by Sandy Vale
Kitty knocked on the apartment door. “Want to come into town with me? I have to drop off eggs at the bakery.”
“Sure. Let me grab my jacket, I’l be right out.”
Corey jumped into Kitty’s truck, almost sitting on the eggs. “Woops. Sorry about that. I’l hold them in my lap.” Kitty laughed. “The girls wouldn’t be too happy with you if you smashed their eggs.”
“Girls? What girls?” Corey looked puzzled.
“You know, the hens. I cal them my girls when I’m talking to them.”
“Oh. Do they answer?” Corey wasn’t at al sure what Kitty was talking about.
“Yeah, of course. They always cluck when I go in and say good morning. I think they know the sound of my voice and they know I’m going to give them some treats. It doesn’t take much to make them happy.” Kitty looked over at Corey and was happy to see her smiling. “So, how are you liking it? Is everything okay?”
“Everything’s great. You can’t imagine. I’ve never had my own apartment before, or a job I like or people who are nice to me. This is like a dream I’m afraid I might wake up from.”
“That’s great to hear—and you won’t wake up. This is real. You showed up at just the right time for me, too. I need someone around to help me with projects besides Michael. He has his own business and isn’t always free when I need help. Here we are. Here’s the bakery. Come on in. I’l introduce you to the owner.”
Kitty opened the back door of the Sweet Treats Bakery. “Lisa? I’ve got your eggs.”
“Thanks. Who’s your helper?” Lisa was busy kneading dough.
“This is Corey. She’s living in the apartment on my farm. My new assistant. She’l probably be doing some of the deliveries if I’m busy.”
“Nice to meet you, Corey. Hope to see you around. If you stop by later, the bread wil be fresh out of the oven.”
“It smel s delicious but I just made some myself. See you later in the week.” Kitty and Corey waved and went back out to the truck.
“It smel ed delicious in there. That must be where Sam gets the goodies he brings to me sometimes.” Kitty started her truck. “Sam is a great guy. He’s a friend you can always count on. Next stop is the animal shelter just around the corner.” Walking in to the chaos of barking dogs, Kitty cal ed out, “Hey Gloria. Are you here somewhere?”
“Back here Kitty. Just walk through the door. My hands are ful at the moment.” Kitty found Gloria with a squirming armful of kittens. “Need some more hands?”
“Please. Grab these guys before I drop them. Who’s your friend?”
Kitty held a kitten and handed another to Corey. “I want you to meet my friend Corey. She’s living at the farm.” Gloria watched Corey cuddle the kitten tenderly. “Lucky you, Corey. I’m going to stop by later to get some photos of the sugar shack for the fliers for the pancake breakfast.”
“Great idea. Corey, want to say hel o to the dogs before we go?”
Corey grinned from ear to ear. “Do you ever need help? I could come and walk the dogs,” she offered.
With the kittens safely in a big kitten jungle gym area, Gloria replied, “As you can see, I can always use some extra hands around here. Come anytime and I’l find something for you to do. I’ve got to get back to work. See you soon Corey.” Kitty looked at Corey. “I need to stop at the Wil ow Fal s Library too. Have you been there yet?”
“Nope. I haven’t been away from the farm much. Can I get a library card?”
“Sure. I’m good friends with the librarian, Alex Philips. He’s actual y a writer but works part time as the librarian. He’s a nice guy. Very quiet.
What kind of books do you like to read?”
“I love to read travel adventures or anything that takes place in another country.”
“Wel , here we are. The senior center is in the basement of the library. We can poke our heads in there first and see who’s around. There are usual y a few ladies playing cards. They’d love to meet you. Kitty led Corey down the stairs and opened the door into the senior center. I don’t know how they can stand it down here in this dungeon. It’s dark and damp but they always seem to have a great time.”
“Hey Sam, since when did you start gambling with these wily ladies?” Kitty eyed the pile of pennies on the table. Everyone laughed.
“Come on over and meet my friends,” Sam cal ed to Corey.
“This is Mia, June and Dottie. I’m fil ing in for Alice. She went to visit her daughter in Florida.” June piped in, “We real y had to twist Sam’s arm to come down and play with us old ladies. He said he’d rather just sit al by himself in the house and watch the snowflakes fal .”
Sam grinned from ear to ear. He was enjoying himself immensely.
“You can get back to your card game. Corey and I are going upstairs to get her a library card and find some good books.”
“Alex is upstairs. He’l help you,” Dottie said. “It’l be good for him to get his nose out of his writing and meet someone new.”
“Bye ladies. Don’t be too rough on Sam.” Kitty steered Corey out the door and whispered to her, “Alex is Dottie’s grandson and she’s dying to find him a girlfriend so watch out!”
They went up the stairs to the library and found Alex sitting at the big table in the side room working on his laptop.
Looking up he stammered, “H . . . h . . . hi Kitty.”
“Hey Alex. This is my friend Corey. She needs a library card. Do you have time to help her?”
“Sure. Come over to the counter. I’l need some information.”
Kitty wandered around the tal bookshelves. The library was always quiet and relaxing. She went to the farming section and found a book on chicken raising and another one on maple sugar production. It helped to get new ideas and work those into her plans. She was hoping to figure out a plan for a movable outside coop so she could free range the girls in the nice weather—move them around and keep them safe. She could hear Corey and Alex talking quietly at the counter. Kitty hoped that Corey made some friends and decided to stick around. She was so easy to have living in the apartment and she was good company when they worked together. She paid attention and was quick to learn something new. She didn’t talk much. Kitty was curious to know more about her background but that would come with time.
Corey found Kitty sitting in the reading area. “Kitty. I’m so excited. Do we have time for me to look around and find some books?”
“Take your time. I’l be right here with my own books. Let me know when you’re ready to go.” Alex sat with Kitty. “Where’s your friend from? I’ve never seen her before.” Kitty smiled. “She just moved here and is living in my apartment. I’m hoping she’l be around for a while. Why don’t you stop out at the farm sometime and visit?” She knew she was playing right into Dottie’s plan, but she couldn’t help it. Alex and Corey were both good people and should know each other.
“Would that be alright? She wouldn’t mind?” Alex blushed.
“Ask her yourself. It looks like she’s ready to check out some books. Maybe reading is something you have in common. It would be a good starting point.” Kitty wasn’t trying to be a matchmaker but if they became friends, that would be fine. She knew Alex was very shy and Corey was on the quiet side so she might not scare him too much.
Corey hurried over to Kitty. “I’m ready to go. I found some books that look like they’l be interesting reading. Alex recommended this one first.” She continued in a whisper, “He asked if he could come over later to visit, maybe talk about what I’m reading.” Kitty acted surprised. “And what did you say?”
“Yes, of course. He loves books and he’s cute.” Corey’s smile faded. “Is that okay if I have company?” Kitty put her arm around Corey’s shoulder. “You do what you want. It’s your space. Alex is a nice guy, slow to warm up but by the amount of blushing he was doing, I think he sort of likes you. Let’s head home, have some lunch and then get back to work at the sugar shack around three.”
***
&nb
sp; Corey headed to the sugar shack to help Kitty finish making the tables. Kitty wanted to have it al done before they started to boil the sap and have the pancake breakfast.
“Hey Kitty, thanks for bringing over those apple cranberry muffins. Sam always stops for coffee in the afternoons and I shared them with him.
Could you teach me some easy recipes sometime? I never learned how to cook much more than burgers and fries.”
“I’d love to have you help me bake. Once the farm store is done, I want to sel baked goods along with my eggs, syrup, and produce. Baking isn’t hard, but it helps if you love doing it. I think that’s the secret. How’s Sam?”
“I think he’s okay. It’s sweet of him to keep an eye on me.”
“He was always checking on me when I first moved in. After he gave Max to me, he didn’t have to worry so much. He’s a great guy, wil do anything for the people he loves.”
“I haven’t real y ever had people who loved me. People said they did, but they didn’t. I’m not used to this. It’s hard to believe it’s for real.” Kitty put one arm around Corey’s shoulders. “You’re in a safe place now. You can stay here with me for as long as you want to. It wil take time to trust this, but I hope you believe me when I say you’ve found true friends in me, Tina, Aaron and Sam. Oh yeah, maybe Alex too.” Kitty winked at Corey.
“Thanks. You have no idea how much this means to me.”
They both turned at the sound of a truck pul ing up to the sugar shack.
A tal , handsome guy got out of the pickup truck. “Hey Corey. It’s good to see you. When were you planning to cal me and let me know you’re okay? I was worried when you disappeared. Come on over here and give me a hug.” Corey was frozen in place. White as a ghost. Kitty looked at her. “What’s wrong Corey?” Before Corey had a chance to say anything, the guy walked over and grabbed Corey by the arm and tried to force her back to the truck. Kitty jumped between them. Max was at her side, growling at the man.
“Get your hands off her. Who do you think you are?”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Corey, why don’t you introduce me to your cute friend here. Maybe she wants to come with us too,” he said, laughing. “Come on Corey. What’s the matter? Cat’s got your tongue? That’s okay,” he said turning to Kitty. “I’m Corey’s husband. Brad Dixon. Didn’t she tel you about me?”
“I’ve heard about you and she’s not going with you.” Kitty stood her ground glaring at him.
Brad’s fake smile disappeared. He snarled at Kitty, “Real y? What are you going to do about it? She’s my wife and she’s coming with me.” Kitty pul ed out her phone. “Either you get back into your crappy truck and get out of here, or the police wil be here in five minutes. I know guys like you and you don’t scare me.” Max moved toward Brad, his hair up on his back, teeth showing.
“You don’t know who you’re messing with. I’l be back and you can count on that.” Brad got in his truck and peeled out of the driveway.
Corey’s face was drained of color. “I’m so sorry. I have no idea how he found me here. I’d better leave before he comes back.”
“You’l do no such thing. You have to stop letting that thug intimidate you. We can get a restraining order on him if needed. I’m going back to my house to cal the police chief and let him know you’re being stalked. You should go back to your apartment until we get this sorted out.”
***
Corey paced in her apartment. She was scared. There was more about Brad than she had told Kitty. He wasn’t going to leave without her. She needed to cal Aaron and let him know what was going on. Aaron was the only other person here who knew Brad. And knew how dangerous he could be under that charming exterior. She panicked when she couldn’t find her phone. She must have dropped it in the sugar shack.
Corey started to walk back to the sugar shack when Alex drove up. He looked flustered. “H . . . hi Corey. Do you have time to talk now?”
“Not right now Alex, sorry. Maybe later? Give me your number and I’l cal when I get done with work.”
“Here.” He found a pen and wrote his number on the back of a paperback book, handed it to Corey and continued to the sugar shack. Al she needed to do was find her phone and go back to her apartment. Her nerves were tingling. Cautiously, she checked to see if Brad’s truck was anywhere in sight. Not seeing it, she walked into the sugar shack and stopped in horror. Brad was on the ground with a knife sticking out of his chest. Without thinking, she ran to him and pul ed the knife out. As she stood there wondering what to do, Sam walked in.
“Corey?” he stopped. His face in shock.
She silently looked at him, the bloody knife in her hand.
“Corey? Go to your apartment and get cleaned up. I’l cal the police.” Saying nothing, Corey dropped the knife and left.
Sam cal ed the police chief. “Herb, you need to come to Kitty’s sugar shack. I’ve just kil ed a man here.” Chapter 2
Sirens broke the silence of the late afternoon. Sam anxiously waited for the police, wondering what had happened. He had just seen Corey holding a bloody knife over the body of a dead man. He didn’t want her to be arrested for murder. He could say it was self-defense.
Herb Simmons, the police chief, arrived within minutes. “Sam, what’s going on here? Who is this guy?” Kitty ran from her house to the sugar shack. “I heard sirens. What’s going on?” Sam looked from Herb to Kitty. “I don’t know. He showed up and attacked me and I grabbed this knife from Miss Kitty’s tool box and it al happened so fast.”
“You kil ed him Sam?” Kitty asked in disbelief.
“Yes.” Sam’s head hung down. His whole body looked deflated.
Herb told Sam, “You need to go with my deputy to the station while I finish the investigation.” The police chief turned to Kitty, pointing to the body. “Do you know who this is?”
“Yeah. He was here threatening Corey a little while ago. He was her husband. He tried to force her to get in his truck. When I told him to leave, he got angry and drove out like a maniac. I went back to the house to cal you.”
“Who is Corey?”
“She’s working for me, living in an apartment in my barn.”
“Where is she?” Herb asked, looking around.
“She walked back to her apartment, I guess she’s stil there. Listen, Herb, this dead guy was bad news. He threatened Corey and me. I don’t know why he came back, but it must have been to cause trouble.”
Looking at Kitty, Herb said, “Sam cal ed and said he kil ed someone. Self-defense. Grabbed a knife from your tool box. We’l get to the bottom of this.”
Something wasn’t right with this picture. Kitty couldn’t make sense of this. Why did Brad come back so quickly? Was Sam just in the wrong place at the wrong time? Kitty went to the apartment to find Corey.
Corey answered the knock immediately. She looked like she had just seen a ghost. Or worse.
“Did you hear the sirens?”
“I. . . I heard something.”
“Brad is dead in the sugar shack. Stabbed with a knife from my tool box. Sam told the police he kil ed Brad. This doesn’t make any sense to me. Is there anything else you should tel me?”
“I don’t know anything. I don’t know how Brad found me here. He had a partner in Colorado. I’m afraid he might show up too. I don’t know what to do.”
“Come on. I’m going to find Aaron at the senior center. He needs to know that Sam is in trouble. Maybe he’l have some ideas.”
***
By the time Kitty and Corey arrived, word had already spread to the ladies at the center. The women had their coats and hats on getting ready to head out the door. They couldn’t believe that Sam had kil ed someone. He had just been playing cards with them that morning. They certainly didn’t want him to go to jail and lose the only man in their card group.
Mia, at 72, was the youngest of the three and the self-appointed ring leader of the group. She was a tiny gray haired wiry grandmother who
swam and did yoga every week. She liked Sam a lot and told the others that he needed their help. They al agreed that this sounded like just the adventure that would add some pizzazz to their lives. Forget about card playing, knitting and baking, they wanted to get out and do something exciting.
“Have you heard about Sam?” Mia asked Kitty.
“That’s why Corey and I are here. What have you heard?”
“Aaron told us Sam is in jail for murdering some nasty abusive guy from Colorado. We don’t think Sam could have done it, though. He’s such a sweetheart. Not a mean bone in that man’s body.”
Kitty glanced at Corey. “News travels fast. The dead guy was Corey’s husband and he showed up at the sugar shack to make her go back to Colorado with him. She’s kind of shel shocked by al this and needs al the support we can give her. What’s your plan to help Sam?”
“We’re heading to the police station to make sure they don’t lock him up. Ya know, Kitty, I taught Herb Simmons in kindergarten, and if he thinks he can arrest a fine citizen like Sam, he’s gonna have some angry old ladies to deal with. I don’t care if he is the police chief,” June said, stomping her foot to add emphasis.
“No one said anything about arresting Sam. He said it was self-defense.” Kitty tried to calm down their emotions.
“I hope you’re right. Are you coming with us?” Mia headed out to her blue mini cooper convertible. June got in the passenger seat.
Dottie struggled into the back seat. “Mia, this is a cute sporty car but this old body doesn’t fit back her very easily. I wish you stil had your caravan.”
Mia giggled. “Sorry Dottie. I love this car. And it turns heads when I’m cruising down Main Street. Kitty, we’l see you at the police station. I don’t think you can keep up with me!” Mia floored her little car and squealed out of the parking spot.
