by Vikki Walton
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Cast of Characters
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Epilogue
Cordial Killing
A
BACKYARD FARMING
MYSTERY
BOOK 2
VIKKI WALTON
MOREWELLSON, LTD
Copyright © 2018 by Vikki Walton
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording or mechanical methods, without the written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator” at the address below:
Morewellson, Ltd.
P.O. Box 49726
Colorado Springs, CO 80949
ISBN: 978-0-9994402-8-5 (standard edition print)
ISBN: 978-0-9994402-5-4 (e-pub)
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Front Cover Illustration: Erika Parker Rogers
Publishing and Design Services
Formatting: by Rik - Wild Seas Formatting
Cast of Characters
Anne Freemont: Settled into her home in Carolan Springs, Anne’s ready for a new challenge with the Brandywine Inn opening next door.
Kandi Freemont (previously Jenkins): Her bubbly personality and killer cooking skills are perfect for the town’s new bed and breakfast.
Hope Boswell: Since her father’s tragic death, she chose to open the old homestead to guests who visit the tiny mountain town.
Sheriff Carson: Not a fan of newcomer Anne’s meddling, he acknowledges her help in solving a case when she first arrived, and he likes her spunk.
Dr. Edward Nelson: His heart condition hasn’t stopped his wandering eye or his ways with the ladies.
Elizabeth (Beth) Nelson: Aware of her husband’s philandering, she’d do anything to escape the marriage.
Elizabeth (Liz) Latham: Best friends with Beth since college, she harbors a secret that would destroy their friendship.
Elizabeth (Lil) Ryan: Her choice years ago sets off events that could destroy them all.
Christie Taylor: One poor decision made in college would foster a loathing for Edward and change her life forever.
Marie Lawson: Her penchant for gossip and snooping may have caught up to her.
Spencer Andrews: A thirteen-year-old foster boy who always seems to find trouble.
Patricia (Pat) Olsen: Owner of Patty’s Pampered Pets.
Stewart Rogers: Inn’s handyman, always showing up, especially when Kandi’s around.
Sam Powers: EMT and deputy coroner, he hopes to become more than Anne’s friend.
Autumn Boettcher: Hope’s intern who is gaining hands-on experience in herbalism.
Sorcha Smith: Town’s bookstore owner who has sights on Sheriff Carson.
“Every murderer was once someone’s old friend.”
Agatha Christie
Prologue
Doctor Edward Nelson made his way out to the gazebo, glancing over his shoulder to confirm he hadn’t been noticed from the house. He needed time away to think. To decide. To plan.
He ran his fingers through his hair and across his stubbled jaw. Nearing the gazebo, he glanced back toward the house. He was thankful no one had followed him outside. He couldn’t take listening to his faults any longer.
What had she been thinking?
His heart beat faster, but in the last few months he’d become accustomed to the constant irregular rhythm. New medicine had only seemed to aggravate his condition. Or was it something else instead of the medication? He’d felt ill more frequently.
Even his heart seemed to be telling him to get out before it was too late. He knew his cardiac condition would most likely kill him at some point, but what could he do about it? Nothing really. Just keep taking the meds.
He reached into his jacket and felt the glass and metal tube tucked inside. He knew he shouldn’t smoke, he was a doctor after all, but he would be damned if he was going to give up every single pleasure he had in life. He wouldn’t let her take this too. He pulled the vape pen from the inner pocket. Quickly glancing back at the house, he felt confident that his vaping would be undetected as long as he kept his back turned. He settled into the chair and crossed his legs. His brow furrowed.
Seeing all four of them together again after all these years brought up memories he had wanted to stay buried. He switched on the electronic cigarette and put it to his mouth. He took a long drag and coughed. More bitter-tasting than usual. His heart picked up the pace.
Edward bent forward, resting his elbows on his knees. He took slow breaths as he waited for his heart to stop racing. Maybe he needed to reduce the percentage of nicotine in the juice. Maybe the propylene glycol and glycerin needed to be higher. Plus, he needed to see what flavoring they’d added. He didn’t recall it tasting this bitter before.
I can’t take it anymore. I have to get away from her.
Of course, he held a lot of the blame. He knew that. But water under the bridge and all that. No reason to bring it all up again; pick at the scars until they bled.
That’s what she wants. She wants to watch me bleed. To suffer.
Anger fueled him.
He rubbed at his eyes and squinted toward the woods at the edge of the property. That had been the impetus for considering retirement. First the heart problems increasing and then having issues with his eyesight. It was time. He wasn’t getting any younger. This was the time he could get a good payout from his practice, and with Jake leaving for school, there was no reason to stay working or remain trapped in a dead-end relationship.
He knew she wouldn’t go easy. He’d have to make a clean break. Everything and everyone.
A face came to mind. He smiled. Warm memories flew to his mind.
Maybe not everyone.
He sighed. No. Too little, too late.
Edward took another hit from the e-cig. He coughed. His heart raced. He rubbed his chest.
So much wasted time. Wasted life.
He pulled a face. The taste was truly strong and bitter now. The nicotine hit was something he craved, and he would fight through the taste. He wondered if his health was impacting his taste. Things tasted so bitter lately. Once he was back home, he’d get some new vials made up for his vape pen. Possibly something without a flavor.
He took another long drag from the pen and felt the nicotine—no, something else, stronger now—hit his bloodstream. His heart pounded wildly. His hands shook fiercely. He had to get help.
As blackness overtook him, his last thought was Elizabeth.
Chapter One
“Really? I couldn’t tell.” Anne laughed at the young woman’s antics. She often wished she had some of Kandi’s joyful view on the world. She looked around at the myriad of bags and boxes cluttering the kitchen counters. “Anything I can help with?”
“Nope! I got it all, like, under control, Mom.” Kandi winked. She grabbed up a bag and pulled open the refrigerator door.
Inside, Anne could see containers marked with the various items and dates. Anne set cartons of creamer and juices on the lone empty shelf. She watched the young woman who hummed as she worked.
Mom. It was the one word Anne never thought she’d hear. Yet in the months since they had taken on the roles of mother and daughter, it still hadn’t grown old. “Okay, goof, you’ll be sorry when you have lots of boxes to haul over.”
“Nope, Stewart said—”
“Oh, Stewart, huh?” Anne lifted her eyebrow and pursed her lips.
“Now don’t go starting on that again. He’s just a friend.” Kandi folded the bag and set it with a bunch of others inside a box on the floor. She hoisted a box of fire starter logs on her hip and strode toward the front living room. Anne followed behind.
“A charming friend who looks at you with big puppy eyes.” Anne made a face and put her hands up mimicking a puppy.
“Nah.” Kandi deftly opened the box without breaking a manicured bright fuchsia nail.
“Um, yeah.”
“Like for real?”
“Yes, like for real. Mark my words, he’ll be asking you out soon.” She helped Kandi place the starters next to the metal holder filled with cut oak. They were just finishing when they heard a sound in the main hallway.
Hope stood at the front door and called out, “Hey, you two! Are you going to keep chattering or do we have a business to run?”
In unison, Anne and Kandi yelled out, “A business!”
The two-story Victorian had once been home to Hope’s father. Set between Kandi’s and Anne’s houses, the idea to start a partnership and use the old house as a bed and breakfast had quickly gained traction. Ralph had loved growing and eating Brandywine tomatoes so there had been no question of having to think up a name for the new enterprise. Today they would formally open the Brandywine Inn.
Even though it was early May in the mountains, the trio been pleasantly surprised to have their opening weekend almost entirely booked. Two couples and three women had signed up, but one pair canceled at the last minute. Of the five remaining guests, only four would be taking their opening class, “Tinctures, Tisanes, and Tonics.”
Hope would be leading this class with Kandi managing all the cooking for the weekend. Anne would assist in helping the guests and taking up the slack where it was needed. She would be in charge of keeping the rooms tidy while the guests were in residence. The women had all admitted that it was exciting and daunting at the same time.
Kandi and Anne reached the large hallway that ran the length of the home with rooms off in either direction. The trio were going over their checklist when a cheery voice caused them to turn around.
“Hello, hello.” Marie appeared at the door in the dining room. Anne wondered how long Marie had waited before announcing herself. Hope had let Anne know that Marie loved to listen in on conversations in the hopes of gaining some juicy gossip.
“Hey, Marie,” They chimed in unison.
Marie picked up a box she had set next to the large door they had installed in the dining room. The door had been constructed to fit in with the Victorian charm of the old house and it featured beveled glass with B and I etched into the middle frame. It made a wonderful second entrance if people didn’t come in through the main doorway.
In the box Marie held, there were some dried sprigs of elderberry flowers as well as ones with berries that stuck out the edge of the box.
Marie gestured to the box. “I figured I’d bring these over here now, so I wouldn’t have to tote them over tomorrow. Where’d you like me to put this?”
“I’ll take that.” Hope came over and took the box from Marie. “I’m so happy that you have the dried elderberry branches, Marie. They’re going to make a wonderful centerpiece for the weekend.” She carried the box toward the kitchen as the others followed.
“Would you like a cup of coffee or some tea, Marie?” Kandi opened the cabinet that held colorful mugs with their logo on them.
“That sounds nice. Thank you. Do you have decaf?”
Kandi responded, “Sure. I can make some in a jiff. We got this new cool gadget for making individual drinks. I’d be happy to make you a latte or anything you’d like.”
Anne knew that Kandi’s easygoing manner would be great with the guests. Anne would have probably said that decaf wasn’t worth drinking. Instead she said nothing and simply smiled.
“I’d like a latte with almond milk if it’s not too much trouble, Kandi.” Hope shifted the box and found a better grip. “Let me just go set this down in the back.” She turned toward the back room that was converted into their office and storage room.
“Oh wait.” Marie came over and extracted a large decanter from the box. The deep purple liquid barely rippled as she set the bottle down on the table. “The finished product.”
“Marie, your elderberry cordial is so awesome it literally blows my mind. I bet that’s why it takes the prize at the homesteading fair every year,” Kandi exclaimed.
Marie beamed at the praise while Anne bit her tongue at Kandi’s use of ‘literally.’ First, all the likes, and now the incorrect use of literally. While the old Anne would have had a sarcastic quip ready on her tongue, she merely thought—let it go, let it go.
Hope gingerly took the decanter bottle from Marie and placed it in a place of prominence on a shelf between cabinets. On a shelf below it were some brown-colored bottles filled with who-knows-what concoctions and herbal remedies. She knew that Hope would have them labeled, but had turned the bottles, so that the various colors faced the room.
Anne thought back to her first meeting with Hope when she’d arrived in Carolan Springs. Hope had quickly spotted Anne’s health issue. Who knew that hormonal changes could affect her moods . . . and her mouthiness so much?
Anne religiously partook of a tincture and tea mixture that Hope had prepared especially for her. Change of Life: Happy Night Tea had meant no more restless nights or waking up with night sweats. Anne had been hesitant at first, but Hope had managed to convince her that an herbal protocol would be a huge help. Now, Anne was thankful for Hope’s expertise and her insight. She felt so much better and had a lot more energy. With that energy came the need to keep her imaginative mind busy. She was still working on remodeling her own home, but she realized she needed something more. She thought of getting a job, but quickly realized the effort and demands it would make on her time. Freedom once tasted, was difficult to give up.
After Ralph’s will had been probated, a lot of discussions had gone on at Kandi’s kitchen table about the future of the property. Kandi and Anne both hated that they’d be forced to stop using their shortcut to each other’s houses when a new owner moved in. Hope had no desire to move there, as she preferred her apartments at the Herbal Shoppe.
Anne couldn’t remember who had first come up with the idea of opening a bed and breakfast, but once the seed had been planted, it quickly germinated. Hope, Kandi, and Anne had discussed offering classes on urban homesteading. Anne preferred the term backyard farming or suburban homesteading since Carolan Springs, a town of just over three thousand residents, was undoubtedly not an urban space. In comparison to Denver to the east, the town didn’t even rate neighborhood status.
However, during the annual homesteading fair, the town’s population and capacity swelled. Opening a bed and breakfast during that time would be a no-brainer. As they talked, they realized they could make more money by hosting backyard farming workshops through the nicer months.
The ladies had decided that each of them wou
ld host a workshop about different topics such as raising chickens, bees, and permaculture, as well as indoor skills like making herbal preparations, canning, etc. The guests would learn and see these lessons firsthand at the bed and breakfast. For other areas, like raising goats, they would take day trips to surrounding farms. Because March and April were often designated as “sprinter” by the locals, they decided to launch the program with an indoor class as their inaugural workshop. If winter chose to put on a spring snowstorm, they would still be okay as the classes would all be indoors.
Anne was giddy with excitement about their opening weekend as she had wanted to learn more from Hope about tinctures. She couldn’t wait to take part in the workshop and had already staked out an area on her property for some elderberry bushes, which were known to provide great medicinal benefits.
“Anne? Anne.” Marie interrupted her thoughts.
“Oh, sorry. Daydreaming. Yes?” Anne turned to where Marie stood next to Kandi.
“Did you hear the news?” Marie’s exuberant hand gestures meant she wanted to spill some juicy gossip.
“What? Did we achieve world peace?” Anne replied, not wanting to fuel Marie’s fire, but her snark snuck out anyway. Shoot.
Kandi rolled her eyes at Anne behind Marie’s back.
“Sorcha and Sheriff Carson broke up. Can you believe it?” Marie grinned in anticipation, waiting eagerly for Anne’s response.
“I’m not sure why I should care about that,” Anne replied casually, but felt her face becoming flushed.
Geez. Stop it. Nothing like your face and body not cooperating with your ‘stay cool’ demeanor. Why should I care anyway?
Kandi interjected before Marie could respond, “Here, Marie. Your drink is ready.”
Marie nodded and took the cup from Kandi. She sat down at the table.
“You know those types of women are all the same. Love ’em and leave ’em. I mean, really, some of the clothes she wears. If my Grady weren’t gone, rest his soul, I’d be locking him up and—”
“And she speaks so highly of you, Marie.” Hope cut into Marie’s diatribe. Hope leaned against the counter as Kandi focused on pouring almond milk into the steamer cup.
