Barbara Graham - Quilted 03 - Murder by Music (7 page)

“What time?” Jamie said.

Her younger son's worried expression made her smile. “I'll be back in time to celebrate your birthday, Jamie.”

“Okay. Bye, Mom.” And they were off, letting the front door slam behind them.

Enjoying the peace, Theo cleaned the kitchen. It was a long, narrow kitchen with a fireplace at the far end and walls made of brick. It had only been partially modernized. It ran the width of the house, and even though it was too dark, it was her favorite room in the house. On lazy days, when she and the boys made cookies, she could almost swear she could feel her grandfather's presence. He had taught her to bake in the old wood burning stove. She had lived in this old house every year of her life except the college years and the Chicago years, as she thought of them, but even then it had been this house she called “home.”

She scribbled a short list of things they would need from the store. At nine o'clock, she slowly made her way upstairs to wake Tony. Sprawled on his stomach, he covered the whole bed. He looked so comfortable that it seemed cruel to awaken him. “Tony?” She touched his shoulder. He flopped onto his back and clutched the quilt with both hands, pulling it up to his nose. He didn't open his eyes.

Theo had to smile. Jamie slept the same way. “Tony, it's nine. You asked me to wake you.”

“Can't be.” His voice was muffled. “I just got to bed.”

“I know, but Ruth Ann will be calling any minute now.”

“Um.” He opened one eye and reached for her hand. “So, are you are scared of her too?” The other eye opened. “What did she ever do to you?”

“Are you kidding?” She tugged on his hand but he didn't budge. “I've been interrogated by her for years. If I'm ever arrested, I'll be able to fool the polygraph and withstand countless good cop-bad cop routines.” She couldn't keep a straight face because she and Ruth Ann were good friends.

“Think so?” Moving like lightning, Tony gently flipped her onto the bed and started kissing her neck. “Am I the good cop or bad cop?”

The telephone's shrill ring pierced the moment.

“Hell's bells!” Tony jumped out of bed. “I'll be in the shower.”

“Coward!” Theo called to his back and grabbed the telephone. “Good morning, Ruth Ann.” She warbled into the receiver. If a silence could be anything, Theo mused, this one was surprised.

“Theo, it's Jane, not Ruth Ann.” Her mother-in-law always insisted on identifying herself as if Theo hadn't known her for years. Today was no different.

“Sorry, Jane. I was sure that you were Ruth Ann calling to check on Tony.” The second the words were out of her mouth, she wanted to stuff them back in.

“Is something wrong with him?” Jane still worried as if her children were all two years old. Tony's job in law enforcement didn't put him any higher on the worry list than any of his siblings.

“No. He's fine.” Glad Jane couldn't see her, Theo rolled her eyes. “He's just running a little late. Did you call for him or me?”

“You. What time are you going up to The Lodge?”

“About noon.” Theo tucked the receiver between her ear and shoulder and started making the bed. Almost immediately she had to stop and rest. “Do you need something before I go?”

“Would you stop by the shop and pick up the birthday present for Martha? I left it there last night because I don't want her to see me carrying it in.” Jane chuckled. “I left it in the classroom.”

“Oh, thanks, I almost forgot. I need to call The Lodge and remind them about the birthday cake they're making for her.” Theo sat on the bed and leaned into the pillows. Daisy jumped up on the bed next to her and rested her big shaggy face on what was left of Theo's lap, staring up with her sad, golden retriever eyes. Obligingly, Theo began scratching her ears. Jane was a sweetheart, but sometimes she made Theo nuts. What Theo really wanted to tell Jane was she could come early and carry her own package. Jane's driving was a frequent topic of conversation. She had become so paranoid about hitting animals on the road that when the reintroduction of elk into the Smokies was discussed, she fussed around, convinced that they would attack her car. At least she would be arriving at The Lodge with Martha. “When are you two coming up?”

“About five I think. Anything special going on at your house this weekend?” Jane used her inquisition voice. It took Theo a minute to understand what she was asking. As Tony wandered back into the room, a towel wrapped around his waist, she covered the receiver with her hand and mouthed, “Your mother” and grinned when he backed away.

“It should be pretty quiet around here. The boys will entertain themselves for the most part. Tony and Chris have a special scout thing to go to this evening, and Jamie can either go with them or stay with Edith.” Daisy rolled onto her back so Theo could scratch her stomach. The dog's lips fell back, exposing a fierce looking set of teeth.

Tony lifted a questioning eyebrow. Theo was able to answer both their questions. “It's at the church at seven o'clock. Other than that, it's the same old thing around here.”

As she was hanging up the telephone, Tony asked, “What's this special scout thing?”

“You remember. They asked if you would do it since you were in the Navy and they figured you would know all about knots.”

“I forgot all about it. It's a good thing you reminded me.” He was pulling on his shirt. “Do they know I was just a cook?”

“I don't think they care, and you did agree to do it.” Planting her hands on her hips, she glared at him. “Chris is all excited to have you there, so I guess you'd better practice during the day.”

“I will, I will.” He grinned at her. “I will be the best knot teacher they've ever had. Who all is going today?”

Abandoning Daisy, Theo scooted back against the headboard. As she gave each name, she ticked off a finger. “There's Martha and Jane, Melissa and Susan, Lucinda, Freddie, Ruth and Holly.” She looked at her fingers and shook her head. “There's more than that.”

“Doesn't Nina usually go?”

“Yes, she was planning to be there, but she's in Paris until Sunday.”

“Paris, France?”

“Yes, that Paris. It's some special one week trip for language teachers she won.” Theo sighed, only a little envious. “I don't know how she can think it's going to be more fun than retreat.”

“Don't forget Eleanor,” said Tony. “Didn't you tell me she's going?”

“I'm trying very hard to forget her.” Theo went through the names and fingers again. “Oh, of course. Dottie and Betty.”

“Betty?”

Theo could tell Tony was amazed and with good reason. Betty was almost blind, and osteoporosis was shrinking her at an alarming rate. She resembled a gnome more and more each day.

“How can she quilt?”

“She never goes anywhere without Dottie. Dottie's eyes are okay so she threads the needles for both of them. As long as the light is good and you don't care how even the stitches turn out, she can quilt up a storm.”

“Good for Betty.” He bent over and gave Theo a kiss. “I'll take you up at noon, and for heaven's sake take your cell phone with you. Last time, I called your phone six times, only to find out you left it in your workshop.”

“Okay, okay.”

By mid-morning Theo was ready to leave the house. She checked her to-do list. There were plenty of clean clothes for Tony and the boys. Plenty of food. Today was a beautiful day, and she always enjoyed the fall retreat. It was a time for her to concentrate on her own projects and not on teaching. She stacked her retreat bound bags by the front door. Her bag of clothes weighed almost nothing: pajamas, slippers, T-shirts. The most weight was in the jar of prenatal vitamins. She added a large, extra strong garbage bag filled with one quilt in progress, the large wooden hoop she used while working on it and a small fabric bag holding her thread, thimble and extra needles. Thinking she might want to rest and read for a while, she added a book. Realizing she almost forgot the box holding the embroidery supplies required by Scarlet LaFleur for her mini-class in Armenian embroidery, she waddled off to get it.

Just in case she ran out of projects, she added the bag holding Tony's Christmas present. She was making him a new lap quilt and still had a couple of months until the deadline. Even so she hoped to get the binding done this weekend. Once the twins arrived, she might never have another free moment. The top was alternating stars and snowball shapes pieced with fabrics printed with cowboy, and the back was a flannel barbed wire print. Theo had sewn it extra long so it would cover him from nose to toes when he napped in his recliner.

Needing a little rest, Theo sat and propped her feet up. She closed her eyes and immediately fell asleep.

Theo relaxed in the Blazer's passenger seat, relieved to let Tony deal with the drive. The road to The Lodge was ten miles of inclines and switchbacks. At night the dangerous drive seemed much farther. At noon, even at this time of year, it was a beautiful drive. In the protected valley where Silersville sat, the fall foliage was fading, but some colorful leaves remained on the trees. Not up here. The Lodge was not only at a much higher elevation but perched on the side of the mountain overlooking the national park. Up here, all of the deciduous trees were stripped of their leaves, leaving stark gray or brown limbs twisted against the dark of the evergreens. The even higher peaks of the Smokies were swathed in a deep blue haze.

After next weekend, when The Lodge would be filled with wedding guests coming for Patrick's wedding, The Lodge would close for the season. Because the quilters normally came on the last weekend of the season, they were charged only a minimal rate for their rooms and meals. This would be the third year for their event, and while some of the ladies were repeats, it would be the first year for Melissa, Susan and Eleanor. Fresh young faces and a harpy. What a combination!

The tiny sign reading “The Lodge” with its faded red arrow pointing toward a gravel road was almost hidden under the drooping foliage of an overgrown mountain laurel. If she had not been up here many times, Theo would have hesitated to make the turn, unsure if this was really the correct road. As Tony guided the car around the sharp bend, she wondered how many first-time visitors either missed the sign or didn't believe it. Heavily wooded on both sides, the road could lead anywhere. A fanciful imagination could see a witch's house through the trees. Theo anticipated the end of the driveway, and Tony slowed the Blazer even more.

Suddenly, The Lodge was directly in front of them. Its native stone edifice fitted onto the side of the mountain as if it had grown there, much like lichen on a rock. Shaped in a V, the point aimed at the bigger mountain to the south. The lobby filled the ground floor in the point of the V. A covered veranda, open from front to back, made up the upper level point. Peeled log rails prevented tourists from leaning out too far while admiring the various magnificent views. The veranda was designed and decorated to be a wonderful area for relaxing. The flowers in the whiskey-barrel planters were faded, but there were still evergreen topiaries and clusters of locally made ladder-back chairs arranged around small tables, forming conversational groupings.

On the ground level, a flagstone terrace surrounded the whole hotel. Except for a postage stamp−sized grassy area near the front, shrubs and trees—rhododendron, dogwood, mountain laurel and balsam fir—grew right up to the edge of the terrace. Concrete benches had been placed in niches, giving the occupants privacy.

The small parking lot was actually a little past The Lodge and hidden from view by more trees. Tony turned into the semicircular drive and stopped in front of the big hotel door. Several empty luggage carts stood waiting.

As Theo climbed out of the Blazer and glanced around, she shivered. Although she knew The Lodge was staffed with good people, for just a moment she felt threatened. Swallowing back a bubble of panic coming from nowhere and threatening her peace of mind, she watched Tony stack her things on one of the luggage carts. She couldn't shake the feeling someone was watching her.

The feeling vanished the second Tony dragged her luggage cart into the lobby. Immediately, two-able bodied men jumped to help. Art Trimble, the owner of The Lodge, beat his young assistant to the cart by inches. “Do you have more in the car, Theo?” Art took the handle of the cart.

“Not this time.” She had to laugh as much in relief as in amusement. “You've seen us arrive with truckloads of stuff before.”

Art smiled widely. “Just testing.” He indicated his assistant. “This is Gavin Thompson. He's Beth's nephew.”

Theo extended her hand to the young man who looked big enough to carry a small truck up the flight of stairs without breaking a sweat. “Nice to meet you.” Theo had to tug a little to get her hand free. “Have you been working up here for very long?”

“I started this summer after I finished at the university.” He grinned at his brother-in-law. “Working for Art and Beth, I get to save just about everything I make so I will start grad school after Christmas.” Ignoring Tony, he grasped the cart. “Which stuff do you want in the sewing area?”

Thinking the young man looked familiar and older than most college students, Theo pointed to the small bag. “Everything except this.”

Without another word, Gavin picked up the two largest items and dashed away.

“Thank you.” Theo said to his vanishing back. She turned to face Art. “Do I need to check in?”

“Let me get Beth for you. She wanted to go over the room assignments and other arrangements with you.” He headed for the back of the hotel at a near run.

“You have fun. I'll be back for you on Sunday about noon.” Tony bent and gave her a kiss. “I'd better move the Blazer before one of your group decides it's in the way and pushes it off the mountain.”

Theo waved goodbye and wandered toward the sunken lounge. A low stone wall kept the unwary safe. The lounge area was about four feet lower than the lobby, gift shop, game room and restaurant. Beth had once explained the builders designed the enormous fireplace at the far end of the lounge before the rest of the building. When it had become apparent that the fireplace, as designed, would not fit the hotel, the builder had the area around it excavated so the fireplace would fit perfectly.