Bats and Bones (The Frannie Shoemaker Campground Mysteries) Read Online Free PDF Page B

“I did. I make amazing potato salad. And I think we have several salads left from last night.”
    “A little
Encore Buffet,” Jane Ann said. “And we never got to the apple cobbler last
night.”
    “So we’ll
need a fire tonight. . .probably start it about 3:00, d’ya think? We should
have good coals by 5:00 then,” Larry said.
    Just then
Ranger Phillips pulled up in his truck. When he noticed Stub and his friends
packing up, he rolled down his passenger window motioning them over. The group
could not hear what was being said, but they could guess and it was obvious
that the news that the men had to stay put for the time being was not well
received.
    The ranger
then drove on down the road toward the host camper. Stub headed across the road
toward them. “What’s going on? He told us we can’t leave! We have a site
reserved in Nebraska tonight that we’ve already paid for. What’s happening?”
The night before, Stub had maintained amazing equanimity in the face of all his
mishaps but it seemed his buddies were getting fed up and he was taking the
brunt of it.
    “We aren’t
supposed to talk about it. I think the sheriff will be here soon and explain
everything,” Larry said.
    “Sheriff!
But what—?” he stopped as he noticed Larry shaking his head. “Some kind
of terrorist alert or—“ He trailed off and gave up, returning to his
friends. They gathered around receiving only a shake of the head, and shot
questioning, even angry, glances over at Larry.
    “Well. Is
it time for lunch yet?” Mickey said, trying to lighten things up.
    “Didn’t you
guys tell us your camping trips were always so relaxing?” Rob said.
    Frannie
took charge. “It’s not lunch time, but I’m going to make another pot of coffee
and we have muffins left. We might as well cool it now, because sounds like
there are no other options until the sheriff gets here.” She carried the
drained pot into the camper.
    Larry
followed her in. “You’ve been pretty quiet. Are you okay?”
    “Yeah, it’s
just….” She stopped and set the pot she was filling in the sink and turned to
face him. “Without even seeing her, it reminds me of Mom.”
    Larry
looked at her, puzzled. “I can’t say I knew Maeve well, but in no way did she
remind me of your mother.”
    “I know,
except that she’s gone and it makes no sense. Do you suppose she
has—had—kids?” Now she was unable to hold back tears, not sobs,
just soft grief.
    He put his
arms around her. “I’m sure we will know before long.” They stayed that way a
minute, and then she turned back to the sink, splashed her face and finished
the coffee. A couple of deep breaths helped and she took the pot back outside
and plugged it in.
    They
gathered around the picnic table, mugs and water bottles in hand. Jane Ann had
cut up more fruit and everyone helped themselves to a second breakfast. Frannie
watched her sister-in-law organize the table, already feeling wilted and dowdy.
Jane Ann looked fresh and crisp in the same simple khaki capris and white
blouse she had started out in that morning. It wasn’t fair. Good thing she
liked Jane Ann.
    “Boy, the
atmosphere is really oppressive, in more ways than one,” Mickey said.
    Rob said,
“I wonder when they’ll let us leave the park.”
    “Yeah,
there’s that winery that we wanted to check out this afternoon,” Donna said. “I
bet the tasting room is air-conditioned.”
    “Unless
they determine Maeve’s death was an accident, I don’t expect we’ll be going
anywhere soon,” Larry said. “You might have to plan on turning the air on in
your camper and taking a nap instead.”
    “The good
news is it’s supposed to be much nicer tomorrow, cooler and lower humidity. The
bad news is there’s a storm warning out later tonight as the front moves
through.” Mickey was their semi-official weather watcher.
    “Wouldn’t
want a boring night, now would we?” Frannie said.
    The talk
returned to Maeve’s death. “Still can’t