Murder at the Cabin: A Tall Pines Cozy Mystery by Avery Kent

Author:Avery Kent [Kent, Avery]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2025-02-27T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

The midday sun filtered through the trees, dappling the trail, the horses, and their riders in patches of warm yellow light. Melting, the snow dropped from the trees, making the branches rustle and move, though it seemed not to bother any of the horses. Up front, Buck strode out tirelessly. Carlos shifted a little in Quinn’s saddle, glancing enviously at the completely unfazed Ashley ahead of him.

“How you doing, bro?” Gabby asked. He could practically hear her smiling.

“Don’t ask,” he muttered, and she laughed. Ashley suddenly stopped, and they all followed suit.

“What is it?” Carlos asked.

“I’m not sure,” Ashley replied. She sat quietly, watching Buck’s ears swivel. The buckskin moved his rear end slightly, facing off into the woods. He let out a little snort, his body curving slightly, head high. “Something that way,” Ashley mused. She turned around in the saddle, putting one hand on Buck’s rump and glancing at Rosemary.

“Is there another trail leading left near here?”

Rosemary frowned. She looked around herself. “I think so, maybe a quarter of a mile ahead. It runs up the mountain and splits. One direction goes to a waterfall I’ve been to with Andy. I’m not sure about the other direction. I think it looked a little ragged.”

Ashley nodded. “Okay, anyone for a little trot?”

“Nope,” Carlos huffed.

“Yes,” the others called.

“Out voted,” Gabby stated.

Ashley straightened Buck up, and he happily started to trot along the trail, his ears occasionally swivelling to his left a little as if he was still unsure of something, but he trusted Ashley enough to know it wasn’t a big threat.

They reached the trail towards the waterfall, and Ashley slowed to a walk again. “This one?”

Rosemary nodded. She turned Buck up the trail. Carefully, they began to make their way up the waterfall trail. The trees fell away, leaving them on an open trackway. The sun had melted any trace of snow, and the ground, although damp, was firm under the horses’ feet. They climbed upward, Ashley leaning forward in her saddle to help Buck.

It didn’t take long to reach the fork in the trail. Ashley stopped again. “You smell that?”

“What?” Carlos asked.

Buck stamped a foot, his nostrils wide. “Wood smoke,” Ashley replied. “Someone has a fire going.”

“Couldn’t be from the cabins,” Rosemary pointed out. “Not this far out in the woods.”

“Bobby?” Carlos mused.

“Possibly,” Ashley replied. She eyed the trail. “This path isn’t well used, but,” she said, nodding her head. “Look up ahead… broken branches. Someone’s been up here recently.”

“Could have been the police,” Gabby pointed out.

Ashley shook her head. “No boot prints.”

They all looked down at the pristine trail. “I’m missing something.” Carlos frowned.

“Whoever snapped the branches probably did so while the snow was covering the ground. The snow melted; the prints melted too. Look where the sun is. It would melt the snow here if it was shining.” Ashley looked back.

“And the sun’s been out since the cops searched,” Rosemary nodded. “Couldn’t be them.”

“Let’s go.” Carlos urged Quinn closer to Buck and Ashley.

Ashley turned Buck up the trail, keeping him steady.

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