For Love or Bunny : A Cozy Mystery for Animal Lovers (Bought-the-Farm Mystery Book 12) by Ellen Riggs

Author:Ellen Riggs [Riggs , Ellen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-04-27T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Keats navigated down the road half a dozen farms and directed me to turn into an unmarked lane.

“Must we?” Gertie said. “I’ve never trusted the MacBride family and the feeling is mutual.”

“This is where Zander holes up?” Edna asked. “Another eccentric recluse.” She cackled again, more quietly. “You’d think there’d be strength in numbers but there’s no faith among oddballs.”

“There seem to be a lot of eccentrics in Clover Grove,” I said. “Speaking as one of them, naturally. Why do you think that is?”

“History,” Gertie said. “Generations of lawlessness threw the door open for oddballs and villains. A culture grew around them and of course they bred like rabbits.”

“That’s what brought my parents here,” Edna said. “Back then, nobody dared look at you the wrong way for fear of getting shot. The police of the time were either completely ineffective, complicit or both. When my sister burned down our house they barely investigated, which ultimately suited me fine. Turned me into what I am today.” The next cackle was barely audible. “For good and for ill.”

I reached over and patted her camouflage knee. “For good. Definitely.”

She flicked my hand away but then patted my arm to soften the blow. “You’re not eccentric. Not by a long shot.”

“Tell that to my mother,” I said. “Anyone with over sixty head of rescue animals isn’t exactly mainstream.”

“Dahlia isn’t mainstream either,” Edna said. “Nor is Calvin, obviously. Which is why all of you Galloways have a spark of rebellion.”

“All of us? My sisters are pretty tame. Except Poppy. And more recently Violet, when she joined your survival class.”

I stopped there, remembering how Daisy, the most conservative of us, had perhaps done the boldest thing of all in taking up with an unsavory man. The brief dalliance had significant consequences.

Edna stared out the window as we drove down a twisty lane that doubled back on itself twice. “You never really know your family. Take my word for it.”

Easing off the gas, I turned. “Is there anything else I should know? Before it blindsides me?”

“Let me comb through my mental archives,” she said. “For the moment, I suggest we give our full attention to Zander MacBride.”

“I second that,” Gertie said. “If we want to sit down during the wedding dinner, it would help not to get shot in the butt. On the bright side, that’s probably the worst he would do. He’s a gentleman, by a certain code.”

“All right, then. Let’s turn on the charm, ladies,” I said. “Between the three of us, we can almost equal Jilly.”

“I was charming before Saul stole my heart,” Gertie said. “And treasure hunters trampled on it.”

“I never was charming,” Edna said. “Seemed like a waste of energy to me.”

“You stole one heart,” I reminded her, as we emerged into the open space beside a classic red brick hill country farmhouse. “There must have been some stardust on you then.”

“Used it all up in one go,” Edna said. “Although I must admit, I’ve felt the occasional twinkle lately.”

I glanced at her again, eyes widening.

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