A Wild Fright in Deadwood (Deadwood Humorous Mystery Book 7)

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Table of Contents
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Dear Reader
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About the Author
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Contact Information
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More Books by Ann
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Copyright

Read an Excerpt of Robyn Peterman’s
Fashionably Dead

For more on Ann and her books, check out her website
www.anncharles.com
, as well as the reader reviews for her books on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Goodreads.

Dear Reader,

Once upon a time I was going to write a book about a real estate agent from Deadwood who was struggling to make ends meet while raising two children and running into trouble with oddball clients and peculiar houses. Now, seven books later, I feel like I opened a chest full of treasures, at least from an author’s point-of-view. With quirky characters, memorable locations, and humorous hijinks just for starters, there is so much more of Violet’s story yet to come.

A WILD FRIGHT IN DEADWOOD is the longest novel I’ve written so far—three more chapters than usual thanks to Violet’s crazy life. It’s also the fastest novel I’ve written to date. I think I burned off my fingertips in the rush to relocate the story from my brain to the page.

I’ve included a good friend of mine in this book: bestselling author Terri Reid. For those of you who have read Terri’s Mary O’Reilly Mystery Series, you might remember that Terri included my mom and me in the 16
th
book in her series. I thought it was fun to be in Terri’s story as “Ann Charles” so I decided I needed to include “Terri Reid” in my series. (By the way, Terri loved meeting Violet on the page. I hope you get a chuckle out of the sections mentioning her.) If you haven’t checked out Terri’s books, you’re missing some fun and addictive paranormal mysteries.

I hope you get some laughs and frights and everything in between out of this latest segment in Violet Parker’s ongoing adventures and mishaps.

As old man Harvey often says, “Never kick a cow chip on a hot day.”

www.anncharles.com

For Justin

You will always be old man Harvey in my imagination. I wish you’d stuck around long enough to see if I have Harvey spot-on with Bessie and all of the crazy dames.

You will be missed!

Acknowledgments

This book is long! Because I blathered on so much in the story, I’m going to keep this short and sweet. Thank you to my husband, kids, family, friends, graphic artist, artist, editors, first draft readers, local expert, world keeper, beta readers, promotion team, and ornery cats. Thanks also to my brother, Clint, who has been making me roll my eyes for almost four decades now with his nutty antics.

Special thanks to Robyn Peterman, Chanticleer Book Reviews, and Kim Hornsby for your wonderful quotes.

Thank you to all who support me and my books by reading and sharing them with friends, family, local librarians, and complete strangers in line behind you at the liquor store and food truck.

Many thanks to the bookstores, tourist stores, and other venues who help me by selling my books.

Thank you to five wonderful friends from Deadwood and Lead who have helped Violet and I succeed over the years in many ways: “Chip” Tautkus from Chubby Chipmunk Chocolates, Kim Rupp from Executive Lodging of the Black Hills, Karen Everett from the Lead Deadwood Arts Center, Janell Andis from Custer Crossing, and Sue Stone-Douglas (my local expert). I cherish your friendship, generosity, kindness, and support!

Finally, a big thanks to YOU for reading Violet’s latest calamity. I hope you get some laughs and chills. If I keep you up late into the night and you’re tired at work the next day, feel free to email me with curses and love.

Also by Ann Charles

Deadwood Mystery Series

Nearly Departed in Deadwood
(Book 1)

Optical Delusions in Deadwood
(Book 2)

Dead Case in Deadwood
(Book 3)

Better Off Dead in Deadwood
(Book 4)

An Ex to Grind in Deadwood
(Book 5)

Meanwhile, Back in Deadwood
(Book 6)

A Wild Fright in Deadwood
(Book 7)

Short Stories from the Deadwood Mystery Series

Deadwood Shorts: Seeing Trouble

Deadwood Shorts: Boot Points

Deadwood Shorts: Cold Flame

Jackrabbit Junction Mystery Series

Dance of the Winnebagos
(Book 1)

Jackrabbit Junction Jitters
(Book 2)

The Great Jackalope Stampede
(Book 3)

The Rowdy Coyote Rumble
(Book 4)

Short Stories from the Jackrabbit Junction Mystery Series

The Wild Turkey Tango

Goldwash Mystery Series (a future series)

The Old Man’s Back in Town
(Short Story)

Dig Site Mystery Series

Look What the Wind Blew In
(Book 1)

(Starring the brother of Violet Parker—Deadwood Mystery Series)

Coming Next from Ann Charles

Dig Site Mystery Series

Title TBA
(Book 2)

Deadwood Shorts

Title TBA
(Short Story 4)

Deadwood Mystery Series

Title TBA
(Book 8)

Cast

**KEY:
Character
(Book # in which they appear)—Description**

Violet Lynn Parker
(1,2,3,4,5,6,7)—Main heroine of the series, Doc’s girlfriend, Aunt Zoe’s niece

Willis “old man” Harvey
(1,2,3,4,5,6,7)—Violet’s sidekick and so-called bodyguard

Dane R. “Doc” Nyce
(1,2,3,4,5,6,7)—Main hero of the series, Violet’s boyfriend

Detective “Coop” Cooper
(1,2,3,4,5,6,7)—Deadwood and Lead’s only detective

Zoe Parker
(1,2,3,4,5,6,7)—Violet’s aunt and mentor in life. Violet lives in Aunt Zoe’s house

Layne Parker
(1,2,3,4,5,6,7)—Violet’s nine-year-old son

Adelynn Parker
(1,2,3,4,5,6,7)—Violet’s nine-year-old daughter

Natalie Beals
(1,2,3,4,5,6,7)—Violet’s best friend since childhood

Jerry Russo
(4,5,6,7)—Violet’s boss, owner of Calamity Jane Realty

Mona Hollister
(1,2,3,4,5,6,7)—Violet’s coworker and mentor in realty

Ray Underhill
(1,2,3,4,5,6,7)—Violet’s coworker and nemesis at work

Benjamin Underhill
(1,2,3,4,5,6,7)—Violet’s coworker and previous secret admirer

Cornelius Curion
(3,4,5,6,7)—Violet’s client; so-called ghost-whisperer

Reid Martin
(2,3,4,5,6,7)—Captain of the fire department, Aunt Zoe’s ex-lover

Jeff Wymonds
(1,2,3,4,5,6,7)—Violet’s client; father of Adelynn’s best friend

Prudence
(2,3,4,5,6,7)—Ghost who resides at the Carhart house

Zeke and Zelda Britton
(2,4,5,6,7)—Owners of the Carhart house in Lead

Wanda Carhart
(2,3,4,5,6,7)—Previous owner of the Carhart house in Lead

Katrina King-Mann
(7)—Ex-wife of Douglas Mann.

Beatrice Geary
(1,2,3,4,5,6)—Violet and Aunt Zoe’s neighbor across the street

Tiffany Sugarbell
(1,2,3,4,5,6,7)—Violet’s rival Realtor; Doc’s ex-girlfriend

Susan Parker
(1,2,3,4,5,6,7)—Violet’s evil sister; aka “the Bitch from Hell”

Quint Parker
(1,2,3,4,5,7)—Violet’s supportive brother; Layne’s hero; giver of her famous purple boots

Freesia Tender
(5,6,7)—Owner of the Galena House

Stone Hawke
(5,6,7)—Cooper’s ex-partner; detective called in to help solve cases

Rex Conner
(3,4,5,6,7)—The biological father of Violet’s children

Dickie Dowdin
(5,6,7)—Host of TV series called “Paranormal Realty”

Honey
(5,6,7)—Dickie’s assistant

Rad
(6,7)—Reality series cameraman

Rosy
(6,7)—Reality series camerawoman

Eddie Mudder
(3,6,7)—Owner of Mudder Brothers Funeral Parlor

“Such ingratitude, after all the times I saved your life.”

~from
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Chapter One

Saturday, November 10th

Lead, South Dakota

“Hell hath no fury like a high-steppin’ heifer who’s been downright scorned,” old man Harvey told me as I steered along the back streets of Lead.

I frowned across the console of my new-but-used SUV at my self-proclaimed bodyguard and partner in troublemaking. “First of all, you know how I feel about being compared to a cow.” I poked him in the ribs to emphasize my feelings on that matter. “Second, I’m not high-stepping. I can barely raise my boots off the ground most days.”

As a single mom with almost ten-year-old twins ruling my world, I was usually dragging my raggedy pride behind me wherever I roamed.

Harvey rubbed his side, grunting. “I’m not talkin’ ‘bout you, Sparky.”

“Third, how many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me
Sparky
?” It was bad enough that most of Deadwood’s fire department and half of its cop-shop were now calling me that. “My name is Violet Parker. Period.”

“
Spooky Parker
is more fittin’ these days, don’cha think?”