Goodnight Moo Page 15

  “Brynn? Are you okay?” Becky asked, standing.

  “I’m sorry.” She tried to smile. “I need to go to bed.”

  Brynn took her leave and didn’t even bother changing her clothes. She just lay down on top of her quilt. Alone with her thoughts, she did the other thing she knew to do, which was pray. Wes was young, he was innocent, and surely things would turn out okay—with or without her help.

  She rolled over to her side and the image of Chelsea’s jewelry sprang to her mind. Brynn knew she was the common denominator and Wes didn’t like her, but she didn’t judge her as badly as everybody else. Something was going on with her, for sure, but it wasn’t covering up a murder case. What was it?

  She tried to take comfort in the fact that the police had Ian in custody, but she wondered what his motive was in killing Donny. Did they even know each other? Did he randomly kill Donny or was there a reason? What would that reason be?

  She should have felt better now that the police had another suspect. But she didn’t. She wanted to be certain Wes was cleared. She wouldn’t rest until she knew he was safe. She vowed to continue her efforts, with or without Wes’s blessing. What he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. Not this time, anyway.

  * * *

  Brynn woke up the next morning fully clothed with Romeo on her chest, purring and looking at her as if she was studying her. She reached up and stroked the cat, who usually chose to spend her nights with Wes. “Good morning, Romeo.”

  Brynn wondered how much the cat thought of Nancy, if she missed her, dreamed of her, and so on. They had been quite close.

  Brynn took a few minutes to pet the cat. Then she sat up and glanced out the window at the gray, dreary weather. Another rainy, muggy day. The cat hopped down off of her bed and meowed.

  Warmth spread through her as she remembered Wes was home. She had to assume he wouldn’t be found guilty. But she had her work cut out for her.

  First, she’d research more about the other suspect. Was he really viable? Or were they just looking at him because of his record?

  “Brynn?” Becky rapped on her door and opened it. Her eyes swept up and down taking Brynn in. “You’re still in yesterday’s outfit?”

  “I fell asleep in it.” Brynn grinned as her sister shook her head, smiling. “I’ll get showered and come downstairs in a minute.”

  “What are you doing sitting here in yesterday’s clothes?”

  “I just woke up. Trying to get it together. Man, I really slept. Like I don’t remember anything. Such a deep sleep.”

  “That’s probably just what you needed.”

  “I’ve been thinking about Ian and wondering what his motive would be to kill Donny.”

  “Did he need one? Sounds like he’s just troubled.” Becky sat down on the edge of the bed.

  “I wonder did he even know Donny?”

  “Who knows? But he is acquainted with Chelsea.”

  “About Chelsea . . . what do you think of her?”

  Becky shrugged. “I think she’s a confused young woman. Wouldn’t be the first one. But I don’t sense she’s violent or dangerous in any way.”

  “I keep seeing her with Jewel. I may be cow crazy, but that cow loves her.”

  “Granny Rose used to say animals were better judges of people than people.”

  “It’s so true.”

  Becky stood. “You better get that shower. I’ll put a fresh pot of coffee on and get some breakfast together. How about a cheese omelet?”

  “Don’t go to all that trouble. I’ll make a bowl of oatmeal.”

  “Whatever floats your boat.” Becky left the room and Brynn readied for her shower and her day. She was losing track of the time and felt the need to get back into the swing of things. She’d go and check on her cheese in the basement today and give it a good washing. That surely wouldn’t be too much for her.

  * * *

  Later, at the breakfast table, Brynn downed her coffee and looked out her picture window to her field at her cows. It looked as if Jewel might be gaining a little weight. She was eating and that was a good thing.

  Brynn finished her e-mail and checked her phone to see if there were any text messages. One from Schuyler, checking on her. One from Willow, doing the same. A note from the CSA about needing help tonight at the fair.

  Another, a strange note with no return number. She opened it, and it read: “Back off, lady. Mind your own business and leave Chelsea alone. Or you’re next.” A shock of fear tore through her as she dropped her phone and gasped.

  “What is it?” Becky said, running to her.

  “The phone! Look at the message!” Brynn slid the phone to her sister, whose face reddened and mouth dropped as she read it.

  “We need to get the police over here,” Becky said.

  Brynn hesitated. How would they explain why Chelsea had been here yesterday? Would they need to lie to the police? Granny Rose was right. When you tell one lie, you’ll have to tell another to cover it up.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “How are we going to explain why Chelsea was here?”

  Becky thought a moment. “We’ll tell them the same thing we told her.”

  “You mean lie again.”

  “Precisely.” She paused. “Do you have a better plan?”

  Her words hung in the air. They’d have to lie to Sheriff Edge. Brynn didn’t like that at all.

  “I have no plan.” Brynn put her face in her hands, elbows on the table.

  “I’ll call the sheriff.”

  * * *

  An hour later, Sheriff Edge was sitting at Brynn’s kitchen table as Becky fixed him a cup of coffee.

  “So you’re saying Chelsea was here yesterday to discuss this opportunity and then today you received this text message?” he asked.

  “Yes,” Brynn answered.

  Becky set the cup of coffee in front of him.

  “Who knew she was here?” he asked.

  “Well, all of us. Becky, me; Wes found out later as she was leaving. I think her parents probably knew she was here as well.”

  Sheriff Edge cocked an eyebrow. “One would hope.”

  Becky sat down at the table. “Indeed.”

  “I’m going to have to take your phone with me. We have a guy at the station who specializes in technology. That would not be me.” He smiled. “Good coffee.”

  “Thanks,” Becky said.

  “What can they tell? I mean, there’s not a return number or anything,” Brynn asked.

  “Look, that stuff is beyond me. I’m a boots-on-the-ground cop. I prefer old school. But most of the crimes these days are cyber oriented. It’s a strange world we live in. So now the guys at the academy are learning more about computers than interviewing techniques,” he grumbled.

  “How serious is this?” Becky asked.

  But Brynn knew the answer. Whoever sent the text was completely serious. It was a threat. Plain and simple. A threat because she’d gotten involved with Chelsea. A threat on her life. This person probably killed Donny Iser.

  “Brynn, I can see those wheels in your head turning. It’s best if you stay home and take care of yourself and leave this to us.” He turned to Becky. “I think she should take this seriously. Especially given there’s been a murder and a strange accidental death recently. She should take all of it seriously.”

  It was as she suspected. A stone-cold chill traveled up and down her spine.

  Chapter 32

  After the sheriff left with her phone, Brynn sat at the kitchen table with her thoughts spinning. Wes a suspect for murder. Two dead summer helpers. The carnie ex-con. Chelsea. Now her creepy phone message. Okay, perhaps Sheriff Edge was right: She had no business being involved in this. Maybe the police were investigating more than what she thought. More than what everybody thought. Nathaniel wasn’t pleased with the investigation at all. But Wes was his son, and he definitely wasn’t seeing things clearly.

  She needed to get some air, to get outside and gain some perspective.


  “Do you want to go for a walk?’ she asked Becky.

  Becky groaned. “Okay. I’ll go with you.”

  “I’d like to see the girls; I really am going stir-crazy.”

  “You have a concussion. What do you want? To go out dancing?”

  “Not quite. Just get some fresh air.”

  Becky grinned. “Okay, let’s go.”

  * * *

  First things first: a visit with her girls.

  Freckles met them at the gate.

  Brynn rubbed the dog’s head. “I swear she’s grown another two inches!” The dog’s thick pink tongue hung out of her mouth. The day was mosquito filled, muggy, and hot. Freckles raised her nose for more attention, allowing a better view of the markings over her nose and mouth, tiny red spots resembling freckles. Hence the name Freckles.

  “I think you’re right. Oh look, your girls are jealous.” The cows ambled to Brynn as she paid attention to the dog.

  “Uh-oh.” Brynn grinned.

  “I have to say if I’d gotten a death threat, I’d be in bed with the covers over my head.” Becky stooped over and petted Freckles as Brynn moved on to Petunia.

  “Well, I needed to clear my head. Coming outside and visiting with my girls always puts things into perspective for me. This is what’s important. My cows, my business. I need to step away from the whole murder thing.”

  Becky was silent as she scratched Buttercup behind her ears.

  “It’s been a disappointing summer. I mean, I was so excited about the fair, about the cheese contest, and then not only was it a disaster, but it’s been a downward spiral ever since.” Brynn watched as Jewel came closer, though still behind the other cows, tentative.

  Brynn moved in closer to Jewel, and Jewel stood, allowing her to rub her nose. She let out a jubilant moo. Brynn’s heart bloomed.

  “It’s been a disaster, except for one thing,” Becky said. “You’ve got a new friend.”

  “Let’s hope so.” Brynn tried to look at the cow’s eyes, but they were covered by long swaths of hair. The other cows were watching as Brynn fussed over Jewel. She had gained some weight and looked healthy.

  “Such a sweet girl,” Becky said.

  “Right?”

  * * *

  The two of them took their leave from the cows and walked up over the hilly field.

  “Is that the church Nancy lived in?”

  Brynn nodded. “Yeah, they’ve done a great job with it. I hear it will be open for the first service in a month or so. Beyond the church, through that patch of woods, is the O’Reilly Apple Orchard. Tillie’s family.”

  The two of them took in the view. The skies were gray and clouds were rolling in. It was going to rain.

  “I’m proud of you for starting your life again here,” Becky said.

  “Thanks, but believe me, sometimes I wonder if this is the right thing. Given everything that’s happened.”

  “I hear you. I wanted you to come home. You know that. But I can see why you like it here.”

  Brynn loved it in the Shenandoah Valley. Even with all the trouble she’d had, she didn’t suppose she’d live anywhere else. And the community of Shenandoah Springs was what she’d always wanted. A group of farmers and craftspeople, committed to healthy farming practices. It would be perfect if it weren’t for all the recent tragedies. Deaths. Murders. She shivered.

  “I thought the idea with Chelsea was brilliant. I’m sorry. I should have thought that through more,” Becky said.

  “What? It wasn’t your fault, Becky.”

  “I didn’t realize it was going to be so dangerous.”

  “And it happened right away, so we understand whoever sent it knows her. Knows she came out here to talk with us.”

  Brynn wiped the sweat from her brow with her sleeve. “I’m certain she’s got something to do with all of this. But what?”

  “Remember that boy who was obsessed with you? What was his name?” Becky asked.

  “Randy. Yes, I remember. He followed me everywhere. Always called the house. Sent me flowers.”

  “And Dad had a word with him. It didn’t do any good.”

  “Not until he spoke with his parents.” Brynn remembered. He scared her, but at the same time it made her feel a little special because she was not a boy magnet. At first, she kind of liked the attention. But then it started to scare her. “I wonder if Chelsea’s gotten herself involved with someone like that?”

  “Or worse. These days, there’s cyberstalking. They stalk your social media. Send you e-mails, read all your posts . . .” Becky and Brynn looked at each other.

  Brynn drew in a breath. “I said I was going to leave this alone.”

  “It won’t hurt to look,” Becky replied.

  They turned from the view and headed for the house.

  * * *

  The sisters settled in at the kitchen table, chairs together, and Becky looked at the screen, counting Chelsea’s Facebook likes, Twitter likes and retweets, and Instagram likes. Brynn kept a tally.

  “Okay, so this is interesting,” Brynn said, scanning the numbers and names. “Donny Iser had more likes than anybody, even Evan.”

  Becky sat back in her chair. “Are they the top two?”

  “Yes, but that doesn’t tell us much, right? We knew those two were interested in her. We’re looking for someone who could be kind of . . . I don’t know . . . stalking her.”

  “Nothing surprising there, I guess,” Becky said.

  Brynn heard the front door open. “Yoo-hoo, Brynn!” It was Wes.

  “We’re in here,” Brynn called.

  Wes and Max walked into the kitchen. Greetings were exchanged.

  “Our milk stores are really piling up. So I’m making a big batch of crème fraîche. I called Hoff’s and he’s wanting to—” His eyes widened as he caught a glimpse of the computer screen. “What are you doing with Chelsea’s Instagram feed on the screen?”

  “Well, I—”

  “Brynn, we talked about this.”

  “This morning, I received a threat on my phone. The police came and took my phone.”

  “What’s Chelsea got to do with it?” Wes asked.

  “The message told me to stay away from her.” Brynn felt her jaw tighten.

  Wes sat down. Max leaned on the table. “That’s messed up.”

  “So, we’re trying to look at her social media to see if, I don’t know, anything jumped out at us,” Becky chimed in.

  “It’s almost as if every move Chelsea makes is being watched,” Brynn said.

  “So you two are investigating by looking over her social?” Wes asked, shaking his head.

  “Someone threatened her,” Becky said with a hard note in her voice. “We’re trying to figure all of this out. It’s not hurting anyone.”

  The room quieted.

  “No, I don’t suppose it is. Maybe I’m being paranoid. I just don’t want anything to go wrong with my case.”

  “Okay,” Brynn said, and took a deep breath. “We don’t know if this has anything to do with your case. They used Donny’s name, but that means nothing. It doesn’t mean it has to be the person who killed him. Everybody in the community is aware of it.”

  “I’m betting it does,” Max said. “It’s too coincidental.”

  A knock came at the front door. Wes stood. “I’ll get it.”

  He exited the room, leaving the three people there in a state of confusion. But now that Brynn’s life had been threatened, she wasn’t going to sit back and do nothing. Concussion be damned. She’d do what she could. It seemed to be taking Wes a while at the door. Brynn wondered who it could be and what the heck was taking him so long. Finally, he came back into the room.

  “Look what the cow dragged in,” Wes said, with Willow and Schuyler standing there.

  “We’ve been trying to call,” Willow said.

  “There’s a good explanation why I’ve not been answering my phone. Sit down, ladies. I’ll get you some coffee or tea.” Brynn started to sta
nd.

  “I’ll do it,” Becky said, leaving Brynn to explain the situation with her phone.

  Willow’s mouth dropped. Schuyler’s brows knit. “What the hell?”

  “She should stay away from Chelsea,” Wes said. “She’s no good.”

  “Come on, Wes, she’s a sixteen-year-old girl who is struggling with someone. She’s confused,” Schuyler said.

  Brynn remembered what Willow told her about Schuyler, who’d been attacked when she was a young woman and had a rough time coming back.

  “I agree there has to be more to her story,” Willow said. “But on the face of it, I also agree with Wes. You’ve been warned. So you should stay away from her.”

  Brynn hadn’t considered continuing a relationship with her—since the whole spokesperson thing was a ruse. But now she wondered.

  Becky set Schuyler’s peppermint tea in front of her and Willow’s coffee on the table.

  “The phone and situation are in the hands of the cops,” Becky said. “So it doesn’t really matter what we think. I don’t like the idea of anybody threatening my sister. I want to know what the hell is going on around here.”

  Uh-oh, Becky was wound up. Nothing to do but let her finish.

  “A young man was killed by a freak accident. Another young man shot in a barn. Wes found him and is suddenly a suspect. Now Brynn’s life is threatened. In the meantime, someone is going around town trying to get ransom through your computers. What the hell? Brynn, I realize you love it here. You’ve got great friends, and it’s beautiful. But really?”

  Once again, the room silenced.

  “I’m not going anywhere,” Brynn said. “Calm down, please.”

  Willow took a deep breath. “There’s a few more days of the fair. Perhaps things will get back to semi-normal after it. There’s been a lot of trouble this year.” She looked at Becky. “I can see why you’re concerned about Brynn. But Shenandoah Springs is a nice, safe, place. It’s just this past year has been crazy. Things’ll calm down soon.”

  “Even with all of the crap going on, I’d say we have less of it than most communities our size,” Schuyler said.