Murder at the Bonfire Read online

  Murder at the Bonfire

  A Pet Portraits Cozy Mystery

  Book #8

  Sandi Scott

  Copyright © 2018 Sandi Scott and Gratice Press

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at [email protected]

  Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction

  Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Dedication

  To Yoshi:

  Who has brought lots of love, joy, and laughter since coming into our lives.

  -Cora

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Letter from the Author

  About the Book Cover

  PREVIEW: Murder at the Apple Orchard

  PREVIEW: Crêpe Murder

  RECIPES

  The Ultimate Holiday Cookie

  Summer Mocktail: Mango Tango

  Summer Stone Fruit Carpaccio With Vanilla Syrup and Ginger Cream

  Vodka Blackberry Breeze Cocktail

  MORE BOOKS BY SANDI SCOTT

  Chapter 1

  “This is a really great idea, Georgie.” Aleta Kaye gushed to her sister. “I’m surprised you went for it. I’m proud of you for breaking out of your comfort zone.”

  “What are you talking about?” Georgie looked at her twin who had only the slightest resemblance to her. “A chance to spend a weekend at a cabin? Who wouldn’t want to do this?”

  “Normally, I’d say you.”

  “You’re crazy. Look, I’m wearing a plaid shirt with my favorite bib overalls and hiking boots. I’m an adventurer. I’ll try anything once.” Georgie smirked as she drove down a smooth road protected on both sides by tall, majestic trees and patches of long, thin reeds of cattails and thistles.

  “Your plaid shirt and boots are hot pink, and your bib overalls have never seen a hiking path or even dirt for that matter. Sure, you’ll try anything once. Except where there might be spiders or bugs.” Aleta countered.

  “Well, I also know my limitations.” Georgie changed the subject quickly. “What does that sign up ahead say?” She tapped her sister on the shoulder and pointed with one hand while holding the steering wheel with the other.

  “Welcome to Brown County. Fallen Oaks Lodge two miles ahead.” Aleta replied with a smile. “I am really looking forward to this. Tell me again how you managed this sweet deal?”

  “You remember I was painting the portrait of Lance, the Great Dane?” Georgie said as she quickly glanced at her watch.

  “Yeah. You said the dog was very well behaved.”

  “He certainly was! Whoever their dog whisperer was, I wish I would have known them when the kids were growing up. Lance posed like a statue and was so relaxed, painting him was like visiting a spa.”

  Aleta chuckled.

  “You know, after painting Candy the cockatoo that liked to dance to AC/DC music I wasn’t sure I ever wanted to paint another pet in my life.”

  “Birds can be a challenge.” Aleta said with a grin.

  “They can. I never understood the attraction to having them as pets. They poop while they fly. Uhm...the upside to that? Anyone?”

  Aleta reached over and squeezed the arm closest to her, laughing along with her sister.

  “Oh well, to each his own.” Georgie continued as she shrugged. “I just paint beautiful portraits of all creatures great and small, right? Anyway. Lance’s owner was taking him to a service dog competition this weekend and wasn’t going to be able to use the reservations. They were already paid for, so in lieu of payment for the portrait we get a free weekend at the Lodge.”

  “I think you should get paid in trips and restaurant coupons from now on.” Aleta nodded and pointed straight ahead. “There. That looks like the entrance.”

  A small wooden booth designed to look like a miniature log cabin stood at a wide, paved “V” that was the entrance to the lodge.

  “Mornin’, ladies.” The attendant at the booth was a full-figured woman crammed into a tight-fitting green uniform with “Brown County Wildlife Preserve” stitched on the pocket of her shirt. Beneath that was a nametag that read “Sheila”. She had a cherubic face and curly red hair sticking out from a green hat with the same “Brown County Wildlife Preserve” stitched across the front.

  “Good morning, Sheila.” Georgie said. “We’re staying at one of the cabins at the Fallen Oaks Lodge for the weekend.”

  “Well, that’s wonderful. Welcome.” Sheila gave the ladies a couple of flyers that included a map of the wildlife preserve and rules for parking; there were also directions for finding local restaurants, antique shops and the nearby Walmart so they could pick up any necessities that might have been forgotten. “Just follow the signs to the lodge and enjoy your stay.”

  They pulled away from the cabin and began the long journey further into the nature preserve grounds that surrounded the lodge.

  “Are you reading the map?” Georgie asked.

  “Yes, I’m reading the map. Take a left at this fork.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, Georgie.” Aleta was firm, “See the arrow says left.”

  “But it looks like it is right on the map.”

  “You pay attention to the road and I’ll maneuver the map.”

  “I have to go to the bathroom. I don’t want this to take any longer than it has to.” Georgie grumbled.

  “What? Just pull over. There are plenty of trees and shrubs. No one will see what you are doing. You can hold my camera while you go.” Aleta laughed. “Anyone driving by will think you are a birdwatcher.”

  “Don’t make me laugh, Aleta!” Georgie squealed. “We could have a real problem on our hands!”

  “Not we.” Aleta laughed some more.

  By the time they made it to the entrance of Fallen Oaks Lodge Georgie was complaining she was about to burst. They double-parked Pablo, Georgie’s orange vintage Volkswagen then Georgie ran inside the lobby, leaving Aleta to handle the check-in.

  “You’re staying with us for the weekend?” The girl behind the counter was wearing an outfit not much different from Sheila’s. It was green slacks with a lighter green blouse and a gold scarf around her neck. Her name tag read “Carol”.

  “Yes. It’s actually under my sister’s name. She’s in the ladies room.” Aleta replied as she looked around the cozy lobby. It was decorated like a log cabin complete with a large fireplace, moose and deer heads mounted on the walls, a stuffed grizzly bear that stood at least eight feet high, and half a dozen wood carvings of Indian chiefs, bald eagles, and howling wolves. The entire place smelled like burning leaves.

  “Well, we’ll get you all set up and she can sign the paperwork.” Carol said pleasantly. While they waited the young lady told Aleta about the kitc
hen that was open from six-thirty in the morning until ten for breakfast. Then it didn’t re-open again until five-thirty and remained open until eleven for dinner. From nine to eleven the menu was limited to just a few items and those changed every night.

  “What about desserts?” Aleta asked.

  “We have a maple ice cream that is known throughout the region. It is amazing with a slice of pecan pie!” Carol had obviously been working at the lodge for a long time. She typed on the computer, pulled papers from the printer, recited a few more things from the menu and maintained eye contact with Aleta through it all.

  “That was close.” Georgie said as she swaggered up to the counter. “Are we all settled?”

  “You just need to sign these. It looks like you are all paid up through Sunday. You’ll be staying in cabin number seven.” Carol handed over a set of keys with a huge, bulky green and yellow Fallen Oaks Lodge keychain attached to it.

  “You can park your car in the south lot and your cabin is just a quick jaunt over the bypass right outside here.” She pointed out the front doors. “Here is a map of our grounds. If you are interested in taking a hike, which I would highly recommend now that the leaves are starting to change, there are several trails you can follow depending on your experience.

  “We also have a bonfire every night at dusk.” Carol continued with barely a pause for breath. “We provide wine, cider and water. It is for twenty-one and older. That makes the gathering a little more relaxing for our grown-up visitors.”

  “Good to know.” Georgie whispered.

  “The swimming pool is still open in case we have an Indian summer day but last I checked the forecast we are looking at beautifully cool temperatures for your stay.”

  “Thank you so much, Carol.” Aleta jingled their keys.

  The sisters turned and walked out the sliding lobby doors, arms linked as usual. As they walked back to Pablo, Georgie whispered in Aleta’s ear, “I’m so excited. If the cabin looks like the lobby this is really going to be fun.”

  THE LADIES WERE NOT disappointed as they unlocked the front door to cabin number seven. It smelled of burnt wood from the fireplace along with fresh linens.

  “This is as cozy as can be.” Georgie smiled as she walked further inside. There was a bedroom with two full size beds, and the bathroom door had a half moon emblem on it with the word “outhouse” written beneath it. There was a small kitchenette that consisted of a mini-fridge, a two-burner stove and a small square of countertop.

  “We won’t be cooking but this is sweet, isn’t it?” Aleta said as she ran her hand across the counter.

  Georgie nodded and set down a small cooler they had brought with them filled with bottled water, some oranges, crackers and cheese and half a dozen Hershey bars.

  The windows allowed a good bit of light in when the rustic burlap curtains were pulled aside and the plaid couch pulled out into a bed. There were paintings of mountains, lush forests and mallard ducks on the walls.

  “I think this will do nicely for the next two days, don’t you?” Georgie slipped her arm through Aleta’s as they stood looking around.

  “Yes,” Aleta agreed, “now let’s go check out the rest of the place.”

  Chapter 2

  With their maps in hand the Kaye sisters followed the paths that wove their way around the Lodge. There was a swimming pool with a couple of children bobbing up and down in it as their parents sat poolside reading.

  “That is probably the most peace those parents have had in months. Remember when we’d take the kids to a place that had a pool?” Aleta reminisced.

  “There was no reason to take them to a place that didn’t have a pool. I’d have lost my mind if I had to entertain those savages when we went camping.” Georgie said, grinning at the memory. “It was bad enough we always had to fight over who got the cot. Remember how they’d roll in a cot for the one extra person. Oh, my gosh. You’d think the kids were deciding who was going to be sacrificed to wolves the way they argued.”

  “I can tell you miss those days.” Aleta teased as they left the pool area and began their journey down one of the easier trails.

  “Yeah, like I miss hemorrhoids.” Georgie pointed to the map. “This says up ahead there is a man-made lake.”

  “What’s it called?”

  “Lake Find-a-Hunk.” Georgie said with a straight face.

  “What? Oh, you liar.” Aleta laughed and swatted at her sister’s arm.

  The trail was wide and well worn by hundreds of feet that had traipsed over it over the years. Georgie and Aleta gasped as they saw bright cardinals and blue jays flitting back and forth among the thick branches of trees overhead.

  “Carol was right.” Aleta pointed down the path. “Look at the beautiful colors coming through the green leaves. Living in the city really makes a person forget what the seasons look like.”

  Georgie shrugged. “We can tell by the decorations in the windows of the stores that school is starting again and Halloween is right around the corner.”

  “We’re pitiful.” Aleta said.

  “How so?”

  “You’re an artist. I’m, well, for lack of a better word, financially secure. We should be visiting places like this all the time. Seeing the autumn colors. Then the white blankets of snow. Finally the buds of flowers as spring arrives again and the birds build their nests.” Aleta shook her head. “What’s wrong with us?”

  “I couldn’t agree more. I‘m so glad I brought my sketchbooks.”

  “You are going to draw until your hand falls off.” Aleta smiled.

  “I think I might. What are you going to do?”

  “I’m going to be sitting nearby listening to the birds and thinking of anything but work or home.”

  “That reminds me. We should call Emily to let her know we arrived and check on Bodhi and Freckles.” Georgie said.

  “Yes. Although I hate to say it, your pug and my cat have probably forgotten all about us with Emily there.”

  “Isn’t that true? She spoils them something awful.” Georgie pouted her lips.

  “No discipline.”

  “None, whatsoever.” Georgie took hold of Aleta’s arm and pointed straight ahead. “Will you look at that?”

  A couple yards ahead the trees opened to reveal the manmade lake they saw drawn on the map. It was a perfectly calm sheet of glass reflecting the blue sky above. Along the shore there was a wooden pier with a few weathered and worn dinghies tied to it.

  “Can anyone take those boats out?” Georgie wondered.

  “I don’t know. But you know who would love this?”

  “Who?”

  “Stan.”

  If she were to be completely honest with herself, Georgie would have admitted to Aleta that she had already thought about her ex-husband. This was the kind of place he would have enjoyed.

  Instead, she pretended as if he hadn’t even crossed her mind.

  “You’re right. He probably would enjoy this.”

  “You guys would probably have a good time if you came together.” Aleta nudged her sister with her elbow.

  “Aleta, that dinghy has sailed.” Georgie said firmly. “Besides, we still see each other a lot. You know how nice it is to have the house to yourself. I’m not ready to give that up. I might never be ready to give that up.”

  “I’m just always hoping.”

  “I know. Sometimes I really wish he would have just bought a sports car and had an affair instead of packing up and heading out to discover gold ‘in them thar hills.’” Georgie chuckled. “At least he would have been home and after I beat the tar out of him we could have worked things out, maybe.”

  “Yeah, you’d have to work things out since I believe if he had an affair he’d be eating through a straw.”

  “I don’t want to talk about Stan anymore. Let’s just look at this view.” Georgie quickly changed the subject away from her ex-husband.

  They stood there in silence and although the lake was beautiful and rich, rustic c
olors of fall were creeping up over the trees complimenting the bright, blue sky, Georgie’s mind insisted on wandering back to Stan. Aleta was right, this kind of place was right up his alley.

  Why did he have to leave her like he did? No notice. No discussion. Suddenly one day he was gone, leaving behind a note saying he was heading off to California in search of gold. Prospecting, in this day and age. Who did such a crazy thing? Stanley Toon, that’s who.

  They had had a good life together raising their three kids. It was no help that the kids loved their father, with all his flaws, and would also like to see a reunion. Thankfully her children were all grown. Georgie could easily tell them that yes, she loved Stan but wasn’t ready to be Mrs. Toon again.

  “Someday, Mama?” Andrew would ask. She never saw any of her kids as the professional adults they were. She would forever see them as her babies. Andrew being the real baby of the babies, her youngest, would always ask if she were softening up to his dad.

  “Someday, Andrew, just not today. I’ve got too much work to do and the house is a mess.”

  They were such good kids sometimes Georgie wondered if she didn’t owe them that peace of mind that comes with two parents that are together. None of them gave her any real trouble. In return for a lifetime free of calls from the police or unwanted pregnancies maybe it was time she settled down and made things simple for them.

  Then she remembered the stubble in the sink and the undressing in the living room after work and leaving one gulp of coffee in the bottom of the coffee pot, all the things she had hated during her marriage. As quickly as it had come the idea of settling down again with Stan blinked away.

  “I can’t believe there aren’t more people out here.” Aleta snapped Georgie out of her daydream.

  “Want to go put our suits on and come back?”

  “Let’s eat something like that maple ice cream and a slice of pecan pie and then come out here.” Aleta suggested.

  “We’ll have to lounge for half an hour.” Georgie reminded her, “Don’t want to cramp up in the water.”