The Possum Hollow Hullabaloo (The Penelope Pembroke Cozy Mystery Series) (2 page)

CHAPTER TWO

Sam left after breakfast on Sunday morning, saying he’d be back late. “What can he possibly do on Sunday?” Penelope asked Jake while they lingered over a second cup of coffee.

“See a man about a dog?”

“That’s corny, Daddy.”

“Best I’ve got. The kids should be home today.”

“I thought I’d put in a roast before we go to Mass. They might stop by for dinner.”

“Wouldn’t be surprised.”
Jake pushed back from the table. “I’ll go get ready.”

Penelope arranged the roast in the blue enamel pan, sliced an onion over it, and added some water and beef
bouillon  cubes, garlic salt, and pepper, then shoved it inside the top oven set at 300 degrees. Upstairs she changed her jeans and t-shirt for a navy dress, hose, and low heeled beige pumps. Reaching for her missal, her fingers brushed a piece of folded paper sticking out of the front cover.

I’ll be really late tonight, Nell, so don’t wait up. I should know tomorrow how long I’ll be here this time.

Penelope crumpled the unsigned note and tossed it in the wicker wastebasket by the desk.
You never know when you’ll be here or for how long, and I know it’s not your fault, but it makes me crazy. What if you leave one of these days…disappear…don’t ever come back? What am I supposed to do then? I wonder if Bradley would know where to start looking for you?

During Fr.
Loeffler’s homily, her mind bounced between Friday’s wedding and Sam. Later, Mary Lynn caught her in the parking lot. “The Deanes got off all right. I didn’t call you when I saw the garage door was closed.”

“What does the blessed garage door have to do with it?”

“You always leave it open except when your Gray Ghost is there.”

“He’s not
my
Gray Ghost.”

“Whatever he is then.”
Mary Lynn waved to passing parishioner and fished her car keys from her favorite zebra print bag which didn’t match her dress. “Harry went to early Mass so he could play golf with Hal Greene.”

“I can’t believe they’ve patched things up after everything that happened—Harry writing that threatening letter and all.”

“He apologized to Hal.”

“Still.”

“I wonder when Darby Dolan will go to trial?”

“I heard she’d been denied bond.”

“Well, I certainly hope so! She’s responsible for at least one murder and involved in two more. And she wouldn’t have thought twice about killing me, too.”

Mary Lynn grimaced. “Don’t say that.”

“What’s on your agenda for this afternoon?”

“I’m going to work on some things for the community center. A couple of the elementary teachers are coming over to talk more about a Christmas pageant for the opening.”

“Are you going to include the children from the Hollow?”

Mary Lynn’s well-shaped brows went up. “Why would you ask that?”

Penelope shrugged. “I don’t know. It was just a thought.”

“Do you think we should include them?”

“It might be a nice gesture. They’re so isolated out there.”

“Their school’s as good as ours in town—maybe better because of the staff’s personal commitment.”

“You’re right about that. Well, let me know what I can do to help.” She beckoned to Jake who was deep in conversation with the Widow Baker. “Let’s go home, Daddy.”

The Widow Baker looked disappointed, but she smiled at Penelope and waved. Penelope nodded back and got into the SUV.

“She asked me if I liked chicken a la king,” Jake said with a smirk as he climbed in beside his daughter.

“What did you tell her?”

“That I did.”

“So did you get a dinner invitation?”

“I reckon I will.”

“Oh, Daddy.”

“Now, Nellie, you know I’m not going to do anything silly like go courting, not at my age. Besides, I never loved anybody but your mother, and that’s just the way it is.”

“I guess you’ve got a right to your life.”

“You wouldn’t put me in the old folks home?” Jake fastened his seatbelt and cackled. “A man never gets too old to be flattered by a woman’s attention, especially one who can cook.”

Penelope eased into the street. “Daddy, when you were growing up, did the kids from Possum Hollow ever come into town? Ever participate in anything?”

“Not that I can remember. Why?”

“I just wondered. Mary Lynn’s thinking about a Christmas pageant for the town kids when the community center opens. It seems ki
nd of mean to leave out the ones from the Hollow.”

“The Hollow’s the Hollow, Nellie. Nothing’s changed.”

“It just seems a shame, don’t you think?”

“I think the school out there is doing everything it can for the children. More than most would.”

“So maybe things will change eventually?”

“Honestly? I doubt it.”

“It’s a shame.”

“Right.
It’s a shame.”

****

Rosabel and Bradley showed up about the time Penelope was taking the roast out of the oven. “We’ve been smelling that all the way from Eureka Springs,” Rosabel said, kissing Penelope’s cheek.

“What’s for dessert?” Bradley asked.

“Peach cobbler.”

Amaryllis’ chief and only detective lifted his eyes heavenward and licked his lips. “You did
good, Mother.”

“She produced you,”
Rosabel said. “That’s good enough for me without the peach cobbler.”

Over dinner the conversation drifted to the community center. “Mary Lyn
n is meeting with some of the elementary teachers this afternoon to talk about a Christmas pageant for the opening in December,” Penelope said. “I asked her if the Possum Hollow children were being included.”

“Why would you ask that?” Bradley helped himself to more green beans with bacon bits.

“Why not?”

“I didn’t mean it that way,” he said. “I just meant they’ve never participated in anything before. The school is lucky to keep them through sixth grade.”

“I didn’t realize that,” Rosabel said. “So they just ignore the compulsory attendance laws?”

“Pretty much, Rosie,” Jake replied. “Always have.”

“That wouldn’t happen in Nevada.”

“Difference is, they can’t hide on the plains like they can in the backwoods of Arkansas,” Bradley said.

Rosabel buttered her second roll. “You’re right, they can’t.”

“What do you hear from Tammy
Turney, Mother? Isn’t Jack due home any day now?”

“That’s what Tammy said last time I talked to her. I don’t know what the school is going to do without her.”

“She won’t be easy to replace.”

“I wouldn’t mind helping out on my days off,”
Rosabel said.

Bradley frowned. “I wouldn’t mind you helping ou
t either if it was anywhere but Possum Hollow.”

“It’s safe enough as long as you stay at the school,” Penelope said. “Mary Lynn and I never have any problem when we do Christmas boxes out there. Besides, Bradley sends Parnell Garrett out there with us.”

“I guess the school’s safe enough,” Bradley said, “but it’s not secure. There’s a difference.”

“I’m a police officer. That should count for something.”
Rosabel patted his arm.

“You can’t take a weapon on school property,” Bradley said. “But they’re going to need help when Tammy leaves. If you’re willing to give up your time off, that’s up to you.”

Rosabel patted him again. “We’ll talk about it.”

****

Rosabel tried to help Penelope clean up, but Penelope waved her away. “You two go on. You’ve got to unpack and get ready for work tomorrow.”

“I want to stop by the station and check in,” Bradley said, slipping his arm around
Rosabel. “And you can check your shift.”

Rosabel
hugged her mother-in-law. “Thanks for a wonderful welcome-home dinner. I can’t wait to cook some traditional Lebanese fare for you and Jake.”

“You just get settled in, and then give us a call.”

Bradley fished his keys from his pocket. “We’ll see you soon, Mother. Pawpaw, take care.”

“Of what or whom?”
Jake asked.

“Daddy, don’t start.”

Jake’s eyes rounded with innocence. “Who, me?”

Penelope heard the young people laughing all the way down the flagstone walk through the garden to the driveway.

CHAPTER THREE

“We’re going to do a traditional Christmas play,” Mary Lynn announced a few mornings later when she stopped by for coffee. “As in the Nativity.”

“Sounds good to me.”“

And we’ll have a good old-fashioned sing-along with carols and some fun songs.”

“Okay.”

“The children who want to be in the program will practice after school, and their parents will be responsible for costumes. We’ll put out a call for help with props and sets.”

“I’ll bet Mike and Millie would let you borrow their donkey.” Penelope scooped up
Abijah and began to stroke him. He flicked his tail in Mary Lynn’s direction.

“Caleb? I don’t know what possessed them to take in that mangy mule, but I don’t want him on stage, thanks. No sheep either.”

“Poor thing was going to be put down after old Mr. Bigelow died, and they’ve got plenty of room on their property. He’s living a fine life these days.”

“He can live a fine life without becoming an actor at this late date.”

“So I guess camels are out, too.”

“Be serious, Pen.”

“Okay. How can I help?”

“Supervise some rehearsals. Help me decorate the center.”

“That’s easy enough.”

“I’ll talk to Hal Greene about publicity.”

“Things get around town before he can print them in the newspaper.”

“I mean posters and things like that.”

“Oh. Sure, that’s a good idea.”

“We’ll have a ribbon-cutting, too. You know, make the opening real formal.”

“How about refreshments?”

“I’ve never known any event in Amaryllis to lack for volunteers to provide refreshments.”

“That’s true.” Penelope nibbled a kolache. “So did you mention the Possum Hollow kids?”

“As a matter of fact, I did, and Miss Maude Pendleton said it might encourage them to want to come into town for junior high and high school.”

“What was Miss Maude doing there? I know she’s been helping with the labels for the pictures in the museum upstairs, but she hasn’t worked with kids in at least ten years.”

“She came with her great-niece Prissy.”

“She’s still here?”

“She’s back. Seems Miss Maude
wants a companion, and Prissy’s between acting jobs and is going to work as an aide at the elementary school. And, she—that’s Prissy—wants to start a children’s theatre group after the new year.”

“Oh, I like that idea.”

“I took her to see the auditorium yesterday, and she fell in love with it.”

“Well, well.”

Mary Lynn got up and refilled her coffee mug. “So, did the Gray Ghost depart?”

“Not yet.”

“Not yet?”

“That’s what I said.”

“Now it’s my turn to say well, well.”

“Oh, stuff it, Mary Lynn.”

The mayor’s wife sat down at the table again. “It’s serious, isn’t it?”

“No.”

“Yes, it is. You have that look.”

“What look is that?”

“All starry-eyed.”

“That’s ridiculous. Actually, at my age, it’s totally insane.”

“Oh, I don’t know. I still get starry-eyed over Harry sometimes.”

“That’s different.”

“Not really. So how long is Mr. G. Ghost going to be here?”

“He says another couple of days.”

“Then I guess we can expect another body to turn up. It happens every time he’s here.”

“It does not!”

Mary Lynn grinned. “Oh, Pen, you’re so transparent. You’re nuts about the guy, and you don’t even know his last name.”

“Hush
up, Mary Lynn, or I’ll turn Abijah loose on you.”

“That cat couldn’t catch a mouse if it played dead in front of him.”

“He’s a good cat.”

Mary Lynn reached for her purse.
“Gotta go.”

The phone on the wall behind Penelope rang.
Glancing at the caller ID, she mouthed, “Shana,” and hit the speaker button.

“I’ve got some really bad news,” Shana said. “Tammy
Turney came in this morning to pick up some books one of the teachers had reserved and told me her fiancé had been wounded.”

“Oh, no.
Did she say how badly?”

“He may lose both legs.”

Mary Lynn closed her eyes and shook her head.

“I’m so sorry.”

“He’s being shipped home next week, and she’s going up to be with him.”

“Up as in?”

“She isn’t sure yet where they’ll send him. Anyway, she said she told George Harris she’s outta there.”

“She’d already resigned contingent on Jack’s assignment.”

“She’s worried about the library out there. I told her we’d work something out.”

“Of course, we will. I’ll call her tonight. I can help, and
Rosabel said she didn’t mind going out on her days off.”

“What does Brad think of that?”

“Well, he doesn’t think much of Possum Hollow, obviously, but he doesn’t care if she helps out.”

“She was one gorgeous bride.”

“I thought so.”

“Well, I’ve got to go do story hour for the preschool set, but I wanted to tell you about Tammy.”

“Thanks, Shana. Come by for supper sometime.”

“Let me know when you’re making lasagna. Bye now.”

“Oh, poor Tammy,” Mary Lynn said. “I guess that ends Jack’s military career.”

“I don’t know, but they’ll be okay. It sounds awful to say, but a leg, even two of them, isn’t a life.”

“No, it isn’t.” Mary Lynn set her mug in the sink. “Keep me posted. I’ll talk to you later.”