Survive or Die by Catherine Dilts

Author:Catherine Dilts
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Encircle Publications
Published: 2019-02-03T16:01:52+00:00

Campers flocked to the newcomers. Aubrey scanned the crowd. Grant wasn’t around. After the rock assault and finding Jessie unconscious, Aubrey needed the safe harbor of her husband’s arms. Instead, she got a full dose of Bender Clips employees in turmoil.

“Hey, you aren’t supposed to help other Buckaroo Crews,” Ellen said to Fawn.

“If anything,” Berdie said, “we were helping them. But not by choice.”

“Yeah, you cheaters,” Madison said.

Fawn’s face creased with a ferocious frown. She took a step toward Madison. “You have some nerve accusing me of cheating. You’re the one trying to steal my boyfriend.”

“Me, a man-stealer?” Madison laughed. “I prefer dating men, not boys. No offense, Tweet.”

“None taken.” He bowed gallantly toward Madison, his blond dreadlocks flopping forward like petrified snakes. “I know I’m the youngest dude in camp.”

“Where were you, girl?” Shawn asked Jessie. “You just vanished.”

So had Sotheara and Rankin. Aubrey doubted either would attack a coworker, but then she’d never imagined a bee could be used as a murder weapon.

“I heard a noise, like a tractor. I ran to the top of a hill to see what it was.” Jessie shrugged. “There was something weird. That’s all I remember.”

“Someone beaned her with a rock,” Madison said.

Shirley and Shawn exchanged a glance. The look that passed between the two confirmed it for Aubrey. They had tried to take out Stockton’s Revenge. Jessie had been collateral damage, however unlikely that seemed. The two assaults were separated by at least a half a mile. Maybe Jessie had sprinted the distance before collapsing.

“We’ll get you to the infirmary,” Shawn said. “And if Dale can’t help you, I’m sure Lavelle has something in her bag for you.”

Aubrey was tempted to follow, but the infirmary was tiny. When she noticed Sotheara peeking from behind an aspen, Aubrey felt a bit of her tension fade. The accountant was safe.

Madison marched up to Rowdy Hunter.

“Look at this bruise. The Belle Starrs threw rocks at us. They nearly killed Jessie.”

“We did no such thing.” Shirley’s words were firm, but guilt oozed from every pore.

“Their team should be penalized,” Madison said. “And Gold Strike, too. They cheated.”

“Hold on, Buckaroos.” Rowdy held his hands up. “First things first. Bring your stuff over to these tables. Reba and Chance will total up your score.”

A galvanized steel trough packed with ice awaited the fish. There was no danger of Berdie’s huge trout being confused with the others, but Chance looped a numbered ziptie tag through the fish’s gills. Aubrey and Berdie sorted through their collection of edible plants. Reba, the wrangler with rodeo queen looks, catalogued items and placed them in a bin. Aubrey argued that the dandelion should earn them extra points.

“Don’t get your panties in a twist,” Reba said. “I’ll ask Rowdy.”

When Reba left to consult with Rowdy, Aubrey peeked in the other teams’ bins. A sheet of paper rested on top of the Belle Starrs’ jumble of vegetation. They had found everything. On the other side, the Gold Strike team had placed their edible plants in labeled plastic bags.

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