High Desert Detective, A Fiona Marlowe Mystery (Fiona Marlowe Mysteries) Read online

  Opal came out of the house to sit by her on the love seat. She was still in her night clothes which involved baggy old sweats that had seen a thousand washings.

  “How are you?” Opal said. “I’m worried about smoke inhalation. We should take you in to the hospital so they can check you over.”

  “Jake said he’d take me later. Right now I can’t move. I’ll be okay.”

  “But you don’t know. You need to get yourself checked.”

  “Who’s that coming?” Fiona said, her attention drawn to a dust cloud in the road.

  “Maybe Rosemary. That looks like her rig. If it is, Esme will be with her. They’re always together.”

  The rig pulled up in front and stopped. Rosemary and Esme got out, armed with plastic grocery bags.

  “Fiona, we are so sorry,” said Rosemary. “We came as soon as we heard and brought you some clothes because someone said you lost everything.”

  They dumped the stuffed plastic bags at Fiona’s feet like offerings to a goddess. Fiona was overwhelmed with the kindness and buried her face in her hands.

  Rosemary hunkered down beside her. “Hey, gal. You just cry yourself silly. That’s an awful thing happened. You’ll be surprised how much better you’ll feel if you just cry it out.”

  Esme looked toward the smoldering knoll. “That is amazing. What could have caused it? There’s nothing up there to set a fire except maybe the little propane stove. There weren’t any storms in the area last night.”

  Opal said, “She wasn’t cooking. She said she was working on her computer, and she heard noises, and the next thing she knew the place was in flames.”

  “Someone set that fire,” said Rosemary. “I just know it. It wasn’t any ghost either.”

  “It’s mighty suspicious how quick it went,” said Opal.

  “Is anyone going to investigate?” said Esme.

  “Hoover is on his way,” said Opal. “He’ll get to the bottom of this. Someone set that fire.”

  Jake came around the side of the house, wiping his hands on a rag. “I got the pump working. You should have water in the house. Fiona can shower.”

  She used the blanket to wipe away her tears. “Sorry, I don’t know what came over me.”

  “I do,” Jake said. “You had a brush with death. That’s a crying situation if you ask me.”

  She looked at him. “Thank you for coming to the rescue.” The smile she managed didn’t do justice to how she felt. “I wouldn’t have made it if you hadn’t helped me.” Tears spilled down her cheeks, and she covered her face with her hands.

  Jake moved to place a hand on her shoulder then stroked her hair. He didn’t say anything.

  Rosemary cleared her throat like she was about to cry herself. “Let’s get you cleaned up. You’ll feel better.”

  “Yes,” said Opal, “we need to take her into town to have her checked over at the hospital. She could have lung damage.”

  “I’ll take her,” said Jake. “You gals help Fiona. I’ll clean up get the boys started on the day’s chores.”

  Fiona said, “Could someone see if any of my clothes made it out the door? I tried to toss them out. I don’t know where anything landed.”

  “I’ll go look,” said Esme. “I’ll see what I can find.”

  Jake helped Fiona into the house. Her muscles were sore, and she was so shaky from the ordeal she could barely walk. She was thankful for the support of these wonderful people. Beyond that she couldn’t think and didn’t care.

  * * * * *

  By the time she had showered and shampooed, Rosemary had put together an outfit for her to wear from the clothes they brought, which involved jeans and a long sleeve western cut blouse. She felt somewhat restored but her throat was sore, and her head ached. Esme found some of her clothes scattered across the sagebrush and rocks at the back of the bunk house, and she had found her purse which Fiona didn’t remember throwing out the door. Her cell phone worked because her friend, Olympia, called as she was going through the contents of her purse which doubled as an emergency preparedness kit. Olympia had plenty of news to report, and she launched in before Fiona could put her thoughts together.

  “My latest title hit the New York Times bestseller list at No. 1. Isn’t that thrilling, Fiona? I’m so thrilled. Aren’t you thrilled?” She didn’t pause for a reaction but gushed on. “I finished my next novel and sent it off to my agent and editor. They are thrilled with it. They say it is another No. 1 best seller for sure. It’s in production. Isn’t that thrilling, Fiona? I’m ready for a vacation, and I’m coming to see you, aren’t you thrilled? I bought plane tickets to Portland, and I’ll be there tomorrow. Fiona? You aren’t saying anything.”

  Fiona sighed. Sometimes she needed a strong drink to deal with Olympia, and it was too early in the day. “Olympia, how many times have you been on a best seller list?”

  “Hundreds, dear. Hundreds and hundreds, maybe thousands, but every time is like the first time.” She let go with a huge guffaw that usually got Fiona going but not today.

  “Fiona? What is wrong? Are you okay?”

  “No.”

  “Tell me what is wrong this instant.”

  “Everything.”

  “Don’t you worry. I’m coming out to see your new place, and we’ll kick back and have ourselves a great time. It will be just like margaritas on the beach in Australia.”

  “Olympia, will you please slow down? There is no house. It burned down. And Portland is nowhere near Rocky Point.”

  “I’ll rent a car and drive. You know how I love to drive. I’ll find you.” She paused. “What do you mean the house burned down?”

  “Just what I said. It’s a long story. I got to go. Talking makes my throat hurt. I’m going to the hospital to get checked out.”

  “What? What hospital?”

  “I’ll tell you the whole sad tale when you get here.”

  “Wait. One more question. What about Mr. Hunky?”

  “He’s alive and well. Good thing. He’s the one who rescued me.”

  Five

  Jake sat in the emergency room waiting area with Fiona, holding her slender hand in his tough skinned one. She looked dazed but beautiful. He touched her dark, shiny hair, and she smiled at him. He didn’t know what to say. He wasn’t good at this kind of thing.

  “Would you like coffee?” he asked her, wanting to say something, anything to communicate with her to try to take the dazed look from her eyes.

  “Sure.” Her voice was hoarse. She could barely get past a whisper.

  He came back with two cups of coffee and handed her one. She took it with a small smile. His heart warmed his lips into a smile. They sat in silence, waiting her turn. A young mother tried to quiet her crying child. An old couple sat stoically, the man’s face pinched and drawn.

  Finally, Fiona said in a hoarse whisper, “What am I going to do?”

  “Rebuild,” said Jake, not missing a beat. He sensed that had to be the big question on her mind. “That old place wasn’t worth fixing up. I never liked it anyway.”

  “All I have is a burned piece of ground, a burned tree and a pile of rubble.” She sighed over a sip off coffee.

  He didn’t want to say she was feeling sorry for herself because she had every right to be. He tried to cast a positive light on the situation. “Look at it this way. Be glad none of the repair work had started. You aren’t out that. The spot has a great view. You can do something interesting with it. You’re talented.”

  She sighed again and couldn’t seem to muster the energy to talk.

  A nurse came through the door. “Miss Marlowe? Come this way, please.”

  Fiona followed the nurse inside. Even her walk was forlorn. He waited, finished his coffee, wondering what to do. He was as much at a loss as Fiona. He was glad her friend, Olympia, was coming. That would cheer her up. He rose to get another cup of coffee in the waiting area of the new, fancy hospital that had recently opened. Everything smelled new, including the coffee.


  Sheriff Hoover came through the automatic doors, looked around, saw Jake and came over. He helped himself to coffee.

  “That gal’s had a bad time of it, hasn’t she?”

  Jake nodded over the brim of his cup. “Did you find anything?”

  “Nate is over there now going through the rubble. I looked around and picked up some charred pieces of wood from the front of the house. If the fire was deliberately set, we’ll find what they set it with. My guess is that it was gasoline and a match. Do you have any idea who would do that? Fiona hasn’t been here long enough to make enemies unless Suzie’s jealous of you and Fiona.” Hoover’s lips twitched.

  Jake rolled his eyes. “Suzie isn’t stupid. Maybe jealous, but not stupid. I heard you and her been seen together around town.”

  Hoover chuckled and shook his head. “We’re just friends. Anything between us is long over by now. Fiona, however, is something else.”

  Jake eyed Hoover. “Just what does that mean?”

  Hoover shrugged. “She’s pretty. Too bad you saw her before I did.” Hoover pulled a slow grin.

  Jake didn’t join him in the grin. “I don’t know that she’ll stay. I worried about her taking off even before the fire happened. This isn’t her kind of country.”

  “Maybe it will grow on her.”

  Jake shook his head slowly. “And cows might fly.”

  * * * * *

  It was late afternoon when they got back to Opal’s ranch. Fiona went straight to bed in the pretty east facing bedroom that Opal had fixed for her. At least she was under the same roof, and they could look after her. Jake went out to feed and check with the ranch hands to make sure the place hadn’t fallen apart while he was away. They had good hands, and he didn’t expect any major problems, but the way things were going lately, he was apprehensive. And edgy.

  He was leaning on the corral fence watching Ruben Sweet, their ace buckaroo, work a young mare when Opal joined him.

  “I’m worried,” she said.

  “Me, too. Are we worried about the same thing?”

  “What are you worried about?”

  “Fiona for one. Who is setting fires for another. Missing cows for another.”

  “I’m worried about the same things. It’s funny all this stuff happened since Fiona got here.”

  Jake didn’t say anything. He thought it over while they watched Sweet move the mare named Fancy into a trot, then canter, then back again. The mare was on a twelve foot lead line, and Sweet kept her circling the corral. The mare was smart and light of foot, and Jake saw in her the makings of a good cow pony. Sweet had a gentle way with horses that Jake liked. He didn’t try to beat them up to make them do what he wanted. He invited them.

  Jake tilted his cowboy hat up off his forehead head and wiped his face with the scarf he wore around his neck. The sun was blazing hot even at this late hour of the day. It had been a hot, dry spring, and range fires might be real bad this season. One more thing to worry about.

  “I don’t think Fiona being here, and these events are related,” he said. “I could be wrong, but I don’t see a connection. But it was her place that got burned.”

  “That’s why I brought it up about her being here,” said Opal. “I’ve been going over and over in my mind why someone would do that. Hoover called and said they found traces of an accelerant at the scene. Someone set that fire. I’m worried about Fiona staying here. I don’t know why someone would be out to get her. Maybe it’d be better she leave for a time.”

  “Don’t say that,” Jake said. “She’ll never come back if she leaves now. Besides she hasn’t started the decorating job for you.”

  “I know how you feel about her, but it might be the best. The decorating job can wait.”

  “Her friend is coming. Maybe she’ll cheer Fiona up.”

  “It might put her friend in danger if Fiona is in danger.”

  Jake shook his head. “Maybe someone isn’t trying to get to Fiona. Maybe they are saying something to us.”

  Opal looked at him with a keen eye. “Who would that be?”

  “Same people who are stealing our cows.”

  “Jake,” Opal said in a voice so small that he turned to look at her. “I like the way you say our cows. You love this place as much as I do. Are you interested in taking over the ranch?”

  “Why are you saying that?”

  “I got to think about these things. That’s another of my worries. This place. Who is going to take it over and keep it going when I’m gone?”

  Jake looked back at the mare. She was standing still now in the corral. Sweet was talking to her and stroking her neck. He’d be telling her she was a good horse, and she’d done well for today. Jake liked that mare. She would be his horse and that made him think about the long term future. He tried not to think about if the place sold, and he’d have to go somewhere else.

  “What about the nieces and nephews? Some of them are itching to sell the ranch and get the money.”

  “I don’t want that to happen. I want someone who cares about this place to get it, and I know you care. You’re a good rancher. I know there’re things you’d do here, if it were more modern and your own.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “I’m going to leave the ranch to you.”

  Jake turned to look at Opal again.

  “You are more than generous, but I don’t want to fight your relatives for it.” He paused. “But I’d be willing to buy it from you, lock stock and barrel. That would make it easier for everyone.”

  Opal smiled at him. “I understand. Let’s see what we can work out. The sooner the better. I’m not getting any younger.”

  * * * * *

  Tired as she was, Fiona was unable to sleep. Thoughts chased around in her head like so many crazy dogs on the hunt. Strangely enough, her mind kept going back to her childhood on the farm in southern Virginia where she grew up. This place reminded her of those early years. She couldn’t wait to leave the farm, go to college, and live in the city. And that was what she did. She went to design school then moved to the Washington, D.C. metro area, drawn to its glamour and glitz. She’d visit her folks on the farm from time to time, and in the back of her mind she entertained the dream of having a home in the country some day. But then her father had died when his tractor overturned on him. He’d been plowing at night on a hillside and somehow misjudged where he was going. When he didn’t come home, her mother went out looking and found him under the tractor. After his death, unable to keep the farm going alone, her mother had sold it. But Fiona’s dream of a country home lived on.

  Something like your house burning down around your ears could make a person pause and reflect about life.

  Fiona rose from the soft, fluffy bed and went to the east facing window. The light from the setting sun reflected on the rim rock. Through the open window she could hear cows bawling in the distance. She could have had something like this. Her mother wanted her to marry a nice farmer and take over the farm. Being an only child, it would have been hers. It was a pretty farm, too. Corn growing tall in the summer, tassels waving in the hot sun, apples falling like rain from the orchard trees, chickens busy digging, a vegetable garden. She was beginning to see what her parents loved about that farm. And maybe what she had missed because she was too young to appreciate what she had had.

  She shook her head. Why now? Why these thoughts? She should leave and get away while she could. She didn’t know what was going on, but it was weird. They said that someone set the fire. Those noises she heard were someone outside her door getting ready to torch her ramshackle little bunkhouse. The thought made chills run up and down her spine. Someone knew who she was, that she was in there. They hadn’t cared if she lived or died.

  The doctor said she’d be fine. That her throat would hurt for a few days, but her lungs didn’t appear to be damaged. If she was still having problems in a week, come back and see him. She hadn’t bothered with the pain killers. Maybe later if she had trouble sleeping. A
hot toddy would taste good. The honey and lemon would soothe her throat, and the whiskey would calm her nerves. Her mother always swore by a hot toddy for a sore throat.

  She left the bedroom and walked to the kitchen, wearing old sweat pants and hooded sweat shirt that Rosemary had brought that morning. The house was all one level. The great room was in the middle and bedrooms and all purpose rooms were on either end. Her room was on the end with Opal’s and two other guest rooms. Jake’s room, the office, a study and a sewing room were on the other side. As she walked through the great room she couldn’t help but visualize it with new area rugs, drapes, and furniture.

  She found Jake and Opal sitting at the kitchen table, having a drink and talking. Jake stood and smiled.

  “You look better,” he said.

  “Were you able to rest?” asked Opal.

  “I couldn’t. I’m too keyed up. I was wondering if I could make a hot toddy for my throat.”

  Opal jumped up. “You bet. I’ll put water on to boil and get you a big mug. I have fresh lemons and our own honey, of course. That is just the thing you need for your throat. Sit down. I’ll fix it for you.”

  Jake stood and held out the kitchen chair beside him, and she sank into it. He touched her hair. “I sure am glad there wasn’t permanent damage.”

  Fiona smiled. “You and me both. What do you make of all this?”

  He sat down again. “Opal and I were talking about it. I think it is linked to whoever is stealing our cows.”

  “Why would someone burn my house down over your cows?”

  “To create a diversion. You know that valley I took you to yesterday? We moved some of the cows there last week. I wanted to check on them. That’s the reason we went. I didn’t think anyone could get a truck in there. Then again they might be using horses and loading the cows somewhere else. I sent Sweet and Glory out to check on them this morning. They haven’t gotten back yet. If we are missing more cows, it might be because your house burned while the rustlers went in and hauled them off.”