by Paty Jager
“Perfect.” Shandra strolled to her Jeep and climbed in. She didn’t care if she had to ply Lil with wine, she was going to get some answers about her past and who would be cruel enough to want to ruin her happiness.
Chapter Twenty-one
Shandra stopped at the grocery store before leaving Huckleberry to make sure she had all the ingredients she needed for her special lasagna. It would be a meal she could prepare ahead of time, and they could visit while it baked.
At the ranch, Sheba greeted her and Lil came out of the barn. Shandra grabbed her bags of groceries. “Lil, I could use your help,” she called.
The woman crossed the yard and picked up the last bag. “You feeding an army?” Lil commented, following Shandra into the house.
“Ryan is coming to dinner.” She placed the bags on the granite counter.
“Business or pleasure?” Lil set her bag down beside the others and leaned against the counter.
“Pleasure.” Shandra couldn’t stop the smile that tugged at the corners of her lips. She’d contemplated her irrational behavior this afternoon and was determined to not let the past interfere with what could be a good future.
“You haven’t dated anyone since moving here. You sure a cop is a good idea?”
Shandra glanced at the woman. “No. I know they have a dangerous job, but he’s the first guy I can verbally spar with and not tick off, and he’s the first that’s made me feel giddy inside.” She placed items on the counter as she talked.
“He’s the one then.”
The dull tone in Lil’s voice caught Shandra’s attention.
“The one what?”
“Your one true love. That’s how I felt about Johnny all those years ago. That’s why we slept together. I knew he was the one, and that we’d get married.” The last word faded. Lil’s eyes pooled unshed tears.
“I don’t know if Ryan is my true love. We just started dating. But I know Johnny was yours. Lil, sit down. I have something to tell you.” Shandra pulled out two chairs at the island. She took one, and Lil reluctantly sat on the other.
“While asking questions of people, I’ve discovered that Johnny was in Huckleberry the night you left Sally’s and returned to the ranch. He was back to ask you to marry him.”
Lil’s despondent face became animated, then wary. “No. Who told you that?”
“Martha. She was working in the café the night you and Johnny argued. She knows about the baby.”
Lil shook her head. “No, she couldn’t. With her gossiping nature everyone in the county would have known.”
“Well, she did tell someone. Tracy. As far as I can tell the information didn’t go any farther than those two. I’m not sure why, but no one other than Sally, myself and now Ryan know about the pregnancy.” Shandra hoped Ryan knowing didn’t get Lil upset. But she seemed to ignore that fact.
“How did she find out?”
“After your argument, Johnny went to the café and was still mumbling and fuming. He told Martha. She was upset and called Tracy hoping she’d do something to you, I think. But I’m not positive. “
“Then why kill Johnny?”
The sorrow in Lil’s eyes tore at Shandra’s heart.
“I don’t think they killed Johnny. He came into the café the night you came back to the ranch. Martha said he showed her the ring he was going to give you and ask you to marry him.” She took a deep breath. “Lil, I don’t think Johnny was the victim. He was the means to make your life miserable. Who do you know who would want to do that to you?”
Lil stared at her open-mouthed, her eyes blank under a furrowed brow. She finally found her voice. “I can’t think of anyone who would be that cruel. Why kill poor Johnny? They could have spread rumors I’d been sleeping around and sent Johnny packing.”
“That’s what is bugging me. There wasn’t a need to kill him.” Shandra slipped off the stool and grabbed two cans of ginger ale out of the fridge. She handed one to Lil. “Tell me about your cousin Janine.”
“Janine? Not much to tell. After Momma and Poppa died, and I went to live with my grandparents, I didn’t see much of my cousins or their folks. I never did know why Uncle Jerome was mad at Gran and Pappy. But since they didn’t seem to care to fix whatever it was, I just went along with their wishes to not socialize with Uncle Jerome and his family.”
Shandra thought on that a minute. “Then why did you call him when we discovered the body?” She took a sip of her drink and watched Lil. Uncertainty shadowed her eyes and wrinkled her face.
“I called to ask if he knew of any family that might have been buried on the mountain. He said no and asked why. When I told him you’d found a body, he started asking all kinds of questions. Ones no one had the answers to yet.”
Shandra wondered why Lil’s uncle had so many questions. She had some questions of her own she was going to have Ryan check out.
“I better get my lasagna made so I can visit with Ryan when he gets here.” She slid the can Lil had barely sipped on toward her. “You can keep me company while I work. Tell me more about your life on this ranch. You’ve never told me as much as I’d like to know.”
Shandra set out the ingredients she needed and listened to Lil give the most animated history of the ranch she’d yet to hear.
~*~
Ryan hung up the phone at the Huckleberry Police Station. Tracy Gilley had admitted to all the things Martha had said and still remained adamant she had nothing to do with Johnny’s death. He believed her. This was beginning to look more like a grudge against Lil, with poor Johnny as the fall guy.
He glanced at the clock on the wall. There was just enough time to take a shower at the motel and head to Shandra’s. What kind of wine did she like? He knew the person to ask. The stop was on his way to his motel.
At the Dimensions Art Gallery, Ryan walked through the well-lit gallery, admiring the work by many local artists. Three of Shandra’s newer vases, with the influences of her Nez Perce heritage, were on pedestals in the middle of the gallery. It was easy to see who the owners favored. That was why he came here to find out Shandra’s favorite wine.
“Can I help…” Naomi Norton faltered when she recognized him. “Detective Greer, why are you here?”
He smiled inside. Even when he’d thought Naomi had killed the rival gallery owner, he couldn’t make himself completely believe it. She was too straight forward.
“I’m not here as a detective. I know you are Shandra’s closest friend and I want to know her favorite wine.” Ryan glanced over at the nearest vase. “That vase is beautiful.”
Naomi relaxed and smiled. “Her work has become ethereal since her grandmother died. It’s almost as if her ghostly spirit is helping Shandra create.”
Ryan peered at Naomi. Did she know about Shandra’s grandmother coming to her in her dreams? No, that was something Shandra would keep to herself. She wouldn’t tell anyone until she believed in the dreams one hundred percent.
“Shandra invited me to dinner tonight. I want to take along a bottle of her favorite wine,” he said, drawing the conversation back to the reason of his visit.
“Oh, sure! Wow, she invited you to dinner.” Naomi smiled and her eyes sparkled. “I thought you two looked good together. That’s what I told Ted.”
“Thanks. We aren’t a couple. Just getting to know one another.” But he had plans to make it a life-time commitment when Shandra came around to the idea. Which led him back to wondering about her startled reaction this afternoon to his placing her hair behind her ear.
“Her favorite wine is any Riesling.” Naomi winked. “Bring along a good quality dark chocolate and you’ll score well.”
“Thanks for the tip. Tell Ted, ‘hi.’” Ryan left the gallery and headed straight for the wine and delicacies store. He picked up the wine and chocolate and headed to the motel. He was anxious to see Shandra’s expression when he arrived with his gifts.
He didn’t like Shandra finding dead bodies, but each time she did, it brought them close
r together. If he didn’t come up with some convincing evidence soon, the sheriff could pull him off the case. After thirty years and no leads surfacing, it was a waste of taxpayer’s money to make this case his sole priority. Being pulled from the case would also pull him away from Huckleberry and Shandra.
Chapter Twenty-two
Shandra had everything made and the lasagna in the oven when the crunch of tires and Sheba barking floated through the open front door. Glancing at the clock, she smiled. He was ten minutes early. She might be an artist, but she believed in punctuality.
Sheba quieted. Eventually, boots clunked across the front porch. Shandra grinned. Ryan must have greeted Sheba with a full-belly scratch.
“Come back to the kitchen!” she called, placing the foil-wrapped French bread into the oven.
“It smells delicious in here,” Ryan said, appearing in the kitchen door. He cradled a bottle of her favorite wine in one arm and held a box of her favorite chocolate in the other.
“How did you know?” She reached out as he offered the two items to her.
“I am a detective, you know.”
When she had a hold on the wine and chocolates, Ryan pulled them in next to his body, drawing her close.
“These are my thank you for a home-cooked meal and what I expect to be engaging conversation tonight. Your home-cooked meals this last week are the only ones I’ve had since the time I spent with you a month ago, but one of these days you have to let me take you out..”
It pleased her he enjoyed both her cooking and her conversations. Shandra cleared her throat. “I do make a pretty good lasagna, and I do like to converse about interesting topics. But I’d think with two sisters and family close by you would have attended a family dinner.”
Ryan cringed and shrugged. “I’ve been invited nearly every week to a family meal, but I’m either working or not in the mood for my sister’s badgering or my mother’s less than subtle hints about her sons giving her more grandchildren.”
Having been an only child with parents who were more than happy to have their daughter spend the night with girlfriends, she didn’t understand his need to avoid his family but she understood the hints. It wasn’t her mother and step-father who wanted her to marry and produce children it was her father’s family. Her aunt and cousins hounded her when she attended Ella’s funeral. Wanting to know when she would bring more Higheagles into the world.
“I’m looking forward to a great evening.” Ryan leaned across his offerings and kissed her lightly on the lips.
Shandra sprang back to the present and spun toward the oven. This relationship was going faster than any she’d ever been in. It needed to slow down. There were still many things about Ryan she didn’t know.
A bottle clunked on the granite counter top.
“Would you like some wine now or with dinner?” Ryan asked.
“Now is fine. Glasses are in the cupboard right of the sink.” She checked the lasagna, turned the bread, and closed the oven. A glass of wine sat on the counter in front of one of the stools. Ryan occupied the other.
Casually, she slid onto the stool and faced him. “How formal is your brother’s wedding?” She sipped the wine and watched him. She wanted to know what had happened when he left Idaho that made him skip over those years, but she’d work her way to that topic later.
“I had assumed it would be huge with all the trimmings. Anyway, the Lissa I knew would have gone all out. But it seems my brother has tamed the social conscious beast in her. The wedding is going to be mostly family and outside. So don’t wear tall spiky heels…” his voice trailed off as his gaze dropped to her legs covered in black leggings and on down to her bare feet.
His gaze returned to her face. “Actually you could wear this outfit. I like it.” He took a sip of his wine. “A lot.”
She’d never had a man like what her step-father called the “Bohemian” look. The tunic was bright colors and hit her mid-thigh. A wide belt cinched the sheath to her middle and the black leggings were comfortable. She hadn’t dressed to catch Ryan’s eye, only to be comfortable. It appeared he liked comfortable.
“I was going for comfortable.” She sipped her wine.
“Comfortable, huh? I’d have guessed sexy.”
While her insides leapt at his compliment, her mind shoved her heels into the ground. “Ryan, I invited you over to get to know you better before we go to your brother’s wedding, and because I like you. But I’m not ready to make this a relationship.” There I said it. Let him know where I stand.
“Giving a woman a compliment doesn’t mean I plan to jump in the sack with her.” Ryan’s brow furrowed, and he leaned back in the chair.
She couldn’t stop the hand that reached out, grasping his forearm. “I know. I’m just saying. It’s been a long time since I dated and the last relationship I had…” She couldn’t stop the painful memory from racing through her mind.
“I can tell by your hesitation and pain in your eyes wasn’t a good one. What did he do to you?” Ryan’s gaze searched her face.
“I’m not ready…” If she ever told anyone about her ordeal, it would be this man. But he’d want justice and there would never be justice for what she experienced. “I want to take things slow. Get to really know you so there aren’t any surprises down the road.”
His eyes narrowed. “Surprises. What kind of surprises?” He’d shifted to cop mode.
She shook her head. While she liked Ryan and felt more comfortable with him than any other man, she wasn’t ready to divulge her past mistake.
“When I’m ready to discuss my past you’ll know. Let’s just enjoy tonight.” She settled back on the chair and sipped her wine.
His gaze softened. “You mentioned a ‘down the road’ for us.”
She nodded once. “I know you are the first in a long time to capture my attention. That means there is more to our connection than a one night stand.”
Buzzing at the stove stopped the conversation. Shandra carried the lasagna to the table in the dining room. She’d set it earlier for the two of them. Back in the kitchen she grabbed the bread and salad.
Ryan picked up their glasses and the bottle of wine, following her into the dining area.
“This looks and smells wonderful.” He set the glasses and bottle down and pulled out the chair at the head of the table.
“This place is for you,” she protested.
“It’s your house, your table, and your meal. You deserve the head of the table.”
The sincerity in his eyes made her smile. She took the offered seat.
Once they were both seated, she waited a beat to see if he bowed his head to pray. She didn’t give thanks for her food. She saved her discussions with God, and since her grandmother’s death, the Creator, for meatier subjects. Such as world hunger and why he took her father at such a young age.
Ryan glanced at her.
She chuckled. “I guess I should ask. Would you like to pray before the meal?”
He shook his head. “I’m not a religious man. All the things I’ve seen in my life, it’s hard to believe there’s someone up there allowing so much hurting to happen in the world. But if you want to, I’ll bow my head and give respect to your words.”
“That’s okay. God and the Creator know where I stand.” She raised the spatula to dish up the lasagna.
“The Creator. So you also practice the religion of your heritage?” Ryan had learned a good deal about Shandra since their first meeting, but he’d come to the conclusion she didn’t study her heritage.
“No, not really.” She handed him bread, and then the salad. “Since Grandmother insisted I attend the Seven Drums Ceremony I’ve been studying the dreamer religion. It’s fascinating and fits more to my ideals as a person.”
He grinned. It sounded to him like she was practicing, or at least studying, the ways of her people.
“What was it Phil Seeton said to you that made you want to stick around the other day?” Ryan had noticed her reluctance to lea
ve the man, and then an added reluctance to tell him what she’d learned.
“Just that he knew Daddy. I was so small when he died, I wanted to learn how others saw him.” She avoided his gaze, but a smile lit up her eyes. “Everyone who knew him has wonderful things to say about him.” She frowned. “Except my step-father. He forbid me to talk about Daddy, and when Mom would bring him up, Adam had nothing but bad to say.”
“So your step-father knew your parents before the accident?” Ryan didn’t know why this disturbed him. But it did.
“Yes. Daddy and Mom were on the rodeo circuit that Adam’s family supplied the rough stock for. So they knew one another but really didn’t run in the same circles.” Shandra became contemplative.
Ryan didn’t want to lose the mood of the evening. “I’ve ruled Tracy Gilley out as a suspect.”
Shandra shook her head and took a sip of wine before settling back in her chair. “I think we need to look into Lil’s family. She doesn’t see why, but that’s the only connection I can see that had knowledge of Johnny coming to the ranch. His murder had to have happened after he announced in the café he was marrying Lil. That’s the last time anyone saw him.”
“I’ll pull everything we have access to tomorrow morning. Why would her own family want to ruin Lil’s happiness? She’d already lost her parents.” He knew so many blows to someone’s stability and they’d start to crack. Was that what the murderer was after? Making Lil become Crazy Lil?
“Do you have any idea who started calling her Crazy Lil and why?” Ryan had a gut feeling if they found out who had tagged her as crazy they’d find the person responsible for killing the man who wanted to marry her.
“I first heard it from the realtor when she tried to chase Lil off the ranch. That was the first time I looked at the property. I never asked why people called her that.” Her pretty face frowned. “I certainly have never called her crazy.”
“I’ve noticed that.” He liked that Shandra championed the underdog. He just wished the underdogs weren’t always his prime suspects in murder cases.
