Murder is Just the Beginning: Jake and Emma Mysteries, #1

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to three people, whose love and support have been a constant inspiration to me. Without their faith in me, my life would be a lonely place.

My husband, Allen Crowder

My mother, Lucy Miller

My sister, Sue Cooper

Chapter One

P ack your things and get out of here!

It’s my land. I ain’t goin’ nowhere.

It's never been your land and you know it.

That lawyer fella didn’t have no right ta sell my land.

He had every right. Now, you get out of here. Her phone started to ring, it's up-tempo tune feeling jarringly out of place. She ignored it and focused her attention on the unkempt man before her.

He took a step closer, the shovel he'd been using when she pulled up still in his hand. You gonna make me?

She stumbled back, barely keeping her footing, but recovering quickly. Her heart began to race and the shovel took a menacing turn. They were far away from anyone who would hear or care what happened. Her mind tumbled to what she’d always been taught about bears. Make yourself as large as possible, don’t back down and whatever you do, never turn tail and run.

She threw back her shoulders, a gesture of bravado she didn't quite feel. Be gone by the time I get back and don’t let me find you here again.

She whirled around and headed for her car, trying to not to let her fear show, yet expecting at any moment to feel the shovel crash down on her head. He made no sound behind her and she made it to the door unmolested. She yanked it open and slid thankfully in, shutting and locking it before venturing a glance back. He was standing as she’d left him, shovel in hand, anger in every line on his face.

She wasted no more time getting away, tires spitting up gravel as she fled. Turning toward the highway, she passed a parked car but it seemed to be empty. It was pheasant season and this was attractive territory for birders. Her fright retreating with every mile, she made a mental note to get someone out to post no trespassing / no hunting signs.

Reaching what she considered a safe distance, she pulled over and dug her phone out of her purse. She smiled as she listened to the message, anticipation driving out the last remnant of fear. She called him back.

I got your message. I hope you haven’t hit the road yet. I’m actually in your neck of the woods. I have something I was hoping to show you. There was a pause as she listened to his reply. That would be great, she answered. I’ll meet you there.

Turning off the phone, she tossed it back into her purse and checked her watch. If she hurried, there should be enough time to take care of a few things before she was due to meet him. Pulling back onto the highway, the snow started to fall and she swore under her breath. There hadn’t been snow in the forecast so she hadn’t brought a coat. That’s what she got for picking a weatherman for his strong jaw line and well-cut suit.

EMMA RAND STOPPED ON her way to the barn to listen to the distant whistle of a freight train moving through town. She couldn’t see the lights of Casper tonight, cloaked as it was in the late November snowstorm. Even the distant sound of trucks on the highway was hushed. She loved snows like this, the fat flakes drifting aimlessly around her. It was like being in a snow globe.

She'd grown up in cities, mastering such skills as not making eye contact in an elevator, maintaining a polite distance from the person standing next to her and merging smoothly onto a crowded freeway. In Wyoming's second largest city, elevators were in short supply, there were more cows than people and the traffic was apt to have four legs and antlers.

Casper had seemed like the dark side of the moon when Jake had suggested she join him here ten years ago. Had it been that long? At forty-three, Emma didn't feel old, but she didn't exactly feel young either, especially on nights like this when every bone she'd ever broken ached from the drop in air pressure that told her a storm was coming.

A gust of wind reminded her that the beautiful snow could also be deadly cold and she hurried into the shelter of the barn. Pulling at the door, fighting the wind that held it shut, Emma ducked inside the metal structure. It was a horse barn but she and Jake didn't keep horses. Emma didn't know the first thing about horses so she hadn't argued when her husband had suggested a four-wheeler might be more practical.

Instead, Emma brought home rescue animals from the local shelter. She and Jake had modified the barn until it was comfortable for the menagerie of cats who called it home. They emerged from a dozen intentional and unintentional cat beds scattered around the barn and rubbed Emma's legs as she scooped food into their dishes. A melody of meows and purrs rewarded her and she leaned against a post, watching them.

It was warm in the barn, thanks to solar powered heaters they had installed two years ago. The barn held the heat surprisingly well and Emma was loathe to go back into the snow and wind. On nights like this, she missed California, but for the most part, Wyoming was home.

You’re going to spoil those dogs. Jake scolded as he opened the door to her. Charlie barreled past him and claimed a spot on the floor in front of the fire that was burning cheerfully in the pellet stove.

Jake was six feet tall with the build more suited to working the land than sitting at a desk. A touch of gray was coming in at his temples, which at forty-six, made him seem distinguished. Seeing him always made Emma's heart beat faster. He was dressed in what she referred to as his lumberjack look, well-worn blue jeans and a red and blue checked flannel shirt. The lines that had started to form on his face, much to Jake's dismay and Emma's secret delight, told the story of a man who smiled often and loved well. Ten years of marriage to him seemed like a watch in the night to her.

She smiled up at him as she unhooked Casper’s leash and the older dog joined Charlie by the fire, though he positioned himself a good bit further from the heat than his shorter-haired companion. And how would that be different from the way you spoil them? It was too cold for Charlie in the barn. It’s supposed to be below zero tonight.

Not this early in the season. You just like having them near you.

Emma hung up the leash in the breezeway and wrapped her arms around her husband. I like having you near me. 

Jake smiled and kissed her. Emma's shoulder-length brunette hair was tied back in a ponytail in protest of the Wyoming wind. She was tall and athletic from years of playing recreational softball and volleyball after a respectable run in college sports. Jake could never quite believe the good fortune that had brought her into his life.

A long, loud cat hiss interrupted them. Peachy had discovered the dogs. Peachy was not fond of dogs and she didn’t see any reason why the two of them should be allowed to invade her living room. She was standing in the doorway between the living room and the hall leading to the bedrooms with tail puffed and back arched.

Oh stop that! Emma laughed. Letting go of Jake, she walked over to the angry cat. The dogs aren’t going to hurt you. You have plenty of house to share. 

The cat disagreed, but stalked silently to the couch. She jumped lightly and curled up on her blanket, placed in just the spot where she liked best to nap. The cat cast a wary eye on the dogs, who hadn’t paid a bit of attention to her.

Where’s the monster? Emma asked, looking around for the white ball of fluff that had been terrorizing the house since last winter. Jake had found the kitten outside of the front door one morning soaking wet, with her bright blue eyes barely open. He brought her to Emma, whose heart melted at the sight of the tiny baby mewing pitifully in his hand, not even strong enough to stand.

She'd nursed the kitten to vibrant health, much to Peachy’s dismay. From the time she could stand, Sparky worshipped Peachy. She followed her everywhere, pouncing on the older cat with kitten zeal, trying to entice her to play. Peachy ignored her, so Sparky would jump onto her back and bite at Peachy’s ears to get attention. Peachy would roll the kitten off her back and the two would wrestle, with the intensity of the battles increasing as Sparky aged from kitten to cat. Typical of cats, one minute they would be fighting tooth and nail and the next, they would be snuggled up together, both of them fast asleep.

Up to no good, I’m sure, answered Jake as he turned toward the breezeway. You know what a terror she is when the weather changes.

As if hearing them talk about her, Sparky came racing down the hallway and made a running leap at Emma. This was one of the kitten's most endearing tricks. Since moving to Wyoming, Emma had shared her life with dozens of cats, but only Sparky jumped into her arms like an excited toddler. No matter what the cat did, no matter how annoyed Emma might be with her, Sparky would jump into Emma's arms, rub her head against Emma's cheek and purr, knowing all would be forgiven.

Emma stroked the happy cat and watched Jake carry in a forty-pound bag of pellets to fill the stove. Built in the 1970’s, the house had electric heat. Jake had the pellet stove installed after the first eye-popping electric bill. Now they never turned on the baseboard heaters but the house stayed comfortably warm. The fact that the stove created an inviting fire was a bonus.

Jake carefully picked his way past the sleeping dogs and poured the bag of pellets into the stove’s hopper. It was amazing how much floor space two dogs could commandeer. Casper lifted his head and thumped his tail on the floor as Jake stepped over him, then went contentedly back to sleep. Charlie didn’t even flinch.

Emma put Sparky down and the cat hopped up to snuggle with Peachy, who hissed with annoyance but allowed the younger cat to keep her paws warm. Walking to the bank of windows that faced Casper Mountain, Emma looked out at the night. The snow was falling thickly now and all she could see of their nearest neighbor's home was a yellow glow coming from his horse barn.

Emma noticed the lights of a car coming down the mountain along the county road. She shook her head as she watched the headlights. Thank God we don’t have anywhere to go in this weather, she said as Jake came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. More pleasant thoughts soon replaced the weather in her mind.

Chapter Two

Emma woke to the sound