Cranberry Bluff (16 page)

Moonlight cast a glow across the Pacific Ocean, sparkling like stars on a clear winter’s night. The restaurant’s expansive picture window offered a magical view as Molly and Bryce settled in against plush cushions. A flickering candle in the center of their ocean view booth sent shadows of dancing flames across the white linen tablecloth. A petite vase held a single rose with sprigs of greenery. Outside, floodlights illuminated the crashing waves below while nostalgic piano bar melodies floated in from the cocktail lounge.

“I don’t know if I’ll ever understand this completely,” Molly said. She thanked the restaurant’s host as he placed two menus on the table before walking away.

“Sometimes not understanding is best,” Bryce said. “Don’t you think you’ve been through enough? Now that the other guests have headed home - Sadie to San Francisco, and Dan to St. Louis - the inn is quiet. You can let the stress go and breathe. Leave it behind you as an unfortunate misunderstanding.”

“An unfortunate misunderstanding? That may be the biggest understatement I’ve ever heard.” Molly laughed then became serious. “Wait, I thought Dan and Susie were from Boston. Did
everyone
here register with false addresses and fake stories?”

“Not Sadie,” Bryce said. “She's really from San Francisco and does have a boutique called Flair.”

Molly sighed. “Thank goodness! At least one person came here without some kind of cover story!”

Bryce smiled, but said nothing.

“What about this mysterious ‘bad guy’ you referred to before, the one who hired you to bring me back to Tallahassee?”

Bryce acknowledged the question with a slight nod of his head. “I never should have mentioned him. It only upset you and wasn’t something you could do anything about. But I needed you to listen to me. As it turns out, you don’t need to be worried about him.”

“Really? Are you sure?” Molly frowned, thinking back over their initial conversations. “You seemed convinced I was in danger.”

“And I believe that was true at the time. But you aren’t anymore.”

“Just like that?” Molly asked.

“Not quite ‘just like that,’ as you say,” Bryce replied. “But, for one thing, the police have the money, so it’s not going anywhere except back to the bank.”

“And the other thing?”

Bryce smiled. “Let’s just say he’s dropping the matter as a favor to an old friend, someone he was fond of long ago. It’s also clear now that you had nothing to do with the robbery.”

Molly leaned back against the soft padding of the booth and sighed. “Well, it’s about time someone figured that out!”

Bryce nodded toward Molly’s menu. “So, what looks good to you?”

“Anything without cranberries.” Bryce laughed and Molly grinned back.

“The pine-nut encrusted halibut looks great. With the roasted wild mushroom soup to start.”

“Sounds perfect,” Molly said. “I’ll have the same thing.”

“And champagne,” Bryce added just before the server left the table. “And we’ll order something decadent to share afterward.”

Molly smiled. A sweet dessert and two spoons could be the perfect way to turn an already pleasant meal at Ocean into a romantic dinner. She set her menu aside as the melody of “Begin the Beguine” floated in from the bar.

“I love these old tunes from the thirties and forties.” Molly closed her eyes and listened to the blended sound of piano music and ocean waves. “They’re so soothing.”

“It’s good to see you relaxed,” Bryce said, reaching for Molly’s hand.

“Maybe it’s because I’m not looking over my shoulder anymore.”

“I’m sure that’s part of it,” Bryce said. “But I hope it’s not the only reason.”

Molly had a good mind to tease him by ignoring his comment, just to keep his ego under control. But he was right. Having him around had soothed her nerves. It felt reassuring to know someone believed in her.

“You’ve helped so much,” she said. “I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t been here. I might have been headed for free room and board, just like Susie is now.”

“And she’d be free,” Bryce said. “Undoubtedly, off on another adventure.”

“Like in Austria and Barcelona?” Molly suggested, a secondary question hidden within the spoken words. Even in the confusion of the kitchen interaction with the police, Molly hadn’t missed the obvious reference to Bryce and Susie… or was it Sonja ... having worked together before.

“Perhaps,” Bryce said, reaching across the table to squeeze Molly’s hand. “We all have pasts. I was a private investigator working with a double-crossing thief. And you, my dear, were a wanted bank robber.”

Molly laughed. “Yes, I suppose that’s true, for a little while, anyway.”

Conversation paused as the server returned with champagne. After he popped it open, he set the bottle in an ice bucket alongside the table and left.

“So, if Susie had found the money that Mr. Miller planted, she would have taken it,” Molly continued. “Then I wouldn’t have been accused in the end.”

“Yes and no,” Bryce said. “I’m sure she would have taken most of it, but she would have left enough to turn you in and leave herself in the clear. That would be a perfect plan, from her point of view. She’d get the money and you’d get the blame. She’d split the reward with Dan. And don’t forget, she thought you were the one who took it from her in the first place.”

“Mr. Miller also thought I’d taken it or he never would have come out here.” Molly took a sip of champagne, nodding at Bryce to do the same.

“Only because he followed the news,” Bryce said. “Some people believe everything on the news is true.”

“But it didn’t matter to him, one way or another,” Bryce continued. “He just wanted to get rid of it.”

“Everyone thought I’d taken it,” Molly mused.

“I didn’t, not once I’d met you,” Bryce said.

“But you did think I was guilty at first,” Molly pointed out. “Or you wouldn’t have come here, either.”

“And it’s a good thing I thought so or I never would have met you.”

“Yes, though I never dreamed being falsely accused of a crime could be a good thing.” Molly shook her head and looked out the window. Seagulls circled and landed at the water’s edge, white specks against the dark, wet sand.

“What will you do now that this case is solved?” Molly said tentatively, turning her head back to Bryce.

“I’m not sure. Maybe I really will write a novel. Chasing criminals around the world has given me a few good plot ideas.” Bryce grinned as he reached for the champagne bottle.

“I imagine so,” Molly laughed.

“And, now that your life is your own again, will you go back to Tallahassee?” Bryce topped off Molly’s glass with champagne before doing the same to his own. He replaced the bottle in the ice bucket.

“No,” Molly said. “There was never much for me there. I like Cranberry Cove and running Cranberry Cottage Bed and Breakfast suits me. It’s what Aunt Maggie would want me to do. And I was ready for a change in spite of the drama it took to get me here. I’ve needed a new start.”

“Well, I think you’ve found one. In fact, maybe we both did.” Bryce lifted his champagne to toast. “Here’s to new beginnings.”

Molly met it with her own glass.

Mr. Miller sat back in his folding chair and looked out at the river. The sound of the water tumbling over rocks soothed him. Solitude was all he’d ever wanted. Now it was his. No people, the nearest town fifty miles away.

He reached out with his arm and grabbed a fly from the tackle box, attached it to the fishing line and cast out. As was his habit, he made sure his hands were dry. There was no use risking water getting into the lower compartment.

He was pleased with how efficiently his plot had succeeded - right down to the ten thousand dollar reward he was due. The bank would have the rest of the money back soon, thanks to his anonymous phone call to the police. He clucked his tongue as he thought of the perfect, succinct wording in the resignation letter he’d mailed on the way out of Cranberry Cove:

Dear Supervisor,

Please accept my resignation, effective immediately.

Regards,

Charles Henry Miller, III

He latched the box and set it aside. The future was all he looked at now. A serene future with an upper tray of flies, sorted into groups of twenty and a lower tray of bills, sorted into groups of thousands.

AUNT MAGGIE’S

CRANBERRY COTTAGE COOKBOOK

Cranberry Scones

Cranberry Pancakes

Cranberry Applesauce

Cranberry Nut Bread

Cranberry Lemon Muffins

Cranberry Pumpkin Muffins

Cranberry Swirl Coffee Cake

Cranberry White Chocolate Bars

Cranberry Relish

Cranberry Brie Bites

Cranberry Kale Salad w/ Quinoa

Cranberry Wild Rice Soup

Cranberry Cornbread

Cranberry Pear Walnut Cobbler

Cranberry Citrus Sorbet

Cranberry Scones

Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar

1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup cold butter

4 tablespoons milk

1 egg, beaten

1/4 cup dried cranberries

1/4 teaspoon coarse sugar

Directions:

In a small bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.

Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

In a small bowl, combine milk and 2 tablespoons beaten egg; add to crumb mixture just until moistened.

Stir in cranberries.

Turn onto a floured surface; knead gently 6-8 times. Pat into a 6-in. circle.

Cut into six wedges. Separate and place on a greased baking sheet.

Brush with remaining egg; sprinkle with coarse sugar.

Bake at 425° for approx. 12 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

Cranberry Pancakes

Ingredients:

¾ cup milk

2 tablespoons melted butter

1 egg

1 cup flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 tablespoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries

1 teaspoon sugar (for cranberries)

Directions:

Beat milk, melted butter, and egg together in a bowl.

Mix flour, baking powder, 2 tablespoons sugar, and salt together in a separate bowl and add to wet ingredients mixing just enough to wet the flour.

Cut cranberries in half. Place in microwave safe bowl and sprinkle in the 1 tsp of sugar. Microwave on high and stir every 15 seconds till cranberries start to bubble. Let cool and add to pancake mixture.

Preheat griddle with a pat of butter till water droplets dance on the surface.

Pour cranberry batter on griddle. Cook till surface bubbles. Flip and cook other side.

Cranberry Applesauce

Ingredients:

4 large cooking apples, peeled, cored and cut into chunks

1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil.

Cover and cook over low heat until the cranberries pop and the apples are soft (15-20 minutes).

Place in a food processor and blend until smooth.

Serve warm or chilled.

Cranberry Nut Bread

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

1 cups granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 egg, slightly beaten

1/2 cup orange juice

1/8 cup hot water

1/8 cup melted butter

1/2 tablespoon grated orange rind

1 cup chopped fresh (or frozen) cranberries

1/2 cup chopped nuts

Directions:

Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl.

Mix eggs, orange juice, hot water, butter and orange rind; stir into flour mix.

Fold in cranberries and nuts.

Spoon batter into greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Remove from pans and cool on rack.

Cranberry Lemon Muffins

Ingredients:

1/2 cup plain yogurt

1 cup sugar

3 large eggs

1 tablespoon lemon zest

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup canola oil

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 cups fresh whole cranberries (do not chop)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Grease muffin tin or line with paper liners.

In a large bowl, beat together yogurt, sugar, and eggs.

Add lemon zest and vanilla extract.

Stir in oil.

In a medium bowl, stir together flour and baking powder.

Gently fold in flour mixture. Stir until just moistened.

Stir in cranberries.

Spoon batter into muffin tin. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Cool completely on a wire rack.

Cranberry Pumpkin Muffins

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup sugar

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup canned pumpkin

1/2 cup canola oil

2 eggs

1 cup dried cranberries

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Grease 12 regular-sized muffin cups.

Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.

Stir in pumpkin, oil, eggs and cranberries. Do not over mix.

Divide batter evenly among 12 muffin cups.

Bake 20-25 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.