Holly, Baubles and Murder: A British Cozy Murder Mystery with a Female Amateur Sleuth (A Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery Book 8) by Victoria Tait

Author:Victoria Tait [Tait, Victoria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781915413536
Publisher: Kanga Press
Published: 2023-10-19T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Meg fussed with the fire in the snug, tutting to Dotty about letting it go out. “You need to keep feeding it logs,” she remonstrated.

“I’m sorry, I fell asleep,” Dotty protested.

“Never mind that,” Chris instructed. “I think he’s coming round.”

They’d carried Zach through to the snug, as carefully as they could, and laid him on the sofa. He was too tall for it and his feet were propped up on one of the arms.

But Dotty thought this was probably good, as she knew raising his feet above his heart would help against shock.

Meg poked the fire so a flame jumped up, snapping around a log. With a satisfied grunt, she rested the poker against the fireplace and joined Lily, who was leaning over Zach.

As Dotty also stepped forward, Chris advised, “Don’t crowd him. Give him some room.”

Lily and Dotty both stepped back, leaving Meg squatting beside the sofa.

Zach blinked and opened his eyes. Squinting, he asked, “What time is it? Have I missed supper?”

“None of us has eaten yet, luv,” replied Meg, warmly. “But it seems later than it is, as the electricity’s gone off and we don’t have any lights. I’ll fetch you something to eat.” Meg stood up.

“I don’t think he should eat just yet,” Dotty said tentatively.

Meg turned to her with her hands on her hips and a belligerent expression. “When does eating hurt anyone?”

“I’m just saying that he might be nauseous after a bang on the head and a bowl of light soup, or a cup of herbal tea might be more appropriate.”

Zach tried to sit up, but flopped back down on the sofa. “Oh, I don’t feel too good.”

“You lie back down there, and I’ll make you a cup of tea.” Meg threw Dotty a distasteful look as she left the snug.

What was wrong with Meg? Dotty wondered to herself. Did Meg think she had something to do with Zach’s condition?

“I’ll go and phone Dr Ward, and see if he’s back home,” Chris said.

“Aye. And I must feed t’ dogs.” Arthur followed Chris out of the room.

Dotty wasn’t sure what to do. She felt like a spare part, even though she was the one who’d found Zach.

“My head is pounding,” said Zach, raising a hand to his forehead. “Ow. What’s that?”

“You hit your head,” Lily explained. “I should clean it up. Let me fetch something.”

Lily left Dotty alone with Zach.

“Did we meet up this afternoon?” asked Zach.

“No. When we returned from rescuing sheep, you went to the library. I was far less productive. I had a shower and fell asleep.”

“But the note?”

“What note?” asked Meg sharply as she returned carrying a mug of tea, which she set down on a side table next to the sofa. “Do you think you can sit up if we help you?”

Zach nodded, and then winced.

Gently, Meg helped Zach into a sitting position, while Dotty swung his legs off the arm of the sofa and onto the floor. He wavered for a minute and his breathing quickened.

Meg was about to say something, but Zach raised a hand and closed his eyes.

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