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Authors: Darlene Franklin
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reserved manner, anyone who planned a special event for the town’s teens must have good qualities. I doubted many teens frequented the Murks’ honey and blacksmith business.
Before long, the work day ended. Since I usually went by the theater on the way, I didn’t think Gilda would notice if I stopped by Ham’s first. I did call Audie.
“How are my girls today?”
“Junior and I are just fine, thank you.” I smiled at our ongoing joke. “I was calling to let you know I won’t come by the theater this afternoon. I’m stopping by Jessie’s house, since she asked for some advice on this year’s Land Run Days celebration.”
“Tonight? I thought you were going to meet with her on Saturday. You’re not trying to escape Mother, are you?” Audie said it with a teasing note in his voice.
If only that were the reason . I counted under my breath. Should I tell him I hoped to speak with Ham as well? Yes, I should. Audie had kept an important secret from me right before our wedding, and after we worked that out, we both agreed never to do that again.
“No-o.” I drew the word out. “The truth is that I want to speak with Ham, and I’m hoping he’ll be there.”
“Ham Gaynor?” I could almost hear Audie’s mental wheels clicking. “Finella’s ex.” He reached the correct conclusion. “You’re looking into her murder, aren’t you?”
“Jenna practically begged me on her knees. She’s worried that the Chief won’t look past Brad as the obvious suspect. And she doesn’t want Dina thinking her father is a murderer. They’re my sisters, Audie.” I silently pled with him to understand.
“When you put it that way.” Audie laughed a little. “How can I say no? I fell in love with Cecilia Wilde, sleuth extraordinaire. I don’t want you to change. Hey.” His voice brightened. “Do you want me to come along?” Audie had partnered me on my previous detective endeavors.
“Sorry, Charlie. They might suspect something is up if you come along. After all, Jessie didn’t invite you to her planning party.”
“No, she just expects me to produce a Tony-award quality play on the history of Grace Gulch. Speaking of which, I’ve been digging into the Wilde family history. I’ve uncovered some interesting stories. Very interesting.”
“Oh, well, we’ve always been a bit Wilde.” We shared a comfortable laugh. “You’ll have to tell me about it later.” We said goodbye. I printed out some pictures I had located on the internet as an excuse to visit Jessie, and headed out the door.
Five minutes later, I pulled up in front of Jessie’s comfortable bungalow. Kitchen curtains floated in the breeze as the evening air flowed in through open windows.
“And that’s what you’ll tell any nosy bodies who come poking around. You understand?” Ham’s loud voice carried clearly to the driveway. He sounded angry enough to strike his sister.
I sped up my steps.
8
Regardless of Larry Grace’s poor reputation, Bob and Mary Grace provided the foundling town of Grace Gulch with everything needed for a solid future. They funded a library, built the Orpheum, hosted Sunday services at the ranch until they called a preacher, and started up a town library.
In fact, the Graces were fruitful in every way but one. In an era when large families were common, Mary gave birth to her first child after ten years of marriage, their daughter Louella. Fifteen years and several miscarriages passed before their son and heir Roland joined the family.
From A History of Grace Gulch
Thursday, September 14
I checked the side door to Jessie’s house. It was unlatched, and I walked in. Didn’t an unlocked door imply permission to enter?
Spicy smells bordering this side of singed emanated from the stove. Jessie dangled a spoon over a bubbling pot of some kind of soup, maybe chili, instead of stirring it. Ham, at least a foot taller than his sister, stood about three inches away from her face, close enough to
Before long, the work day ended. Since I usually went by the theater on the way, I didn’t think Gilda would notice if I stopped by Ham’s first. I did call Audie.
“How are my girls today?”
“Junior and I are just fine, thank you.” I smiled at our ongoing joke. “I was calling to let you know I won’t come by the theater this afternoon. I’m stopping by Jessie’s house, since she asked for some advice on this year’s Land Run Days celebration.”
“Tonight? I thought you were going to meet with her on Saturday. You’re not trying to escape Mother, are you?” Audie said it with a teasing note in his voice.
If only that were the reason . I counted under my breath. Should I tell him I hoped to speak with Ham as well? Yes, I should. Audie had kept an important secret from me right before our wedding, and after we worked that out, we both agreed never to do that again.
“No-o.” I drew the word out. “The truth is that I want to speak with Ham, and I’m hoping he’ll be there.”
“Ham Gaynor?” I could almost hear Audie’s mental wheels clicking. “Finella’s ex.” He reached the correct conclusion. “You’re looking into her murder, aren’t you?”
“Jenna practically begged me on her knees. She’s worried that the Chief won’t look past Brad as the obvious suspect. And she doesn’t want Dina thinking her father is a murderer. They’re my sisters, Audie.” I silently pled with him to understand.
“When you put it that way.” Audie laughed a little. “How can I say no? I fell in love with Cecilia Wilde, sleuth extraordinaire. I don’t want you to change. Hey.” His voice brightened. “Do you want me to come along?” Audie had partnered me on my previous detective endeavors.
“Sorry, Charlie. They might suspect something is up if you come along. After all, Jessie didn’t invite you to her planning party.”
“No, she just expects me to produce a Tony-award quality play on the history of Grace Gulch. Speaking of which, I’ve been digging into the Wilde family history. I’ve uncovered some interesting stories. Very interesting.”
“Oh, well, we’ve always been a bit Wilde.” We shared a comfortable laugh. “You’ll have to tell me about it later.” We said goodbye. I printed out some pictures I had located on the internet as an excuse to visit Jessie, and headed out the door.
Five minutes later, I pulled up in front of Jessie’s comfortable bungalow. Kitchen curtains floated in the breeze as the evening air flowed in through open windows.
“And that’s what you’ll tell any nosy bodies who come poking around. You understand?” Ham’s loud voice carried clearly to the driveway. He sounded angry enough to strike his sister.
I sped up my steps.
8
Regardless of Larry Grace’s poor reputation, Bob and Mary Grace provided the foundling town of Grace Gulch with everything needed for a solid future. They funded a library, built the Orpheum, hosted Sunday services at the ranch until they called a preacher, and started up a town library.
In fact, the Graces were fruitful in every way but one. In an era when large families were common, Mary gave birth to her first child after ten years of marriage, their daughter Louella. Fifteen years and several miscarriages passed before their son and heir Roland joined the family.
From A History of Grace Gulch
Thursday, September 14
I checked the side door to Jessie’s house. It was unlatched, and I walked in. Didn’t an unlocked door imply permission to enter?
Spicy smells bordering this side of singed emanated from the stove. Jessie dangled a spoon over a bubbling pot of some kind of soup, maybe chili, instead of stirring it. Ham, at least a foot taller than his sister, stood about three inches away from her face, close enough to
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