Close Knit Killer

by Maggie Sefton

  “I know what you mean,” Burt agreed. “Kelly and I were stunned. But, at least she’s got a good attorney. Larry Chambers is one of the best in town. He’ll take good care of her.”

  “Yes, he will, and that makes me feel a little better.”

  “Thank goodness Chambers called Barbara and told her what was happening. I did not want to be the one to do that.”

  “I’m glad you didn’t have to, Burt. Keep me updated, okay?”

  “Will do, Kelly.”

  Just then, Cassie came around the corner of the booth, spotted them, and raced over. “Hey, Kelly and Steve. Mimi’s selling tons of stuff today! Boy, I’ve never seen so many people and yarns and stuff all around,” she bubbled.

  “You got that right, Cassie,” Steve said with a grin. “Whole bunches of stuff.”

  “I’m so glad you came up today, Cassie,” Kelly said. “This Wool Market is fantastic, don’t you think?”

  “Oh, yeah, awesome,” Cassie said, watching the people pass.

  “Have you been to the livestock barns yet?” Steve asked.

  “We did that first thing when got here,” Burt said. “I went down early and picked her up from the café. Pete and Jennifer were already hard at work.” Burt reached over and gave Cassie a hug. “Saturday morning is always packed for breakfast, right, Cassie?”

  Her eyes went wide in agreement. “Oh, yeah. People are there every morning when Pete opens the doors. It’s amazing.”

  “I bet you’ve been a big help to Mimi and Burt in the booth,” Kelly said. “There are tons of people here today.”

  “Cassie’s been a great helper,” Burt agreed.

  “Can we go over to the alpaca barns now?” Cassie asked. “I haven’t seen Jayleen yet. She said she was bringing eight of her alpacas today.”

  “I’ll take her, Burt,” Kelly offered. “You’re probably needed here.”

  “Well, I don’t know about needed, but I’m reasonably useful,” Burt teased. “You tell Jayleen hello for me. And Curt. I spoke with him earlier. He brought up one of his trailers to help transport the alpacas back to her ranch Sunday night.”

  “Will do, Burt,” Steve said, as he and Kelly and Cassie turned into the aisle. Pointing toward the side of the building, Steve beckoned. “Let’s go out this exit because it’s closer to the livestock areas.”

  Kelly and Cassie followed as Steve carved a path through the crowded aisles and headed for the exit door. As soon as the hot sun hit Kelly in the face, she blinked and slipped on her sunglasses.

  “Alpaca stalls used to be over in that direction,” Kelly said as they walked past new crowds of people eating hot dogs, smoked turkey legs, barbecue, corn dogs, cotton candy, ice cream, popsicles, even hot apple pie. Kelly marveled at the variety of food vendors were selling to lines of eager customers, standing in the hot sun.

  Since Estes Park was higher in altitude than Fort Connor, 7,500 feet as opposed to 5,000 feet, the heat was not as intense up here. Only the high eighties instead of high nineties. Kelly was grateful for the difference in temperatures. It was a welcome relief.

  “Hey, isn’t that Jayleen at the end of those stalls?” Steve said, pointing ahead as they approached the larger livestock area.

  “Yeah, it is. Hey, Jayleen!” Cassie called, then broke into a run, heading for the last stalls.

  Kelly saw Jayleen turn quickly at the sound of her name being called. Curt was standing beside her, talking to a couple who were obviously admiring one of Jayleen’s alpacas.

  Cassie raced up, and Jayleen reached out and gave her a big hug.

  “Cassie’s adopting grandparents all over the place,” she said with a laugh. “Isn’t that great?”

  “Sure is,” Steve agreed. “Both Jayleen and Mimi need grandkids, don’tcha think?”

  “Ohhhh, yeah,” Kelly said in a low voice as they approached the stalls. “Hey, there, Jayleen, Curt. We thought we’d see how you’re doing.”

  “Nice to see you two up here,” Curt said, touching the brim of his Stetson.

  “Well, well, it’s good to see you up here with Kelly, Steve. You haven’t been to one of these markets in a coon’s age,” Jayleen said with a wide grin, her arm still around Cassie’s shoulders.

  “You’re right about that, Jayleen. Denver keeps me pretty darned busy.” Steve reached out and gave Curt a handshake. “You got any livestock here, Curt? Or just helping out Jayleen?”

  “I’m helping out. Less work, actually,” Curt said with a lazy smile.

  “Can I go inside with the herd?” Cassie asked, blue eyes wide.

  “Sure, you can, girl,” Jayleen said, tousling Cassie’s hair. “Curt’s grandson Eric has been helping clean up after them. I reckon he’ll be glad to have some help with pooper-scooper detail.”

  Curt laughed. “He sure would. He’s getting some sandwiches for us, but he’ll be back in a minute.”

  Kelly watched Cassie effortlessly climb over the metal stall fencing and drop to the hay-strewn floor inside the stall. Two gray alpacas approached her, extending their graceful necks to sniff her. Cassie stood still and let them sniff, Kelly noticed.

  “She’s learned fast,” Kelly observed.

  Jayleen nodded. “Cassie’s a fast learner. Picks up stuff right away.”

  “Speaking of picking up stuff, here comes the chief scooper, back with our lunch,” Curt announced. “Hey, Eric. We’ve recruited a helper for you on the waste removal patrol.”

  A skinny, sandy brown–haired boy walked up with a box filled with sodas and wrapped sandwiches. The boy glanced over at Cassie and smiled. “Hey, Cassie. Did Grandpa trick you into that job?”

  “Heck, no, Eric,” Jayleen said with a laugh. “Cassie volunteered. She already got an idea of the job this week when she came out to my ranch.”

  Kelly thought she scented barbecued chicken, and her stomach growled. Lunchtime already. Looked like she and Steve would have to join the crowded lines. “I saw some folks talking to Curt when we walked up. Are they interested in buying one of the herd?”

  Jayleen shrugged. “They’re thinking about it. People need to take time before they jump into buying livestock. Especially if they’ve never done any—”

  A man in a black tee shirt and a Colorado Rockies baseball cap suddenly called Jayleen’s name as he raced up. “Jayleen! I just heard on my short wave there’s a fire over in Bellevue Canyon! Started near Stove Prairie, but it’s spreading fast! Firefighters are out there now!”

  Jayleen stared at the man, her face draining of color in an instant. She grasped his arm. “Stove Prairie? That’s . . . that’s down the other side of the mountain!”

  “Where’s it spread to?” Curt demanded.

  “I don’t know . . . It didn’t say . . . just that it’s spreading and firefighters are already there! I know your place is in the canyon, Jayleen. Who else is here? I’d better tell ’em, too.” His head swiveled around, as he scanned the stalls.

  “Uhh, Mary and . . . Tom Robbins . . .” Jayleen clutched at her throat. “Oh, no, God, no . . . my ranch!” She reached out and Curt caught her hand.

  “We have to get back, Jayleen. Now! Eric and Cassie can watch over the animals until I come back. But we’ve got to get the rest of your herd out now.” Curt put his other hand on Jayleen’s shoulder.

  Kelly’s heart had gone to her throat. A wildfire! Oh, no. Not in these dry forests.

  “Jayleen, Kelly and I can help,” Steve said. “We can get trailers from my parents’ place and go over to your ranch and get your animals out. Kelly can drive my truck, and I’ll drive one of my dad’s.”

  “Steve, why don’t you take Jayleen’s truck right now,” Curt said. “It’s already got a trailer on it. We’ll take mine. That way you can drive to her ranch with us. We could use your help getting the animals out.”

  Jayleen still looked in shock, too stunned to speak, as she stared at Steve. “I’ve got to go . . . I’ve got to go,” she repeated.

  Burt raced up then, white-face
d and panting. “Jayleen! I just got a call from a firefighter friend. An alarm went out. Wildfire in Bellevue Canyon!”

  “We just heard,” Curt said, moving Jayleen away from the stalls. “We’re heading back now. Eric and Cassie can look after the animals. Eric!” He turned to his grandson, who was standing stock-still, as was Cassie, both young faces stunned. “Give out Jayleen’s cards to anyone who’s interested and tell them to call her for information. I’ll be back later. Don’t worry, I’ll call your mom. Cassie, help out Eric. He needs you now.”

  “I’ll stay with them here, Curt,” Burt offered. “Mimi’s got it covered inside. I’ll stay with the kids and make sure everything’s okay. Keep us posted, please!”

  “I’ve gotta go, I’ve gotta go, I’ve gotta go . . .” Jayleen repeated, staring out toward the mountains. “My ranch, oh, God, my ranch . . .”

  “C’mon, Jayleen, let’s get to my truck. You’d better not drive right now,” Curt directed as he took her arm.

  “We’ll help you, Jayleen, I swear, we will,” Steve promised as he and Kelly fell in step with them. “Kelly will get another trailer from my dad and meet us up at your ranch.”

  “And I’ll call Lisa and Greg and Megan and Marty,” Kelly said. “They can borrow some trucks from Marty’s family and head to your ranch. We’ll load up everything you need. We’ll get your animals out. I promise!”

  Curt used his big frame and broad shoulders to create a path for them through the throngs of people filling the fairgrounds. They were all happily enjoying the summer weekend in this gorgeous mountain setting. Exactly like Kelly and her dear friends had been doing only minutes ago. How quickly everything could change. Someone’s entire world could change. Jayleen’s world was now threatened—in an instant.

  Wildfire. The one thing that everyone who lived in Colorado’s beautiful mountain areas dreaded. There had not been a wildfire in the northern Colorado mountains and canyons near Fort Connor for as long as any of Kelly’s friends could remember. And now—when their forests were thick and filled with pine-bark-beetle-killed trees. Bone dry. Drought dry. Kindling. Waiting for a spark.

  Kelly felt her stomach clench at the fearful thoughts bombarding her as they pushed through the crowd. Steve had parked on the edge of the parking area. It would take another five minutes or more for her just to reach his car.

  “Here are my keys,” Steve said, fishing them out of his jeans. “Be careful driving back into the canyon with that trailer.” He reached out and drew Kelly close for a quick kiss.

  “I’ll try to meet up with Greg and the others. Maybe they’ll have the trailers by the time I reach Fort Connor. If so, we can all drive up together.”

  “C’mon, Steve,” Curt called as he and Jayleen broke free of the crowd and started to run.

  Steve ran after them, quickly disappearing behind people heading toward the livestock barns. Working her way through the crowds, Kelly pulled her cell phone from her jeans pocket and began to call her friends . . .

  Author’s Note

  The next Knitting Mystery takes place as Kelly and friends try to help Jayleen save her ranch. I don’t usually set my stories so close together in time, but I was revising Close Knit Killer in early June 2012, almost ready to submit the eleventh in the Knitting Mysteries to my editor. And then, the High Park wildfire broke out in Rist Canyon just northwest of Fort Collins, Colorado, where I live. I call that canyon Bellevue Canyon in the mysteries.

  Life as normal changed in Fort Collins and the entire area of Northern Colorado at that moment. Even though Fort Collins was never in any danger of the wildfire spreading into our city (there is a large and very long lake—Horsetooth Reservoir—that stretches almost the entire length of the western side of Fort Collins), we were all riveted by the fast-moving, wind-whipped wildfire as it jumped and darted about our canyons, leaping from Rist Canyon into the Buckhorn Canyon area, and briefly into Cache La Poudre River Canyon and several other mountain communities. Smoke filled the air, and those of us who lived on the western side of Fort Collins sought shelter with our friends on the north or eastern edges of the city. My dear friend Joey Waltz very generously let me stay in the house she had just moved from and was preparing for resale. And it was Joey who told me during the first week of the fire, as we watched from her wide windows looking toward the mountains, “You have to include this in the mysteries.” I knew immediately that she was right. So, I totally revised the entire manuscript. Interestingly, I already had the novel taking place during late May and early June of last year. And the day the story ended, with Kelly and Steve in Estes Park at the Wool Market, was the actual day the wildfire started.

  The next mystery in the series will be out June 2014, and the High Park wildfire will definitely play a large role. I will not pretend that I will write a newscaster’s account of how the High Park wildfire affected all of Fort Collins, but I promise I will try to include real-life details of those life-changing, dramatic events of June 2012 as seen by Kelly and her friends and all of the folks at Lambspun. Jayleen Swinson has her alpaca ranch up in Bellevue Canyon, so everything she’s spent the last twelve years building is at risk. Kelly and all of the characters—and new ones, too—will come to Jayleen’s aid. And—don’t worry, mystery readers—I won’t forget that I’m writing a murder mystery. So, a dead body will definitely be part of the story.

  Author Note: Kelly used the easy Collapsible Cloche hat pattern with size-eight needles for the baby hat she knitted. That pattern is found in book five of the series, Dyer Consequences. Here’s a more challenging hat pattern for tiny babies.

  Sweetheart Baby Hat

  Fits Newborn–4 Months

  MATERIALS:

  Main Color (MC)—2 ounces cotton yarn of your color choice. Can double to obtain gauge

  Set of 4 #6 double-pointed needles, or size needed to obtain correct gauge

  Set of 4 #8 double-pointed needles, or size needed to obtain correct gauge

  Tapestry needle or crochet hook to weave in ends

  GAUGE:

  In MC on larger needles, 4½ sts = 1 inch

  HAT:

  On smaller needles, loosely cast on 60 sts with MC.

  Join work, being careful not to twist sts.

  Work in modified twisted rib as follows:

  Rnd 1: (K1, P1) around.

  Rnd 2: (Kb1, P1) around.

  Repeat these two rounds until piece measures 1” from beginning. Change to larger needles and work for ten (10) rounds in stockinette stitch.

  Work in seed stitch for 3 rounds as follows:

  Rnd 1: (K1, P1) around.

  Rnd 2–3: Knit the purls sts and purl the knit sts.

  Decrease as follows:

  Rnd 1: (K2 together, K8) around.

  Rnd 2: (K2 tog, K7) around.

  Rnd 3: (K2 tog, K6) around.

  Rnd 4: (K2 tog, K5) around.

  Continue in this manner for a total of 8 decrease rounds.

  Rnd 9 and 10: (K2 tog) around.

  K in the round on 3 remaining sts for about 1½ inches for nubbin.

  Break yarn, leaving a 4-inch tail. Pull tail through remaining sts, then through nubbin with tapestry needle or crochet hook and weave securely into crown on wrong side of hat. Weave in all other loose ends. Tie a knot in the nubbin if desired.

  Pattern courtesy of Lambspun of Colorado, Fort Collins, Colorado.

  Here are the Best Cold Appetizer recipe winners from my Knitting Mysteries Appetizer Contest.

  Caprese on a Stick

  Contributed by Julie Dewar.

  Ingredients: 1 pint grape tomatoes; 24 small basil leaves; 1 container ciliegine (small fresh mozzarella balls); balsamic vinegar. Marinade: ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil. Finely grated zest of 1 lemon; 1 ½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice; 1 tablespoon dried thyme leaves or basil; 2 garlic cloves, minced; kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. In a large bowl, whisk olive oil with lemon zest, lemon juice, thyme, garlic, and a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Add tomatoes and c
iliegine to bowl and turn to coat. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Skewer grape tomato, basil leaf, and ciliegine ball onto toothpicks and place on a serving dish. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar.

  Dill Dip

  Contributed by Judy Seeley.

  Ingredients: 1 cup sour cream; 1 cup mayonnaise; 1 ½ tablespoons dried onion flakes; 1 ½ tablespoons dried parsley; 1 ½ teaspoons dill weed; 1 ½ teaspoons beau monde or bon appetít (whichever one your store carries). Pinch of accent. Mix all ingredients together and chill before serving.

  Tzatziki Dip with Raw Vegetables

  Contributed by Liz Veronis.

  Mix thoroughly: 8 ounces of plain, whole milk Greek yogurt (American yogurt requires draining excess liquid through cheesecloth); 2 cucumbers, peeled, seeded, and diced, with excess liquid squeezed out; 2 tablespoons olive oil; juice of ½ lemon; 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill; 3 cloves garlic, peeled. Some recipes call for salt and pepper to taste, but we are salt free. Refrigerate, covered, for 1 hour.

  Chutney Mold

  Contributed by Maryfrances Charnley.

  Ingredients: 12 ounces Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened; ½ jar bacon bits; ½ can cocktail peanuts; 3 heaping tablespoons sour cream; ½ cup chopped scallions (green onions)—fine; ½ box raisins (I use golden raisins). Mix all ingredients. Shape into a log wrap in plastic wrap and foil and freeze overnight. To serve: Pour one jar of Major Grey’s Chutney over log and sprinkle with coconut. Serve with crackers.