Sweets Galore: The Sixth Samantha Sweet Mystery (The Samantha Sweet Mysteries) (26 page)

 
Beside her, Evie whimpered.

“All of it,” Sam said. “She told
me everything.”

She kept her eyes on the gun.
If he squeezes any tighter, start moving.
Make it difficult.
She wanted to tell Evie what to do but there was no way.

“You conned Jake into thinking he
would get famous from the show. But he couldn’t come up with the money. You
broke into my house looking for it, then you decided to . . .”

The gun lowered just a little.

“Your house?” He seemed genuinely
puzzled.

She saw her chance and ducked,
racing low, right at him. She grabbed the small mirror and smacked it against
his forearm. The gun went flying. She barreled into his legs and he landed on
his back, the air whooshing from his lungs. Before he could react, Sam
straddled him and sat hard on his stomach.

“Evie! Grab my phone—speed dial
number one on it. Now!”

Tustin was having a hard time
breathing. Take that, you scrawny little fool, she thought. She lifted her
weight just enough to allow him one deep inhalation.

“Hand it to me, Evie, and come
stand by his car.” Without taking her eyes off Tustin’s face she took the
phone.

“Beau, I’ve got him.” She told him
where they were and within three minutes sirens began to approach.

Beau’s cruiser was soon joined by
two from the Taos PD. Tustin started to protest about brutality but the facts
were evident—his car through the window and his gun lying on the floor hardly
made him look like an innocent victim. The police slapped cuffs on Tustin and
dragged him to his feet. Sam hastily explained that they needed to take Evie
along in the second car, for which she earned a glare.

“Sorry,” she told the girl, “but
these guys have to sort it all out.” Evie would get some kind of accessory
charge but only a court could say how firm a sentence either of them would end
up with.

“Afraid you’re in for more
questioning,” Beau said. The two of them stood off to the side of the chaotic
scene. “I doubt either of those two will tell the same story at the station
that they told you. And I don’t care what Sanchez says, I’m going to be there
with you.”

“I’ve got some questions of my
own,” she said, describing Tustin’s look of uncertainty when she mentioned the
break-in at her house.

“I may have the answer for you on
that one.
Kozark’s
men. Apparently, Thursday night
Jake blabbed about you being his source for money—I got the sense that someone
was aiming the nail gun at his hand at the moment.
Kozark
must have gotten on that flight to establish his alibi, while his goons stayed
behind to look for the money.”

The owner of Beautiful Bridals
arrived as the first police cruiser was pulling away, a middle aged woman who
immediately went hysterical when she saw the damage to her shop. Beau offered
to call a deputy to provide security until her insurance adjuster could take a
look. While he made that call, Sam phoned Mark Nelson and told him she would be
talking to the police. He didn’t sound happy to be dragged out at nine p.m.
after a long day in court, but he told her to wait for him.

Both hands were straight up on the
clock in the police station when Sam walked out. She’d related the whole story,
and Evie managed to fill in a few of the blanks. One of Tustin’s flunkies had
purchased the cupcake but it was
Evie’s
idea to leave
it as a gift at the hotel desk, so Jake wouldn’t know who to blame after he
became ill.

Mark Nelson had to get a little
pushy with Pete Sanchez, but finally the charges against Sam were dropped. The
energy from the box had faded long ago and she wanted nothing more than to fall
into bed.

Even so, a little tune ran
persistently through her head. “I’m getting married in the morning . . .”

Chapter
24

Actually, the morning became
filled with a mad scramble to get the wedding back on track. Dress, cake,
flowers and a hasty plan to come up with food. Phone calls to friends that
required too much explanation, but everyone quickly changed plans and agreed to
be at Zoë’s place at six o’clock that night.

Zoë and Darryl went all-out with
the garden. Golden fairy lights twinkled in the twin blue spruce trees and
across the top of the pergola. The storm had passed during the night, leaving
everything fresh and scented with pine. Candles flickered in the cool evening
air, casting faces in a soft glow.

On the flagstone patio, vines of
brilliant red crape myrtle intertwined with short oak boughs; clusters of
autumn-toned asters, daisies and chrysanthemums topped a long white-clothed
table. Tiny candles interspersed the floral arrangements with constellations of
light. Gold-trimmed china settings for twelve lined the table and a caterer’s
helpers waited discreetly in the kitchen. A side table held Sam’s elaborate
cake, none the worse for being saved an extra few days.

Kelly adjusted folds in Sam’s
veil. “Mom, you are the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen.”

Sam’s eyelids prickled. “Don’t get
me started. I don’t have the faintest idea how to repair smudged eye makeup.”
She pressed her lips together and stared at her reflection in the mirror. The
champagne silk, the lace, the pearls . . . and the fit was perfect. At last.

“Everyone’s out there, waiting for
the star of the show. Beau looks so good in that tux,” Kelly said, peering
through the drapes in Zoë’s sitting room. “
Gramma’s
turned around in her seat, staring toward the house.” She glanced back at Sam.
“All I have to do is open this door.”

Sam took a deep breath and picked
up her bouquet. “Ready.”

The door swung inward and Kelly
stepped out in her long crimson dress, wearing the silver bracelet Sam had
given her, carrying her own small bouquet from Zoë’s garden. Sam gave her a
ten-step lead and followed. And there was Beau, smiling with a bit of awe. She
didn’t notice anyone else—not the friends, the parents or the judge who’d
agreed to come on such short notice—she only saw Beau.

Later, she barely remembered
saying the vows, only that the words were heartfelt and that their voices came
out sincerely and confidently as they promised to love each other forever. When
they exchanged rings Sam marveled at the warmth in Beau’s hands.

“I love you,
darlin
’,”
he whispered right before he kissed her.

Now, seated at the midpoint along
the dining table, candlelight warming the faces around her, Sam raised her
glass.

“To wonderful friends and dear
family. Thank you for sharing this evening with us.”

Glasses clinked around the table
and then Nina Rae pushed her chair back and stood up. “Samantha Jane, and our
dear Beau. We are all so very happy for you. We were disappointed that the rest
of the Sweet clan were not able to stay longer, but your Uncle Buster arranged
a special surprise for you.” She turned to her husband. “Howard, where is that
thing?”

Howard reached under the table and
brought out a small black case. He searched the group for a moment. “Kelly,
come here sweetie. You know I don’t know a dang thing about these computers.”

Sam and Beau exchanged a puzzled
look. Kelly took the case from her grandfather and unfolded it, revealing a
tablet device. A few murmured words between them and Kelly tapped the screen a
few times.

“Hey, Uncle Buster. You’re on here
live?” She said to the screen.

“You’re darn
tootin
’
I am,” came the hearty voice. “Hold the screen up to your mama and let me tell
her
somethin
’.”

Sam didn’t breathe for a few
seconds, wondering what was up.

“Sammy and Beau.
Everbody’s
sent you a greeting. Just touch that little
button thingy at the bottom of the screen and you’ll see ’
em
.
We got the whole
fam-damly
for you two.”

It was true. Each of the Sweet
family who’d come for the wedding last weekend had recorded a short video
greeting. The guests crowded behind Sam’s chair to watch.

Bessie and Chub came on first.
“Are we on?” Bessie asked, looking around the room, which Sam recognized as
their living room in Tulsa. “I can’t tell if the camera’s on, Chub.”

“It’s on,” he said, edging his
eyes toward her but not turning way from the camera. “See the red light? Now
just say something to Sammy and Beau.” He cleared his throat. “Samantha and
Beau, your Uncle Charles here. Uh, we just want to wish you both all the very
best on your wedding day, and uh . . .”

“Oh let me say it,” Bessie
interrupted. “Sammy, I know you’ll just be the most beautiful bride and I know
you two are
gonna
be as happy as two little birdies
in a nest and we’re just so happy for you!” Her voice came out bright and
high-spirited, and Sam wondered if she’d indulged in a glass or two of wine
before getting up the nerve to do this.

“Have a happy life together!” they
said in unison, apparently at the prompting of someone behind the camera.

Their film clip ended and there
was a moment of fuzz before her cousin Willie came on.

“Well, shoot,” she said, “I don’t
know how to do this darn thing and besides, I’ve
gotta
get back out to the barn and feed them—oh, really? You’re recording already?”
She looked directly at the camera for the first time. “Hey Sam, hey Beau! It
was so great to visit your place and meet your horses and the dogs and all . .
. and I just want you guys to have a great life together, and Sam I sure hope
that stupid stuff with the police is finally done.” She glanced sideways and
back. “I shouldn’t have said that last part. You two just keep going strong,
okay? I’m glad you finally got to have your wedding.”

Sam and Beau grinned at each
other. He scooted his chair closer to hers and draped one arm over her
shoulders while holding her right hand with his.

Rayleen came on the screen next.
“Boys! Get yourselves over here!” She glanced up at the camera “Sammy and Beau,
ya’ll
are such a cute couple and I sure hope
ya’ll
have as great a marriage as Joe Bob and me.” She kept
her eyes forward but stretched out a hand to pull her husband into the picture.
Joe Bob grinned and wished them a happy honeymoon. The two teens ended the
greeting with a bored “Hey, dude. Stay cool.”

When the recorded greetings were
finished, Buster came back on. Lily sat beside him, her eyes full of warmth.
“Sammy, I see that you look beautiful in your dress and I’m so happy for you,
honey.”

Buster piped up again. “
Ya’ll
are
gonna
have a great life
together, and if you ever need advice on where to invest your money for a good
little retirement nest egg, I got just two words for you—oil futures!”

Sam burst out laughing and Beau
was having a hard time keeping a straight face as they thanked him and shut
down the connection.

“I have to say that was . . . very
nice of them,” Zoë said as she gave Sam’s shoulders a squeeze.

“So,” said Rupert, returning to
his seat across the table. “what’s the latest on the honeymoon plans?”

Sam had nearly forgotten. She
looked at Beau.

He turned to her and reached for
the inside pocket of his jacket. “I have a little wedding gift for you, my
darlin
’ Samantha.” He pulled out a small blue booklet. “We are
on our way to Ireland tomorrow,” he said.

“But I never called the lawyer
back. What about our tickets?”

“I did that. He is thrilled for
you and says you have a wonderful surprise waiting for you on the Emerald
Isle.”

What would it be, Sam wondered,
running her fingers over the embossed gold lettering on her passport. Money?
Property? Or simply a wonderful experience? She couldn’t imagine anything
better than what she had right here. Around the table her friends were smiling
and enjoying their meal; her family—scattered though they were—shared a bond,
although sometimes a bit wacky; her wedding had turned out to be everything she
wanted. And there was Beau, his arm draped over the back of her chair, his
ocean-blue eyes occasionally acknowledging the others but mainly . . . mainly
his attention was all for her.

For Dan, who has made my life

special
and wonderful.

My
thanks go out to Susan Slater; the books are always better with your editorial
touches. And of course to all my readers—I keep writing them for you!

Discover all of Connie
Shelton’s mysteries!

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Competition
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Balloons
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