A Basket of Trouble (34 page)

nothing ‘bout birthing ribs, to misquote that famous movie, but

these talented young people do.”

He clapped a hand on the young man’s shoulder. Then he

leaned down to say quietly to Claire, “Thanks for lining up this gig for me. I’ve already talked to three people here about bringing our barbecue operation to their next party.”

“That’s great news, and I was happy to do it. Charley loves bar-

becue, so it was a natural fit. Have you met him yet?”

“Sure have. Nice man. Takes after his sister.” Leon nudged her

with his elbow. “Speaking of which, Condoleza loved that basket

you made her. Earned me some nice brownie points.” He puffed

out his chest and waggled his eyebrows.

Claire smiled. “And I’m sure you took advantage of those

brownie points.”

Leon guffawed and gave her a salacious wink. “You bet I did!”

“And I need to thank you, too, for the information you gave

me. It was very important in solving the case, and in helping my

brother keep his business from going under.”

“Always glad to help a fellow businessman, especially one re-

lated to a good friend.”

Roger returned and put an arm around Claire. “I’m parched.

Let’s go find the beer keg.”

“It’s up on the porch.” Leon pointed. “And last I saw, your bro’

was there, too.”

A woman Claire recognized as his restaurant manager waved

to him.

288

He held up a ‘just a minute’ finger. “Looks like I’m being called to duty. That uppity woman’s got me fetching and carrying for

her.”

Claire and Roger said their goodbyes and moved toward the

trailer. They said hello to Dave and Ellen and Brittany and Vince as they passed both couples. They were sitting at picnic tables and digging into ribs, chicken, beans, and slaw heaped onto sturdy dis-posable plates. Baskets of cornbread and rolls and wire condiment holders with sauces, butter packets, salt and pepper sat on each

table. Leon’s catering business seemed well-organized, and people were raving about the food.

After mounting the steps to the trailer porch, Roger filled two

plastic cups with beer at the keg and handed one to her. They gently tapped the glasses so as not to spill the precious contents, and drank deeply. Claire leaned on the railing and looked out over the much larger gathering than was present at the opening. She sighed in contentment.

Just then Charley came out of the trailer, talking with the Exec-

utive Assistant to the Development Officer from Glen Eyrie Castle whom Claire had delivered her gift basket to on Saturday. Jessica followed with a tall, thin middle-aged man. Claire recognized him from the photo on his assistant’s desk as being the Development

Officer. Charley gave Claire a hug and introduced Roger and her

to the man.

He pumped her hand enthusiastically. “So I have you to thank

for that wonderful gift basket I received from my employees this

morning. I can’t wait to start using all those grilling rubs and

spices.”

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Claire smiled at him and his beaming assistant. “I’m so glad

you liked it.”

The man sniffed the fragrant smoke coming from the grills

and rubbed his hands together. “Smells like some true experts are working the fires here, though.”

“Get yourself some food,” Charley said. “I’ll be along to keep

you company after I talk to my sister.”

While the two Glen Eyrie representatives headed for the serv-

ing line, Claire turned to Charley and raised an eyebrow. “So, is their being here a good sign?”

“An excellent sign,” Charley said. “We shook hands this after-

noon on a deal for my stable to provide trail rides on the castle grounds. He’s going to write up a contract and send it over tomorrow.”

Roger clapped a hand on Charley’s back. “Excellent news in-

deed!”

“Oh, Charley, I’m so happy for you.” Claire gave him another

hug, then hugged Jessica, who had been hopping with excitement

behind him.

After returning Claire’s hug, Jessica hooked her arm in one of

Charley’s and beamed up at him. “I’m so proud of him. He kept

his cool and negotiated a really good deal for us. Then he topped it all off by inviting them to come to this birthday barbecue—the perfect invitation for a man who loves barbecue. That was the

coup de grâce.”

Charley beamed back at Jessica, basking in her praise. Claire

caught her eye and gave her a thumbs-up then ladled on more

praise herself. “Before you know it, Charley, you may need to start 290

making expansion plans! See, I told you that you were the one in

the family with the business smarts.”

He smiled. “Maybe you’re right. But you’ve been a huge help,

Claire. Thank you.”

“Anything for my little brother.” She meant it, but she also re-

alized that she didn’t need to keep trying to rescue Charley. He

could manage just fine on his own.

“Now, if you could just get that Tom Lindall off your back,”

Roger said, “your life would be perfect.”

Charley laughed. “Life’s perfect, then. I called Tom after nego-

tiating the Glen Eyrie deal to let him know that I’d be happy to

juggle my Garden of the Gods trail ride schedule, even reduce it

or stay off certain trails, to suit him. Then while he was in good mood, I broke the news to him about Vince coming to work for

me. He took it pretty well, considering. Said he knew the attrac-

tion was Brittany, because he’d seen the two of them together.”

The news surprised Claire. “That was certainly nice of him.”

“Well, as he said, he’s had lots of staff come and go over the

years that he’s been managing Peak View Stables, so he can handle it.” He took Jessica’s hand and headed for the stairs. “And now I have one more thing to show you before we get some chow. Follow

us.”

Claire glanced at Roger, who shrugged, then the two of them

walked behind Charley and Jessica into the barn. Once they

reached the rear, they heard the clopping of a horse’s hooves and the murmur of two voices. A horse neighed softly.

Jorge walked into the back of the barn from the pasture, lead-

ing Gunpowder. Nancy sat in a saddle on top of the horse. Both of 291

them were whispering sweet nothings to the horse—and to each

other, Claire suspected.

When Jorge saw them, he said, “Whoa” to Gunpowder, who

stopped placidly. Jorge waved the group over.

“When did ICE release you?” Claire asked him as they ap-

proached.

“Saturday,” Jorge replied and blushed.

Claire wondered why he was blushing, until Charley laughed

and added, “Yeah, and the sneak didn’t tell me until this morning that he was out.”

Atop Gunpowder, Nancy smiled. “You wouldn’t begrudge us

our honeymoon, would you?”

“Of course not,” Charley said. “I was just worried about Jorge.”

“Sorry I didn’t call you,” Jorge said. “I had other things on my

mind.” His gaze at Nancy was full of love.

Jessica laughed and winked at Nancy. “I wonder what!”

Roger put an arm around Claire’s waist and whispered in her

ear, “Well that’s one honeymoon we know went well.”

Charley rubbed Gunpowder’s neck. “And how’s my favorite

horse?”

“As you know, I have been working with him all day with Nan-

cy’s help,” Jorge said. “He didn’t already know her scent, but he still accepted having her on his back. And with Hank gone, he’s calmed

down a lot. I think we can try him on a trail ride tomorrow, as the rear
vaquero
’s horse.”

“That’s great news!” Charley rubbed Gunpowder’s forehead.

“You ready to hit the trail, fella?”

292

As if he knew what Charley was saying, Gunpowder nudged

him with his head and gave a soft whinny. The ‘killer horse’ had

truly been redeemed.

“You two ready for some chow?” Charley asked Jorge and

Nancy.

“Soon,” Jorge said. “We will put Gunpowder in his stall first.”

“How about you?” Charley asked Roger and Claire.

“I thought you’d never ask,” Roger said. “My stomach’s been

growling since we arrived.”

They all laughed. Charley looped an arm around Jessica’s waist

and headed for the barn door. “Time for some of this Leon guy’s

barbecue then. I hope it’s as good as you say it is, Claire.”

“Oh it is. Leon may drive a hard bargain, but he never disap-

points.” She followed with Roger, smiling to herself. Yes, all was right with the world.

293

Neil Groundwater

about the author

Beth Groundwater writes two mystery series for Midnight Ink,

the Claire Hanover series and the RM Outdoor Adventures se-

ries. This book is the second book in the Claire Hanover gift basket designer series. The first,
A Real Basket Case
, was nominated for the 2007 Best First Novel Agatha Award after it was published in hardcover. Beth lives in Colorado and enjoys its many outdoor

activities, including skiing and whitewater rafting. Contrary to

what some readers think, she does not have a gift basket business of her own, but she enjoys creating gift baskets for family, friends, and charity auctions. Beth loves speaking to book clubs about her books in-person or via speakerphone or Skype. To find out more,

please visit her website at bethgroundwater.com and her blog at

bethgroundwater.blogspot.com.