Scones and Scofflaws by Jane Gorman

Author:Jane Gorman [Gorman, Jane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780999110034
Publisher: Blue Eagle Press
Published: 2020-12-19T16:00:00+00:00

26

The rain had passed, the low gray clouds blown over, and the ocean waves shimmered under the glittering morning sun. Anna took a deep breath, inhaling the comforting scents of ocean, salt and sand. She shut her eyes, turning her face to the wind and sun. It hadn’t taken long to get through her chores that morning. Not having any guests to cook for or clean up after certainly made a difference.

Any guests besides Eoin, that is. She opened her eyes to watch the boy playing tag with the waves, running as close to the water as he dared while they pulled away, then screaming with joy as he ran away when they chased him back up the beach. She’d made a call that morning and got him enrolled in another activity at the Community Center later that afternoon. These were great classes and she was glad she could offer Eoin some kind of educational opportunities. Though he seemed perfectly content to rely on his own readings and his own explorations.

She took one more breath then continued her walk toward the World War II bunker that lay half buried about a mile and a half down the beach. Her eyes scanned the horizon as she walked, where gulls bobbed and weaved on the ocean breeze, calling angrily to each other whenever they felt threatened. She could relate to feeling threatened.

She pulled out her phone yet again, scrolling through emails and messages, hoping for a reservation, even an inquiry about prices. Anything positive she could latch on to. There were no new requests for rooms, but on the plus side, no one had left a negative review and no one else had cancelled yet. Thank goodness for that, at least. She still had six other reservations. The next set of guests were due to arrive on Thursday.

Would this death still be hanging over her then? What if the police never did find out how George had died?

Don’t be ridiculous, she chided herself. They’ll find out, one way or another. Whether he had a heart attack, an allergic reaction, or really was killed by someone, the police would find out. But then the question remained, would people still blame her — and Climbing Rose Cottage — for his death?

The wind had picked up slightly. She pulled out the scarf she had shoved into her pocket, wrapping it around her neck and tucking her hair in. She needed to think. To figure out what she should do. For her, the beach was the best place to do that.

She stayed as close to the water’s edge as she could without getting wet, walking on the hard-packed sand. Dunes rose out of the beach to her right, offering a protective shelter to the bird sanctuary that lay beyond. A few tufts of long grass waved from the top of the dunes.

“Eoin, come look at this.” Anna stopped and pointed down to the sand.

Eoin trotted over to her, squatting down to get a closer look at where she was pointing.

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