Sheridan County Mystery 02-The Sled Dog by Maples Erin Lark

Author:Maples, Erin Lark [Maples, Erin Lark]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Cozy, American Cozy, American Mystery, Amateur Investigator, Murder Investigation, Wyoming
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2022-11-25T00:00:00+00:00

32

T HE BURST OF APPLAUSE when Eddie took the stage was an indication of his popularity. Stage lights sent streaks of blue through his black hair as he tuned his guitar. He perched on a single, maple stool in the spotlight and adjusted the microphone.

“My people have been coming here for a long time, and I am proud to be welcomed by all of you. As you may have heard, I haven’t come here to sing Christmas songs as that is not my heritage. In case they haven’t taught you this in school, white people colonized the islands, stripping what they didn’t like from our people and inserting their own traditions. I’ve brought a few traditional tunes of my people to add to your holiday celebrations, not take away. I like to lead by example, you see.”

The crowd tittered. From her seat in the tenth row, Elizabeth could see a hundred faces aglow in the stage lights, rapt attention on the man in front of them.

“Why talk about the past, though, when I could sing about it?” Eddie smiled and began to play.

His voice was clear and strong, the depth of which would reach the farthest seats without amplification. The first song was about a girl who sailed the islands and upon her death became a breeze that brought her people home. Next, he sang about a battle, lost ways, and sorrow. The room was silent on the last note as the audience held its breath.

“This one is a gift for my new friend.” He winked in Elizabeth’s direction as the crowd cheered and with deft fingers, began a Django Reinhardt tune.

Jo leaned over to whisper in her ear. “Friend, eh?”

For his last song, he played Home on the Range, but in Hawaiian. The performance was beautiful, melodic. When he finished, the crowd erupted in applause. People were out of their seats, crowd-sourcing a standing ovation.

“Thank you, Sheridan. I’ve loved sharing my music with you.”

After Eddie, multiple elementary schools trotted out their cutest students in matching holiday attire to sing classics and a few pop versions. The county community choir sang a tribute to Nat King Cole, a capella, and the high school drum line followed with a Blue Man-inspired collection. The show was a rousing success, but it was hard to top Eddie Enos.

Elizabeth had him on her mind as she waited in the lobby, gripping Rhett’s hand tightly and waiting for Jo to return from the restroom. Eddie’s palm tree glowed from its corner.

Enid pushed out from the theater doors. She wore a deep navy tunic over silver leggings. She shrugged into an oversized, puffy coat and began to wrap a houndstooth scarf around her neck. When she spotted Elizabeth, she wove through the crowd in her direction. “Hey there, how the heck are you?”

“Better than I deserve. You?”

“Can’t complain. Business is always booming in December. I head home every night to soak my feet from running around all day. Waiting for Jo?”

Elizabeth nodded. Also for Eddie, she thought.

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