Sledding Away with Murder (Sweetfern Harbor Mystery Book 21) Read online

  Sledding Away with Murder

  Sweetfern Harbor Mystery 21

  Wendy Meadows

  © 2020, Wendy Meadows

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

  Majestic Owl Publishing LLC

  P.O. Box 997

  Newport, NH 03773

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Thanks for Reading

  About Wendy

  1

  The Sheffield Bed and Breakfast stood impressive to all who visited the historic structure. Christmas had passed with the usual entertaining events at the inn and now the staff was busy decking the Queen Anne to welcome winter. Along with the snow flurries and cold winds, the town of Sweetfern Harbor buzzed with excitement in preparation for the Winter Carnival.

  “Do you want to use the white firs around the yard, Brenda?” asked Phyllis Pendleton, the head housekeeper and the owner’s good friend.

  Brenda Rivers laughed. “Of course, Phyllis. It won’t look wintry enough without them scattered around. I don’t think we’ll have to spray any artificial snow on them all since nature is taking care of that for us this year.” She motioned to the flakes as they increased. Brenda turned when she heard her husband’s voice.

  “William has offered to help me dig those firs out of storage,” Mac said. “We’ll get them out for you. Just point to where you want them placed.” Detective Mac Rivers worked as hard as all the employees when it came to carrying decorations in and out, setting them up, and doing what it took to please Brenda. “William, let’s go,” Mac said.

  Phyllis and Brenda watched as their husbands left to retrieve the winter trees.

  “I don’t know what we would do without William,” Brenda said. “He still surprises me the way he entices amazing entertainment to our coastal town.” Phyllis beamed and nodded agreement. Mac was always happy to have William by his side when they arranged the bulky items for events throughout the year. William Pendleton had a flare for perfection and, in the end, everyone approved of his ideas.

  Brenda glanced at her watch. “I’ll tell Mac and William where the trees are to stand and then we should get ready for our first weekend guests, Phyllis.”

  Brenda noticed her receptionist, Allie Williams, was intent as she read the guest list. Allie prepared herself by learning tidbits about her guests before they arrived. Brenda asked her to tell her about the incoming guests.

  “We have two medical professionals on the list. One is a plastic surgeon and the other is an anesthesiologist, though I don’t believe they work together in any capacity. We’ll have a teacher and a nightclub singer, too. I’m not sure about one couple. Nothing on the Yoders’ reservation tells me much about them. Miss Phillips’s doesn’t, either. We’ll just have to wait to discover their hidden talents.”

  “I’m sure we’ll learn more when everyone gathers for introductions,” Brenda said.

  Phyllis excused herself. “I should go to the kitchen and help Katie with the welcome snacks. Do you want me to give Chef Pierre a message of any kind, Brenda?” Brenda stated she had nothing else since she and the chef had met after lunch to finalize menus. They discussed the hot beverages to be served the evening of the Winter Carnival to guests and tourists. All festivities were scheduled to take place downtown except for the informal reception Brenda had planned at the B&B. She had discovered that inviting outsiders during special occasions increased future reservations.

  Brenda and Allie chatted until the first guest arrived. The tanned man in his early thirties smiled at them. Allie decided he was fair-skinned beneath the light bronze look. His eyes were light blue. She caught herself wishing she lived in California, too, and imagined learning to surf. Brenda nudged her.

  “Welcome to the Sheffield Bed and Breakfast,” Allie said. She produced a winning smile that he returned. Harry Brooks introduced himself before Brenda excused herself. Allie told the anesthesiologist he was invited to meet other guests in the Gathering Room in a couple of hours. “The Gathering Room is just across the hall from where we are,” she said. “There is a beautiful view of the grounds from the wide windows. The ocean is only a few steps away and there are stairs to the beach area.”

  “Wonderful. I am very interested in the Eastern Seaboard,” Harry said. “I’ve heard the Atlantic is different from the Pacific I’m accustomed to.”

  Allie smiled. “Water enthusiasts do surf sometimes in summertime, but most are more into boating and fishing. Even though winter has hit us again, people do take walks on the sandy beach, but you’ll have to go through the snow to feel the sand in this weather.”

  Michael appeared and offered to show Harry to his room when he was ready. Harry looked forward to staying in the historic 1890s inn. This was a first for him, since he usually stayed in high-end hotels when he traveled. Allie asked him what brought him to the East Coast.

  “I have good friends who stayed here last year. They’ve never stopped raving about the place. I needed a break and decided to come and see for myself. They thought I was crazy to come in the winter, but I wanted something entirely different. Winter suits me fine. The air is so fresh and clean in areas like this.”

  No sooner had he and Michael ascended the winding staircase than the next guest arrived. Allie noted an open friendliness in the deep-set blue eyes of Jillian Phillips. Right away, the receptionist was caught up in a chatty conversation with the guest.

  “I hope you enjoy your stay with us,” Allie said.

  “I’m sure I will. This place looks fabulous. I’ll enjoy it as long as there are no cats around here. I’m highly allergic to the animal.”

  “No cats or animals of any kind unless you count the ones in the woods behind the bed and breakfast. Is there anything else I can help you avoid?”

  Jillian laughed softly. “That’s it, other than my aversion to lasagna.”

  “I have no idea what’s on the menus for the weekend, but if lasagna is served, Chef Pierre will have options along with it.”

  Jillian waved her hand. “I sound as if I’m a picky person. In truth, I’m open to whatever is offered.” Allie knew this was one guest she would thoroughly enjoy being around.

  As Jillian and Michael walked up the stairs, Allie heard Michael talking with her.

  “Your windows look toward the ocean. You’ll be able to catch a glimpse of the waters beyond the seawall. I think you’ll like that room.”

  Their voices faded as they reached the first landing. Allie looked up when Wanda Daniels entered. The petite woman in her late thirties stopped. Her dark eyes scanned her surroundings and landed on the mahogany staircase before she seemed to notice Allie. She apologized and spoke in a soft voice.

  “This is the most beautiful historic building I’ve ever been inside. I love all things historical, and this suits me fine.” Wanda extended her hand to Allie. The grip was strong and quick. “I’m an avid reader, and most of my choi
ces are historical fiction and nonfiction.”

  “We have an extensive library in the Gathering Room across the hall,” Allie said. “Help yourself to books of your choice.” Allie pointed out several cozy spots around the B&B conducive to getting lost in a good book. “I noticed you teach school. Do you encourage your students to read?”

  “Yes. My goal is to lead them to the printed word rather than gleaning information from Google all the time.”

  “I can’t imagine myself teaching a roomful of kids,” Allie said. “That takes courage.”

  Wanda, not wanting to talk about her job, was relieved when Michael asked to take her large bag from her. He asked if she preferred the stairs or would rather use the elevator located along the passageway that led to the back door.

  “Oh, the stairs are fine. I prefer a little exercise,” Wanda said.

  Allie was correct in saying it took courage to teach, but that had never been Wanda’s problem. She was burning out. When she found the Sheffield Bed and Breakfast online, she seized the opportunity to spend the last weekend of her holiday break right there. Her initial observations proved she’d found the perfect spot to think things through before making a final decision to leave the educational field.

  Allie greeted Miranda and Travis Asher next. Both were smartly dressed. Miranda, Allie knew, was the singer at a nightclub in Oakland, California. She appeared as expected—very beautiful, with flawless skin that emphasized deep brown eyes. Travis, the plastic surgeon, carried himself well. Allie had to restrain herself from asking right away how they had met and married. She hoped that story would come out soon since it intrigued her how such an unlikely couple could find things in common.

  Miranda took a quick glance at her husband when he checked in. She realized he was mainly attracted to her beauty and her ability to fit in with his circle of friends as if she came from the same upper background. She considered her position as the wife of a plastic surgeon to be a challenge she relished. More than once she’d been forced to reveal that Travis had not done any surgery on her to make her beauty shine. It was all natural, she often reminded his friends. In the meantime, the vast majority of his acquaintances had been in his surgical room and envied Miranda.

  “Miranda, did you bring the overnight bag in with you?” Travis’s voice held impatience.

  Miranda frowned. “You saw me take it from the trunk.” She pointed to the floor where the bag rested at her feet. She picked it up, and Michael hurried over and offered to carry it for her. He placed the two large suitcases on the elevator. Both guests opted to take the stairs and followed Michael to their room.

  Miranda was well aware of how easily Travis had rescheduled appointments to be able to accompany her to Sweetfern Harbor for the Winter Carnival. He rarely allowed her out of his sight for fear that some of the nightclub customers would take too much notice of her.

  Allie had little time to assess the Ashers before a young couple entered. Joanna and Ethan Yoder smiled and shook hands with Allie. Both managed to control their staring at the expansive interior.

  “This is so much more than I ever expected,” Joanna said. “It is massive, and so beautiful, too.”

  Allie told them a little of the history of the bed and breakfast. “Brenda is the owner. She inherited it from her uncle, who was the one who restored it. You will meet her in the Gathering Room in a little while if you’d like to mingle with her and the other guests. Brenda will tell you more about your weekend surroundings then. She is always happy to answer questions.”

  She told the Yoders that Brenda would let them all know where the dining room was located and mealtimes.

  “We own a small organic market in New Hope, Pennsylvania,” Ethan remarked.

  “We heard about this place from a customer who has been here,” Joanna said. “We saved for a year to afford this trip. I can hardly wait to start the weekend.”

  “I wondered what your careers were,” Allie said. “How long have you been in the organic foods field?”

  “We planned the business for two years and then became owners a year ago. We’ve made a lot of progress in a short time,” Ethan said. “It seems the world is going organic at last.”

  Allie was curious about their lives before the market, but now was not the time to pry. There was something simple about them, as if they trusted everyone. She had no idea where that notion came from, but they seemed to be rather naïve in their mannerisms. She introduced them to Michael. Though in their mid-twenties, they opted to ride the elevator.

  Within the next half hour, the last guests arrived and settled in. Allie sent a text to Brenda to let her know everyone was in. Several began to come downstairs to the Gathering Room. Brenda and Phyllis greeted them warmly. Brenda allowed introductions and was ready to answer questions some of them had about the bed and breakfast.

  Allie was shutting down the computer when she heard footsteps on the stairs. Harry Brooks was the last to enter the Gathering Room. He appeared not to notice Allie even when she greeted him.

  2

  Brenda welcomed Harry Brooks into the Gathering Room. He greeted her vaguely, his eyes drifting to the very familiar and beautiful face of someone he immediately recognized. He nodded in her direction. Neither looked away from one another until Miranda Asher felt the push her husband gave her. Travis suspected who Harry Brooks was. He inwardly moaned at the thought that he’d have to spend the entire weekend keeping his eyes on his wife and the anesthesiologist.

  Harry often made trips from his home in Sacramento to The Gypsy Rose Nightclub in Oakland to listen to Miranda Asher sing. Not only did he find her voice captivating, but he eventually found Miranda herself even more so. Harry’s thoughts were interrupted when Brenda introduced him to the other guests in the room. His eyebrows arched when he heard her say “Mr. and Mrs. Asher.” His half smile in Miranda’s direction told her that he had no idea she was married to the plastic surgeon. As for Harry, he wondered if she had been married throughout their affair of eight months, or if the marriage had taken place after—or even during. Travis Asher must have found out about his wife’s wanderings. He didn’t look pleased.

  Wanda Daniels sat alone in a paisley chair in the corner clutching her empty glass. Phyllis approached her and asked if she would like a refill. The housekeeper was surprised to note the meek woman drank Pinot Grigio. When she returned with the replenished drink, Wanda smiled and thanked her. Phyllis sat down next to her. After several attempts, the fourth-grade teacher from Queens, New York relaxed enough to carry on a generic conversation. The longer Phyllis observed her, the more she noticed features of beauty in her face.

  “Do you enjoy teaching?” Phyllis asked her.

  Wanda sipped her drink. It gave her a moment to put thoughts together. “I’ve enjoyed it in the past. It was always something I wanted to do, but now I find it boring. It’s hard to come up with new ideas to hold the interest of the children. I believe they are more interested in their social media contacts than what I can teach them.”

  “Your visit here should give you time to reflect on your next step,” Phyllis said.

  Wanda nodded as she finished the last of the wine. She stood and excused herself. Phyllis told her to call on any of the staff if she needed anything. She watched Wanda move quietly from the room, unnoticed by anyone other than Brenda.

  Everyone turned to the small cluster of guests near the windows. “I love working in that department store,” Jillian Phillips was saying. Her voice rose above the murmurs circulating through the large room. “My goal is to become the CEO of the company.”

  “What do you do now?” Joanna Yoder asked.

  “I am a retail sales associate now. That won’t last much longer if I play my cards right.”

  “You’ll have a few years before you move from a sales associate to CEO,” Harry said.

  Jillian ignored the smirk that crept into his face. “Once I set goals, I focus on them, and that helps me to move up faster. I don’t see the impossibili
ty of reaching the CEO position. The present CEO will be retiring in two years. That’s plenty of time for me to edge up.”

  Jillian turned her head to sneeze. Then her eyes accused the group closest to her. There was no doubt in her mind that one of her listeners carried remnants of a pet cat with them. She excused her sneezing and moved to another group. Harry’s eyes refocused on Miranda Asher.

  The retail sales associate watched him. She liked his boldness to express his feelings through expressions. She realized from observing him how totally opposite Harry was from her boyfriend Jake. She and Jake had recently broken up after eight years together. She’d had to rethink her life without him. Day by day, she felt more liberation than she’d ever imagined while with him. Jillian smiled to herself as she watched Harry Brooks’s eyes trying unsuccessfully to break from the vision of the nightclub singer.

  Joanna and Ethan Yoder sat on the loveseat near the fireplace with apple cider drinks. Brenda noticed they were both quiet and didn’t offer much to conversations. She joined them.

  “We love your bed and breakfast, Brenda,” Joanna said. She dipped her head quickly and added, “It is so peaceful here.” She went on to tell Brenda that she and Ethan had spent the last year saving enough money for a getaway like this one.

  “What kind of business are you in?” Brenda said.

  “We own an organic market in New Hope, Pennsylvania,” Ethan said. “We planned it for several years and have finally got it up and going.”

  Brenda made a mental note to find out more about their market. Perhaps Chef Pierre would be interested in having fresh products sent to the kitchen.

  “We’re in the Sweetfern Harbor area for a whole week,” Joanna said.