by Kit Morgan
But Sophie felt guilty that Fletcher was caught up in a problem Independence hadn’t had to deal with much before – a murder investigation. If he couldn’t solve Jasper Munson’s case, would the people want him as mayor? So far folks had given him words of encouragement about his run and said they’d vote for him. It was the strangest race for mayor Sophie had ever seen, especially since there was no opposition. But, Independence was a quirky town, so what else should she expect?
“Did you get enough to eat?” Fletcher asked as he joined her on the blanket.
She smiled as she watched his grandfather talk to someone at the mayor’s table. “Yes. Is it time for his speech yet?”
“Not yet – it’s usually at sundown, just before the fireworks start. Would you like some ice cream? Morgan and Daisy say it’s just about ready.”
“Ice cream? How wonderful! Yes, I’d love some.”
“It’s strawberry, my favorite.” He got to his feet. “You stay here – I’ll be right back.”
She sighed in contentment as he left to fetch the dessert. This had been the best day of her life. She was surrounded by wonderful people, enjoyed fantastic food and would soon get to sit with Fletcher and watch fireworks. Thank You, Lord, thank You for helping me to see the man he really is deep down inside. Who else could she credit? Her heart and mind had wanted to run the other way so many times, but she couldn’t. There was just something about Fletcher Vander that held her, no matter what Priscilla told her.
Speaking of the devil … “There you are, Miss Baxter.”
Sophie glanced up. “Hello. What can I do for you?”
“I’m not sure anyone can do anything for me at this point. I can’t find my Sebastian anywhere. I hope he doesn’t do something rash.”
Sophie cocked her head to one side. “What are you talking about?”
Priscilla planted herself next to her on the blanket. “I shouldn’t be telling you this, but he’s upset about Mrs. Bee’s beau.”
“Why?”
“Because …” She glanced around, then lowered her voice. “He’s convinced the man took something of his that he … accidently left at the boarding house a few weeks back.”
“I see.” Though really, she didn’t at all.
Fletcher re-appeared. “Oh, hello, Priscilla.” He looked at Sophie. “Ice cream’s not ready. Since you have some company, do you mind if I go help with the fireworks?”
“No, not at all,” Sophie said. She was curious at this point about Sebastian and Mrs. Bee’s man. Maybe there was a connection between his stealing from Mr. Cord and what happened to Jasper. She could find out the details, then tell Fletcher. Or should she tell him now … oh dear, he’d already left. She turned back to Priscilla, whose breath was shaky. “Are you all right?”
She shook her head. “No, I admit I’m not.” She pulled a handkerchief out of her reticule and dabbed at her eyes.
“Priscilla, what’s wrong?”
“Everything!” she sobbed, then tried to pull herself together. “Sebastian, he … he has a past, you see, but I love him, I really do. I thought that if I could please him, he’d not only marry me, but that I could change him later.”
Sophie stared at her in astonishment. What was she babbling about?
“I know, I can tell by the look on your face that you think I’m a fool.”
“No, I wasn’t thinking that at all. But I don’t quite understand what you’re saying.”
Priscilla glanced around again. “He’s angry as a rattler, and he’s headed to the boarding house. I should have followed him, but he made me so upset …”
“How? What did he do?”
“He called me names, and threatened to call off the engagement. He was just angry – I suppose it was my fault. I told him to leave the man alone.”
Sophie studied the people around them, and spotted Mrs. Bee and her man at a table not far away. “Why is Mr. Cord going to the boarding house when the man he’s so upset with is sitting over there?”
“He wants to search through his things.”
“What? He can’t do that!” She searched the crowd again – this time for Sheriff Diamond.
“But he will, just to satisfy himself. It’s his threat to call off our engagement that has me so upset.”
“Can’t you talk to him?”
“With all these people around? Not likely. He’d never open up.”
“Then go after him. Stop him before he gets himself in trouble.”
Priscilla dabbed at her eyes again. “I suppose you’re right. I’d hate for him to cause a scene in the middle of the celebration. And Mayor Vander is going to give his speech soon – everyone would hear us with my luck. Oh, I’ve made a mess of things.”
Sophie sighed. “Do you really want to marry this man?” she asked cautiously.
Priscilla spilled fresh tears. “Yes, I do, even if he isn’t the best man around. He just went down the wrong path is all. I know I can steer him back to the right one!”
“If you’re sure, then you should try. But we can’t change another person, only ourselves.”
She nodded. “Will you come with me? No, that might not be such a good idea …”
Sophie frowned. She wanted to find out if this beau of Mrs. Bee’s really did have anything to do with Jasper’s murder … but if he did, diving into it like this might be dangerous. She glanced around for Fletcher, but didn’t see him anywhere. She turned back to Priscilla, whose chest was heaving with silent sobs. “I’ll go with you if you want.”
Priscilla held up a hand, still trying to pull herself together. This must have been weighing on her heart for awhile. She wouldn’t be the first woman to fall in love with a man of questionable character. Maybe that’s why she said those things to her about Fletcher – she was trying to figure things out for herself. As she understood it, Priscilla was no peach, but people could change. Maybe that’s what was happening now.
Sophie stood and offered Priscilla a hand. “Let’s go.”
Priscilla blew her nose with her handkerchief, took her hand and let Sophie pull her to her feet. They left the picnic area just as Mayor Vander stood up. Priscilla was right – better she and Sebastian have it out in private rather than in the midst of the whole town. She just hoped that if Priscilla started to wail (she seemed the type), the whole town didn’t hear her. And if she had a temper tantrum and started throwing things at Mr. Cord, what would he do? Gads, what could she do for them then?
But by the time she’d asked herself that, they were halfway to the boarding house.
“He’s probably searched the man’s room by now,” Priscilla said hopefully. “Maybe he’ll be heading back to look for me.”
Sophie studied the empty streets. “I think he’s still there. It’s a good thing everyone’s at the picnic. But if he did search the man’s room, that’s a crime of sorts, I think.”
“With Sebastian’s luck, yes.” Priscilla said sourly as they reached the boarding house.
Sophie tried the door, but it was locked. “Maybe he went back to the park and we missed him.”
“Mrs. Bee always leaves the back door unlocked.” Priscilla headed for a side gate, went through it and walked around to the back of the house.
It was growing darker by the minute, and Sophie almost tripped over a crate in the twilight.
“Watch your step,” Priscilla advised. She went up the back porch steps, tried the door and it opened. “See?”
Sophie nodded. People trusted each other in this town, for the most part. She followed her inside, through the kitchen and up the stairs.
“Sebastian?” Priscilla said softly. “Are you up here?”
A door to their right opened – Mrs. Bee’s room, if Sophie recalled correctly, not one of the guest rooms. “Priscilla! I was right!” Sebastian stepped into the hall, took one look at Sophie and blanched. “What’s she doing here?”
“Before you start huffing and puffing like a buffalo, I asked her to come.”
�
�What for?” he snapped.
“Because I’m tired of this, that’s why!” she shot back.
Sophie, sensing this could escalate quickly, stepped to one side, away from the combatants.
“Are you out of your mind?” he croaked.
“No, I’d say I’ve found it,” Priscilla stomped her foot. “I want children!”
Sebastian’s eyes looked ready to pop out of his head. “You’ve been talking to your mother again, haven’t you?”
“And Father! I’m done with this business, you hear me? Done!” She wagged a finger at him. “You’re going to marry me and we’re going to live here and raise a family and be respectable, with or without the money!”
That got Sophie’s attention. What money?
“Me, respectable? Ha! You knew the kind of man you were getting when you took the bait I tossed at you.”
“And you knew what you were getting when you saw me and tossed it out!” Priscilla snarled.
“Yeah,” he said with a sneer to match hers. “A fickle harpy that can’t make up her mind.”
“I’m a woman!” she stomped her foot again. “I’m allowed to change my mind as often as I like! Not to mention my character!”
Sophie had no idea what they were talking about, but could see they were made for each other. Not in a good way, though. She was also glad they were having it out here, rather than the park.
“Oh, for the love of Pete!” Sebastian cried. “I’ve done it! I’ve found …” He glanced at Sophie. “… what I was looking for! Now let’s take it and get out of here!”
“No! I want nothing more to do with your little schemes, Sebastian Cord. We’re going to marry and you’re going to work in my father’s feed store! He’s going to offer you the job tomorrow!”
Sebastian looked like she’d just asked him to eat dynamite. “Feed store? Me? Over my dead body!”
“That can be arranged.”
The three turned at the voice. Mrs. Bee’s new beau stood at the top of the stairs, a rifle pointed at them. Worse, Mrs. Bee was right behind him with a shotgun.
“Mrs. Bee?” Priscilla said in disbelief.
Sophie was so shocked she could hardly breathe, let alone talk. What was all this?
“Yes, my dear. Now do exactly as Mr. Hilton says.”
Priscilla and Sophie looked at the man and his gun. “Who?” they said at once.
“Charles Hilton,” Sebastian growled. “He sells barbed wire, like I used to.”
“Like I used to,” Mr. Hilton said. “But my days tramping all over as a salesman are over. Thanks to you.”
Priscilla’s face reddened as she took a breath. “You mean to tell me you have it?!”
“He doesn’t have it,” Mrs. Bee cut in. “I do.”
Sophie was completely lost at this point. “Er … have what? What are you all talking about?”
Mr. Hilton looked her up and down. “Who are you?”
“Jasper Munson’s mail-order bride,” Mrs. Bee answered, raising the shotgun a little higher.
Priscilla did a double-take. “Wait a minute – you killed Jasper Munson?” she asked Mr. Hilton. She looked at Mrs. Bee. “And you let him?”
Sophie saw the genuine shock in Priscilla’s eyes and reminded herself that Priscilla grew up here, had probably known Mrs. Bee for a long time. Of course she’d be shocked to find she was an accomplice to murder.
“No,” Mrs. Bee said. “He didn’t kill Jasper. I did.”
“What?!” Sophie gasped. She quickly looked the thin woman over. “Oh my … my …”
Mrs. Bee cackled. “Oh my indeed, my dear.”
Even Sebastian stood open-mouthed as he looked the woman up and down. “But … how?”
Mr. Hilton smiled at Mrs. Bee. “Don’t let her appearance fool you. She used to run a farm and she’s strong as an ox. Besides, who’d suspect her?”
Sophie choked as she tried to speak. “You … you mean you stabbed the man in broad daylight?”
“And slipped away with no one the wiser. As crowded as it was that day, folks were bumping into each other as the train pulled in. It was simple, really.”
“But … but … why?” Sophie cried.
Priscilla closed her eyes a moment. “Because Sebastian gave Jasper something to keep safe and deliver for him. He was supposed to do it a few days before you arrived.”
“But there were delays, weren’t there, Cord?” Mr. Hilton said. “Thankfully, we overheard your scheme one night.”
“You … you did?” Sebastian said, eyes wide.
“Sure – we can hear everything in that room,” Mr. Hilton said, tossing his head at Mrs. Bee’s bedchamber. “Especially your blasted snoring!”
Sebastian slapped his forehead and groaned.
“I heard you asking Jasper to deliver something,” Mrs. Bee said. “When I found out what, I told Charles. We’ve been seeing each other for quite some time now.”
Priscilla’s eyes narrowed. She glanced between the two, then exchanged a quick look with Sophie.
Sophie, meanwhile, had just had a revelation. “You’re married, aren’t you?” she asked Charles Hilton. “And having an affair with Mrs. Bee. Why else keep things so secret until now?”
“Unless something happened to his wife,” Priscilla added. “Making him a free man.”
“Enough of this talk,” Mr. Hilton spat. “There’s something else we need to discuss.”
“What’s that?” Priscilla asked.
“How we’re gonna dispose of your bodies.”
“Have you seen Sophie?” Fletcher asked Grandpa Vander as he left the podium.
“No, Fletch, I haven’t.” He cleared his throat a few times. “Remember, it’s very important to have your voice in good working order before a speech.” He coughed. “I think I need some lemonade.”
“Yes, I’ll remember that,” he said absently, still looking around. “I can’t figure out where she could’ve gotten to.”
“You mean she missed it? My last Fourth of July speech?”
“Sorry, Grandfather, but I believe so.”
“Such a pity – I thought it one of my best.” He sighed heavily. “Oh well, I’ll make a speech at your wedding! Do you have the ring?”
“Right here in my pocket.” He gave it a pat.
“Then go ask Betsy. She tends to keep an eye on everything.”
“Good idea – I will,” Fletcher picked his way between picnic tables and blankets to find her. It was past sunset and almost time for the fireworks. His grandfather had stalled giving his speech as long as he could, knowing it was his last. Next year, Fletcher would most likely be doing it.
“Betsy!” he called when he spied her slicing up a pie at one of the food tables. “Have you seen Sophie?”
“No, can’t say as I have, Fletcher. Did you lose her?”
“I can’t find her anywhere. Last time I saw her she was sitting and talking with Priscilla.”
“Oh, that can’t be good.”
“I think I saw them leave the park,” Cecil said as he joined the two, a stack of pies in his hands. “I couldn’t tell you where they were going, though – everything’s closed today.”
“If they were going anywhere, it would be someplace Priscilla wanted to go,” Fletcher mused. “Come to think of it, she looked a little out of sorts when I saw her last.”
“Priscilla? Out of sorts?” Betsy said. “That’s every day.”
“Now, now,” Cecil said. “Even Priscilla Holbrook can have a bad day. Mrs. Holbrook said she had a long talk with her the other night about her fiancé and how she couldn’t change the man for the better, only the good Lord could do that.”
“Mm-hmm. So just when did you speak with Mrs. Holbrook?”
“I didn’t. I heard it from our illustrious employer. Who either got it from the horse’s mouth, or from Martha Tindle at the mercantile. Reliable sources, either way.”
Betsy shook her head. “You men are worse gossips than women!” She glared at Fletcher. “
I hope you don’t pick up that habit of your grandpa’s when you take office.”
“It’s doubtful,” he said, studying the people around them. “Now if I was Priscilla, where would I go?”
“That man of hers left the park almost an hour ago,” Betsy volunteered. “Maybe she went to find him.”
“And who did you hear that from?” Fletcher asked.
“No one. Saw him with my own two eyes.”
“He must have gone to fetch something from the boarding house,” Cecil said. “Knowing Priscilla, she went to get him and bring him back for the fireworks.”
Fletcher nodded absently as he realized someone else wasn’t around. “Speaking of the boarding house, have you seen Mrs. Bee and her guest?”
The couple took a look at the folks around them. “They were right over there,” Betsy pointed to a now-empty table.
A prick of warning stabbed Fletcher’s gut, and he recalled Jace Diamond’s words: Something’s not right with this. There’s something important we’re missing. Jasper and Mrs. Bee and Sebastian Cord were all tied to the boarding house, and through them Mrs. Bee’s friend and Priscilla – all of whom were missing right now, except for Jasper, who was dead …
“Sophie!” he cried in horror. She was missing too, having gone with Priscilla. What if …? “Oh no.”
“Oh no what?” Betsy asked.
“If anyone asks, I’ll be at Mrs. Bee’s,” Fletcher told her.
“All right, but you’d better get back here before the fireworks start.”
“I will.” But Fletcher had a feeling that he’d find plenty of fireworks at the boarding house.
Chapter 19
“Ouch! How dare you!” Priscilla yelped as Mr. Hilton tightened the ropes at her wrists. He’d bound her and Sophie back to back in two chairs in Jasper’s old room at the end of the hall. Sebastian himself helped tighten the ropes lashing Sophie’s ankles together.
“You’re a snake, you know that?” Sophie said with as much venom as she could muster.
