Give Em Pumpkin To Talk About (Pumpkin Patch Mysteries Book 1) (22 page)

 “I thought it looked like you had a good harvest from the pumpkins I saw at the barn-raising. That’s why I asked.” Cindy started in on another apple. “I mean, I won’t deny that everyone has sneaked into the pumpkin patch down through the years. But you can only carry out so many that way. If we could get your permission before you go, we could come in with trucks and haul them away.”

Sarah thought about it. Even though Jack said the pumpkins reseeded themselves, it wasn’t necessary to have all of them do it. “Sure. I don’t see why not. They’re just dying out there.”

“Great!” Kathy said. “Thanks. We’ll come down tomorrow.”

Ben came in with a young man who was a part-time farm worker. He started the apple press to squeeze out the cider. Kathy explained to Sarah that the difference between apple juice and apple cider was that the juice was clarified. No bits of apple.

They gave Sarah the first taste. She was reluctant to drink it and surprised when she enjoyed it. “This tastes amazing. Much different than the kind you buy in the store.”

“No wonder,” Cindy said. “Everything tastes better when it’s fresh. It’s one of the perks of living on a farm.”

“Whatever you say,” Sheena said. “As soon as I finish school, I’m gone. I don’t care how fresh the food is. I just want to live in the city with all the conveniences.”

“You’ll come back,” Cindy added. “People always do.”

Kathy didn’t agree with that. “Kids leave and don’t come back. I’m sorry.” She smiled at Sarah. “Not like your grandparents. I mean people sell their farms that have been in their families for generations. That’s why this area never grows. Kids graduate from high school, and they look for an easier life.”

“Yeah.” Sheena’s heavily made-up eyes returned to Sarah. “That’s right. You’re from the ghost house. Are you living there?”

“For a few days,” Sarah replied. “But there aren’t any ghosts.”

“What do you think happened to those old folks who lived there?” Sheena continued, despite warning frowns from Kathy and Cindy. “Some people say it was aliens and they were abducted. Their bodies were probably dropped off in space.”

“That’s enough of that.” Cindy got a few more apples. “I remember Tommy and Bess. Something happened to them, but it wasn’t aliens.”

“What do you think it was if it wasn’t aliens or ghosts?” Sheena asked.

“I think we should talk about something else.” Kathy nodded at Sarah. “You didn’t know them, and it’s a painful memory for other people.”

Sheena apologized. “Sorry. I wasn’t thinking about it that way. I guess it’s been so long. It doesn’t seem like anybody would still be alive who knew them.”

Cindy laughed at that. “You are such a baby. You’d better get some life experience before you go to the city or those people will eat you alive.”

The conversation topic changed as they continued loading the apples into the presser. At the other end, gallons of cider were filled and closed. Kathy, Cindy, and their helpers sealed the tops.

Sarah was exhausted by the time they were finished, but it made her feel good seeing the glass gallons of cider at the side of the kitchen. Making something like this was different than the work she normally did—not that she wasn’t proud of the work she did for Clare—it was just unusual to get her hands dirty doing it.

They all pitched in to make supper. Bits of leftover apple were made into fritters that went along with ham and beans. There were leftover biscuits from breakfast that morning and a new wedge of cheese. Kathy had been trying her hand at cheese-making during the year.

But Sheena and her friend left before they could eat. They were on their way to meet other kids at the Burger Shack. She apologized again to Sarah for not considering her feelings about her missing grandparents.

“They’re good kids,” Kathy said when the girls were gone. “They get caught up in too much other stuff that they don’t need in their lives.”

Cindy laughed as they set the table. “You were exactly the same way. Your mother was so sure you were going to live your life as a street junkie—she didn’t even want you to take an aspirin! Sheena will be fine too. You’ll see. She was raised right, with strong roots. You can’t beat that.”

Ron showed up at the door just as they sat down to eat. Kathy didn’t say a word, just made room at the table while Ben got a plate for him.

“What’s been going on with that murder investigation?” Cindy asked with no preamble.

“You know I can’t talk about all that.” Ron smiled at Sarah beside him at the table. “But we’re working on it. A few new things have come to light. It’s just a matter of time.”

Sarah wasn’t surprised at Kathy’s quick table arrangements that put him beside her. Again, his hand kept wandering across her knee. It seemed rude to mention something that probably shouldn’t have bothered her.

“What about Jack?” Ben asked. “Is he still gonna go to jail for the murders?”

“Because we all know there’s no way he was responsible,” Cindy added. “I’ve never known a nicer, more respectful man in my life.”

“That’s because you’ve never gone over to dig for gold,” Ben’s young helper declared. “He’s like a demon if he doesn’t want you there. Half the kids at school are terrified of him.”

Ben slapped the back of his head. “I told you not to go over there.”

“Sorry.” He shrugged. “Everybody does it. You play the lottery. It’s the same thing.”

“Trespassing and digging holes in someone else’s property is not the same thing as the lottery,” Cindy told him. “I keep hearing that the new generation has it all figured out. But they sound as stupid as we ever did.”

The boy held his head down but continued eating.

“Let’s talk about something else—like Christmas.” Cindy smiled. “Now that’s a pleasant thought.”

The conversation turned to local tree farms and who had the best trees. Kathy talked about wishing she had more land so she could grow grapes for wine as well as fir trees.

“Sounds like Sarah’s place is still for sale,” Ben said. “We talked about buying her property.”

“That’s a great idea,” Sarah said. “Ron suggested that I leave a manager here if I couldn’t sell it. Why don’t you two just plant whatever you want? I’ll leave something legal in case Mace can sell it. But in the meantime, it would be extra space for you.”

Ben and Kathy exchanged interested glances across the table.

“That sounds like it could work,” she said. “I’d need some kind of warning time so I could harvest whatever I’d planted.”

“Not fir trees,” Ben said. “But maybe we could move some of the short term crops over there and you could plant some trees here.”

“You don’t have to decide tonight,” Sarah said. “Think about it. We can talk tomorrow.”

“That would give Jack a home too,” Cindy said. “I’ve been worried what would happen to him if the land was sold.”

“That way no matter if he worked for me or not, he’d be on my land,” Kathy said. “Maybe I could still convince him that I’d be a good boss.”

It seemed like a reasonable solution.

Sarah thought Ron would be pleased that she’d taken his suggestion, but he was staring across the kitchen with a scowl on his face. Her cell phone rang before she had a chance to ask him what was wrong. She excused herself and went to answer it on the back porch.

“Is this Sarah Tucker?”

“Yes. Who’s this?”

“This is Robert Glossom from over at the historical museum in town. You had a question about the three men that might have taken the Confederate gold.”

“Oh. Yes.”

“Mind you, I still don’t believe that gold is buried on your property—or in Misty River—this is for the sake of argument and historic fact.”

“That’s fine.” She smiled at the qualifier.

“The three men were big Mike Denning, Edward Broadwell, and Barton Clapp.”

Sarah gulped and her hands started shaking. She sat on one of the old rocking chairs. There was a dim porch light above her. “Thank you, Mr. Glossom. I appreciate your research.”

“Think nothing of it. Thank you for visiting the museum.”

She felt a little sick to her stomach after she’d put away her phone. Why hadn’t Ron mentioned that their ancestors were in cahoots on the gold? He probably knew. It wasn’t like they hadn’t talked about the history behind it.

There was this terrible feeling that something was very wrong. But just because one of Ron’s relatives was involved with stealing the gold, or whatever happened to it, didn’t mean anything today. Her relative was part of it too.

Ron was a deputy—respected in the community. Why was she even thinking that he could be part of George and Leland’s murders?

It was crazy, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d just learned something important.

 Sarah went back to the kitchen. Everyone was clearing the table. She thought about telling them what the research had brought up, but one look at Ron changed her mind.

“Is everything okay?” he asked, coming to her side.

“Yes. Mace has another buyer who’s interested in the land.” She smiled. “I’m going to talk to him tomorrow.”

“Good news,” Ron agreed, putting his arm around her and giving her a quick squeeze.

“Darn!” Kathy added. “Just as I was starting to consider the possibilities of using your land. That’s not fair.”

As Ben promised Kathy that they’d find an alternative to planting short-term crops on the acreage next door, Sarah excused herself, taking her handbag with her to the bathroom. She turned on the light and took out the deed to her land. With her heart beating fast, she read through the list of previous owners.

Close to the top was Edward Broadwell. The land had changed hands quickly—in less than a year Mike Denning was listed as the new owner.

Could that be it? She stared at her pale face in the bathroom mirror. Did Ron feel that he owned the land and the gold? Did he really believe the gold was still on the property?

Kathy’s curt knock on the door made her jump. “You okay in there?”

“Yeah. Fine. Thanks.”

What should she do now? She’d already jumped the gun telling the sheriff that she thought Mace had killed the two men. She couldn’t tell him that she suddenly had a weird idea that his deputy had done it. He’d think she really was insane.

Kathy suggested board games, but Sarah was exhausted again. She could understand why people went to bed early when they got up at dawn—around six p.m. she was already tired.

Besides, she was anxious to tell Jack about her thoughts. She hoped he’d take it seriously.

“I’d like to, but I’d probably fall asleep,” Sarah said with a yawn. “I’ll be glad to get back to easier work and later mornings.”

“When are you going?” Ben asked.

“I’m not sure yet, but I’m going to leave Kathy as the steward of my property.” She glanced at Ron, wanting him to know that he wouldn’t have free rein with it. “There’s the issue with using the land as collateral for Jack’s bond, but I’m sure that will pass.”

“Or we’ll track him down,” Ben promised.

Kathy nudged him with her elbow. “Of course Jack’s not going to run. He might look like a wild mountain man most of the time, but he has integrity. He knows what he’s doing.”

Ben offered to take Sarah home—she still hadn’t heard from the rental car company.

“I have to leave anyway,” Ron quickly volunteered. “I’ll be glad to see her home.”

Sarah wanted to insist that she go home with Ben, but that could tip Ron off about what she was thinking. If he was guilty of killing the two men, she didn’t want him to get away. She had to stay cool and calm, thanking Ron with a polite smile.

After saying goodnight all around, Sarah went out to Ron’s car. She tried to keep the conversation light, probably laughing too much and worrying if he would get suspicious. He pulled into the drive and she took a deep breath.

Just let me get out of here and find Jack.

“I’m glad you were able to get the deed for the property today.” Ron turned to her.

It was dark and hard to see his face once the car’s interior lights were off.

“Yes. And thanks for the idea of finding a manager for it. I feel much better knowing I can leave Kathy in charge. That was such a good suggestion.”

“Glad I could help.” He reached under his seat and pulled out a large handgun. “Now where’s Jack? Out looking for my gold?”

Chapter Twenty-Four

 “What’s that for?” Her heart thudded in her chest.
Cool and calm
. She tried to take a deep breath but it wouldn’t come.

“Let’s go inside, Sarah.”

“I don’t understand.” She tried to bluff. “What’s wrong?”

“Come off it. I know you went to the museum today, and you got the deed. You’ve put two and two together by now. That’s fine. I’m done playing games. I know you and Jack have been looking for the gold. Don’t bother denying it.”

“Ron, I—”

“Once I frame Jack for your murder too, he’ll be gone for a real long time. Kathy and Ben won’t think anything of me coming around to help out. Once I get the gold maybe I’ll buy this land—even though by right it should already belong to me. You see, Big Mike killed my great-great uncle, Edward, and took the land and gold for himself.”

“Look, you don’t have to do this,” she said. “It’s all ancient history. You can find the gold and take it for all I care. How much do you think is left after people have been searching for two hundred years?”

“We’ll see, won’t we?” He nudged her with the gun. “Out of the car.”

Sarah felt like she had to comply. He got out right behind her, sliding across the seat, and pushed the gun in her side.

“You know, I really like you,” Ron said, touching her hair. “You’re pretty and smart. I’ve tried to think of ways to get rid of you without actually hurting you, but you’re still here, still in my way.”

 “I’m not in your way at all,” she disagreed. “I just told you that you can have the gold. I don’t want it.”

“Sure you don’t.” He sneered. “You want it just like George and Leland did.”

 Trying to distract him, she went after his actions. “I don’t understand why you killed George. I’m guessing Leland was also in your way because he wanted to buy the land.”