Grapes of Death (25 page)

“Yes, I do. You did good.”

She sniffed and choked out a laugh. “I was so scared. All I could think about was the three of you walking into Stuart's trap—not knowing he was waiting with a gun. I was terrified he would—”

Jackson put a finger to her lips before she could finish her sentence. “But he didn't because of your quick thinking.” He gave her a wry smile. “Now come on, let's get you home.”

Twenty-Six

That evening after dinner,
with the entire family gathered around the dining room table, Elise gave an account of the afternoon's events. She began with the outrageous story of Stuart's gradual meltdown and how it was tied to the scheme to steal her hybridization process. She ended with her luck in finding the golf club and her cockeyed plan to save them all.

Abigail gave a bloodthirsty cackle when she got to the part about bashing Stuart in the head with the club. “Ha! Serves the little pissant right.”

“Mom!” Laura said in a disapproving tone.

“What? He killed two people and could very well have added another
five
to the list had it not been for Elise's quick thinking. I say he got what he deserved.”

“And I'm not disagreeing with that,” Laura said. “But you don't have to sound so pleased about it.”

Abigail crossed her arms and lifted an eyebrow. “Well, it does please me, and I'll show it however I want, thank you very much. I'm proud of Elise.”

Madison giggled. “I'm with you, Gram. I only wish I could have seen Elise in action.”

“Yes.” Abigail gave a satisfied nod. “She was very brave.”

“That's what Jax said, Gram.” Elise glanced over at him and grinned.

“Well, he's right,” Abigail said and got up to get more coffee from the sideboard.

Jackson smiled. “Brave, yes, but don't ever do that to me again, do you hear? You scared the crap out of me.”

Laughing, she shook her head. “I won't. I scared the crap out of myself.”

He sobered then and gave her a stern look. “I mean it, Elise. No more poking around in police business. Promise me you'll stay out of trouble from now on.”

She sighed and crossed her heart then held up her hand in a solemn oath. “I promise, Deputy Landry. Besides, I have too much work to do. Maddy, C.C., and I are helping Gram with our booth for the next Lost Pines Food & Wine Festival. I doubt there'll be much mischief there to speak of.”

“That's a fact,” Abigail confirmed as she sat back down. “We have a boatload of work to do and less than two months to do it. Our booth is going to be the best one at the festival, or I'll know the reason why. So there won't be time for that kind of nonsense.”

“Good wine and good friends.” Madison smiled. “It's gonna be a party for sure. I have so many ideas. Now that the wedding from Hades is over, I can't wait to get started.”

“From your mouth to God's ears, Maddy. I just hope Third-Rate Winery doesn't show,” Abigail grumbled.

“Third-Rate? Never heard of it,” Jackson said.

“Third
Coast
Winery. It's a small vineyard down toward the coast,” Ross explained. “It's run by Gram's high school sweetheart and his trophy wife.”

“Uh-oh. Bad memories, Miss Abby?” Jackson asked. “Or was he the one that got away?”

Ross burst out laughing. “Gram doesn't approve of his choice in spouses, that's all.”

Abigail made a
pfft
sound and rolled her eyes. “Divia Larson is a brainless twit. Always trying to one-up everyone with her designer clothes and snooty ways. I don't know what Garrett sees in her.”

“Be that as it may, we're going to have the best booth with or without Third Coast's entry.” Elise glanced over at Jackson. “And there'll be no mischief. I promise.”

“That's good news,” Jackson replied with a smile.

“Speaking of good news,” Ross said as he stood and raised his wine glass. “I have some awesome news for us all. I spoke with the bank yesterday afternoon, but with everything coming to a head at once, I didn't have time to get the family together to discuss it.”

“Is this about the balloon payment that's coming due?” Madison asked.

“Yes.” Ross nodded. “After the success of the Adams/Wilkinson wedding, and with subsequent referrals for several more events, they've agreed to take half the payment now and the other half in ninety days.”

“And we have enough to cover the first half now?” Elise asked.

“Yep. And, we have a couple CDs maturing next month as well. So, it looks like things are smoothing out.”

“Oh, Ross, that's wonderful!” Laura said. “We always get good numbers before the holidays. By the time the second half is due, our cash flow should be under control and we can stop worrying. That is, until the next crisis,” she finished with a laugh.

“So, a toast,” Ross said, holding up his glass. “To family, good wine, and a bountiful future.
Salut!
”

“
Salut!
” They all responded lifting their glasses high, and Elise couldn't help but grin. They may have had a rough summer, but things were definitely looking up. The vineyard was out of the woods financially, at least for the time-being, she and Jackson finally seemed to be finding their footing, and the future looked bright. She sent Jackson a wink just before putting the glass to her lips.

Salut, indeed!

Acknowledgments

There are also a few folks to thank, so I hope you'll indulge me, dear reader. First and foremost, I must start with my agent, the amazing Christine Witthohn. Thanks for taking a chance on me, girlfriend. You are the most amazing partner, cheerleader, task master, and friend. I can't express how grateful I am for your hard work, advice, and support. And for being my bulletproof vest.

A shout-out goes to my beta-readers: Diane Nelson, Recca Maze, Penny Jensen, Robin Pearsall, and longtime buddy Natalie Bellissimo. Thank you all for your encouragement … and for cleaning up my grammar. I am grateful.

A special thanks goes to Liz Lipperman, my critique partner extraordinaire. Thank you for going first and blazing the trail. You keep me honest and are a tireless sounding board, a continuous source of support, and truly a valued friend. I couldn't have done this without you … and wouldn't have wanted to.

Last but not least, to my family and friends who've stood behind me throughout this mad endeavor: I love you.

©
Janet Hanson-Haight

About the Author

A native of Oregon, Joni Folger spent twenty-two years with an airline, traveling and moving around the country before settling down near the beautiful Pacific Ocean with her three very spoiled cats. When she's not spending quality time with the characters she creates, she enjoys gardening, crafting, and working in local theater.

Heard it Through the Grapevine

A Dead Sister Talking Mystery

Lizbeth Lipperman

Television personality Elaina Garcia has been offered the job of a lifetime as a news anchor. It will mean moving away from her lover Dan Maguire, but Lainey feels like she can't pass up this golden opportunity. Her exciting plans are disrupted when she discovers that her estranged sister, Tessa, who runs the family winery, has died.

Back in her hometown of Vineyard, Texas, Lainey comes face to face with her dead sister. The problem is that Tessa is not in the coffin. Dealing with the wisecracking ghost of her foul-mouthed sibling, Lainey and her three surviving sisters set out to fulfill Tessa's wish from beyond the grave—to find out who killed her.

978-0-7387-3602-0, 336 pp., 5
3
⁄
16
x 8

To order, call 1-877-NEW-WRLD

Prices subject to change without notice

Order at
Llewellyn.com
24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

If You Can't Stand the Heat

Poppy Markham: Culinary Cop

Robin Allen

Poppy Markham knows the restaurant biz. She practically grew up at her dad's restaurant, a beloved eatery in Austin, Texas, and—until recently—worked as a sous chef under her surly stepsister, Ursula. Poppy's not sure if her dad will ever forgive her for leaving Markham's Grille to become a public health inspector—the most feared figure in the restaurant industry. Despite everything, Poppy agrees to help at the restaurant's grand re-opening featuring Michelin-rated chef Evariste Bontecou. Chaos ensues when Evariste is found stabbed to death with Ursula's knife.
Mon dieu!

Weeding through everyone who had it in for the hot-headed, philandering chef is like deboning a Coho salmon. Could it be the bad boy sous chef eyeing his chance at the top or the pretty waitress rumored to be Evariste's
paramour
du jour?
Interrogating the kitchen crew soon propels Poppy out of the frying pan and into the fire.

978-0-7387-2607-6, 288 pp., 5
3
⁄
16
x 8

To order, call 1-877-NEW-WRLD

Prices subject to change without notice

Order at
Llewellyn.com
24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

Tainted Mountain

A Nora Abbott Mystery

Shannon Baker

All Nora Abbott wants to do is make enough snow to save her ski resort from the drought that is ravishing Northern Arizona. But now her husband has been murdered; angry protestors have occupied her mountain; her overbearing mother has blown into town; and energy tycoon Barrett McCreary has launched what might just be a hostile takeover of the cash-strapped resort.

To make matters worse, the local Hopi tribe claims making snow on the mountain will upset the balance of the earth, so Nora turns to the ruggedly handsome Cole Huntsman for help. The only trouble is that Huntsman seems to be playing from both sides of the deck. And when a fortune in uranium claims are at stake, double-dealing is a deadly strategy.

978-0-7387-3422-4, 360 pp., 5
3
⁄
16
x 8

To order, call 1-877-NEW-WRLD

Prices subject to change without notice

Order at
Llewellyn.com
24 hours a day, 7 days a week!