Mining for Murder by Mary Angela

Author:Mary Angela [Angela, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Cozy Mystery
ISBN: 9781516110711
Google: AKs3EAAAQBAJ
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2021-12-31T13:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

Max helped Zo hang a new print of Badlands National Park, which was located about an hour east of Spirit Canyon. Drenched in rose, gold, and brown, the print was a beautiful depiction of the rugged terrain by a local artist. She would have a hard time parting with the stunning painting. That was the only drawback to owning Happy Camper. Some of the items she bought for resale ended up being permanent fixtures in the store or house. The 1940s radio, the Remington typewriter, the bison print by her favorite Lakota artist—they were all part of her décor now, which was okay. Tourists bought less-expensive items, like the durable plastic dinnerware, perfect for camping, homemade postcards, and of course, her Happy Camper merchandise.

Harley stomped through the door without saying hello to her or Max. Instead, she marched over to the garbage can, pressed the foot pedal, and threw a bouquet of pink carnations in the trash.

“Hey!” Zo retrieved the flowers. “At Happy Camper, we don’t throw away perfectly good flowers. What’s the matter with you?”

“Chance, that’s what’s the matter.” Harley tucked her bag under the counter.

Seconds later, Chance rushed through the door calling her name. At least that’s who Zo assumed he was. He was the same age as Harley, but their similarities ended there. While Harley was dressed in army pants and combat boots, Chance wore khaki shorts and a blue polo. Zo squinted. Wow. Was Chance a golfer? From his outfit, he was on his way to play right now.

“Harley, I’m sorry,” Chance said. “Please believe me.”

Zo and Max took a step back from the counter to give the couple some privacy. Trying to look busy, Zo seized the opportunity to put the flowers into a vase. Max studied a nearby knickknack. Chance must have done something really awful.

Ignoring him, Harley turned to Zo and Max. “He said roller derby wasn’t a sport.”

Zo winced. Harley took her participation in the local roller derby league very seriously. She was committed and incredibly talented, and Zo loved watching her tournaments. To question it being a sport was a bad move. A very bad move.

“I didn’t say it wasn’t a sport,” Chance explained. “I said it wasn’t a classic sport.”

You’re not helping yourself, dude.

Max tried to disappear into the corner.

“In the sense that it’s not played on campus, that’s all I meant!” Chance touched Harley’s elbow. “I loved watching you skate. It was exhilarating. Much more exciting than golf.”

Ah, so he is a golfer. Zo sort of felt bad for him. He had on a lopsided grin that begged for forgiveness.

The look didn’t escape Harley, who didn’t exactly return the smile but blinked in a way that said she might speak to him again.

Chance glanced at Zo. “You must be Zo.” He stuck out a hand. “Harley has told me all about you. It’s nice to meet you.”

Zo shook it. “You, too.”

“And you’re…a forest ranger?” he asked Max.

“Correct,” Max said, swallowing a chuckle.

“He’s Zo’s boyfriend, Max.” Harley’s voice still held a hint of irritation.

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