift shop, game room and restaurant. Beth had once explained the builders designed the enormous fireplace at the far end of the lounge before the rest of the building. When it had become apparent that the fireplace, as designed, would not fit the hotel, the builder had the area around it excavated so the fireplace would fit perfectly.
“Theo?” The cadence of the soft female voice behind her was a pleasing drawl.
“I'm down here admiring your fireplace.”
With only a little clicking of her customary three inch high-heeled shoes, Beth Trimble made her entrance. Theo grinned at her, admiring her dedication to her own fashion sense. Theo probably only noticed it because it was so far from her own lack of it. Beth Trimble believed in being noticed. Today's high heels were red, matching her red leather mini-skirt. Theo wondered if she had borrowed her flowered tank top from a child, a small child. Topping it all was a hairdo requiring lots of hairspray and time.
“Welcome.” Beth approached Theo, arms wide. Running a hotel was the perfect occupation for Beth. She never met a stranger, and everyone was her best friend.
After the brief hug, Theo stepped away. “Thanks, Beth. Are you ready to do this again?”
“Absolutely! We love having the quilters.” She glanced at her heavily-laden nephew standing at the top of the steps like a beast of burden. “Hey there, Gavin. Anything you don't need to bring down here, take to her room. I'm putting her in room seven.”
Theo pointed to her small bag. “I can take it myself. That's the only thing for my room.” She smiled at Beth when the large young man ignored her and dashed off with the little bag. “What about your other guests? Have they been warned that there will be lots of laughter coming from the lobby?”
“There's only a few of them, and we explained the lounge area will not be available. They all seemed fine with it. If not,” she said with a shrug, “they don't have to come back.”
“Well, I doubt any of us would mind if they just wander through and look, as long as they don't stay too long.”
“Come see how we've set up for you.” Beth led the way through the comfortable seating area to an open space. “We have lots of extension cords and power strips in there.” She pointed to
a cardboard box in one corner. “Several folding tables. Just tell Gavin or Art where you want them set up.”
“It looks great, as always, Beth. The only thing that comes to mind right now is that we'll need more light.”
“Of course. I know some of your group will bring their own, but we have eight floor lamps in this little closet. If you need more, we'll just bring them down from the empty rooms.” Beth pulled a note from her pocket. “We'll put out snacks this evening, but not dinner. You are welcome to use the kitchen any time.” She grinned. “I know you ladies love to eat at odd times up here. We are cooking three meals tomorrow and brunch on Sunday. Is that right?”
“Perfect.” Theo pulled out a list of her own. “We need seven rooms.”
“Seven? Last I heard, there were only going to be twelve of you this year.”
“There are, but no one, including me, wants to share with Eleanor.”
“Eleanor Liston is coming here?” Beth's look of horror was almost comic. “I'll put her next to the stairs on the second floor. The wind howls through there and makes horrible shrieking sounds. She should feel right at home.” Opening the drawer in the desk, Beth pulled out a roll of tape and a pen.
“As long as you are prepared to listen to her bitching about it, it doesn't bother me.” Theo handed her the list. “I have bracketed the ones who are sharing. Except for Eleanor, we should be a merry group. Although I don't know much about our guest teacher, Scarlet LaFleur. She also booked a private room.”
“I'll put her upstairs next to Eleanor.” Beth paused. “Speaking of upstairs, the railing on the verandah is being repaired. There's a temporary barrier, but you might want to warn your ladies.”
Theo nodded and watched as Beth taped the list onto the desktop.
“I'll just leave the key drawer open until everyone arrives. That way they can just check this and not have to wait.” Beth wrote room numbers on the paper using a red marking pen. Her numbers were practically big enough to read across the room. “We'll bring out Martha's birthday cake out whenever you want.”
“I brought up some champagne. Do you think you could serve it with the cake? Tea too, for those of us not imbibing.”
Beth chewed on the side of one finger, careful not to chip the nail polish that matched her skirt. “Sure, we can.”
Theo dug two bottles out of one of the bags stacked in the lounge and handed them to Beth.
As Beth turned to leave, she paused and pointed to a button under the counter. “Ring the bell if you need help at any time, day or night. It rings in our apartment.”
“Thanks for your help.”
“No, problem.” High heels clicking, Beth headed for the kitchen.
Tony made it back to his office in record time in spite of a quick stop at the library. He carried with him a book about knots and several cords for practice. As long as he was waiting for phone calls, he might as well hone his skills.
Tony was working with his knots and cords when Wade arrived, bleary eyed but reasonably alert. He had worked long hours at the house looking for fingerprints.
“I can tell you Blossom turned on the dishwasher. Her prints matched exactly.” He yawned. “Some partial prints on the medicine bottles look like hers, but I can't say for sure.”
Tony frowned.
“But, partial prints most likely belonging to Mr. Beasley were on the bottles too.”
“Telling us?” Tony untied his knots and picked up his pen.
“Well, it tells us either or both of them could have supplied the overdose.”
“And?”
“And maybe because of the smudges, someone else wore gloves and handled the bottles.”
“Fabulous.” Tony tossed the pen across the room and reached for the antacids.
Theo wasn't surprised the first arrivals were Susan and Melissa. The young women drove up at about three o'clock, laughing and dragging bag after bag into the lobby. Giddy from escaping their preschool children, they explored every nook and cranny of the hotel, laughing the whole time. Melissa finally insisted they sit for a while and talk to Theo.
About the time they settled down in the lobby, a vintage Ford pulled up in front and Dottie and Betty climbed out. The driver, a thin, freckle-faced boy with shocking purple hair, jumped out and started unloading their gear. Gavin was soon lending a hand, looking a bit surprised by the weight of the bags. Linking arms, the ladies strolled into the hotel like a pair of queens with two serfs behind them staggering under the volume of luggage. The boy stacked his load by the desk, kissed Dottie's wrinkled cheek and bolted for the door. “Have fun, Grandma. I'll be back on Sunday about noon.” And he was gone.
Four of them came together. Lucinda, Freddie, Ruth and Holly were inseparable. This weekend, they planned to work on a quilt in a frame. They sent their luggage to the rooms with Gavin. “Just stack it all in one of the rooms, sugar,” said Freddie, the spokeswoman. “We'll sort it out later.”
“Do you need any help?” Beth Trimble stood at the top of the stairs. It looked like her hair had grown even bigger. “I can send Gavin and Art in to help.”
“Thanks, Beth, but we do this all the time. We can arrange it ourselves.” Theo sent her away.
The older ladies, Dottie and Betty, made their way into the lobby, carefully negotiating the stairs, and headed for the corner where Susan, Melissa and Theo were sitting. Melissa and Susan jumped up and began moving chairs into an open U. Once they had everything arranged they were able to sit and chat.
“Who else is coming?” asked Holly.
“Martha and Jane will come up together sometime later. They have to wait until Jane gets off work. With Martha teaching, Jane seems to feel she has to be at the museum all the time. Even if they aren't open to visitors yet.” Theo paused. “Eleanor will show up whenever it suits her, I guess.”
Someone whispered, “I wish that witch would drop dead.”
“What about Scarlet LaFleur?” said Susan. “I'm excited to learn her embroidery techniques. Wouldn't it be gorgeous on an appliqué project?”
“You know who she was before she changed her name, don't you?” One of the older ladies muttered as she settled at the frame. She announced the answer to the woman next to her.
Theo thought everyone looked stunned, which surprised her. She thought it was common knowledge. Scarlet was the former Christmas Poinsettia Flowers. Country music star Elf's older sister.
Tony had just about tied himself to his desk chair with a very complicated series of knots when Ruth Ann interrupted him. Stepping into the doorway of his office, she said, “You'll be interested to know, Sheriff, Mike just called in from Ruby's Café.”
Tony had a step-by-step instruction book about knots open on his desk. If he had known anything about these knots before, he had forgotten it, and he had only a few hours left to learn them. “And?” Tony didn't look up from his project. When Ruth Ann didn't say more, he was forced to move his eyes away from the end of the recalcitrant cord to look at her. “So, now he can operate the phone?” Acid dripped from each syllable.
Ruth Ann waved her fingers, drying the latest shade of polish. It looked purple to him. “There was an altercation on the premises. It's under control.”
“What?” Tony went back to work on his project.
“You know. A fight.” She didn't flinch when a paper clip sailed within inches of her nose, but a look of disdain curled her lip.
“I know what one is, and you know it.” He narrowed his eyes and glared at her. “Dammit Ruth Ann, just tell me what's going on.” Tony had neatly tied himself to his desk while practicing his knot-tying for Chris's scout meeting. He was sure the boys would do a better job if he just handed out photocopies of the instructions and sat off to the side and offered encouraging words.
His phone rang.
“Ruth Ann! Will you get that please?” When she actually answered the phone and identified herself, he decided she needed a raise. “Thank you.”
She put the caller on hold. “Bl
ossom wants to know if you've got her money.”
“Her what?” Tony stared at the Gordian knot at his ankles.
“Money. As in paycheck.” Ruth Ann studied him. “Put the end through there and then push it through this hole.” She pointed to a small space near his ankle bone with a glistening wet fingernail.
It worked. The knot was transformed into a neat, useable piece of string art. “How'd you know to do that?”
“I practice on my mother-in-law all the time.” Ruth Ann waved her hand again, sending the aroma of polish into his nostrils. “If I don't tie her up from time to time, I'll have to kill her.”
Tony glanced up. He couldn't tell from her expression if she was kidding or not. “What's the latest with Walter? Any change?” Ruth Ann's husband had been injured over a year previous, and her mother-in-law had moved in to “help out.”
Ruth Ann's smile illuminated the room. “After months of therapy, he suddenly seems to be making great progress. It's like the message has finally gotten to his brain, and he's making clay figures.”
For a man whose hands had been lying useless in his lap for months, it was a miracle. “So is his mama leaving any time soon?”
“I sincerely hope so.” Ruth Ann sighed. “Oh-oh. I left Blossom on hold.”
“I am hopelessly tied up.” Tony released the knot. “Tell her I can't do anything until Carl Lee gets back into town. Thanks to you I'm ready to be the entertainment at tonight's meeting.”
Barbara Graham - Quilted 03 - Murder by Music Page 6
