Murder Fir Christmas (12 page)

Stella turned her head. “Well, Romeo?”

There was no sound from the back seat where she looked. Bonnie hoped to be able to see the infamous Sweet Pepper ghost at some point.

“He doesn’t seem quite sure,” Stella admitted. “What does your mother say?”

“I haven’t asked her yet. She did say he paid her a call the night before he left town. While he was gone, she got married, and Eric was born the next year—maybe appropriately named.”

“Is your brother at your house?” Stella asked. “Eric would like to see him.”

“Sorry. You just missed him, but he’s supposed to fly home for Christmas. Maybe we can get them together then. Would he be able to tell if my brother is his son using his ghostly powers?”

“Who knows? He’s kind of freaked out about the whole idea from the look on his face.”

Bonnie glanced in the rear view mirror. “Does he look like he did in the picture? Or is he like something you’d see at Halloween?”

“Nope.” Stella laughed. “He’s a big, strong, handsome devil who never has to worry about changing his clothes or combing his hair. I guess that’s one advantage to being dead.”

They talked about Christmas trees the rest of the way to the house. Stella wanted two blue spruce trees each about six feet tall. One was for the firehouse, and the other was for her cabin.

Rose came out when the two vehicles pulled up in the yard. She waved excitedly and came down the steps with slippers on her feet. “Oh my goodness. It’s been so long since I saw you last. I’m so glad you’re here.”

Stella and Bonnie exchanged looks.

“Are you talking to Chief Griffin, Mom? Have you two met?” Bonnie asked.

“I know Chief Griffin,” Rose said. “I was talking to Eric, of course. You know, I thought we were going to be married one day. But that was a long time ago. Still, it’s good to see you.”

“Can she really see him?” Bonnie asked.

“She’s looking right at him.” Stella nodded to the space on her right. “Believe me. He sees her too.”

It was odd watching her mother have a conversation without seeing or hearing anyone she was talking to. If Bonnie didn’t know about the ghost, she would have assumed the worst. As it was, she stood there while her mother spoke to Eric Gamlyn and they all watched.

“Wow. That’s amazing,” Petey said.

“That’s the way Chief Gamlyn is sometimes,” Ricky added. “We can’t see him or hear him, but we can see her arguing with him.”

Stella was affronted by that remark. “I’m always very careful where I speak to him.”

Petey and Ricky nudged each other with their elbows and laughed.

“Right, Chief,” Ricky said.

“Come on, Mom,” Bonnie said. “Let’s get inside. It’s cold out here, and you don’t have a coat or shoes. I’m sure Eric can go inside and talk for a bit.”

Stella shook her head. “He can’t go without me.”

“Maybe you could just give her his badge until you’re ready to go,” Bonnie suggested.

“I’m sorry.” Stella wasn’t willing to do that. “Ricky and Petey know what we’re looking for. I’ll go inside with your mother, and they can pick out the trees.”

“Wonderful!” Rose exclaimed. “Maybe you’d like a hot cup of cider, Chief Griffin.”

The two women went inside. Bonnie laughed when she saw the door stay open just for a moment longer than it should have after they were already in the house. Were there things going on like that all around her, but she’d never noticed?

Petey and Ricky both grabbed an ax to cut down the Christmas trees. As soon as the trees were chosen, they engaged in friendly but fierce competition to see who could fell their tree the fastest. Bonnie was surprised when Petey won.

“Let’s take them over to the bailer,” Bonnie suggested. “Then we can get them loaded up.”

There was a snowball fight and a race to see who could get their tree to the Jeep the fastest. It was clear there was a rivalry between Stella’s two co-assistant chiefs—and something more.

“That’s it,” Bonnie said. “You’re ready to go.”

They went inside, where Stella and Rose both had cups of cider in front of them at the kitchen table. There was a full cup of cider at the seat next to Rose’s. Bonnie assumed that’s where Eric was sitting.

“Not there!” Rose said as Ricky started to sit in that spot.

“Sorry, ma’am.” He glanced at the empty chair. “Sorry, Chief Gamlyn.”

Rose got Ricky and Petey cups of hot cider and brought out a pan of s’mores. She carefully put one of the confections on a napkin in front of Eric’s seat.

They talked about the snow and touched on Harvey’s death in the next thirty minutes they were there. Stella finally looked at her watch and said it was time for them to go.

“Please come back and visit anytime,” Rose invited. “And be sure to bring Eric. He likes you very much, you know.”

Stella smiled and nodded. “Sometimes, Miss Rose, when he’s not annoyed and stomping around the cabin. Thanks for your hospitality. How much do I owe you for the trees, Bonnie?”

She started to say no charge then remembered what Matthew had said about the tree farm staying in business. She didn’t want her brother to come home over Christmas and rant about them not making enough money. She quoted the standard price with a ten percent discount, since it was for the fire brigade.

“Thanks.” Stella gave her the cash. “See you soon. Maybe we can have lunch one day in Sweet Pepper.”

Rose applauded. “Oh yes! That would be fun. Can we eat at the cafe? That’s Eric’s favorite.”

“Of course. Why not?” Stella smiled at Bonnie. “Let’s do it once this snow is gone.”

“Sure.” Bonnie agreed. “See you later. Nice to meet you, Petey.”

After they were gone, Bonnie cleaned up in the tree area so it was ready for the group that was coming. She walked through the fragrant lines of fir trees, inhaling deeply of their scent as she brushed her hands along the soft needles. It was something she’d enjoyed doing as a child. The smell was calming to her. Nothing else in the world had that effect.

She walked a long way, conscious of the time before she started back. Her nose and fingers were cold, but she felt wonderfully invigorated, more than she had in years. It was good to be home.

The stag she’d seen earlier walked into her path. She knew this was the same one she’d seen two days ago when a short Cherokee man followed him, carrying a wood staff. He wore a white robe that went to the ground. He appeared ancient, with a heavily wrinkled and wizened face. His hair was almost as long as the robe he wore and just as white.

“Good afternoon, Unega Awinita.” He bowed his head to her. “We have much to speak of this day.”

Chapter Thirteen

Bonnie had left her gun in the house. She wasn’t on duty, but she knew she should always be prepared. Trouble didn’t respect her time off. Still, she didn’t get that kind of impression from him. He looked harmless.

“I mean you no harm, Unega Awinita.”

“I’m sorry. I think you have me confused with someone else. I’m Bonnie Tuttle. This is my family’s Christmas tree farm. Would you like a tree?”

“Why should I cut a tree when I have them all for my enjoyment?” He raised his staff high as he spoke and cast an eye upon the forest around him.

She shivered, as the trees did, at his words. An eerie feeling seeped into her.

The old man put his hand on the stag’s neck. “Something puzzles you?”

“Only why you’re here. What can I do for you, sir?”

He laughed as he stroked the stag’s neck. “She asks what she can do for us, when it is we who have come to help her.”

The big stag snorted and nodded its massive head, as though he was laughing with the old man. He pawed the ground, plumes of his breath freezing in the air.

“Okay. I’ll bite. What have you come to help me do? And why are you calling me Unega Awinita?” Bonnie stared them both down as she tried to understand what was going on.

“We have come to help you protect all creatures in the wild, as you were meant to do.” He continued to smile at her. “As for your name, it is as it has always been. We call you the white fawn when you return to us, as you have since before time began.”

Weirder still. She put her hands in her pockets and tried to think what to say next. Obviously this was some mistake, or he was expecting someone else. Maybe he even got the idea because she was a Wildlife Agent. Anything was possible.

He hadn’t tried to hurt her or the stag. She needed to reason with him, sure she could convince him that he was confused. She could ask him in for some hot cider. They could talk, and he could tell her where he lived.

“I see you are confused.” He graciously bowed his head again to her. “We have a tale in these mountains. It is of a young, white woman who has endured great sorrow and has used her pain to help those around her. She has been reborn to us many times as Unega Awinita—the white fawn. She speaks with the wolves and the deer. She hears even the tiniest cries of the turtle and the chipmunk. She has compassion for them all and is their great protector.”

Bonnie closed her mouth when she realized it was open after hearing the story. She wasn’t sure what to say next and decided against inviting him into her home. He might be dangerous. What if he decided she wasn’t doing her job as a great protector?

“I see. What’s your name? Where do you live? Can I call someone for you?”

Again he laughed at her. With an agility that should’ve been beyond him, the Cherokee man leapt on the back of the stag. “What is my name? You may call me sun, moon, or rain. Where do I live? I live here in the woods, free of restraint or understanding. I need no one but you by my side. Together we will protect the weak.”

The old man nodded to the stag, and the animal bounded away through the field of Christmas trees.

She hadn’t been sure when she’d first seen him on the road coming into Sweet Pepper, but this time she knew he was real. He was probably crazy or demented. She hoped she could ask around and find out if anyone else knew him.

“There you are.” Matthew came running through the trees leading to her from the house. “Your group of Christmas tree hunters are here. I should have taken them for myself, but I did the honorable thing of coming to get you because Rose asked. Next time, they’ll be buying my trees.”

Bonnie was stumped for what to say. She stood there staring at him, wanting to tell him what she’d just seen but not finding the words that wouldn’t make her sound crazy.

“Are you okay?” He came closer. “You look strange. You’re not going to faint or anything are you? Are you sick?”

“No.” She finally got one word out and shook her head to clear it. “I just saw an old man and a big stag.”

“Why didn’t you say so? I didn’t know you were looking for symbolism out here. The last vision I had in my trees was a bluebird. Obviously it wasn’t real since it was winter, but I’m still trying to figure out what it means.”

She grabbed his jacket lapels. “No. Really. There was a little old Cherokee man in a white robe riding a huge stag.”

“Maybe you should go inside and have some hot cider. I’ll take care of your tree buyers. You’ve been through a lot since you got here.”

Bonnie let go of his jacket. “Sorry. Maybe that’s it. I don’t know what to think. I saw him on my way into town. He called me Unega Awinita again today. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“He called you that?” He glanced around. “Where is he? Where did he go?”

“Not you too. I’m not encouraging delusion. Let’s go back to the house before my sale drives away.”

Matthew put his hands on her arms. “Is it that you know the legend? Because I don’t think he’d call you Unega Awinita. Although the animals listen to you.” He stared hard into her face. “Are you the white fawn?”

“Are you making fun of me?” she demanded hotly. “I didn’t ask for this to happen—and I’m not completely sure it did. But you aren’t allowed to make fun of me about it.”

“Yoo-hoo!” a woman sang out from the end of the row of trees. “Are you Bonnie Tuttle? We’d like to get our trees and get out of the valley before dark, please.”

“I’m not making fun of you, Bonnie,” Matthew said. “Really. We should talk about this.”

“After I sell my trees.” She glared at him. “But there better not be a smile on your face when we talk about it.”

“There won’t be.” He followed her down the row toward the other woman. “Okay, maybe there will be, but I won’t be making fun of you. I swear.”

“We’ll see,” she promised and then smiled as she greeted her customer. “I’m so glad you could make it. Let’s get those trees ready.”

Matthew helped with the trees, though she didn’t really need it. Mrs. Barnes had brought three big students to help load the truck. Bonnie thought it might be possible that Matthew didn’t want to leave until he talked to her. He kept glancing at her as he was working.

She should never have told him. It had just made it worse.

When all fourteen trees were loaded and paid for, Bonnie dropped down on the front steps, exhausted. It was a good day for sales, but she was using muscles she hadn’t used in a while cutting and loading trees. Of course, she’d also been knocked around by Vince Stookey too. No wonder she was sore and tired.

“I want you to tell me everything that Dustu said to you.” Matthew sat next to her. “No one has seen him in years. Some thought he was dead. I thought he was only a legend.”

“I don’t want to talk about that right now,” she replied. “Maybe tomorrow.”

“This is a big deal, Bonnie. Everyone is going to want to know about it.”

His words made her cringe. “Please don’t tell anyone else. I don’t care if other people want to know. I just want to forget about it and sit by the fire looking at Harvey’s files.”

“Tonight, right? Tomorrow we can tell everyone.”

“No. I don’t ever want to tell anyone but you, and I wouldn’t have told you if it wasn’t so astonishing at the time. I’m a private person, Matthew. I don’t want to be laughed at or made fun of by everyone.”

His dark eyes challenged hers. “That’s asking a lot. But I’ll go along with it, since I’m sure you’ll change your mind. It’s a huge honor to be addressed as Unega Awinita by one of our elders. It’s not a title given lightly.”