Chocolate Kisses

-10-

 

 

 

Lauren pulled to the curb and tapped the horn. She hummed, “Lost in Margaritaville” while she waited.

“What do you want?” Muriel yelled from the doorway. “Haven’t you done enough harm already? It’s your fault Scott got hurt.”

“That’s not true.” Scott materialized from behind her. “If you want to blame someone, blame me. I was careless. Now, be a doll and get those papers for George’s release together and leave them on my desk. I’ll look at them when I get back.”

“You’re going to release that no ‘count?” She eyed Scott like he’d lost his mind. “Next time he’ll bust your head open and don’t go expecting me to pick up the pieces.”

“It all depends on what Tyne wants. That’s one of the reasons we’re going out there today.” He hugged Muriel with his good arm. “Don’t worry, things will be okay.”

“Well, then, give Tyne my love,” she grumbled.

Lauren exited the SUV and went to stand next to Scott, thinking this might be a good time to talk to the older woman. “Muriel, some of the women were telling me that you’re an expert quilter. I saw a couple of your designs over at the carnival. Do you think you could teach me? I’ve always wanted to learn.”

Muriel snorted and waved a hand in dismissal. “Why would a fancy city girl like you need to learn anything from us poor country folk? I thought you hired people to do things for you.”

“You’re an artist,” Lauren answered ignoring the jibe. “And I admire your work. My Momma was going to teach me, but then I got married and moved away.” She watched Muriel’s tough veneer crack ever so slightly. “Please, everyone says you’re the best.”

“I don’t know about that. I just made a few quilts to raise money for the fair. They weren’t anything special.”

“But they are special. When I get moved in, I’d like you and your husband to come for dinner. We can talk about it then. Maybe we could start a quilting group.” She smiled at the older woman.

Muriel looked doubtful. “Charlie and I were never good enough to be invited to the Rocking M before. I wouldn’t want to darken your doorstep.” She pulled her sweater closer around her neck and turned to go inside.

“Wait.” Lauren laid a hand on Muriel’s arm. “It would be my pleasure to entertain you and Charlie.”

“Maybe. I’ll have to let you know.” Muriel walked inside.

“That went well,” Lauren said.

“You can be sarcastic if you want, but at least she talked to you,” Scott answered. “And she didn’t say no. But we need to get going; we’re already late.”

*****

Twenty minutes later, Scott pointed to a driveway. “Up ahead on the right is where we turn. Take it slow over the cattle guard.”

Lauren signaled and guided the car off the highway. “So, this is my new home!” She felt like leaping from the car and doing cartwheels all the way to the house. “Oh, God, I can’t wait.”

Scott shook his head. “No, that’s the foreman’s house where Tyne and George live. Follow the drive to the left; you can barely make out the roof line of your place among the trees. Pull up to the porch and we’ll pick up Tyne. She wanted you to have lunch in your new home.”

She eased the Hummer forward. “Is that her? I can’t wait to meet her. I want to see everything,” she said without taking a breath.

Scott stepped out to open the rear passenger door. “We’re ready if you are, Tyne. I think Lauren’s going to explode if we don’t get her over to see the big house soon.”

Tyne clambered into the back seat. “There’s nothing graceful about getting into this thing, is there?” She laughed and extended her hand over the seat toward Lauren. “I’m pleased to meet you. Lunch is ready; I just came back here to wait for you.” She pointed ahead and to the left. “Follow the drive until you run into the lodge.”

Lauren wrinkled her nose in disgust. “I suppose it is a lodge when you come to think about it. Graham always used it for hunting. Although, calling it the big house sounds like it’s a prison.”

Tyne inched forward to perch on the edge of the seat. “U...Lauren, now that you’re here, I think I need to warn you before we go in. The...décor...is...uh...”

Lauren pulled to the front door and slid from the car then came around to peer up at the huge house. “You’re trying to tell me I’m going to hate it, aren’t you?”

Tyne nodded. “You’re going to hate it.”

“I have to see.” Lauren burst through the front door. “Oh. My. God! It looks like Daniel Boone or Davy Crockett lived here.” She whirled in a circle to take in the knotty-pine walls and fieldstone fireplace. “There’re dead animals everywhere.” She sank to the floor in the middle of the room and laughed hysterically.

Scott rushed to her side. “Are you okay, Lauren?

“We can change it,” Tyne offered.

“I expected a few hunting trophies, but this?” She gasped for air and wiped at her eyes. “Some of them must be a gazillion years old...and there’s so many. Where’d they all come from?”

“Come have some tea,” Tyne pleaded. “We can see the rest of the house after lunch.”

Lauren followed her into the kitchen, but burst into laughter again. “I’m surrounded; they’re everywhere.” She pointed to a row of stuffed rabbits, pheasants, quails and even an armadillo parading across the top of the kitchen cabinets. “I don’t know if I can eat with this audience. We used to eat these critters back home, now they’re staring at me.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-11-

 

 

 

     Scott finished his coffee and set the mug on the table. “What do you want me to do about George? I’m not going to press charges unless you say so.”

“Can you just let him go like that?” Tyne turned dark eyes toward him, her head tilted to one side. “I thought you already booked him.”

Lauren interrupted. “Do we have to talk about this now? We were having such a lovely time.”

“It’s not that I want to.” Scott looked away from the women. “The county needs a decision and I can’t stall forever. Besides, I’m not sure time in jail is what George needs.”

Tyne rose to clear the table. “How soon would George be free?” She set the dishes on the counter and started loading the dishwasher.

“He could be home tonight, if that’s what you want. I already asked Muriel to take care of the paperwork. I don’t imagine you like staying at the ranch all by yourself.”

“I’m not afraid to stay alone,” she said. “One of the ranch hands replaced all the lights.”

“What about the dog?” Scott asked.

Tyne sighed. “I sent her over to my sister’s for a few days. When George settles down, I’ll go get her. She’s noting but a mutt, but I miss her.” She loaded a few more dishes. “How about you release George in the morning? Let him stew in jail one more night. Maybe he’ll learn his lesson.”

Lauren said, “Tyne, you seem very calm about this whole mess.”

“Calm? No, not really. Resigned to George’s craziness maybe, but I still don’t know what’s bothering him. I just want him home and back to his old self. He’s a good man.”

“But what if he hurts you?”

Tyne shook her head. “He would never hurt me.”

“What about last night?” Scott asked.

“He wasn’t himself last night. Oh, my God. I just remembered. Come into the office, I want to show you something.” She led the way through the living room and down a hallway. She pushed open the door and switched on the light. Coals from a dying fire lay covered in a blanket of ash in the fireplace. The French doors were closed against the cold with the drapes still open.

“This room is nice,” Lauren said. “I especially like the moose. It’s like having Mother Superior spying over your shoulder. Does he drool?”

“Graham was particularly proud of that moose. He shot it himself. But, George doesn’t like this room either. He only comes in here to use the computer.”

“What did you want to show me?” Scott asked.

“Yesterday, after lunch, George was checking emails before going back to work. Just give me a minute to get a connection.”

Lauren peered at the monitor. “That’s a nice computer. It’s just like the one Graham had in his office. I think his son, Adam, picked it out for him. Graham used it to play card games.” She didn’t care to mention his proclivity for child pornography.

“Here we go,” Tyne said. She clicked on an icon and the email server opened. “I use it to keep track of my eBay sales, but George was always working on spreadsheets and graphs. He’s very organized.”

She scrolled down the list of emails until she found the one she wanted and double clicked to open it. “This doesn’t really say a lot, but it sounded strange.”

“Read it out loud,” Scott said.

“Sure, it says ‘New shipment night of 11/14, usual time. Be ready to receive 6 heads.’ I have no idea what it means, but George went ballistic when he read it.”

Scott moved closer to the screen. “It’s signed, ‘A=MC.’”

Lauren turned suddenly from her scrutiny of a hodgepodge of stuffed waterfowl. “What did you say?”

“It’s signed, ‘A=MC.’ Does that mean anything to you?”

Lauren shook her head.

“You don’t look very convincing,” Scott said.

“November 14th is just two weeks away.” She wasn’t convinced, but didn’t acknowledge Scott’s comment. “Could it mean 6 head of cattle?”

“I don’t think so. He wouldn’t be taking on additional cattle at the beginning of winter.” Tyne pushed away from the desk and went to stare out the French doors.

“Sometimes, I wonder if he’s smuggling drugs, but that makes no sense. I can’t even get him to take aspirin for a headache. It might be nothing. He has a lot of email buddies he corresponds with, mostly other ranchers.”

“Did you go through his in box?” Scott asked.

“Yes, I did.” Tyne lifted her chin in defiance. “Can you blame me?”

“I would have done the same thing. Was there anything else that caught your attention?”

Tyne slumped into the desk chair. “No, I’m guessing that George might have deleted a lot. There’re a few business related messages, but that’s it.”

“I’m sorry,” Scott said. “I wish I could offer more help, but I just don’t know what to do. I’ll have the county sheriff release George in the morning. Besides, we’d better get back to town. Addie roped Lauren into selling tickets at the carnival. I don’t think she knows what she’s getting into.”

Tyne gave a sad smile. “Are you sure you don’t want to see the rest of the house before you go?”

“I don’t think I’m up to it right now. I can handle only so many moldy, stuffed varmints in one afternoon.”

“Okay, don’t let the goblins scare you." She hesitated for a moment. "I have no right to ask this, but if you’ll give me a couple of days with George to get him back on track before you move in, I’d appreciate it.”

“Yes, of course. Addie said I could stay at the Inn as long as I want. Thank you for everything. Lunch was delicious.”

Scott cradled his injured arm and moved toward the front door. “I think I’d better get back, too. This is starting to throb.”

“Just one more thing,” Lauren said. “Do you think you could sell some of these atrocities on eBay?” She gestured toward the menagerie adorning the walls. Maybe some other sick soul would like to own a few.”

“I can try,” Tyne answered. “Scott, will you bring George home or do I need to drive over and pick him up. I might be tempted to leave him in jail if I have to go after him.”

“I’ll call and let you know.”

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