Hope Callaghan - Garden Girls 05 - Eye Spy (14 page)

Gloria peeked around the side of him and into the cage that Tyler was standing next to.  Inside the cage was a large, red squirrel. He hovered in the corner, his beady eyes stared up at them.  “How did you catch him?” Without getting bit – or scratched – she said to herself.

Tyler shrugged.  “It was easy.  Ryan ran after him while I held the cage. He ran inside and I shut the door.”

Gloria raised her eyebrows in disbelief.  “Really?  He just ran into the cage.” She snapped her fingers.  “Just like that!”

She didn’t press the boys.  The fact that they weren’t harmed was reason enough to be thankful.  “C’mon.  Let’s go tell Judith you got her pesky squirrel.”

The boys raced her inside.  By the time she got there, the boys had told her the story.  She looked up at Gloria.  “They really did get the squirrel?”

Gloria nodded.  “Yep.  It’s in the cage out back.”

“Can you grab my purse?  It’s over there on the bookcase,” Judith said.

Gloria picked up her purse and brought it over to the couch.  It took her a few minutes of fumbling around, but Judith finally managed to open her wallet and pull out two $5 bills.  She handed one to each of the boys.  “This is for you.  Thank you for catching the squirrel for me.”

The boys stared at the money in their outstretched hands.  “Wow!” They looked at each.  “Thank you.” Tyler spoke first.  “Yeah, thanks Mrs…..” He looked at Gloria.  “Mrs. Arnett,” she told them.

“Thank you, Mrs. Arnett,” they said in unison.

The trio made their way back outside and down the steps.  The boys crawled into the back seat while Gloria climbed behind the wheel.

She smiled as she listened to the conversation in the back seat.  “What are you going to do with your money?” Tyler asked his younger brother.

“I’m going to buy me that new race car game for Xbox,” Ryan told him.

“You need a steering wheel to play it,” Tyler pointed out.

“When Grams pays us for cleaning the barn, I’ll have money for the steering wheel AND the game,” Ryan answered.

Tyler shook his head.  “Uh-uh.  I think you need like $25 dollars for that.”

Gloria glanced in the mirror.  Ryan’s mouth drooped and he dropped his chin. He stared down at the $5 bill clenched in his fist.

“If you do an
extra
good job, I’ll give you each $20 instead of $10,” she promised.

That perked Ryan right up.  He was so excited, he started to kick the back of the driver’s seat.  “Really Grams?  I’ll do the best job ever,” he promised.

Gloria’s heart smiled.  She made a vow to spend more time with the boys.  They were growing up way too fast.  It wouldn’t be long and they would be too grown-up to want to spend time with her on the farm.  She hoped that wouldn’t happen, but kids these days got involved in all kinds of school activities and family tended to get pushed to the side.

The three of them changed into work clothes and then the trio and Mally headed to the barn.  Gloria opened the lock and reached over to push the door open.  Tyler stuck out his arm and stopped her.  “No Grams.  Let me do it this time.”

Gloria stepped aside and watched with pride as her oldest grandson pushed both doors open.  She blinked back tears once again.  It reminded her of her husband, James, and how he loved the old barn.  Tyler looked a lot like his grandfather and it melted her heart. 

Gloria glanced around the barn in dismay.  There was still quite a bit of stuff.   The place was in shambles.  The boys would be earning their $20! 

She put Tyler in charge of hanging the tall heap of clothes that the customers had removed from the hangars and dropped in a pile on a table nearby. 

She gave Ryan the task of picking up the toys.  He darted back and forth across the barn floor as he picked up dolls, toy trains and a variety of other items that littered every corner of the barn.  Gloria worked on consolidating some of the household stuff.  She folded some of the tables and set them off to the side.

Mally was so excited to see the boys, she kept knocking knick knacks off the table and onto the floor with her happy tail.  With the patience of a saint, Ryan would trudge over, pick the item up and set it back on the table.

When they were done, Gloria let Tyler shut the barn door.  Ryan put the padlock on and snapped it shut. 

Tyler looked at the Massey Ferguson tractor Gloria had pulled out of the barn.  She had parked it off to the side so she could fit the yard sale stuff indoors.  “Hey Grams, can you teach me how to drive that?” He pointed at the tractor.

Ryan hopped up and down on one foot.  “Yeah!  Me too, Grams.  Can you teach me how to drive it, too?”

Gloria grinned.  “Do you remember when Grandpa Rutherford used to take you boys around the fields in the tractor?”

“Uh-uh.” They shook their heads in unison.

James loved to take the boys for rides.  He’d tell Gloria that someday all of this would belong to them.  She knew he always hoped the boys would love the farm as much as he had.  She was sure James’s face was beaming bright from heaven when he heard his grandsons beg to drive the tractor.

She put an arm around each of their shoulders as they walked back to the house.  “Tell you what – as soon as the crops are out this fall, I’ll teach both of you how to drive the tractor,” she promised.

She went on.  “Now, how about some hotdogs for dinner?”

Ryan jumped up and down and spun around.  “Yum-yum!” He rubbed his tummy.  “I’m starving!” 

She nodded to the garden.  “Could you please go grab a few ears of corn?”

The boys left her in the dust as they raced each other to the rows of corn.  She had a great thought as she watched them pluck corn from the stalks.  She tiptoed across the plants.  The boys each had an armful.  Too many for dinner.  She had showed them last year how to pull the husks back and check to see if they were ready to eat.

“You both earned your $20 in the barn,” she said.  “Would you like to earn a little more tomorrow?”

They both nodded eagerly. 

“I need help in the garden.  Someone to pick the ripe fruits and vegetables before they go bad.” She went on.  “Would you like to help me in the garden for another $10 each?

That was a bargain for Gloria!  “We can start now,” Ryan announced.

But Gloria shook her head.  “No, it’s time for dinner.  You’ll have plenty of time tomorrow,” she assured them.

She shook her head as they headed indoors with Mally and the corn.  She wished she had a third of the energy of just one of her grandsons.  The work she could get done!

Dinner was a quick event and the boys were content to watch TV while Gloria checked her email and the weather forecast for the final day of the sale. 

The boys didn’t argue when it was time for bed.  Mally settled in on the rug in front of them and listened as they said their bedtime prayers.  Gloria kissed them both. She thanked the Lord for her precious grandsons as she turned off the light and pulled the door shut. 

Ruth was up early the next morning.  Early, as in before dawn.  She had hardly slept a wink the night before.  She was so excited about going back to work!  To the place she loved!  She vowed to never, ever grumble or complain about her job again! 

Sharon had stopped by the night before.  The two of them discussed a plan to catch Tammy Dillon red-handed, trying to frame Ruth.  Ruth couldn’t believe the woman – someone she considered a friend – to do something like that to her!

Ruth steeled herself to the task before her.  After today, Ruth could put this whole thing behind her.  Her name would be cleared and justice would be served.  Thanks to Gloria!  She owed her dear friend a great deal.

Ruth stuck her key in lock on the back door of the post office and swung it open. She flipped on the light and stepped inside.  It was like coming home. 

She closed her eyes and breathed in the smell of cardboard boxes and postage ink.  She hung her purse on “her” hook before she slipped out of her sweater and dropped it on top.  She had intentionally brought her fluffiest sweater.  The one with huge pockets.  Pockets that were big enough to slide a bag of drugs into and go unnoticed.  She looked behind her.  Except for the camera that was going to videotape everything. 

She glanced up in time to see Detective McIntyre’s car drive by.  The plan was for her to park down at the end of main street in front of the hardware store.  That way she could keep an eye on the computer monitor and get over there as soon as Tammy did her dirty deed!

Her eyes narrowed at the thought.  She shook her head, determined to focus on something else.

The place was a bit of a mess.  Things had been moved around. Ruth had everything meticulously organized at the post office and now nothing was in its place. 

She opened the top drawer behind the customer counter.  The one she used the most.  Headlights flashed into the window as someone pulled down the alley. 
That must be Tammy,
she thought.

She felt her cheeks warm and her blood begin to boil. 
Get a grip, Ruth.  Be cool
, she told herself. She took a deep breath and willed herself to remain calm when what she really wanted to do was attack Tammy and scratch her eyes out with her fingernails.  The mental image made Ruth smile, just a tad. 

Soon this will all be over and
she
will be the one in prison, Ruth reassured herself.   She forced a smile to her face and spun around in time to see Tammy step through the rear door. 

Ruth was convinced Tammy’s smile was as fake as Ruth’s own.  “It’s so good to see you, Ruth,” she smiled brilliantly. 

Ruth bared her teeth and smiled in return.  “I’m glad to be back at work.”  That wasn’t a lie.  Ruth was thrilled to be back at the post office. 

Tammy hung her sweater on the hook next to Ruth’s.  “I guess Kenny will be back in a few days.”  Ruth nodded, then turned back to the task at hand. 

She prayed she would have the strength to keep her mouth shut.  Ruth was grateful the post office opened right after Tammy showed up.  The lobby filled up fast.  The entire town of Belhaven had heard that Ruth was back and they stopped by to show their support. 

Ruth teared up every time one of them told her how much they missed her.  Even Gloria stopped by to check on Ruth.  She leaned over the counter and gave Ruth a quick look.  “How’s it going?” 

Ruth straightened her lips.  “Okay.  I’ll be glad when this is over,” she spat out through clenched teeth. 

Gloria had an idea.  How they could speed things up.  Maybe give Tammy the perfect opportunity to plant the drugs.  “How ‘bout we run across the street to Dot’s and grab a quick lunch.”

Ruth started to shake her head until Gloria gave her a hard look.  She slowly nodded when she realized what Gloria was doing.  “Sure!  Yeah! Great idea.”

Ruth leaned around the corner.  Tammy was shoving mail into the different slots.  “Is it okay if Gloria and I run across the street and grab a quick bite?” Ruth’s voice dripped with honey.

Tammy didn’t look up.  “Sure, yeah.  It’s slowed down a little so I should be able to handle it.”

Ruth started for her purse, then stopped.  She needed to leave it behind, to give Tammy a place to plant the drugs.

The girls wandered out the front door and headed for the street.  When they were out of earshot, Gloria spoke words of encouragement to her friend.  “You’re doing great, Ruth.  Just hang in there.  It will be over soon enough.”

Ruth nodded.  “I just want to wrap my hands around her throat and throttle her!” she confessed.

Gloria touched her arm.  “I know, I know.  You don’t want to go to prison for murder do you?” 

Ruth grinned.  She shrugged her shoulders.  “But it might be worth it.”

They slipped in the front door of the restaurant.  Ruth picked a table by the window.  She stared across the street at the post office, as if she had x-ray vision and could see Tammy’s bad deeds through the brick exterior.  “She’s probably in there right now, sticking the stuff in my purse!” Ruth hissed under her breath.

Dot stopped by with a couple glasses of water.  “Who’s tending to the yard sale?”

Gloria looked up.  “Jill and Lucy have it covered. First thing this morning we were busier than a one-armed wallpaper hanger.”  She twirled the straw in her glass of ice water.  “It hit a lull so I thought I’d come into town to check on Ruth.”

“Glad to see you back in the saddle, Ruth,” Dot told her.

Ruth nodded.  “Me, too.  It’s good to be back.”

Ruth started to say, “I’ll be glad…”

Gloria read her mind and cut her off.  “…when the yard sale’s over.”

Ruth swallowed hard.  She’d almost forgotten that only a few people knew about the sting.

Dot took their order and disappeared. “I almost slipped up,” Ruth admitted.

“This has to say between the two of us,” Gloria reminded her.

Dot stopped back a short time later with two turkey club sandwiches and a heaping mound of crispy French fries.  Gloria was hungrier than she thought.  Then she remembered Jill, Lucy and the boys still slogging it out at the yard sale.  “Can I get two BLT’s, two more turkey clubs and a bag of fries to go?”

“Sure can.” Dot jotted down the order and disappeared again.  By the time the to-go order was done, so was Ruth and Gloria.  The post office was empty when they stepped back inside.  Tammy was nowhere in sight.  She must’ve heard the front door because she popped back in through the rear door looking a bit startled.  “Oh, you ate fast.”

Hopefully not so fast that you didn’t have time to plant the drugs,
Gloria thought to herself.

Tammy smiled brightly.  “I’ll step out for a bite now if you don’t mind.”

Ruth tried to smile back but she just couldn’t pull it off, mainly because both she and Gloria knew that she was supposed to meet with Sharon on her lunch hour to let her know if Ruth had done anything “suspicious.”  If she had given Tammy any reason to believe Ruth should be searched before she left the post office. 

Ruth’s eyes shot daggers at Tammy’s back when she left through the back screen door.  She tapped her fingers on the gleaming countertop.  “You think she did it?”

Gloria shrugged.  “Yeah.  I’d have to say she did.” She was going to add that they’d know soon enough, but the post office door jingled and stopped Gloria from speaking.

Judith Arnett shuffled in through the front door.  Gloria could see the poor woman was still in pain.  She smiled when she saw Gloria.  “Hi, Gloria.  I’m surprised to see you here, what with the big sale going on at your place.”

Gloria smacked the palm of her hand on her forehead.  “Oh my gosh!  I forgot about the sale!” She darted to the door, grabbed the handle then swung around.  “Keep me posted on the other,” she shouted out to Ruth before she ran to her car. 

She got in, then remembered she’d left the lunches on the table at Dot’s.  She climbed back out of the car and took off across the street.  Dot was waiting for her, the bag in hand.  “I figured you’d be back!”

“Thanks, Dot!” She grabbed the bag and ran back out the door.  She climbed back in Anabelle for the second time in as many minutes and started the car.  She pulled out and onto the road just as Tammy and Detective McIntyre were pulling in.

She snapped her fingers.  “Rats!  I wish I could be here to see this!”  But she had to run.  She checked to make sure her cell phone was in her purse, certain that Ruth would call as soon as it was over and give her the blow-by-blow.  Still, it wasn’t as good as witnessing it in person!

The yard sale was back in action when Gloria pulled in.  There had to be a dozen cars lined up beside the barn and down the road!

She grabbed the bag of food and made a beeline for the table where Lucy was sitting.  She looked up from the table when she spotted Gloria.  “I though you forgot all about us!”

“I’m sorry, Lucy!  I got so caught up in Ruth’s first day back at work, I forgot.”

“How’s it going?”  Lucy was in on the sting.  After all, she was the one that first caught Tammy on camera slipping drugs into Ruth’s purse.

Gloria rolled her eyes.  “Whew!  Ruth’s fit to be tied.” She chuckled.  “Man, if looks could kill, Tammy would’ve died hours ago!”

Jill and the boys wandered over.  Tyler opened the bag and looked inside. The boys had been hard at work in the garden all morning.  Gloria was thankful for the help. 

It seemed that every summer, the garden was a little bit harder to handle.  Or maybe it was time for Gloria to think about slowing down and consider planting a more manageable garden.  She did it partly for the fruits and vegetables she could use all winter, but there was another reason.  She did it in honor of James.  James loved the garden. When he was alive, their evening ritual was to wander through the garden and check on the plants.  Keeping the garden alive was like keeping a small part of him alive.

Ryan pulled her from her thoughts.  He grabbed a small handful of fries from the paper bag and stuffed them in his mouth.  “Grams promised to teach me ‘n Tyler how to drive the tractor.”

Jill raised her eyebrows.  “She did, did she?”

Gloria handed a BLT to Tyler and nodded over his head.  “It’s time.  They’re old enough now,” she said.

She grabbed the other BLT and put it in Ryan’s outstretched hand.  “Your Father would be thrilled knowing the boys love the farm as much as they do.”

Jill choked back sudden tears.  It stung every time her Mom mentioned her Dad.  Not just for herself, but for the years her two sons didn’t have their grandfather in their life.  It had only been a few years now, but the boys had been young when he died.  Each year that passed, his memory would fade even more.  “You’re right,” Gloria’s daughter whispered.  “Dad would love it.”

“It looks like I missed lunch.” A deep male voice drifted over Gloria’s shoulder.  A familiar voice.  It was Paul!  She spun around and faced him.  He gave her a warm hug and kissed her cheek.  “I had a call a couple miles up the road and thought I’d drop in to see how the sale was going.”  He looked at the groups of people sifting through the tables.  “I should’ve brought some of my stuff over.”

Gloria slapped his arm.  She narrowed her eyes.  “I told you!”

He lifted his hands in self-defense.  “I know, I know,” he admitted.  He leaned in towards Gloria and whispered in her ear.  “I heard your company moved out.” 

Ryan stepped between the two of them and pushed them apart.  He eyed Paul suspiciously.  “Grams is going to teach us how to drive the tractor,” he told Paul. 

Gloria couldn’t get over how excited the boys were about driving the tractor.  She made a mental note to spend some time thinking about what other stuff around the farm they might be interested in.  She could see if the Palmers down the road would let her come by with the boys so they could feed the chickens and check for eggs…

Tyler puffed up his chest.  “We helped Grams with the garden
and
cleaning the barn last night,” he informed Paul.

Paul nodded somberly.  “Your grandmother is lucky to have grandsons like you.  I wish I had grandsons.”

Ryan’s eyebrows shot up.  “You don’t have any?”  He thought every grandparent had grandsons.  He wasn’t so sure about girls…

Paul shook his head.  “Nope. I have granddaughters but no grandsons.”

Ryan slipped his hand into Gloria’s.  “Maybe Grams can bring us by to help you sometime,” he offered.  “Right, Grams?”

Gloria’s heart melted right then and there!  She had the most precious grandchildren on the planet!

“I would like that very much.” Paul glanced at his watch.  “I have to get back to the station.” Gloria walked him to the car and watched as he climbed in.  He pulled the door shut and rolled down the window.  He nodded toward the boys, who were still eating their lunch.  “You have some fine grandsons,” he told her.

Gloria stiffened her back and smiled.  “I couldn’t agree more.”

He started the car and put it in reverse.  “I’ll call you later tonight?”

She nodded, then leaned in the window and kissed his lips.  “I’ll be waiting,” she flirted, then batted her eyes. The smile never left his face as he swung the car around and pulled onto the road.