The Bakers and Bulldogs Mysteries Collection: 20 Book Box Set

by Rosie Sams

Bakers and Bulldog Mysteries

  by

  Rosie Sams

  Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Two

  Taffy had been brought into the shelter in a cardboard box with four of her other siblings. She was the smallest of the litter and by far the scruffiest, but she had a heart of gold, an excellent temperament, and she could purr louder than all of the other kittens in the whole place.

  One by one, each of her brothers and sisters was adopted out to good, loving homes but for some reason, Taffy was looked over every time. It was a lonesome 3 weeks that she spent in the tiny cage. That is until one wonderful day. She had been taking a quick cat nap, curled up comfortably in the corner of her enclosure, when she was awoken by voices speaking right outside.

  "Yes, Mrs. Harrington, she is a lovely kitten. She was found abandoned in a back alley and was brought here with the rest of the litter. She's the last one left but she has a lovely personality and is very affectionate." As Peter Remington, the head of the Port Warren Animal Shelter spoke, Taffy proved his point by slowly pacing back and forth, arching her back and rubbing up against the bars, purring loudly.

  "She does seem rather acceptable, doesn't she?" Mrs. Harrington spoke to her assistant, who stood closely beside her, waiting to receive her next order.

  "Very acceptable, indeed," Brenda, the assistant, responded.

  "I'm sure she will make a fabulous addition to the household."

  Brenda nodded her head in agreement but, when no one was looking rolled her eyes.

  "I do believe I'll take her." Mrs. Harrington nodded at Peter, who proceeded to take Taffy out of her cage and hand her to the older woman.

  “I think you’ll be very happy with her.” Peter smiled. “I’m so pleased to see this little one going off to a good home, she deserves it so much. She will be excellent company for you, the ‘purr’-fect companion.”

  Peter laughed at his joke, but it didn’t elicit any smiles from anyone else. Clearing his throat, he prepared himself for his big sales pitch.

  “Mrs. Harrington, I wanted to take a moment to tell you a little bit about the shelter and the work that we do here. Each year, in Port Warren and the surrounding area, there are hundreds of abandoned animals that need our help, just like little Taffy here. At the Port Warren animal shelter, we provide food, shelter, veterinary care, and the means to find these pets their forever homes. We receive no funding from the government and rely solely on the generosity of our adoptive families and the community as a whole in order to keep our doors open.”

  Mrs. Harrington was staring at Mr. Remington with a blank look on her face, absently stroking the tiny cat that she held in her arms.

  He continued. “Would you be interested in making a donation to our organization Mrs. Harington? The charity that saved Taffy and found her a good home? Perhaps you could make a donation in her name to help others, just like her, in need?”

  “I suppose it’s something that I’ll consider. Now, if we are done here, I’d like to get my new baby settled in at home,” she said before turning away and being followed by her harried looking assistant.

  Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Three

  Rummage sales were always a lot of fun. They were a great incentive to clean out old cupboards and get rid of items that weren’t being used anymore plus, they helped to bring the community together. The annual Port Warren rummage sale was just around the corner, and it had an added benefit, raising funds to support the local animal shelter.

  Melody, the owner of Port Warren’s famous bakery and her business partners, Kerry and Leslie, had been discussing the sale all morning. With all of the bakery’s orders for the day filled there was nothing much left to do at Decadently Delicious than sit around and chat.

  “I’m sure there is a ton of stuff in the back storage room that we can donate for the sale,” Melody said, excited at the prospect of helping out the local charity and being able to clear out some unneeded items at the same time.

  “I think we should be able to scrounge up quite a bit of stuff,” Kerry agreed.

  “Plus, I was thinking that it would be a great idea to bake up some goodies to take with us! We could have a little “Free Treats” table. It's such a great way for customers to sample our baked goods!” Melody was always coming up with great ideas that would help to further promote her already thriving business.

  Leslie jumped in. “I definitely think that's a great plan! That new brownie recipe that we’ve been working on would be perfect!”

  “Oh, and I could easily whip up a batch of cupcakes! They would be a big hit!” Kerry offered. “People could donate to the shelter for those.”

  Melody nodded in agreement. “I don’t think the sale would be complete without some butter cookies too.” At the mention of her favorite cookies, Melody’s faithful French Bulldog, Smudge, lifted her head and perked up her ears. She had been in a deep slumber behind the counter but was wide awake now and let out a yip, looking from girl to girl questioningly. The shop broke out in laughter at the sleepy dog’s antics.

  “There’s no sneaking a cookie past you, is there, Smudge?” Melody giggled and patted the dog on the head. “Here you go, girl,” and she reached into a tin beside her where a spare stash of leftover biscuits was kept for occasions such as this one. Smudge sat obediently, took the treat politely and made sure to clean up every crumb before curling back up for another nap.

  “I am so excited about this rummage sale!” Kerry piped up. “I just know that I am going to find some fabulous items for the new house!” Her eyes were dreamy as she spoke. After being through quite an ordeal, her and her new fiancé, Bradford, were looking forward to marriage and were ready to settle down together. They had been working with a local Realtor for a few months now in search of finding the perfect home. “We both really love that shabby-chic, vintage feel that’s all the rage now. A rummage sale will be the perfect place to find everything that we need to decorate our new home!”

  Leslie was listening and shaking her head. “I don’t know. I mean, I think the sale is a great way to raise money and awareness for the shelter, but I couldn’t imagine buying a used piece of furniture and putting it in my home. You have no idea where it’s been or who has used it before you! Who knows what its history is!” Her dislike for previously owned goods was clearly apparent.

  Kerry laughed at Leslie. "There's nothing wrong with buying second hand, silly! You're just being superstitious!"

  "Well, I have to admit, I agree with Kerry,” Melody said. “I think there's something fun and mysterious about buying someone else's stuff. You get to imagine its history. You know, where it's been and all of the things it's seen. It's kind of exciting!" Melody was always up for a mystery, so it was no surprise that she found the idea of shopping at a rummage sale intriguing.

  Sighing, Leslie looked from one girl to the other. "I don't know about you guys. I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree."

  "Well, one thing we should all be able to agree on is the fact that we need to get baking if we want to have anything to bring to the sale. We don't have much time and we have a lot of goodies to make!" Melody stood up and clapped her hands. "Let's get to work!"

  Everyone except for Smudge got up and went back to the kitchen to get started. The pup was far too exhausted to so much as open an eye, and she continued happily snoring away while the others worked.

  Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Four

  Melody woke early on the day of the rummage sale. She was pleased to see that it was bright and sunny, the perfect weather for a day outdoors. After quickly getting washed and dressed, she clipped on Smudge’s leash, and they both made their way to the bakery, where Kerry and Leslie were already busy packing up the baked goods and rounding up some last-minute donations for the sale.

  The town square wasn't far from Decadently Delicious, so each lady grabbed a tray of stuff and carried it with them as they walked. The bakery had the perfect table, front and center with a view of everything that was going on around
them. All of the other vendors had already started setting up and Melody and Kerry were impressed by some of the things they saw. It was definitely going to be another successful year.

  It wasn't long before buyers started arriving, and the square was bustling with activity. All of Port Warren had turned up and even people from some of the surrounding towns had come out as well. It was better than anyone could have expected. The animal shelter was sure to raise a lot of money for pets in need this year.

  After the set up for Decadently Delicious' table was complete, Kerry set off for a look around. Leslie was happy to look after the stall, it was still early and not too busy, so Melody took Smudge for a stroll to say hello to everyone and see if there were any interesting items for sale that caught their attention. Something that did stand out to the pair as they made their rounds was that one table was being manned by Olive Harrington and her assistant, Brenda Carson. Olive was one of Port Warren's wealthiest residents and had lived in the town her entire life. She was an older lady with graying hair and was best known for her magnificent home and less than friendly demeanor.

  Brenda had been hired by Olive, quite some time ago, to assist her with her daily tasks. Brenda was a straight-faced, quiet woman who many assumed had become that way after having to put up with Mrs. Harrington's foul moods. Olive was the type who usually kept to herself and was very rarely seen in public, or at town gatherings. Curious and wanting to be as welcoming as possible, Melody and Smudge cautiously approached.

  “Good morning, Mrs. Harrington! I wasn’t expecting to see you out at the rummage sale. I believe this is the first year that you’ve attended?” Melody tried to make eye contact with the older woman, but she kept her back turned, refusing to acknowledge Melody’s words. Brenda responded instead.

  “Mrs. Harrington just adopted a cat from the shelter. She thought it would be nice to have a furry companion at home, and the shelter was able to find her the perfect match. It's a very nice little cat.”

  Mrs. Harrington had obviously had enough of Brenda’s ramblings and turning, spoke sharply to the woman. “I think it’s time for you to get back to work, Brenda. The sale has already started, and you haven’t even finished setting up our table yet.” She shook her head in disgust and then addressed Melody. “Yes, I love my cat very much and the shelter did a fantastic job throughout the adoption process. I thought this would be a worthy cause and I would come out and give something back to the community.”

  Despite the woman’s condescending tone, Melody thought her gesture was made with the best of intentions. “Well, that’s very kind of you, Mrs. Harrington. I think this is an excellent cause as well. There are so many animals in Port Warren that deserve good, loving homes. It’s very commendable that you opened up your doors to one of them.”

  Mrs. Harrington looked coldly at Melody, and when she spoke, her voice was the same frigid temperature as her eyes. “Melody Marshall, I did not come out here seeking praise from you or from anyone else in this community.” She turned on her heels, her nose high in the air and proceeded to accost Brenda and her attempt at setting up the table. It was only seconds before she shooed Brenda away with frustration and took over herself.

  Bewildered, Melody continued to browse the sale, but her mind was filled with the conversation that had just taken place. She had always known that Olive Harrington could be a bit overbearing but she had no idea that the woman had no manners and could be so rude. Kerry, who had been watching from the bakery’s table, made her way to Melody and Smudge. “That was interesting,” she said, a slight grin on her face.

  “My goodness, Kerry! Can you believe that woman? The nerve! And poor Brenda, she just puts up with all of the abuse and never says a peep.” Melody shook her head, feeling bad for the assistant.

  “It must be awful,” Kerry agreed, “but at least Brenda has the opportunity to leave if she wants to. She can get up and go at any time. Think of the poor cat living in that home, with that horrible woman. It’s stuck there, with nowhere to go. Now, that’s an animal I really feel sorry for. It probably would have been better off left at the shelter.” Kerry giggled and Melody found it hard not to join in with her.

  “You’re right, but even the meanest people can still love their pets. Maybe Olive is just a cat person, not a people person?” Melody mused. “And anyway, even if she is rude and mean, she did still come out to the sale to show her support for the shelter and has a full table over there with some really nice items on it. She is sure to raise quite a bit of money for the cause.”

  Kerry grinned at Melody and teased her. “You’re always trying to see the best in people aren’t you? Even if they obviously have nothing good in them to see! Come on, let's get back to our booth. It looks like we have quite a few customers there already, and we left Leslie to fend for herself!”

  They headed back towards Decadently Delicious’ table but not before noticing a young man approaching Olive Harrington.

  Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Five

  Melody watched the young man approach Olive’s table and silently wished him luck, hoping that he would receive a better greeting than she had. The man was Peter Remington. He was one of the event organizers and had worked with the shelter for quite some time. He was known around town for doing a lot of good for stray animals and those who have been injured or abandoned.

  Since he started working with the shelter, they had seen a substantial increase in the number of adoptions and also an increase in the funds that were being raised to help the animals in need.

  He approached Olive wearing a big grin. He was obviously surprised and pleased to see her at the event as well and reached out his hand. She took it with disdain.

  "Mrs. Harrington!" he said, nodding happily. "I'm so pleased to see you here, what a wonderful surprise."

  Olive’s face remained emotionless, and she didn't respond. Brenda, who was standing beside Mrs. Harrington, looked embarrassed by her employer’s behavior but kept her mouth closed all the same.

  "How is the little kitty doing? It's been just over a month since you brought her home, hasn't it?"

  It seemed to take all of Olive's effort to respond in a kindly manner. "Taffy is doing just fine, Mr. Remington. She has settled in well and is happy in her new home."

  Peter nodded happily, unaffected by Mrs. Harrington's less than friendly attitude. "Wonderful news. Absolutely wonderful. I'm so glad to hear that the Port Warren shelter has had another successful adoption. Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity, Mrs. Harrington. You've changed the life of a pet for the better."

  Olive, once again, didn't respond, so Peter, seemingly unfazed, continued on. "I remember when you were down at the shelter filling out the adoption application forms, we spoke briefly about the possibility of you making a personal financial donation to the shelter. Now, don't get me wrong, I’m not trying to pressure you into making a contribution if you don’t want to, but just imagine all of the ways that you could help other animals in need.” His voice had taken on the same tone as that of a used car salesman now. “All of the monetary donations that we receive go towards much needed veterinary care for those animals that are sick and we also purchase food and treats for them. Some of the money will buy toys and bedding. And funds are also needed to pay for the shelter overhead costs, advertise for the shelter and to assist in hosting fundraising events like this. As I’m sure you’ll agree, Mrs. Harrington, there are some substantial costs associated with running this charity and we rely on good, generous people like you to make the lives of Port Warren’s pets even better.” Mr. Remington smiled broadly, obviously pleased with the speech he had just given.

  Throughout his spiel, Olive Harrington hadn’t flinched. Her face remained stone cold. Slowly and deliberately, she opened her mouth to speak.

  “Mr. Remington, please rest assured that I am very pleased with everything that the shelter has done for both myself and my little Taffy. I have made amendments to my last will and testament, which take the shel
ter into consideration. Up until the time that I pass away, however, I intend to enjoy my money and spend it as I please. To be honest, you should simply be grateful that I attended this rummage sale and graced it with my presence.”

  Peter was beginning to look a little flustered. He was certain that his sales pitch had worked. “Oh, please, Mrs. Harrington, we do appreciate you being here. Look at all of the beautiful pieces you have brought to donate. It is so kind and generous of you to give up your things and your time for the shelter. But just think how much pleasure it could bring you to see some of your wealth going towards the shelter. It would bring you so much joy seeing your money put to good use while you’re alive.”

  For the first time since she had arrived at the sale, Olive’s expression changed. Unfortunately for Mr. Remington, it wasn’t a change for the better. She smirked at him with a toothy grin.

  “Mr. Remington, I’m sure you’ve managed to convince many other people to hand over money with your sales pitches, but I won’t be manipulated by you.” She obviously liked to see the man squirming uncomfortably and, for the first time, unsure of what to say. His face had fallen and he looked defeated. He quietly thanked Mrs. Harrington and with his head hung low, walked away.

  As Peter left, Melody, who had been watching the entire scene unfold, couldn’t help but notice his fists clenching and unclenching with rage.

  Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Six

  Business was steady all morning and into the afternoon. There were throngs of visitors to the sale, keeping all of the vendors on their toes. The day was going well and everyone was having a fantastic time, especially knowing that all of the hard work they were putting in was for such a good cause.