tj jensen 01 - barkleys treasure (15 page)
Read tj jensen 01 - barkleys treasure Online
Authors: kathi daley
“Actually,” Jenna’s voice changed from fear to excitement, “the girls and I are planning to do just that.”
“Really?” I squealed with happiness.
“Really. I talked to Dennis and he’s totally fine with us coming out. He’s so busy right now anyway. I called the airline and made reservations for us. We fly into Savannah on June 27 and we’ll be there for four whole weeks.”
“Oh my God. Really? I’m so excited. I can’t wait for you to see the place. We’re going to have so much fun.”
“I can’t wait. It seems like a year rather than a couple of weeks since I’ve seen you. Dennis’s new job has been really hard on him and he comes home grumpy and overwhelmed almost every night. It’s really put a strain on our relationship. I think this trip will be good for all of us.”
“It will. You’ll see. Some time to regroup will make all the difference. Do you think Dennis regrets taking the promotion?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. I do think he underestimated the amount of responsibility and the long hours that would be required. He talked to a guy he used to work with who’s a captain in another town and he basically told him the first few months are like boot camp, but if you can make it through and establish a routine, the job isn’t so bad.”
“Poor Dennis. He’s been waiting for the promotion for so long only to find out it isn’t what he thought it was going to be. I do think a break for you and the girls will help. Are you just going to close the restaurant?”
“Actually, no. Bonnie volunteered to come out and run it and Bren is going to help.”
Bonnie was Jenna’s mother-in-law, who used to work as a cook at the Antiquery until she moved, and Bren was Jenna’s sister, who used to waitress for her.
“That’s awesome. It seems like the trip was meant to be. I think you’re really going to love it here. It’s so quiet and peaceful.”
“You’ve found a dead body and been locked in a refrigerator in the five days you’ve been on the island and you think it’s quiet and peaceful?”
I laughed. “You have a good point.” I paused, wanting to ask about Hunter but not wanting to ask about him. “So, how is everyone back in Serenity?”
“You’ve only been gone ten days. Everyone is pretty much just like they were when you left.”
“Have you heard from your mom?”
“I have, and she’s having a wonderful time. I think she and Bookman are really happy.”
“That’s good. With all the changes. I just wanted to make sure everyone is happy.”
“I think he’s happy too.” I knew Jenna was referring to Hunter even though I hadn’t asked. “It’s hard to tell. I think he might still be working through some grief, as I’m sure you are too. I know that after all the years and all the starts and stops, calling things off was incredibly difficult for both of you, but I really think, in the long run, it was for the best.”
“I hope so.” I couldn’t quite prevent the tear that slid down my cheek.
“I’m sure by the time you come home at the end of the summer you’ll both be able to resume your friendship. In the meantime, you have me and you have Kyle. You know we love you and you can always lean on us.”
“I know. I love you too.”
By the time evening rolled around I was feeling more like my old self. The news that Jenna and her daughters were going to spend four weeks on the island gave me a new enthusiasm. The past two months had pretty much served to drain most of the enthusiasm I once had, but with the prospect of having both my best friends with me, I found my energy level soaring.
“How did your conversation with Garrett go?” Kyle joined me on the deck overlooking the ocean.
“It went well. I wasn’t sure how all of this was going to affect him, but in less than a day he’s gone from being depressed about his life to being hopeful about what the future might bring.”
“How did he take the news that his father is alive?”
“I wasn’t there when Rick broke the news, so I can’t attest to his initial reaction, but by the time I spoke to him he was happy to have a chance to spend some time with the man he thought had been dead all these years.”
“It’s so weird that when Savage talked to Max about Frank he suddenly remembered coming to the house, checking on the map, confirming that it was where he’d left it, and then going to the bar for a drink.”
“I think that’s the way the disease Max has works,” I said. “One minute the person you’re speaking to can be detached from reality as we know it and the next he’s right there with you. It’ll be nice if his alertness hangs around for a while. Now that Garrett and his dad will have a chance to reunite, it would be a shame if Max drifted away before they can really catch up on all the years they missed. Colin Walton has arranged for Garrett to move into the Gull Island Senior Home, so Max and Garrett can spend as much time together as they want.”
“That’s nice.”
“I told Garrett we’d bring Blackbeard by for a visit. They don’t allow pets to live on the premises, but they do allow them to visit in the outdoor garden area.” I glanced at the bird, who appeared as if he were listening to our conversation. I wondered what would happen to him in the long run. As far as I was concerned, he was welcome to stay with us as long as we were on the island, but I wasn’t sure he’d like the alpine climate of Paradise Lake.
“So did Max know what the map we found led to?” Kyle asked.
“No. Unlike Meg, he didn’t even realize it most likely wasn’t a map of Gull Island. Max inherited the map from his father, who never shared with him what, if anything, he’d discovered. Garrett is fine with us taking the map to Sanctuary Island to see what we can find.”
“I can look into renting a boat if you want to try to go next week, as we discussed.”
“Let’s wait until Jenna and the girls get here. We’ll rent one of the bigger yachts and make a long weekend of it. Even if we don’t find the treasure it will be an awesome adventure.”
Kyle wove his fingers through mine as we sat side by side and looked out over the calm sea. The moon was just beginning its ascent, creating a trail of light across the gently rolling waves. I let the peace of the moment wrap itself around me, finding that I was filled with hope and enthusiasm for the weeks that remained in our island adventure. As far as days went, the first five had been a doozy, and while I wouldn’t want to maintain quite that pace every week, I had a feeling deep in my heart that our adventure on Gull Island had just begun.
Jambalaya
3 – 4 skinless, boneless, chicken breasts cut into cubes
1 – 2 pounds andouille sausage
1 pound smoked ham cubed (sometimes I don’t use the ham)
1 large onion chopped
1 large bell pepper chopped
3 cloves garlic minced
1 diced tomato (optional)
5 cups chicken broth (Can be adjusted based on size of slow cooker and ingredients used)
2 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp Cajun seasoning (Or more if you like it spicy)
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 - 2 pounds cooked shrimp without tails
Salt and pepper to taste
Rice
In a slow cooker layer in all ingredients except the shrimp. Cover and cook 3 – 4 hours on high. Stir in the shrimp the last 30 minutes of cook time. Serve over rice.
Cajun Shrimp Chowder
Base
:
1 stick butter
½ chopped onion (or more if you like onion)
3-4 cloves garlic, chopped
6 cups peeled and diced potato (frozen hash browns work as well)
2 lbs. cooked shrimp (any size; Rosie uses medium, but she has used salad shrimp in a pinch)
32 oz. chicken broth (can use part chicken broth and part water if preferred)
Spices: amounts can be adjusted to accommodate taste.
¼ tsp. chili powder
¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
¼ tsp. ground cumin
¼ tsp. coriander
½ tsp. nutmeg
½ tsp. paprika
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. white pepper
Melt butter in heavy pan. Sauté onion and garlic. Add potatoes and shrimp.
Cover with chicken broth (just enough to boil potatoes). Add spices.
Boil until potatoes are tender; the time will vary depending on the size of potato cubes.
Cheese sauce:
While potatoes are boiling, use a separate pan to make cheese sauce.
1 stick butter
4 oz. cream cheese (1 small or ½ large pkg.)
1 cup heavy cream
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (do not use non or low fat)
2 cups grated Parmesan cheese (or 1 cup Parmesan and 1 cup Romano)
Melt butter in pan over medium heat. Add cream cheese. Stir until melted. Add cream. Add cheese a little at a time.
After potatoes are tender, slowly fold cheese sauce into base. Stir constantly until well blended.
Key Lime Cheesecake
1 box graham cracker crust (follow directions on box to make 9 x 13 pan)
4 pkgs. cream cheese, softened
1½ cups sugar
1 cup sour cream
¼ cup flour
1 TBS Vanilla
½ cup lime juice
5 eggs
Beat together cream cheese and sugar. Add sour cream, flour, vanilla, lime juice, and eggs.
Pour over prepared graham cracker crust. Bake at 325 degrees until toothpick comes out clean, about an hour. Refrigerate.
Topping:
½ cup sugar
2 cups whipping cream
½ cup powdered sugar
¼ tsp. vanilla
Whip until fluffy. Spread over chilled cheesecake.
Refrigerate
Books by Kathi Daley
Come for the murder, stay for the romance.
Zoe Donovan Cozy Mystery:
Halloween Hijinks
The Trouble With Turkeys
Christmas Crazy
Cupid’s Curse
Big Bunny Bump-off
Beach Blanket Barbie
Maui Madness
Derby Divas
Haunted Hamlet
Turkeys, Tuxes, and Tabbies
Christmas Cozy
Alaskan Alliance
Matrimony Meltdown
Soul Surrender
Heavenly Honeymoon
Hopscotch Homicide
Ghostly Graveyard
Santa Sleuth
Shamrock Shenanigans
Kitten Kaboodle –
May 2016
Whales and Tails Cozy Mystery:
Romeow and Juliet
The Mad Catter
Grimm’s Furry Tail
Much Ado About Felines
Legend of Tabby Hollow
Cat of Christmas Past
A Tale of Two Tabbies
The Great Catsby –
June 2016
Seacliff High Mystery:
The Secret
The Curse
The Relic
The Conspiracy
The Grudge
Sand and Sea Hawaiian Mystery:
Murder at Dolphin Bay
Road to Christmas Romance:
Road to Christmas Past
Kathi Daley lives with her husband, kids, grandkids, and Bernese mountain dogs in beautiful Lake Tahoe. When she isn’t writing, she likes to read (preferably at the beach or by the fire), cook (preferably something with chocolate or cheese), and garden (planting and planning, not weeding). She also enjoys spending time on the water when she’s not hiking, biking, or snowshoeing the miles of desolate trails surrounding her home.
Kathi uses the mountain setting in which she lives, along with the animals (wild and domestic) that share her home, as inspiration for her cozy mysteries.
Kathi is a top 100 mystery writer for Amazon and she won the 2014 award for both Best Cozy Mystery Author and Best Cozy Mystery Series.
She currently writes five series: Zoe Donovan Cozy Mysteries, Whales and Tails Island Mysteries, Tj Jensen Southern Seashore Mysteries, Sand and Sea Hawaiian Mysteries, and Seacliff High Teen Mysteries.
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