Read Online Mulled Murder (Pennyfoot Holiday Mysteries) by Kate Kingsbury - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kate Kingsbury
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P.C. Northcott represented the law in Badgers End, and right now he was waiting for her in the library with, she hoped, the good news that he had solved the crime and the guests of the Pennyfoot Country Club could enjoy their Christmas visit in peace.
CHAPTER
5
Pansy was halfway across the courtyard when she heard Charlie’s voice echoing in the rafters of the stables. He sounded angry, and she slowed her steps as she reached the doors, straining to hear what he said.
He had to be talking to the new assistant, and Pansy felt sorry for that young man as the torrent of words blasted her ears.
“How many bloody times do I have to tell you? You have to get in the stall with the horse. He’s not going to eat you, you bloody twit. He’s only interested in his feed. Why won’t you listen to me? You act as if you’re afraid of the horses. Why would you take a job in the stables if you’re afraid of horses?”
Henry’s high-pitched voice answered him, too quiet for Pansy to make out the words.
Charlie spoke again, softer this time. “Well, all right then. Get in that stall and give Champion his feed before he starts stamping his feet with hunger. He’s waited far too long as it is. What? No, he’s not going to trample you, silly bugger. I was joking. Can’t you take a bloody joke?”
Pansy decided it was time to intervene. She called out as she walked through the doors, “Morning, everyone! What’s going on here, then?”
Henry stood at the entrance to Champion’s stall, a bucket in one hand and a broom in the other. His face was completely white, except for a bright red spot in each cheek. He stared at Pansy as she approached, as if he were pleading with her to rescue him.
Charlie turned at the sound of her voice and gave her a grin. “Well, here comes a pretty lady to brighten up the place.”
Pansy tossed her head, though secretly she was flattered. Charlie was a good-looking young man and knew how to make a woman feel good about herself. Much as she adored Samuel, there were times when she wished he were as generous as Charlie Muggins with the compliments.
“None of your sauce, Charlie,” she said, and sent poor Henry a smile. “I’m getting married in three days and that’s no way to talk to a married lady.”
“You’re not married yet, luv. I have to make hay while the sun shines.” Charlie moved closer. “So what brings you into our humble abode?”
“Mrs. Chubb sent me to tell you she’ll need a carriage this afternoon to take her into town for some Christmas shopping.” She looked around. “Where’s Tess?”
“Jacob took her out for a walk.” Charlie leaned against the stall door and leered at her. “I wish you’d pay as much attention to me as you do to your dog, the lucky bugger.”
Pansy frowned. “I wish Jacob had asked me first before taking her out. She doesn’t know him all that well. He might lose her.”
Charlie laughed. “Why would he do that?”
“I dunno. She could run off and not listen to him when he called her. I don’t want her going out with Jacob. I don’t trust him.”
“Why not?”
Pansy shrugged. “I dunno,” she said again. “There’s just something about him. I wish Clive was still here. I could trust him with my life.”
“How about me?” Charlie draped an arm around her shoulders. “You trust me, don’t you?”
“About as far as I can throw you.” She moved out of his reach. “How long ago did Jacob take Tess?”
“Not long. He was just going to take her for a run across the lawns. He’ll be back any minute.”
“Well, I hope so.” Pansy hunched her shoulders against a sharp blast of wind from the ocean. “I’m supposed to be watching after her.”
“Well, you can watch after me, instead.”
“No blinking thanks.” She turned to go. “Don’t forget to get that carriage ready.”
“All right.” Charlie looked at Henry, who still hovered nervously by the stall. “Give me that,” he said, holding out his hand.
CHAPTER
5
Pansy was halfway across the courtyard when she heard Charlie’s voice echoing in the rafters of the stables. He sounded angry, and she slowed her steps as she reached the doors, straining to hear what he said.
He had to be talking to the new assistant, and Pansy felt sorry for that young man as the torrent of words blasted her ears.
“How many bloody times do I have to tell you? You have to get in the stall with the horse. He’s not going to eat you, you bloody twit. He’s only interested in his feed. Why won’t you listen to me? You act as if you’re afraid of the horses. Why would you take a job in the stables if you’re afraid of horses?”
Henry’s high-pitched voice answered him, too quiet for Pansy to make out the words.
Charlie spoke again, softer this time. “Well, all right then. Get in that stall and give Champion his feed before he starts stamping his feet with hunger. He’s waited far too long as it is. What? No, he’s not going to trample you, silly bugger. I was joking. Can’t you take a bloody joke?”
Pansy decided it was time to intervene. She called out as she walked through the doors, “Morning, everyone! What’s going on here, then?”
Henry stood at the entrance to Champion’s stall, a bucket in one hand and a broom in the other. His face was completely white, except for a bright red spot in each cheek. He stared at Pansy as she approached, as if he were pleading with her to rescue him.
Charlie turned at the sound of her voice and gave her a grin. “Well, here comes a pretty lady to brighten up the place.”
Pansy tossed her head, though secretly she was flattered. Charlie was a good-looking young man and knew how to make a woman feel good about herself. Much as she adored Samuel, there were times when she wished he were as generous as Charlie Muggins with the compliments.
“None of your sauce, Charlie,” she said, and sent poor Henry a smile. “I’m getting married in three days and that’s no way to talk to a married lady.”
“You’re not married yet, luv. I have to make hay while the sun shines.” Charlie moved closer. “So what brings you into our humble abode?”
“Mrs. Chubb sent me to tell you she’ll need a carriage this afternoon to take her into town for some Christmas shopping.” She looked around. “Where’s Tess?”
“Jacob took her out for a walk.” Charlie leaned against the stall door and leered at her. “I wish you’d pay as much attention to me as you do to your dog, the lucky bugger.”
Pansy frowned. “I wish Jacob had asked me first before taking her out. She doesn’t know him all that well. He might lose her.”
Charlie laughed. “Why would he do that?”
“I dunno. She could run off and not listen to him when he called her. I don’t want her going out with Jacob. I don’t trust him.”
“Why not?”
Pansy shrugged. “I dunno,” she said again. “There’s just something about him. I wish Clive was still here. I could trust him with my life.”
“How about me?” Charlie draped an arm around her shoulders. “You trust me, don’t you?”
“About as far as I can throw you.” She moved out of his reach. “How long ago did Jacob take Tess?”
“Not long. He was just going to take her for a run across the lawns. He’ll be back any minute.”
“Well, I hope so.” Pansy hunched her shoulders against a sharp blast of wind from the ocean. “I’m supposed to be watching after her.”
“Well, you can watch after me, instead.”
“No blinking thanks.” She turned to go. “Don’t forget to get that carriage ready.”
“All right.” Charlie looked at Henry, who still hovered nervously by the stall. “Give me that,” he said, holding out his hand.
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