Doggone Dead (16 page)

From across the park, I could see a crowd running toward us. Elena ran up to Allison, kicking her gun away from her on the ground. She called for an ambulance on her cell phone. George drew his gun on Clay Bonnet, who responded by removing the magazine from his gun. Bonnet racked the slide to remove a remaining bullet and then placed the gun on the ground. He backed away and reached for a piece of paper out of his wallet. Coop quickly changed allegiances and stood over by his dad.

“I think we’ve found your murderer here, Officer. Here’s my concealed carry permit.” Clay Bonnet handed George a small card. “I shot her in the nick of time. She was about to take two more victims.”

George took the card and flicked on a flashlight to read it. “Well, Mr. Bonnet, looks like you’re a hero.”

“No, no, not a hero. Just trying to protect my son, here.” He put his arm around Coop.

Elena turned to me and Danny. “Are you two all right?”

“Yes,” Danny said.

“We’re fine, but there’s more to the story than what Mr. Bonnet is telling you,” I began.

“Would that involve that extra crop he’s been growing in the woods on his land?” I didn’t even realize my father was behind us.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Clay Bonnet said. “Besides that, you’re under investigation for trying to frame me.”

“The thing is,” Adam stepped up from behind my dad. “If we were to get a subpoena to do a little digging out there, what do you think we might find?”

“Watermelons,” Coop growled.

“And a whole lot more, I’m thinkin’.”

“Get a subpoena,” Clay challenged.

“Not a problem. I think I can persuade the judge pretty easily at this point.” Adam smiled at Elena.

The entire fireworks crowd seemed to be closing in on the dark end of the park. In the front stood Leo and the boys. Seeing Aunt Maggie, Danny got up and ran to her.

“Miss Allison’s hurt, Mama.”

“I’m so sorry, baby. Did they call an ambulance?”

“Yes.”

“Then she’ll be okay then. Don’t you worry.” Maggie hugged Danny, stroking his straight brown hair.

“I thought you were heading to the dump?”  I said.

“I sent Howard on.  Something pulled me back.”  Aunt Maggie admitted.

Leo motioned for the boys to stay with the crowd and walked over and helped me up.

“Damn girl, you’re in trouble again,” he said, shaking his head.

“I guess you’re right. I am a hard person to be involved with. It just seems like everything is going along fine and the next thing I know, I’m mixed up in something and …”

“I get it. I get it. You’re Nancy Drew, Miss Marple and MacGyver all put together – but what does that make me?”

“I can help on that one.” My father held up his hand.

“Hush, Dad.” I turned to Leo. “I just wanted to let you know that if it’s all too much for you … I understand.”

Leo sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. He chewed on his lower lip and then lowered himself down on one knee.

Had I dropped something down there? The thing was, he didn’t seem to be searching for anything. His eyes were on me. I suddenly figured out what he was intending to do and was filled with more terror than I had felt after confronting not one, not two, but three killers.

“Betsy?” He reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out a little black box. How had I not felt that earlier?

“Betsy!” he repeated. I pulled my attention back to him.

“Yes,” I said, finding my voice shaky.

“I don’t know where our life will take us. Seeing as I’m proposing at a crime scene, I’m counting on it being pretty interesting. I know you were hurt badly before, but I also know I can’t imagine my life without you in it. From the minute my kid knocked your kid down at the Scout meeting and I thought you were going to slug me, it was love at first sight. I know this is a strange time to ask you, but Betsy...”

A tear rolled down my cheek. After all that we had been through, he still felt this way?

“Betsy, will you marry me?”

I opened my mouth to speak and heard the crowd behind us shouting, “Yes! Yes! Yes!”

We both laughed, and then I uttered a single word.

“Yes.”

Leo stood up, encased me in a giant hug and then lowered his lips to mine just as a fireworks blossom went off above us in the Texas sky. From behind us I heard more cheers. As I put on my new engagement ring, I noticed the light hit it – and it sparkled. It was by far the prettiest sparkle tonight in Pecan Bayou, and I was pretty glad it wasn’t followed by gunfire.

“Cousin Leo! I have a Cousin Leo!” Danny said as we all raised a glass on my front porch in the moonlight. I sipped at my champagne and gazed over at Leo. The boys were out on the front lawn chasing after fireflies. Leo and Tyler had stayed the weekend, and my father spent most of Sunday dealing with his newest visitors in the Pecan Bayou jail.

“You surprised us all there, Leo. We never expected you to propose.” Maggie patted him on the shoulder.

“In the middle of a pot bust,” Dad said.

“In the middle of catching a killer,” I added.

“Well, there never seemed to be the right time with you people. I had to move when Betsy was standing still and not being shot at.”

I reached over and ran my hand along his cheek. “Thanks for working with me.”

Dad set down his glass and put his hands behind his head and stretched. “Once we got Coop Bonnet down to the station, he started talkin’. Seems he’s not such a tough guy when he’s facing a prison sentence. Told us Allison was the driving force behind all of it.”

“Now you know his daddy isn’t going to let him take all the heat,” Maggie said.

“His daddy is facing some heat of his own. Adam got over there with the subpoena, and they found enough pot in the trees to supply another Woodstock. He’s looking at a marijuana cultivation conviction with a sentence of two to twenty years, we figure.”

“What about Lina?” I said.

Dad took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. “From all that we can tell, Lina was in on it but never took part in any of the business side. It was her job to manage the legal part of the farm. If the judge gives her anything, it’ll probably just be a fine.”

“So will she stay on out there?” Leo asked.

“No, she said she can’t manage it without her husband and son – but here’s the kicker, Libby is moving out there.”

Maggie laughed. “Libby? The poor little rich girl?”

“Yep. She’s taking over the farm and with the help of some hired hands will be running it. She is also moving the Charlie Loper museum out there. It will be Pecan Bayou’s newest tourist attraction.”

“That’s good to hear. This might be just the thing Miss Libby needs to make her happy,” I said.

“That is, if she makes sure she hires good people,” Leo added.

“I’ve already suggested she do a background check on anyone she puts in her employ,” said my dad.

“Is Dr. Springer better?” Danny asked.

“I called the hospital this afternoon, Danny,” Maggie said, “and she came out of her coma. The doctors say she will make a full recovery. Your boss is going to be all right. Probably the best part of all of that is she’s talking. She’s already said she’ll be glad to testify against Allison and Coop.”

“She’s another one who needs to do a background check on her help,” I said.

“Yes, well, Allison’s parents are on their way. They were out of the country, of course, and have already warned Chief Wilson that they are hiring the finest lawyer money can buy,” Dad said.

Leo reached over and squeezed my knee. “Lawyer or no, it’s pretty hard to get out of a murder and attempted murder.”

“I still don’t get how a girl who has everything could do something like that,” Maggie said.

“Oh, she had everything, but the one thing she wanted her parents couldn’t buy.” I looked out at the boys now lying down on the lawn, looking up at the stars in the Texas summer sky.

“Well, I guess she has her parents’ attention now, doesn’t she?” Dad said, and then he leaned over and patted Leo on the back. “So, now that you’re engaged, where do you think you’re going to live?”

“Dallas,” Leo said – at the same time I said, “Pecan Bayou.”

“Betsy, I’m a meteorologist, and my office is in Dallas,” he protested.

“You are in hurricane country, Leo. You can work anywhere,” I answered.

“Okay you two,” my father said. “You have a few things to work out. In the meantime, a toast – to two of the most mismatched and most in love people I’ve ever met.” We all raised our glasses, and I clinked my against Leo’s. Butch jumped up between us and planted puppy kisses on my face.

“Hey, boy, that’s my job!” said Leo.

“It sure is,” I said and planted my own kiss on my brand new fiancé.

There are thousands of pets available for adoption every day in the United States. If you choose to adopt and provide a home for a puppy like Butch, here are few things to keep in mind:

• Investigate the breed of the dog you are thinking about adopting.  This will help you make decisions about temperament and maintenance.

• Make sure you have food and water bowls, toys, collar and leash.

• Figure out the household rules for the dog before he gets in the door. Will he be allowed on the furniture? Will he get scraps from the table? Who will walk and train the dog?

• Just like if you brought home a new baby, you’ll want to make sure there is nothing on the floor or anything that the dog can ingest that is dangerous to him. Be sure to provide plenty of toys for chewing if you have a new puppy.

• Make an appointment with your veterinarian for the pet to have a thorough exam. Make sure the dog’s shots are all up to date, and consider spaying or neutering.

• Be prepared to spend time with your pet playing and helping it to feel at home in your home.

How to Clean Paving Stones (like the blood-stained ones around Charlie Loper’s fountain)

1. Sweep away any dirt and debris on the stones and then spray the area with water from the hose.

2. Cover any grass or plants that might come in contact with the cleaning formula. You can use a drop cloth or something like an old shower curtain.

3. Make a solution of half bleach/half warm water and pour it on the affected area, being careful not to touch any surrounding greenery.

4. Scrub the area with a long-handled brush and then hose it down with water again.

Recipes

Berry Watermelon Smoothie

Ingredients

1/4 watermelon

125 g frozen mixed berries or 125 g fresh mixed berries

1 or 2 bananas

1/4-1/2 cup milk (optional – soy or rice milk works too, or use any juice as a substitute)

ice (optional)

cinnamon

honey

Directions

Blend watermelon into a juice.

Add bananas (use mainly to thicken).

Throw in other ingredients, all according to taste.

Watermelon Lemonade

Mix together these ingredients.

     6 cups watermelon

1 cup water

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 cup lemon juice

Peanut Butter Pie from the Pecan Bayou Diner

Ingredients

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese

1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup milk

1 (16-ounce) package frozen whipped topping, thawed

2 (9-inch) prepared graham cracker crusts

Directions

1.              Beat together cream cheese and confectioners’ sugar. Mix in peanut butter and milk. Beat until smooth. Fold in whipped topping.

2.
              Spoon the mixture into two 9-inch graham cracker pie shells. Cover and freeze until firm.

Aunt Maggie’s Yo-Yo Pattern

Cut out a circle of fabric. You can use the bottom of any jar for a template, depending on how big of a yo-yo you want to make. Just remember you will be gathering the yo-yo, so don’t make it too small. A regular-sized peanut butter jar or bigger is a good size.

Once you get your yo-yo cut out, heat up the iron and press a 1/4-inch seam all the way around the circle of fabric.

Sew a running stitch all the way around your seam using small, even stitches. Do not backstitch. You want to be able to gather the stitch when you finish.

Pull the thread tight. It will make a much smaller circle with a hole in the middle. Tie it off with two small stitches and a knot.

Flatten your completed yo-yo with your hand so that the hole is centered.

When you have several yo-yos, you can sew them together to create a quilt top, a pillow – or even a costume for a dog in a parade.

Helping Dogs Handle the Noise of Fireworks

Many dogs are frightened of fireworks. There are many ways you can get your favorite pooch through this stressful time. You may want to try and desensitize your dog to the sound of the fireworks. They can listen to a video or recording featuring fireworks to try to accustom them to the sound. Gradually turn the volume up – but if your dog becomes fearful, turn it back down. You may need to do this several times. You can also reward your dog with a treat for sitting calmly while listening.

Lavonne’s Homemade Window Cleaner

Mix equal parts of water and vinegar. Because there is no rubbing alcohol in this recipe, it will take longer to dry. Use a microfiber cloth to clean the glass. It will make a difference on all your museum cases!