Killer Breakfast Specials (A Sage and Dash Cozy Mystery Book 2) Read Free Page A

through town and made her way inside of the station.
    “I’m guessing I know why you’re here,” Sheriff Snyder said with a smirk.
    Rosie closed her eyes, counted to ten and opened them again. She forced herself to remain calm. Getting herself locked up wouldn’t do either of them any good. Besides, she was angrier with her mother than with the sheriff. If her mom swung at him…
    “Can we sort this out, please? I understand she can be a handful, but truly she doesn’t need to be locked up. Did she hit you?” Rosie asked.
    “The intent was there. Thankfully, I dodged the slap, but you can’t go striking out at a law enforcement officer. It’s just not the way the world runs, Rosemary.” His lecture was almost complete. “Besides, it’s not the first run in with her I’ve had. She’s hostile and a nuisance-”
    “I understand. I do. I’m so sorry. Please, Gary, can you help me out here? I’ve got my hands full. I’ll make sure she stays far away from you and will be on her best behavior if you’re anywhere around.” Rosie sighed. It was pointless. He liked nothing more than prodding Rosie’s mom.
    Sheriff Snyder looked Rosie up and down. “What’s got you on edge? Something you need to confess?”
    “I didn’t poison the muffins. Come on, you know me. Alright, fine. What’s it going to take?” Rosie asked. There was always something Sheriff Snyder wanted. He was all about putting himself first, regardless of the law.
    “How’s about a home cooked pot roast, and maybe a dinner date. Sure could use some company. What do you say to this weekend?” he asked.
    Rosie’s jaw dropped. She was stunned. “Gary, I…I’m seeing someone. I have a date.”
    “Not you, Rosie. Not that it would be a bad thing, but I was thinking more along the lines of the feisty old broad. Maybe we can make the peace and stop barking at each other’s throats.”
    Confused, Rosie tilted her head. “Gary? My mother? I thought you couldn’t stand her.”
    “Eh, the crazy gal is growing on me, even if she did take a swing at me. Some days I don’t know if I hate or want to hold her.” He looked down, a tinge of pink cast over his cheeks.
    “So you locked her up?”
    “People were around. You can’t go swinging at the Sheriff and not get in trouble, Rosie. It’s just the way it’s got to be. Besides, old Owen Masters was all huffing and puffing about the matter, and I needed to remind him that he was a retired officer. Not his place to be telling me what to do.”
    “Oh, boy. This is awkward. My mom and Owen have sort of been seeing each other, lately.”
    “I know that, I’m not a fool. Not like she’s married to the guy or anything.”
    “Why didn’t you just ask her out?” Rosie’s brain circled trying to grasp that she was trying to get her mother out of jail, while the jail keeper wanted to go out with his prisoner.
    “I never was good with women,” he admitted. “Never mind. Just forget I asked.”
    “Can I go back and talk to her?”
    He nodded and gestured with his chin toward the door.
    She walked over, then spun around and looked at Sheriff Snyder again. Did that really just happen?
    When Libby saw Rosie, she let out a deep breath. “Thank goodness, you’re here. That no-good, piece of-”
    “Mom!” she interrupted. “I’ve got an interesting prospect here. I’m not even sure how to say this, but Gary said he could see past your indiscretion if you agreed to something.”
    “What now? That man is a-”
    “Mom! Behave.” Rosie paced in front of the jail cell trying to find the right words. “See, the thing is, I think he kind of likes you.”
    “Wait. What?”
    “He was hoping you’d have dinner with him this weekend, you know, in exchange for seeing past your, how shall we say this…your intended slap. He’s a little shy, and apparently between all the bickering and back and forth, has taken a sweet spot for you.”
    “Are you kidding me? That man is an embarrassment to the male