Read Online Murder at the Big T Lodge: A Liz Lucas Cozy Mystery by Dianne Harman - Free Book Online Page B

look delicious. Are we
having them for dinner?”
    “Yeah, it’s kind of a
specialty of mine. They’re pecan pies for dessert. I’ll put them in the oven
just before dinner and serve them warm with vanilla bean ice cream and a
molasses bourbon sauce. They’re usually a pretty big hit with the guests.”
    “I can see why. That’s
definitely something I’m looking forward to. Jack mentioned there were a number
of trails that lead into the area surrounding the lodge. I thought I’d take Sam
for a walk. I feel like I need to do something physical.”
    The chef laughed. “Liz, I
don’t think you’ll be taking Sam for a walk. I think it’s more the other way
around. Sam will be taking you for a walk. There are a few trails that aren’t
really safe. Don’t think you want a run-in with an armadillo or a rattlesnake.
For some reason they tend to favor certain trails. I can practically guarantee
you that you’ll see some deer and jackrabbits, but they’re nothing to be afraid
of. If anything, they’ll be running away from you. Enjoy your walk!”
    “Thanks. I don’t know how
long we’ll be gone, but we’ll definitely be back in time for dinner. I wouldn’t
miss that!”
    A few minutes later Liz
understood why the chef had said Sam would be taking her for a walk. Several
times she’d started to follow a trail only to have the big dog block her way.
He was an unmovable mass of muscle, and there was no way she was going to walk
down a trial if he didn’t want her to. Finally, she decided to simply follow
his lead. He walked towards a trail and turned around and looked at her as if
to say, “This one’s safe, Liz. Come on.” The old saying that went something
like “When in Rome do as the Romans do” came to mind. Since this was definitely
Sam’s territory, she figured she’d better do what he wanted her to do.
    The trail Sam had chosen
for her led away from the barns and the kennels and into a black diamond crape
myrtle forest. She imagined it was spectacular when it was fully in bloom. For
the first time that day Liz felt like she usually did, upbeat, optimistic about
life, and glad to be enjoying some private time with nature. The forest was
huge, and as the chef had predicted, she saw some jackrabbits and deer. Sam was
very well trained so as not to spook the animals, and he would stand perfectly
still whenever he saw one, waiting for it to make the first move.
    Liz stopped for a moment
and took a sip from the bottle of water she’d brought with her. Sam stopped as
well. Liz caught a glimpse of something off to the side of the trail and
realized it was a doe with two fawns. They hadn’t seen her, so she stood
perfectly still watching them, regretting that she’d left her camera at the
lodge. A moment later the observant doe spotted them, and the three deer loped
off.
    Quite a bit later Liz
looked at her watch and realized they’d been gone over two hours. She knew
Roger would be returning to the lodge momentarily and would probably be worried
if she wasn’t there. While she’d ambled slowly into the forest, now she quickly
retraced her steps on the trail that led back to the lodge. Through the dense
cover of the forest she could just make out the lodge in the distance. As she
walked towards it she heard a voice speaking not too far from her.
    “Rick, trust me on this.
Milt Huston is dead. With him out of the way I’m a slam dunk to be governor. I
want you to prepare a press release. When I get back I’ll call a press
conference, and we’ll get the ball rolling. I also want you to start sending
out feelers for who we want to be on our team. Obviously, I want you to run the
campaign. I’ll make it well worth your time. You’ve been lucky for me in the
past.”
    The man who had been
speaking was quiet, evidently listening to the voice on the other end of what
Liz assumed was a phone that he was using. “How do I know he’s dead? He was
here at the lodge last night, and then this morning the