“Beautiful words,” Jordan said. “Now, do you, Linc Olsen take Brigid Barnes to be your wedded wife? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, from this day forward, as long as you both shall live?”
“I do,” Linc said, beaming.
“And you, Brigid Barnes. Do you take Linc Olsen to be your wedded husband? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, from this day forward, as long as you both shall live?”
“I do,” Brigid grinned.
“Then I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride!”
Linc reached for Brigid and kissed her just like the first time. She swore her foot lifted from the ground as their mouths met, symbolically joining them for the rest of their lives.
EPILOGUE
“Are you about ready?” Brigid called down the hall. Holly’s door was still closed, and she could hear her banging around inside her bedroom.
“Don’t worry, we have plenty of time,” Linc said soothingly as he caressed Brigid’s back.
“I know, I just like to leave early. You know how bad the traffic in Denver can be,” she said.
“It will all work out,” Linc said. “You’ll see. Not everyone has to be places super early,” he teased. He picked up their suitcases and headed for the front door. “I’m going to go ahead and load these up while we wait.” When he opened the door he said, “Fiona’s here,” before stepping outside. Fiona walked through the door and shut it behind her.
“How does it feel to be a married woman again?” she asked as she hugged her sister.
“Stressful. I swear, I don’t think we’re ever going to get to the airport,” Brigid said, as she collected the dog leash and the bag where she’d packed all of Jett’s toys. “I packed his toys up, so he’d have something familiar. I’ll have Linc carry out the dog food bag when he comes back in. Have Brandon unload it, it’s heavy. It should be enough to get him through our vacation honeymoon, but if it isn’t, just let me know what I owe you when I get back.”
“Not even worried about it,” Fiona said. “I’m just excited to be able to spend some time alone with him. After all, he did save my life,” she said referring to when someone had recently tried to kill her.
“That he did. Enjoy him,” Brigid said as Holly finally emerged from her room.
“Hey Fiona,” Holly said. She walked over to the big dog and scratched his head. “I’m going to miss you when I’m gone, Jett,” she said talking to him in baby talk.
“What about me?” Fiona asked, pretending her feelings were hurt. She stuck out her lower lip as if she were pouting.
“You too, of course,” she said smiling and giving Fiona a hug. “Try to take it easy while we’re gone. No heavy lifting or crazy rearranging while I’m away. If you want something changed in the bookstore, I can do it when I get back.”
“I will, and you have fun, kiddo. I want to see pictures when you come back. Send me messages and stuff, too. I want to know what you’re up to,” Fiona said hugging her back and kissing her forehead.
“No problem,” Holly said. “I gotta’ go load up my bags,” she said as she carried her backpack and suitcase outside.
“How are all the people doing that were kidnapped?” Fiona asked.
“Good,” Brigid said. “I’m sure you’ve heard by now that Olivia told Mike she was pregnant.”
“Who wouldn’t know? The fact that he tells everyone he comes across has spread the news like wildfire,” Fiona chuckled.
“I know,” Brigid laughed. “But I’m happy for them. The other woman, June, she’s doing well. I heard she’s writing a book about her whole ordeal.”
“Wow, maybe if she gets it published, she can come talk at the bookstore,” Fiona suggested.
“That’s not a bad idea,” Brigid commented. “I heard both Henry and Kelly are doing okay, too. Still a little shaken up, but healthy and moving on with their lives.”
“Good, I’m so glad. Well, I’ll get out of your hair. Come on, Jett. Let’s go,” Fiona said as she hooked his leash on his collar. Jett happily followed her to the door while Brigid trailed behind.
Linc came in and grabbed the bag of food before heading back outside and putting it in the back of Fiona’s car. They all waved to Jett and Fiona as they pulled away.
“Everyone ready?” Linc asked.
“Let me check the house one more time and then we can go,” Brigid said.
Linc and Holly finished loading up in the truck as they waited for Brigid.
“Are you nervous?” Linc asked.
“Kind of,” Holly admitted. “I’ve never flown before.”
“It’s not that bad,” he said. “Some people get nervous during the takeoff and the landing, but for me, that’s the best part.”
“Yeah, but you’re weird,” Holly said laughing.
“You have a point,” he said. “But your flight won’t last too long. You’ll be there in no time.”
“I hope so,” she said.
Brigid rushed out the front door, checking it to make sure it was locked, before jogging to the truck.
“Okay, I’m ready,” she said.
*****
“I’m going to miss you guys,” Holly said as they stood outside the boarding gate for her flight.
“We’ll miss you, too,” Brigid said. “Try to have lots of fun, though.”
“Yeah, and make sure you give them a chance. You just never know, you may end up enjoying yourself,” Linc said giving her a wink.
Holly laughed. “You’re right Linc, you just never know,” she said. “And you guys have fun, too. She looked at Linc and mock whispered, “Try to keep Brigid out of trouble. You know how she is about finding trouble wherever she goes.”
Linc smiled. “I’ll do my best, but I agree, you know how she is,” he said with a shrug.
“That I do,” she said. “I love you guys. See you soon.” Holly turned and walked toward the gate, pausing only once to look back and wave.
“Do you think she’ll be okay?” Brigid asked with a sound of concern in her voice as she leaned into Linc.
“Definitely,” he said. “Don’t worry about her. She’s got a good head on her shoulders, and you’ve had an amazing positive influence on her. She’ll be totally fine.”
“I’m just worried she won’t like it and want to come home. There’s no guarantee our cell phones will work. What if she tries to get in touch with us, and she can’t?” Brigid said as she began to worry.
“She can call Fiona. Brigid, calm down. Do you want to go on this trip or not?”
“Of course,” she said, looking surprised. Realizing she had been overreacting, she took a deep breath and smiled. “I’m sorry.”
“You’re fine,” Linc said. “Just let it all go, because now the honeymoon begins.”
RECIPES
SEARED SCALLOPS & PASTA IN ALFREDO SAUCE
Ingredients:
12 sea scallops (fresh or frozen; if frozen thaw first)
1 tsp. unsalted butter
1 tsp olive oil
½ cup cream
½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
½ cup unsalted butter
Lemon pepper to taste (I like Lawry’s, but any will do.)
½ box fettucine pasta
Directions:
Cook pasta in boiling water per instructions on the box.
In a small saucepan combine cream, Parmesan cheese, and butter to make Alfredo sauce and cook over medium heat until just melted, then turn burner to low until pasta and scallops are finished.
Pat the scallops dry and season with lemon pepper. Add butter and olive oil to a large frying pan over medium high heat. Add the scallops one at a time, flat side down (you can use your fingers to do this), and sear until just turning golden brown (about 2 minutes). Using tongs, flip each scallop individually and sear the other flat side until golden brown (about another 2 minutes). Caution: Don’t overcook the scallops or they will become tough.
Slide the cooked scallops out of
the frying pan and add directly to the saucepan containing the Alfredo sauce. Stir and combine so scallops are well covered with sauce. Drain the cooked pasta and plate it. Pour half the scallop/Alfredo mixture directly over each of the 2 plated pastas, allocating 6 scallops per serving. Serve & enjoy!
NOTE: This recipe serves two. If a larger serving is required, allocate 6 scallops per person and increase pasta and Alfredo sauce proportionally. (You can make the Alfredo sauce in any amount you want, just combine the 3 ingredients in equal amounts and heat as directed).
QUICK PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES
Ingredients:
1 cup crunchy peanut butter
½ cup sugar
1 egg
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix ingredients together. Place teaspoonfuls of dough on unbaked cookie sheet (I prefer to line the cookie sheet with parchment paper, but if you don’t have any, no problem). Bake 12-15 minute, being careful not to overcook. Enjoy!
NOTE: No, I didn’t forget to include flour because none is required in this recipe!
WARM STEAK SALAD WITH SHERRIED CHERRIES
Ingredients:
1 boneless steak such as rib-eye, flat iron, strip, or hanger
¾ cup fresh or frozen pitted cherries
4 tbsp. sherry vinegar (If you don’t have it, make your own by mixing 1:1 sherry
and white vinegar.)
3 tbsp. olive oil, divided
3 cups loosely packed arugula (You can buy this in a plastic container
in the ready to eat salad section of your supermarket.)
3 tbsp. sliced almonds
1/3 of a red onion, sliced thin, outer rings only, cut in bite-sized pieces, about 1 1/2 – 2”in length)
Directions:
Generously season both sides of steak with salt and pepper or your favorite BBQ rub and allow to rest for 15 minutes before cooking.
Meanwhile in a small saucepan over low heat, combine the cherries, sherry vinegar, and pinch of salt. Warm for a few minutes, and then set aside
to soak while you cook the steak.
Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until it is nearly smoking, then swirl in 1 tbsp. olive oil. Place steak in skillet and brown on one side for about 4 minutes. Flip & cook on the second side to your preferred doneness, 3-4 minutes for medium rare.
Transfer steak to cutting board and let rest 3-4 minutes for medium rare. Add remaining olive oil to sherried cherries mixture. Toss arugula and onions in large salad bowl while adding sherried cherries mixture until well coated. Remove salad mixture from salad bowl and place a single serving on each diner plate. Sprinkle with sliced almonds. Slice steak against the grain into bite-size slices and scatter on top of salad. Enjoy!
EASY BAKED FRIES
Ingredients:
1 large baking potato, unpeeled
2 tbsp. olive oil
½ tsp. paprika
½ tsp. garlic powder
2 -3 drops of Tabasco
½ tsp. onion powder
Directions:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Cut potato into thin wedges. Mix olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, Tabasco, and onion powder together. Coat potato with oil/spice mixture and place on baking sheet. Bake for 45 minutes in oven.
Enjoy!
BUTTERSCOTCH/BLONDIE BARS
Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup sweetened coconut (comes in a plastic package)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9” x 9” pan.
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir the brown sugar into the melted butter and set aside to cool slightly. When the butter mixture has cooled slightly, beat in the egg and vanilla.
Sift the flour, then resift with the baking powder and salt. Mix flour mixture into the sugar mixture. Add the coconut.
Pour batter into prepared dish and bake for 20-25 minutes. When cool, cut into bars. Enjoy!
*****
I'm giving away FREE paperbacks. Find out more at www.dianneharman.com/freepaperback.html
ABOUT DIANNE
I live in Huntington Beach, California, with my husband, Tom, a former California State Senator, and my boxer dog, Kelly. My passions are cooking, reading, and dogs, so whenever I have a little free time, I am either in the kitchen, playing with Kelly in the back yard, or curled up with the latest book I'm reading.
Her other books are available below:
Amazon: Blue Coyote Motel
Amazon: Coyote in Provence
Amazon: Cornered Coyote
Amazon: Coyote Series
Amazon: Kelly’s Koffee Shop
Amazon: Murder at Jade Cove
Amazon: White Cloud Retreat
Amazon: Marriage and Murder
Amazon: Murder in Cottage #6
Amazon: Murder in the Pearl District
Amazon: Murder and Brandy Boy
Amazon: Murder in Calico Gold
Amazon: The Death Card
Amazon: Murder at The Cooking School
Amazon: Murder & The Monkey Band
Amazon: Murder at The Bed & Breakfast
Amazon: Murder at The Secret Cave
Amazon: Murder in Cuba
Amazon: The Blue Butterfly
Amazon: Trouble at the Kennel
Amazon: Murdered by Words
Amazon: Murdered by Country Music
Amazon: Murder at the Big T Lodge
Amazon: Murdered in Argentina
Amazon: Murder on the East Coast
Amazon: Murder at the Clinic
Amazon: Murder at the Polo Club
Amazon: Alexis
Amazon: Trouble at the Animal Shelter
Amazon: Murder in Calistoga
Amazon: Murder on Bainbridge Island
Amazon: Murder & The Movie Star
Amazon: Murder in Whistler
Amazon: Murdered by Plastic Surgery
Amazon: Murder in Seattle
Amazon: Murder after Midnight
Amazon: Murder in San Francisco
Amazon: Murder at Le Bijou Bistro
Amazon: Murder at the Courthouse
Amazon: Murder at the Gallery
Amazon: Murder at the Waterfront
Amazon: Murder at the Gearhart
Amazon: Murdered by Superstition
Amazon: Red Zero 1
Amazon: Red Zero 2
Amazon: Red Zero 3
Amazon: The Professor’s Predicament
Amazon: Murder at the Church
Amazon: Murdered by Prejudice
Amazon: Missing in Cottonwood Springs
Please feel free to follow me on these social media sites:
Website: http://www.DianneHarman.com
Blog: http://www.DianneHarman.com/blog
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @DianneDHarman
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Facebook Author Page Cozy Mystery
Amazon Author Page
COMING SOON!
PUBLISHING 2/27/19
SMALL TOWN MURDER
BOOK SEVEN OF
THE MIDWEST COZY MYSTERY SERIES
http://getBook.at/STM
Kat only wanted to be part of the convention on how to write successful books, not solve a murder that took place there – the murder of a beloved “tell-all” author. Was that the motive?
Greed, revenge, and hatred are also reasons to murder, at least to people who live on the slippery edge of sanity. Parsons who gamble, women who blackmail, and a number of people with outsized egos make for most interesting characters.
And yet, even with the worst of human nature, miracles can happen.
If you like to feel good at the end of a book, with maybe a tear o
r two and a smile, don’t miss this inspirational story with plenty of dogs, food, and recipes.
Missing in Cottonwood Springs Page 14
