The Feed Store Floozy (The Penelope Pembroke Cozy Mystery Series) Read Free Page B

building almost before he was cold.”
    “I guess I can’t blame her.”
    “So take another guess at who shot him.”
    “No clue. Jeremiah?”
    “No. Harry says it was Daniel Dolan, one of the Town Council members back then.”
    “As in Brice Dolan?”
    “Same family.”
    “So did he hang for murder?”
    “Harry doesn’t know. If it was a fair fight, he didn’t.”
    “And Harry’s family didn’t know what was upstairs?”
    “He says they didn’t.”
    “And at this late date, nobody cares. Let’s go get some iced tea at The Garden Spot.”
    “Somebody cares. Oh, yeah, somebody cares.”
    “Don’t be dramatic.”
    “Harry said he ran into Hal Green this morning. Hal told him about advising Brice to check out the microfilmed newspapers in the archives. And Brice promised him an exclusive story.”
    “You know Hal won’t play up anything that could hurt Amaryllis.”
    “He was practically drooling over what he’s going to write—a whole series of articles. Says it’ll bring in more people, and he hopes Brice will give tours.”
    “So what’s the harm in that?”
    Mary Lynn scowled. “If you don’t know, then I can’t explain it.”
    “You’re being silly. Who cares what somebody’s ancestor did over a hundred years ago?”
    “Harry cares, so I do, too.” She swept past Penelope without saying goodbye.

 
    CHAPTER FIVE
     
    The lightning flash followed by a boom that made the house shudder jerked Penelope from a sound sleep. The pitch dark surrounding her remained unbroken by the comforting red glow from her clock radio. Darn, the electricity’s out.
    Throwing back the covers, she reached for her robe. I better go check on Daddy. Don’t want him wandering around the house and falling over something. She fished a flashlight from the drawer of her nightstand and walked out into the corridor.
    “Jake’s okay.” Sam’s bulk blocked her way on the stairs. “He said he has a flashlight.”
    “I was on my way to see about him, but I guess you beat me to it. What time is it?”
    “A little after two.” He took her arm and walked her back to her room. “Want me to come in and hold your hand until it stops storming?”
    “Like that’s all you’d do.”
    “A little grope in the dark might be fun.”
    “Not for me.”
    Sam sighed. “You sure know how to ruin a man’s fun.” He took the flashlight out of her hand and pointed it toward the loveseat by the window overlooking the porte-cochere. Abijah opened one eye, daring them to disturb him.
    “Where did you disappear to after dinner?” Penelope asked, scooping Abijah into her lap and not resisting the arm that snuggled her close. “I waited up for you until almost eleven. I thought this was an unofficial visit.”
    “It is. I just went exploring, that’s all.”
    Penelope sat up straight. “You devil! You blessed broke into that building, didn’t you?”
    “Guilty. Do you want to hear about it?”
    “No. Well, maybe.” She settled into the circle of his arm again.
    “After you told me what Mrs. Hargrove said this afternoon, I couldn’t resist taking a look.”
    “I wish Parnell Garrett had caught you.”
    Sam shook with laughter. “My sweet Nell, Officer Parnell Garrett met me out back and went in with me. He’s been dying to see it.”
    “I don’t believe Parnell Garrett broke into a building. He wouldn’t take a stick of gum that didn’t belong to him.”
    “No, I broke in, so he said of course he’d have to shadow me to make sure I didn’t steal anything.”
    “Like what? A chamber pot?”
    “It was wonderful,” Sam went on, ignoring her sarcasm. “Four rooms, period furnishings, bureau drawers and wardrobes still full of stuff.” He put his lips against her neck and blew softly. “And the bones of a lot of dead critters lying around.”
    Penelope squealed. “Darn you, Sam!”
    “No human bones.”
    “That’s a relief anyway.”
    “We looked around, then let ourselves out the same way we got in and