Peaches and Scream (Georgia Peach Mystery, A) (25 page)

“So, he was losing business.”

She nodded, the barrel of the gun moving in rhythm with her head. “Yeah, that’s right. He made one bad deal after another. Things were getting tight. We started arguing more. Then he decided he was in love with that woman. Love! Can you imagine? That girl’s nothing but low-rent trash.”

I blinked double time. How odd that she and Ida used the same exact words to describe Laney. “You followed him to the orchard after the party?”

“That’s right. I was served with the divorce papers earlier that week. He was suing for practically all our assets, even the house. How dare he! So, I came down here to have it out with him. Only he refused to listen. I followed him to the party that night to make one last plea.”

“And you found him arguing with Joe Puckett?” I raised my voice and inched a little closer to the door. Hopefully, whoever was inside had noticed us by now and called the police.

She tipped her head back and let out an evil laugh. “You mean the old man?”

I nodded.

“He set things up perfectly for me. I saw them arguing, the old man getting more heated by the second. Then Ben said something to him. Must have ticked him off real bad, because he shoved Ben back against the tree. Knocked him clean out.”

“And that’s when you made your move?”

“How could I not? Ben lying there unconscious. The scarf hanging in the tree branch. All I had to do was cinch it around his neck and wipe it clean of prints. Simple. Easy. Almost as if fate was calling to me, answering my prayers.”

I shuddered to think of her prayers. She shoved the gun in my face, causing me to stumble backward. Over the course of the conversation, I’d worked my way toward the back door of the church, which seemed smart at the time. Only now Millicent had me pinned against the wall at gunpoint.

“You’re a problem,” she started. “I could have shot Floyd and called it self-defense, but no one would buy that excuse with you. So this is what we’re going to do.” She had the barrel of the gun pressed against my skin. “We’re going to go for a little drive out to the mill.” She waved her free hand toward the lot. “We’ll take your car. That way, when they find your body, they’ll just assume you were out there nosing around and had an accident.” She chuckled. “A deadly accident.”

I shook my head and pressed harder against the wall. “You’re not going to get away with this, Millicent.”

She shot me a wily grin. “Are you kidding? With the dim-witted sheriff y’all got?” Her grin turned to a sneer as she began to lose patience. “Now move!”

Suddenly the back door of the church flew open and Laney Burns came out screaming and wielding a can of Aqua Net. Immediately, I jumped back and covered my eyes. Millicent wasn’t so quick, though. She cried out in agony and dropped the gun as Laney doused her eyes with a direct stream of the potent chemical.

“Get the gun, you idiot!” Laney yelled, still pointing the can at Millicent, who was crouching against the wall, holding her face in agony.

I bent down and scooped up the weapon, cradling it uncertainly in the palm of my hand. The steel felt surprisingly cold.

“Oh, for cryin’ out loud.” Laney dropped the can and ripped the gun from my hands. “Didn’t your daddy teach you nothin’ about guns?” I watched in amazement as she double-gripped the handle—red glossy nails gleaming in the sunlight—and spread her legs, assuming a perfect Charlie’s Angel stance. She even managed to flip her hair over her shoulder in the process. “Freeze, sucker!” she barked; then her serious expression broke and she began to giggle. “I’ve always wanted to say that.”

I pulled out my cell and started to dial. “Just hold that position, Laney. I’m calling the police.”

•   •   •

“So, now what?” Ida asked. Almost a week had passed since the Harvest Festival and we were sitting in the rockers on the front porch, waiting for Ray to bring Mama and Daddy home. Junior was next to us, sleeping peacefully in his carrier, while Roscoe kept dutiful watch. I bent down and fingered one of the pup’s long ears. At least I had a couple extra days with the little fellow. Hawk asked me to puppy sit awhile longer so he could wrap up the final details of the case. Only I knew his real reason for hanging around wore pink stilettos and had a penchant for red nail polish. I’d heard through the Cays Mill peach vine that they’d become quite the item. I was happy for them. Really, I was.

I rocked back in my chair and gazed out over the orchard where Charlotte and Savannah were walking arm in arm, their blond locks catching the sun and their heads bent together in a conspiratorial manner. I drew in my breath and started to answer Ida’s question. “Well, once the cops caught up with Floyd Reeves, he turned on her. Told them all about how Millicent had hired him for arson, but how he suspected she’d planted the bottle of Peach Jack to frame Hollis to cover her own dirty deeds. His testimony pretty much solidifies the case against her. According to Ray, there’s not a lawyer in the entire state who could save her from a life sentence behind bars.”

Ida rocked back and dabbed at her forehead with a handkerchief. “I, for one, don’t feel a bit sorry for her. When I think what that woman put me and my family through . . . Let’s just say if it’d been me holding that gun instead of Laney, why, I might have pulled the trigger.”

I obliged her rant with a slight nod, knowing darn well Ida could never hurt a fly.

“And I’m here to tell you,” she continued, “that Laney Burns may be low-rent trash, but I’m sure as heck glad she was around when you needed her.”

I chuckled. “I would have never expected to find Laney
Burns at church. Guess she was there early to get herself spiffed up for some solo she was going to sing. Who knew she was the church choir type?”

Ida pursed her lips and rolled her eyes skyward. “Oh, shoot, yes. That girl sees herself as some sort of gospel-singing diva. Takes it all very seriously. You should hear how she belts it out at church.”

I shook my head in wonderment before going on to explain the rest of the news to Ida. “As for Joe . . .” I sighed. “He’s doing so much better. He’s back home now. The sheriff’s not pursuing any charges against him.”

“Thank goodness he’s okay. Things could’ve been so much worse. . . .” She shook her head. “Hollis’s drinking really got him into a heap of trouble this time. As it is, they all came to an agreement. No one’s going to press charges for the shooting if Hollis agrees to work out some sort of deal to help Joe pay his back taxes and stay on his land.”

“That’s wonderful!” I enthused. I’d been worried about what type of trouble Hollis might face for shooting Joe.

Ida continued, “I still can’t believe Hollis was mixed up in taking that poor man’s land. You know, he feels real bad about all that now.”

I had an inkling that his “feeling real bad” had more to do with Ida telling him how to feel and what to do about it. But, knowing Ida, she’d give credit to her husband either way. “Well, it looks like everything’s going to be okay, after all.”

Ida smiled. “Sure is. But getting back to my original question . . . now what?” She looked at me with a pointed expression.

“Oh, you mean with me?”

“Yes, silly. With you.”

My eyes swept over the farm, from the orchards to the old barn and back again. “I’ll be staying on for a while to help Mama and Daddy here at the farm. Thanks to your girls, my first foray as an entrepreneur was as success. I’ll just need to convince Daddy that we can make a go of this sideline
business. Thought maybe I might even look into opening a storefront somewhere down on the square. Just something small.” I was trying to sound nonchalant, but lately, all I could think about was the possibility of opening such a shop—rows and rows of tasty Harper Peach products, interspersed with other peachy items. Perhaps the tangy-smelling peach-scented candles or the handmade peach soap I’d spied at the Harvest Festival. Local vendors would probably jump at a chance to consign their products in my shop. And during harvest season, I could offer crates of fresh, juicy peaches in every variety for visitors to purchase by the bagful. . . .

“Won’t be easy, you know.” Ida’s voice cut through my daydream and brought my focus back to reality.

She was right. Dreaming of such a venture was one thing; convincing our Daddy of its legitimacy was another. I sighed. “You’re right. Nothing’s ever that easy with Daddy. He’ll probably never go for any of my ideas.”

She waved off my words. “Heck, I’ll help you with him. I was talking about living back here.” She bent down and shooed a fly away from the baby. “Sometimes this town’s hard on a person.”

Hearing a wisp of sadness in her tone, I cast a curious glance her way. The roundness of her shoulders and slight downturn of her lips hinted at the toll the past few weeks had taken on her. “How are things with you and Hollis?”

“Oh, ya know, I’m angry. Angry about a whole lot of things. But we’ve met with Reverend Jones a couple times this past week. Talking through our troubles. Hollis seems determined to make things up to me.”

We rocked in silence for a few minutes before she finally spoke again. “You know, you could have come to me, Nola.”

I stopped rocking and looked her way. “What do you mean?”

“All those years ago. When you got in trouble.”

I swallowed hard and looked away.

She went on, “I put it all together the other day at the
hospital. When you were holding Junior, looking at Dane Hawkins that way.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but couldn’t summon any words.

“I got to thinking about that summer before you left,” she continued. “I remembered how you slipped into that gawd-awful funk. It gave Mama fits.” She heaved a sigh. “Plus, I’d heard a rumor that you left the prom with some boy from the next county over. Then that day you got so sick at work with those horrible cramps, Mama was so worried she took you in to see Doc Harris. Well, I didn’t think much about it back then, but when Hawk showed up here, I noticed you got to actin’ all strange and everything. Then at the hospital the other day”—she shrugged—“I knew. I just knew.”

I unclenched my hands to swipe a tear from my cheek and sniffled. “You’re right,” I whispered.

She reached across the table and touched my arm. “Nola. Losing that baby wasn’t your fault. It just happens sometimes.”

“But I was so ashamed. I’d prayed for it to go away. And then when it did—”

“Hush, now. You know God answers prayers according to His will, not ours. And everything happens for a reason. You going away for all these years . . . all the good you did in so many places, why, honey, we’ve always been so proud of you. But what I’m trying to say is there was a reason for all that.” She pulled back her hand and started dabbing at her own face. “Just like there’s a reason for you being back here now.”

I was wiping my face double time, tears freely flowing, when I heard Ray’s car coming down the drive.

“They’re here!” my nieces called out in unison, running pell-mell for the driveway. “They’re here!”

Roscoe let out a few excited yelps and pranced around the porch, almost tripping me up as I hurried out to meet the car. Mama, the first one out, was immediately tackled by my nieces and smothered in kisses. “Nana, Nana!” Charlotte cried with excitement. “I sold all your peach preserves.”

I slapped my forehead, squeezing my eyes shut, until I heard my mother respond, “Oh, that’s nice, dear. Now, where’s that new grandbaby of mine?”

Thank goodness for little distractions.

Daddy lumbered out of the car next. I ran to him, wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing his cheek. “I’m so glad you’re home, Daddy!”

“Aw, darlin’, I sure missed all you.” He engulfed me in a giant bear hug, lifting my feet from the ground and twirling me the same way he did when I was a little girl. Then, putting me down, he turned his focus to the front porch, where Mama was already fussing over Junior. Savannah and Charlotte bounced around her legs, proudly showing off everything about their new baby brother, from his tiny fingers to the toes on his wrinkly pink feet. Ida looked on, beaming with joy.

Ray came up next to us and set down a couple pieces of luggage. Placing his hands on his hips, he nodded toward the porch. “Will you look at all that? Seems to me like a lot of fussing going on over there.”

Daddy’s grin spread from ear to ear. “Believe me, Bud. Now that there’s a new baby around, the womenfolk won’t pay a bit of attention to us. Why, we won’t get a hot meal around here for weeks.”

Ray playfully patted his belly. “I don’t think you’ll suffer too much, Pops.”

We chuckled and started for the porch. “How was your trip, Daddy?” I asked. “Did you have fun on your cruise?”

He paused midstep and looked at me. “It was fine, darlin’. Just fine. Those white beaches and that green water were something to see. But I got to tell ya, there’s really no place in the world I’d rather be than right here.” He swept his arms out in front of him. “Right here on my farm with my family.”

I wrapped my arm around his back and laid my head against his chest. “Me, either, Daddy. Me, either.”

Scrumptious Peach Cobbler

(Courtesy of the Baptist Church Ladies’ Society)

8–10 fresh peaches

1 lemon—juiced

¼ cup white sugar

¼ cup brown sugar

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon nutmeg

2 teaspoons cornstarch

Cobbler Topping

2 cups all-purpose flour

½ cup white sugar

½ cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 ½ sticks cold unsalted butter

½ cup hot water

2 tablespoons white sugar for sprinkling

Peach Mixture:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Peel and slice peaches (removing the pits) into thin wedges and place inside a large bowl. Add the juice of one lemon and toss to coat evenly. In a separate bowl, combine ¼ cup white sugar, ¼ brown sugar,
cinnamon, nutmeg and cornstarch. Add this mixture to the peaches and stir gently until peaches are coated. Place peach mixture into a 2 quart dish and bake for 10 minutes.

Cobbler:
In a large bowl, combine flour, sugars, baking powder and salt. Cut cold butter into small pieces and mix into dry ingredients until slightly blended. The mixture should be crumbly. Add hot water, a little at a time, until a dough forms. Do not exceed ½ cup of hot water.

Remove peaches from the oven and drop spoonfuls of cobbler on top until the peaches are covered. Sprinkle the entire cobbler with extra sugar. Place the dish on a baking sheet in case it bubbles over while baking.

Bake for 30–40 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.

Ezra Sugar’s Peach Scones

3 peaches

1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour

¼ cup white sugar

½ teaspoon salt

4 teaspoons baking powder

5 tablespoons unsalted cold butter

½ cup milk

¼ cup sour cream

Egg wash

1 egg

1 tablespoon milk

2 tablespoons white sugar for sprinkling

Peel, remove pits and dice peaches into small pieces and set aside. Sift flour into a large bowl and add sugar, salt and baking powder. Mix well. Cut in cold butter until the dough mixture is crumbly. Do not overwork the dough.

In a separate bowl, combine milk and sour cream. Fold this mixture into the dry ingredients just until mixed. Add peaches.

Place the dough into the refrigerator and let chill for 15 minutes.

Remove cold dough and using floured hands, roll into 3 inch balls. Place balls on a lightly greased cooking sheet and flatten slightly.

In a small bowl, whisk together 1 egg and 1 tablespoon of milk. Brush this mixture over each scone and sprinkle with extra sugar. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 10–15 minutes or until edges are golden brown.

For an extra-peachy zing, serve with Harper’s Spiced Peach Preserves. Yummy!

Della Harper’s Blue Ribbon Peach Chutney

20–24 peaches—slightly underripe (firm to the touch)

2 lemons—juiced

2 cups of apple cider vinegar

3 cups light brown sugar

1 cup raisins

½ cup dried cranberries

1 onion—chopped

1 clove of garlic—finely chopped

1 teaspoon finely grated ginger

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

½ teaspoon mustard seeds

Blanch peaches for easy removal of skins by placing in boiling water for thirty seconds and then immediately rinsing with cold water. Peel, pit and chop peaches into small chunks and place into large stockpot. Add the juice of two lemons and the apple cider vinegar. Stir in remaining ingredients. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce heat to simmer for two hours or until chutney has reached desired thickness.

Ladle into sterilized pint jars leaving ¼–inch headspace. Wipe the rim with a clean paper towel. Center sterilized lid on the jar and screw on the band until firmly in place. Place jars into boiling water bath and process for ten minutes. Remove and let cool. After twenty-four hours, check each jar for proper sealing. Properly processed chutney can be stored in the cupboard for one year.

Yield: 5–7 (16-ounce) one-pint jars.

Sweet Georgia Peach Iced Tea

4 cups boiling water

3 family-sized tea bags or 9–12 regular-sized tea bags

5 ripe peaches—peeled, pitted and sliced

2 lemons—juiced

1 cup simple syrup*

5 cups ice

*Prepare simple syrup by placing 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water in a microwave-safe container. Microwave on high power for 2–3 minutes or until the sugar is dissolved.

Place 4 cups of boiling water in a large, heatproof pitcher and add tea bags. Let steep approximately 10 minutes before removing tea bags.

Place prepared peaches into a blender and blend until smooth. Run liquid through a strainer to remove pulp and any leftover peach pieces. Add the juice of two lemons and the simple syrup, and stir.

Pour peach mixture into tea and add 5 cups of ice. Serve with a slice of fresh peach as garnish.

Yields approximately one gallon of peach iced tea.

Harper’s Spiced Peach Preserves

4 cups fresh peaches (or 4 cups frozen peaches macerated in sugar*)

2 lemons—juiced

1 package powdered pectin

5 cups sugar

1 teaspoon allspice

1 teaspoon finely grated ginger

Blanch peaches for easy removal of skins by placing in boiling water for thirty seconds and then immediately rinsing with cold water. Peel, pit and chop peaches.

In a large pot, combine peaches, the juice of 2 lemons, pectin, allspice and grated ginger. Stirring continuously, bring
mixture to a full rolling boil (one that cannot be stirred down) and add sugar. Bring mixture back up to a boil and cook for an additional minute. Remove from heat and skim foam from the surface.

Ladle into sterilized jelly jars leaving ¼–inch headspace. Wipe the rim with a clean paper towel. Center sterilized lid on the jar and screw on the band until firmly in place. Place jars into boiling water bath and process for 5 minutes. Remove and let cool. After twenty-four hours, check each jar for proper sealing. Properly processed preserves can be stored in the cupboard for one year.

Yield: 5–7 (8-ounce) half-pint jars.

*Frozen Peaches—
If you’re too busy during peach season to make preserves, freeze your fresh peaches and make preserves anytime of year! The key is to macerate the frozen peaches in sugar as they thaw. This will prevent your preserves from becoming runny.

Here’s how:
Place 4 cups of frozen peaches in a large bowl and cover with 2 cups of sugar (reserved from the initial 5 cups). Make sure the peaches are completely coated and allow them to thaw at room temperature. The sugar will absorb excess liquid from the thawing peaches. Proceed with the rest of the recipe as directed, remembering to add only 3 cups of sugar after fruit mixture has reached a full rolling boil.