Part 8 (2/2)

”Yes, Miss Ryan that would be nice,” she said.

It would be nice if I thought she meant it. I walked out of the stable and Chance barked at her again before following me out.

Chance ran ahead of me. I walked back to the stable door, which was open enough to hear their conversation.

”What was that all about, Bedford?” I heard Sarah ask.

”Nothing, she's just nosing around like her dog.”

He thinks that's an insult. Chance has found out more than I have.

”Bedford, what did you tell her?” I heard the threatening tone in her voice.

”I said nothing, Miss Sarah. And where would I start? Mr. Alexander?”

”Don't p.i.s.s me off, Bedford. I'm not in the mood.”

With that, the stable door opened completely, pinning me between the door and the stable. s.h.i.+t! I stood there frozen as I heard Sarah gallop away.

”b.i.t.c.h,” I heard Bedford grumble as he closed the stable door.

For a moment, I stood there plastered against the wall. Well, that was interesting. I quickly headed back to the house.

As I approached the deck, Maggie walked out with the afghan draped around her.

”Good morning,” she said, with a sleepy yawn.

”Your ankle seems better,” I said.

”It feels much better. It was a slight sprain. Besides, I'm a quick healer. How's the shoulder?” she asked looking out at the woods.

”Fine, good,” I lied horribly.

”Nice try.” She snuggled the afghan around her and smiled. ”Thanks for the afghan.”

”No problem, I was actually trying to think of a way to smuggle it out in my duffel bag. Guess who I just met? Aunt Sarah.”

She looked surprised. ”Really, where?”

I explained the stable incident. ”She's a cool customer.”

”She's always been that way-very distant and forbidding. I guess she's not a happy person. I don't know why, she's married to Uncle Nathan who is a nice, considerate man. He's a little weak where she's concerned but he treats her well. I have never been able to figure her out, though.” She pointed to the woods to the right. ”See that path? They live about a quarter mile behind the woods. It was my grandparent's house. This place is like a small compound.”

I told her of my walk. Then I pulled out the jewelry and showed it to her. ”Look what I found.”

She reached out to take the ring and read the engraving. ”This is my mother's wedding ring. I know that. I don't think I've ever seen the rest of it. Where in the world did you find these?” She was amazed and seemed at the same time to be very apprehensive.

”I went out with Chance. She found them across the lake, I believe.” I pointed in the general vicinity. Maggie was studying the tarnished jewelry. ”Maggie, I hate to ask you, but could you tell me how your mother died?”

She looked at me sadly and then gazed out at the woods. ”She was murdered, Kate, twenty years ago. The police said it was a robbery. She was at the lake and the thief stabbed her and left her there.” She stopped and put her hands to her face, as if to hide her tears.

Murdered? c.r.a.p. I reached over and put my hand on her shoulder. ”Maggie, I'm so sorry to ask you this,” I said. I put my arm around her and gave her a rea.s.suring hug. I felt myself wanting to hold her. Instead, I quickly let her go.

She looked up at me, her eyes red with tears. ”It's okay. I just haven't said that out loud in quite some time.” She took a deep breath.

Murdered, I repeated again to myself. I looked at the jewelry. ”Why would someone rob your mother then leave all the stolen jewelry in the woods?” I asked myself out loud. ”Is this your mother's watch and locket?”

”Like I said, I don't know,” she said. ”Maybe Aunt Hannah will know.”

Hannah was in the kitchen making coffee when we sat down and Maggie put the locket on the table.

”Good morning my darlings,” she said cheerfully. She looked at the locket. ”What's that?” she asked, putting the pot of coffee on the table.

”Aunt Hannah, look at it. We were hoping you'd know,” Maggie said.

Hannah sat down and picked up the locket and studied it. Then Maggie showed her the other tarnished jewelry. Hannah's eyes got as big as saucers, and she looked up at both of us. ”Where in heaven's name did these come from?”

She studied the locket while I retold the morning's adventure.

”Of course, it must be Miranda's. I seem to remember her wearing something like this. However, good heavens, that was more than twenty-five years ago, so I can't be absolutely certain...” her voice trailed off.

As of yet, no one had tried to open the locket. My curiosity was extremely piqued and I was getting very impatient. ”Wouldn't you like to open the locket?” I asked.

Hannah looked at it sitting on the table. ”Yes.”

”Would you like me to open it?” I asked and she nodded.

I picked it up and tried to open it, but it had been out in the elements and wouldn't budge at first. After a couple of tries, it gave way and opened. I put it on the table. A lock of hair fell out and Maggie moved to pick it up. I instinctively reached over and grabbed her wrist.

”Wait, let's not. Hannah, can you get me a plastic bag, please?”

I gingerly picked up the lock of hair, and put it in the bag. They both watched curiously.

”Though everything has been out in the elements all these years, you never know what this lock of hair might tell us. The less we disturb the better. I doubt there's anything, but let's make sure.”

With the locket opened, Maggie picked it up. I figured it was out in the elements for so long, all fingerprints had likely long since eroded away.

”Why doesn't just one of us do this?”

They both nodded. ”Go right ahead.” I knew they'd spent way too much time around each other, since they kept doing and saying things simultaneously.

I very carefully opened the locket, keeping it on the table. I looked at the pictures; of course, I had no clue. It was a man and a little girl who I was sure was Maggie-the resemblance was too great. I gently spun it around for both of them to see.

They stared at it for a second then looked at each other, then back at the locket once again.

Maggie looked completely confused. Hannah was ashen. I was curious.

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