Cat Killed A Rat (Ponderosa Pines Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) by ReGina Welling & Erin Lynn

Author:ReGina Welling & Erin Lynn [Welling, ReGina]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2015-09-22T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

From its humble beginnings as a commune, Ponderosa Pines had grown into a fine, if somewhat eclectic, town full of people from varied backgrounds with an interest in living green; but, more importantly, in being part of a tightly knit community.

With a lifetime of history in this place, EV was not interested in seeing the Pines become the type of town governed by one person. The Selectmen system worked well here. Three leaders meant three varying perspectives on every issue. To her, the terms mayor and dictator were very similar in concept, and the worst-case scenario imaginable would be to have Evan in charge. He already had a Napoleon complex—making him mayor would puff him up beyond all reason. As long as she drew breath, EV vowed to keep that disaster from happening.

If she had to, she could pull rank. As the largest landowner and the only daughter of the founding family, her opinion held enough authority to put a stop to the whole thing. Playing that card, though, was not in her nature; and, in reality, there would likely be little need for her to do so. Despite Evan’s assertions, EV would always side with her neighbors in whatever they thought was best for their town. Even if that meant letting Gilmore annex Ponderosa Pines.

Whether Evan realized it or not, almost no one backed him in his bid to become mayor even if Ponderosa Pines combined with Gilmore. For some reason, he had gotten it into his head that EV wanted the job and that her insistence on a more equitable form of town government covered up a plot to keep him from ever holding office.

The man was completely deluded. Running Ponderosa Pines was not on EV’s list of fun things to do.

Ever.

Worse still, EV knew he was a main force behind the rumor that she was the one who pushed Luther off the ladder. What kind of lowlife would use his own brother’s death to get ahead?

All she wanted was to live a peaceful life in her peaceful town; but no matter what anyone said, she would never kill to make that happen—okay, maybe in fantasy, but never in reality.

Luther had been a liar and a cheat, but neither of those things had him topping her imaginary hit list. Everyone had their secrets—maybe not as many as they liked to think. The grapevine here in the Pines had deep roots and tendrils that snaked everywhere, and EV was tapped in more than most.

She knew Luther padded his estimates—hell, everyone knew that. But she also knew he was all bluster, and if called on it, would back down and charge a fair price or throw in enough extras to make up for the markups. His biggest problem was trying to make a job pay what he thought he deserved rather than what it was actually worth. This outlook let him believe he had the best of intentions.

Evan, on the other hand, had risen from real estate agent to

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