Hope Callaghan - Garden Girls 03 - Smoky Mountain Mystery

by Hope Callaghan

Gloria parked the car and jumped out. She held the door open. “C’mon girl! You’re home!”

  Mally gingerly dropped to the ground. She pranced around the yard, favoring her wounded paw but still doing a little happy dance right there in the yard.

  Gloria stood back and watched as she watered two of her favorite trees, sniffed around the garden still waiting to be tilled for spring planting and then bounded up the steps of the porch. She turned to Gloria “Woof.”

  Gloria pulled the bags from the trunk and dragged them up the steps. “I’m coming, I’m coming!”

  She opened the kitchen door and let Mally go in before tugging the luggage through the door behind her. The kitchen welcomed her with its bright yellow walls and familiar kitchen cabinets. Somehow, it grew bigger and brighter while she was gone. She stood there for a long moment, soaking it all in, appreciating all that God had given her and thankful that she was home safe and sound.

  She opened her eyes to find Puddles pawing at her pants. “Meow.” Gloria grinned as she reached down and lifted her beloved cat into her arms.

  So happy to see Gloria, Puddles turned his purr on high gear. It sounded like a cross between a lawn mower and chain saw. The cat rubbed his head under Gloria’s chin. He tried pawing his way up and into Gloria’s neck, his cold little nose tickling the skin under Gloria’s jaw.

  Puddles nibbled on her ear, chewed a chunk of her hair and finally settled into a molten puddle of Puddles in her arms. Gloria held him for a long moment, petting his soft furry fluff before gently setting him on the kitchen floor.

  It was Mally’s turn. She tiptoed over to Puddles and nudged him. Puddles promptly dropped down on his side and playfully kicked at Mally’s snout as the two reunited joyfully.

  Puddles suddenly stopped when he noticed the bandage on Mally’s paw. He gently crept over and sniffed the covered wound before softly licking at the bandage. Gloria’s heart melted. Puddles was trying to make Mally feel better! It was one of the sweetest things she’d ever seen!

  Gloria glanced at the clock on the wall. It was almost 2 in the morning! She wearily hauled the luggage back to the bedroom. In no mood to unpack it all, she pulled out her toothbrush, pajamas and hairbrush, shoved the suitcase to the side and made her way to the bathroom.

  By the time she wandered back into the kitchen, the animals were curled up together on the kitchen floor, sound asleep.

  She tiptoed over to the kitchen sink for a glass of water. It was then she noticed a note on the table. Her heart fluttered as she recognized the familiar handwriting,

  She slipped on her glasses and pulled the note close. “Welcome Home! I missed you so much!”

  The note went on, “I’m sure you’re exhausted. Call me after you get a good night’s rest. I can’t wait to see you!”

  The note ended, “Love, Paul.”

  Gloria grinned as she folded the note in half and tucked it into her pajama pocket. She hadn’t gotten a love note in years.

  As Gloria drifted off to sleep, she thought about the coins, she thought about Paul, her children and grandchildren and all the wonderful things she would do with her unexpected windfall.

  Chapter 9

  Gloria’s eyes flew open. It took several long moments for her to realize she was home again. She glanced over at the bedside clock. It was 11:10 a.m. She threw back the covers and crawled out of bed. She glanced at her reflection as she passed the dresser mirror. Her hair was shooting out in several different directions which meant she slept pretty darned good the night before. Actually, she didn’t remember dreaming at all or waking up even once.

  By the time she reached the kitchen, Mally and Puddles were already there waiting for her. Puddles by his food dish and Mally by the door. As soon as she saw Gloria, she started whining and pawing at the door.

  Gloria looked at Puddles. “Sorry buddy. Mally has to go out first. I’ll be right back,” she promised.

  She hovered on the porch, praying no one she knew would see her as she waited for Mally to take care of business. Thankfully, she didn’t leave Gloria waiting very long. She barely limped as she made her way back up the steps a short time later.

  Gloria opened the door to let her in when she heard a car horn. She whirled around just in time to see Margaret’s familiar SUV pull in the drive. Gloria’s heart sunk. Margaret never, ever just “dropped by.” She sent up a quick prayer, praying her friend had good news from the investigator.

  Margaret jumped from the SUV and hurried over to where Gloria was still standing. She grinned widely at her friend. “Did you just get out of bed?”

  Gloria ran a hand through her hair, flattening the unruly mop as best she could without her hairbrush. “Yeah,” she confessed.

  The old Margaret would’ve cluck-clucked about wasting the day away but not this Margaret. She laughed as she wrapped her arm around Gloria’s shoulder. “I think you look just lovely this morning,” she said sincerely.

  Still, Gloria felt underdressed as they stepped in the kitchen. “Let me go throw some clothes on for a minute,” she said.

  “Sure, sure. You want me to make a pot of coffee,” Margaret offered.

  Gloria nodded. “That’d be awesome.” She headed to the bathroom, shaking her head in amazement at the change in her friend.

  By the time she changed, splashed some water on her face and brushed her teeth, not only had Margaret made a pot of coffee, she fed Puddles and Mally and brought Gloria’s mail in from the mailbox.

  “I hope you don’t mind. I thought I’d run out and grab your mail for you,” Margaret said.

  Gloria reached into the kitchen cupboard and pulled down a cup. “Thanks for doing that. But you didn’t have to,” she added.

  Margaret waved a hand dismissively. “No biggie. I didn’t mind…”

  Gloria raised her eyebrows and her coffee cup. “You want one?”

  Margaret shook her head. “No. No, I already got myself one. I hope that was okay,” her voice trailed off. Maybe she shouldn’t have been so bold. After all, this wasn’t her house.

  “Oh, no problem. Help yourself anytime,” Gloria reassured her.

  By the time Gloria poured her cup and pulled out a kitchen chair, she could see that Margaret was ready to explode. She knew it had something to do with the investigator. She studied Margaret’s face. She didn’t look too upset… Gloria took a sip of coffee. “What did you find out?”

  “How did you know?”

  “I can tell by the look on your face.”

  Margaret leaned forward slightly. “I met the detective just before I got here…”

  “And?” The suspense was almost too much!

  “You know how our 50th wedding anniversary is coming up?”

  Gloria nodded. “Mmmhmm.”

  “Don was sneaking off to meet with a custom jeweler,” she explained. “He’s having a special anniversary ring made for me.” Margaret’s expression grew serious. “I ruined his surprise with my suspicions.”

  Gloria took another sip of coffee. “Does he know about the detective?”

  Margaret shook her head. “No way and if he found out, he’d be furious.”

  Yeah, Gloria could see him getting angry, for sure. After all, who wouldn’t be upset to find their wife of almost 50 years suspected you of an affair? “Your secret is safe with me.” Gloria clamped her mouth shut and made a zipping motion across her lips.

  Margaret was visibly relieved. “I knew I could count on you.” She chewed on her lower lip. “I just didn’t have anyone to talk to.”

  Gloria reached over and squeezed her hand. “I’ll always be here for you Margaret. I promise!”

  Margaret glanced down at her watch. “I gotta get going. I have a meeting with a financial adviser. You know to help us with you-know-what.”

  Gloria nodded. “We’re gonna need it! I have some stuff to take care of today, but I’ll work on the will end of it this afternoon or tomorrow.”

  After Margaret left, Gloria sat at the table for several mome
nt as she prayed. She thanked God first and foremost for his son, Jesus, and her salvation. She thanked him for keeping them safe on their trip. She thanked him for her family, her loved ones and for Paul. Last but not least, she asked him to give her wisdom in handling the responsibility of the coins and money they would soon have.

  After unpacking and showering, Gloria wandered out into the kitchen. It was already after noon. Paul would be worrying about her by now. She picked up the phone and dialed his number. Her heart beat a little faster when she heard his deep voice on the other end. “I was wondering when you were gonna call.”

  Gloria smiled. It sure was nice to have someone to fret over her, care about her. She explained she’d slept in late and just now finished unpacking and cleaning up. “Would you like to come over for dinner tonight?” she asked hopefully.

  “I’m sorry. I can’t,” he said sadly. “As luck would have it, I’m working the graveyard shift tonight. I won’t be off duty until the wee hours of the morning.”

  Gloria’s heart sunk. She was really looking forward to seeing him.

  “What about dinner tomorrow night?” he suggested.

  Gloria smiled down at the phone. “That would be lovely.” After agreeing he would pick her up tomorrow night at 6, she hung up the phone and wandered into the living room. After all the excitement of the last few days, she was more than a little restless. It was time to head down to Dot’s and catch up with the girls.

  Mally heard the familiar jingle of the car keys. She beat Margaret to the door, a squeaky football clamped in her jaw. “C’mon girl. Let’s hit the road and see what kind of excitement we missed while we were gone.”

  Gloria stepped out onto the porch and into the bright, sunshiny day. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply of fresh country air. It sure was good to be home.

  Mally’s Pumpkin Dog Treat Recipe

  Brown rice flour makes the biscuits crunchier and helps with digestion.

  2 eggs

  1/2 cup canned pumpkin

  2 tablespoons dry milk

  1/4 teaspoon sea salt

  1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

  2 1/2 cups brown rice flour *

  Preheat oven to 350.

  In large bowl, whisk together eggs and pumpkin until smooth. Mix dry milk, salt and cinnamon (optional) in separate dish. Once dry ingredients are blended, add to egg and pumpkin mix. Add brown rice flour gradually, mixing until it forms a firm, dry dough.

  Drop onto lightly floured surface. If dough is still tough, briefly knead.

  Roll the dough between 1/4 – 1/2″ thick, depending on your dog’s chew preferences. Slice or cut into whatever shape desired. (You can also use cookie cutters to make different shapes.)

  Place shapes on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 20 minutes. Remove from oven and carefully turn biscuits over. Bake an additional 20 minutes. Allow to cool completely before feeding to you dog.

  Makes around 75 small (1″) biscuits or 50 medium biscuits

  *Store in airtight container in freezer.

  *Treats can last up to 6 months if frozen.

  (NOTE-Please make sure your dog isn’t allergic to any of the ingredients before feeding)

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  Other Books by Author, Hope Callaghan:

  Waves of Deception: Samantha Rite Series Book 1

  Winds of Deception: Samantha Rite Series Book 2

  Tides of Deception: Samantha Rite Series Book 3

  Who Murdered Mr. Malone? Garden Girls Mystery Series Book 1

  Grandkids Gone Wild: Garden Girls Mystery Series Book 2