by Anne Canadeo
“Now you have a real-life example to cite in your term paper,” Maggie pointed out. “Speaking of old movies, that reminds me. Remember when Ben told us he’d gone to see Arsenic and Old Lace at the Newburyport Cinema Arts Center? That movie wasn’t showing. It was, fittingly enough, Gaslight, another classic.”
“Good old Ben. It seems that he was rarely any place that he said he was,” Dana replied. “The private investigator that Janine Ridley hired told the police Ben had not been catching up on old movies but meeting with representatives of different development companies, trying to negotiate the best deal for the farm. He planned to have a good deal in place by the time he persuaded Ellie to sell. He also admitted that he never wanted to run the farm and pretty much despised the whole operation—the spinning, the llamas, the works. But he knew the land would be valuable once the open space laws expired, so it was a fantastic investment. He knew they’d be set for life if they lived there a short time and flipped it. But first he had to sour the whole situation for Ellie. That’s why he started vandalizing the place and acting as if their neighbors wanted them out.”
“So he had only bought the place to resell it. Just what Ridley had accused him of doing,” Lucy realized.
“Exactly. Ridley saw right through him. Ben was a squatter, exploiting the land preservation issue for his own gain. Ellie was innocent and totally used by him.”
“Poor Ellie. How is she holding up? I forgot to ask about her.” Suzanne sounded a bit guilty, and Lucy felt the same. She had been the pawn in both scenarios, tricked and betrayed by both Dot and her husband.
“Ellie is very shocked and sad. She won’t even speak to Ben right now. But she was relieved that he didn’t murder Ridley. He’d hidden so much from her, she told me last night, she’d honestly been afraid that he was guilty,” Dana confided.
“I guess they’ll separate,” Suzanne said quietly. “Do you think Ellie will leave the farm? It might be hard for her to stay there, after all these weird events.”
“I don’t know. I didn’t ask her about that. It’s too soon for her to decide,” Dana replied. “She did say she was glad that she had at least made some good friends here, and is so grateful that we all stepped up to help her these past few weeks.”
“I hope she doesn’t go,” Phoebe said suddenly. “I really like Ellie, and I love that farm. Maybe I could move out there and be her assistant now . . . and live in that little cottage.” Phoebe darted a playful glance in Maggie’s direction.
“You already have a good job, Phoebe, and a nice apartment. And a very nice boss, too,” Maggie patiently reminded her. “And there’s no llama herding or mucking out barns involved. The grass is always greener, you know?”
“Especially over a dead husband,” Suzanne piped up.
“Suzanne . . . please. It’s nothing to laugh about,” Lucy scolded her, though she couldn’t help laughing as hard as anyone. Queasy stomach and all.
Epilogue
What a beautiful pie. Did you make that, Dana?” Maggie and her friends sat around the worktable at the back of her shop. All eyes were on Dana as she came out of the storeroom with their dessert.
“Yes, I did,” Dana replied with an air of subdued pride. “I’m not a big baker, as you all know. But Ellie gave me an easy recipe for the crust.”
Maggie wondered if the recipe had come from Ellie’s former farmhand, Dot . . . also known as Trudy Hooper. But she decided not to ask. Why ruin everyone’s appetite? She’d warmed the pie in the oven, and the sugary, cinnamon smell was a sweet perfume, especially on such a chilly night.
“Too bad Ellie couldn’t come tonight,” Lucy said as Dana sliced into the pie. “I was hoping to see her.”
“She’s been very busy on the farm, getting ready for the winter. But she actually had to go into Boston today to meet with a divorce attorney. It will take a while for everything to be finalized. But Ben has signed a separation agreement, so it shouldn’t drag out too long.”
“That’s the least he could do for her, all things considered,” Maggie said tartly.
Suzanne had already taken a bite of pie but couldn’t help responding. “What a big fat zero that guy turned out to be. She is so well rid of him.”
Dana nodded. “I think she knows that, rationally. But she did love him, and she married him. She has a lot to work out before she gets past this. It’s not just signing a document. Though that will help,” she added.
“I’m glad she decided to stay on the farm and run it herself. At least she didn’t let him take that dream away from her, too,” Suzanne said.
“I was happy to hear that, too.” Maggie took a bite of the pie, savoring the sweet and tart flavors. “I think in time she’ll find that this whole, difficult ordeal has made her a stronger person. And a wiser one.”
“She’s sad now . . . and tired,” Dana admitted. “But she does seem more centered somehow. And even more determined to make the farm a success. I’m glad she has that to focus on.”
Suzanne had finished her pie and taken up her knitting again. “She’ll need some help, I guess, with Dot out of the picture.”
“She does need help but is going to wait until the spring to hire someone full-time. She’s already rented out the cottage to a young couple,” Dana added. “That reminds me, there was some news about Dot in the paper today. Did anyone see it? She worked out a deal with the district attorney for a reduced sentence to Ridley’s murder. The state has decided to forgo a trial for Joe Hooper’s murder since she was on record as a battered wife and claims it was self-defense.”
“I was wondering about that. I’d been picturing Walter Kranowski called to the witness stand,” Lucy told the others. “For some reason, every time I imagined the courtroom, there was this big, ugly recliner next to the judge instead of a witness chair.”
Everyone laughed—except for Suzanne, Maggie noticed. “That is so weird. I pictured it the same way,” Suzanne confessed. “We may see Farmer Kranowski in court sooner or later anyway. I bet he wanted to run someone over with his tractor when he heard the way the town council voted on the open space law proposition.”
“The Friends of Farmland had a victory party,” Lucy added. “Angelica Rossi was on TV the other night. Did you guys see her?”
“No, thank goodness. That woman gets on my last nerve,” Suzanne said bluntly. “Not just because I’m in real estate and she has single-handedly ruined our college tuition fund.” She laughed at her own joke. “Seriously, I’m glad the town decided to keep the open space laws around here. But like Kranowski said, this isn’t the last of it. There are going to be a lot of lawsuits, back and forth, for years.”
“Just like there was a lot of debate for years about keeping the laws, or letting them expire,” Dana noted. “Despite the way I feel about Angelica, I’ve already donated to the Friends of Farmland legal fund. They have a website now if anyone is interested.”
“I am,” Lucy replied, as she took out her knitting. “But speaking of worthy causes, how are we doing with our llama fund? Is anyone keeping track of our progress?”
Maggie glanced at Phoebe, who was quietly eating her second slice of pie and ice cream. She’d hardly touched Maggie’s hearty vegetarian chili, so at least she was eating something, Maggie thought. Apples were healthy. Ice cream had calcium, didn’t it?
“Don’t worry, guys. I’ve got it all figured out. I think we’re pretty close.” She scooped up a last mouthful, then wiped her hands on a napkin before reaching into the shiny plastic Hello Kitty tote bag she used for her knitting.
She drew out a sheaf of papers, fastened together with a big pink paper clip. “Wait . . . I need to borrow these a minute.” She picked up Maggie’s glasses and slipped the beaded chain around her neck, then sat up straight, assuming a much more dignified air and attitude.
“Phoebe . . . is that necessary?” Maggie turned to her, feeling a bit miffed but still amused by the imitation.
“I’m not dissing you, Mag. Just getting into the
mind-set,” Phoebe said innocently.
Maggie sighed. “All right. Just get on with it.”
“Well, ladies, I’ve been looking over the numbers and we’re doing very well, actually. We’re very close to our goal, and there are six weeks left until Christmas.”
Phoebe’s imitation of Maggie made the rest of the group laugh out loud.
“Thanks for the good news, Maggie—I mean Phoebe,” Suzanne countered. “So what’s the bottom line? I remember we needed about four hundred and fifty dollars to donate three llamas. How close are we?”
“We’ve collected three hundred and forty seven dollars,” Phoebe reported, reading off the top sheet. “We have twenty-two items out for sale at this shop, The Country Store at Ellie’s farm, the Schooner diner, and Suzanne’s office. If we sell all of those things by Christmas—which is highly likely,” she added, slipping into her Maggie voice again, “we will surpass our goal . . . and can probably donate something more, a few chickens or maybe a pair of rabbits?”
“Thank you for that encouraging report, Phoebe. Good work, everyone,” Maggie added, glancing around at her friends.
“What great news. We are awesome, aren’t we? I’d vote for the bunnies. But it’s great that we can donate even more than we thought.” Suzanne smiled at her friends, looking pleased and proud.
“I’m willing to keep going,” Lucy replied, taking up her needles again. “Let’s look at the Heifer catalog later and see what else we can get.”
“Wait . . . I found this cool quote for you guys . . .” Phoebe flipped a few pages and began to read aloud again. “The anthropologist Margaret Mead said, ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.’ ” She looked up at her friends and smiled.
Maggie had heard that bit of wisdom before and definitely agreed. “I think that goes double when the committed people are wielding knitting needles. But I suppose I am biased on that subject.”
Notes from the Black Sheep Knitting Shop Bulletin Board
Dear Friends and Fellow Knitters,
The holidays are almost here. So much to do and so much too knit! If you’re anything like me, half the gifts on your list will be come out of your knitting bag instead of a shopping bag.
As many of you know, this year my knitting group took some time from the holiday madness to knit together for a good cause. There are so many organizations doing good work. You don’t have to look very far.
We chose Heifer International, a nonprofit world hunger organization that helps people in need around the world, including here in the U.S., with gifts of livestock and training that help them to become self-sustaining and lift themselves out of poverty. Giving them “a hand up instead of a handout.”
Our gift will be three llamas and some chickens. The animals are considered “living loans” because the families promise to pass on the gift to others in their community—a cornerstone of the Heifer mission, creating “an ever-expanding network of hope and peace.” You can learn more and get a free catalog at www.heifer.org.
Here some links to the fast, easy projects we made and sold. They were perfect for our fund-raising project, but will make great quick, simple holiday gifts, as well.
Lucy’s One-Hour Wonder Scarf
http://www.knitting-and.com/knitting/patterns/scarves/onehourscarf.htm
Suzanne’s Swift & Cozy Slippers
http://www.favecrafts.com/Christmas-Crafts/Holiday-Pom-Pom-Slippers#
Maggie’s Handy Knitted Eyeglass Case
http://stitchandunwind.com/free-sunglasses-case-knitting-pattern/
Dana’s Chill-Killer Chunky Knit Mittens
http://www.favecrafts.com/Knit-Hats-Gloves-Scarves/Chunky-Mittens-Knitting-Pattern#
Phoebe’s Favorite (Two-Hour) Fingerless Gloves
http://www.allfreeknitting.com/master_images/AllFreeKnitting/new-two-hour-fingerless-gloves.pdf
Ellie’s “Show Your True Stripes” Beanie
http://www.craftbits.com/project/charity-pattern-basic-adults-knitted-beanie
Notes from the Black Sheep Knitting Shop Bulletin Board
Dear Friends,
I’d just like to thank Maggie and the patrons of the Black Sheep Knitting Shop who have been such big fans of Laughing Llama hand-spun yarns over the past few months. As you all know, this enterprise got off to a shaky start, but we are looking forward to a new year and increased production of our quality yarns.
Come visit the farm and meet our friendly, funny llamas. Stop by the Country Store for hand-spun and hand-woven products and plenty of good things to eat. You’ll have to wait until next fall for our apple orchard stand to open again, but you can enjoy a delicious pie any time of the year.
Here’s my favorite recipe for an easy pie crust from the Laughing Llama Farm Cookbook. Enjoy, and hope to see you at the farm very soon.
Ellie
Laughing Llama Perfect Pie Crust
Makes enough dough for one double- or two single-crust pies.
INGREDIENTS
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, very cold
4 tablespoons shortening, chilled
1/3 cup ice water
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine dry ingredients in food processor or large bowl. Pulse to mix. Or mix through by hand with a fork or wire whisk. Add butter and shortening.
Pulse in brief bursts. Or mix by hand with pastry tool, or fork, until butter is in small bits—you should still see pieces about raisin-size. Do not overblend butter. Better to be lumpy and undermixed than smooth and overmixed.
Add water and process until dough is just beginning to make a ball. Pour out on flour board and shape into two equal-size balls.
Chill for one hour in refrigerator and roll out balls of dough in circular shapes with rolling pin that has been dusted with flour.
Place one circle of dough in a buttered pie dish and fill with 3 to 4 cups of fruit filling (such as sliced apples, peaches, or blueberries). Season fruit with cinnamon and sugar to taste.
Place second circle of dough over filling and crimp edges to seal.
Make a few thin slits with sharp knife in top layer of dough, and bake on middle rack of preheated oven for 30 to 45 minutes, depending on type of filling.
If edges of pie get overly brown, cover rim of crust with foil.
Notes from the Black Sheep Knitting Shop Bulletin Board
Hi Everyone,
My friends just can’t seem to get enough of my fabulous carrot muffins, maybe because they are so tasty and made with nutritious ingredients. I’m sharing this recipe so you can all make your own . . . and let me get back to my knitting.
Specifically, Matt’s argyle vest. Yes, I know this has been an endless saga, especially for an article of clothing that doesn’t even have sleeves. But if he doesn’t find it under our Christmas tree a few weeks from now, Santa may have to bring me a new boyfriend.
Only kidding . . . I hope.
xo Lucy
Carrot Muffins with Applesauce
INGREDIENTS
1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup grated carrots
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup canola or safflower oil
1 teaspoon real vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Butter and flour a 12-cup standard muffin tin or use muffin papers. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl, combine carrots, applesauce, eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla.
Add half the carrot
mixture to the flour mixture, stir until blended, then add the rest of the carrot mixture.
Spoon batter into muffin cups and bake about 20 minutes or until a toothpick in the center of a muffin comes out clean.
Cream Cheese Frosting (optional but pretty yummy, all agree)
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup softened sweet butter
1–2 teaspoons vanilla extract
6 ounces softened cream cheese
4–5 cups powdered sugar (amount needed will vary)
Beat butter, vanilla, and cream cheese in a mixing bowl on medium speed. Gradually add 2 cups of the powdered sugar and continue mixing. Add in more sugar, 1 cup at a time, until consistency of frosting is smooth enough to spread, but not runny.
Use immediately or refrigerate for later use. Frosting will need to soften a bit at room temperature in order to spread after being refrigerated.
ANNE CANADEO is the bestselling author of more than thirty books, including her popular Black Sheep Knitting Mystery series and the Cape Light series, written as Katherine Spencer. She lives in Northport, New York. You can contact her at [email protected] or visit her on Facebook.
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COVER ILLUSTRATION BY MARY ANN LASHER
AUTHOR PHOTO BY KATHERINE VIBBERT
Also in the Black Sheep Knitting Mystery series by Anne Canadeo
Till Death Do Us Purl
While My Pretty One Knits
Knit, Purl, Die
A Stitch Before Dying
We hope you enjoyed reading this Gallery Books.
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