Things have been tense around my little town, Brewster, Missouri, lately, what with local-boy-made-good Ash Mowbray returned, threatening to destroy the town square businesses and claiming my son Brian’s schoolmate as his illegitimate son—very publicly. I headed out for my morning run hoping for peace and got a nasty surprise.
My Cherokee grandmother was pulling biscuits out of the oven when I arrived home. Brian wandered in toweling his hair dry after a shower.
“That smells great, Gran,” he said. When Gran first arrived to live with us, he’d struggled with what to call her until she told him since he was mine and I was hers that he should call her Gran just as I did.
She smiled at him and frowned at me. “You’re late. Wash your hands and sit down to eat. You can take your shower after breakfast. I’m not going to have everything get cold because you lost track of time this morning.”
Slamming the oven door with one hand, she set the pan of biscuits on the counter with the other. I headed to the sink to wash up.
“I didn’t lose track of time. Found a body on the golf course while running along the river. Had to call it in and wait until the crime scene techs got there.” I dried my face and hands on the dishtowel and tossed it on the counter.
“Was it anyone we know?” Brian asked.
Gran set a baked egg-cheese casserole, a plate of bacon, and a basket of biscuits on the table. “Brian, get the butter and jelly and that bowl of fruit out of the fridge.”
I grabbed a cup of coffee on my way to the table. “It was Ash Mowbray.”
“Sit down and say grace,” she said sternly. “Before you start talking about evil things like that, bless your food and give thanks for it.”
I dropped my head. I’d violated one of her cardinal rules. Gran believed it was important to start the day off right. What you did at the beginning of the day could determine what kind of day you’d have.
We all sat at the table and bowed our heads while she prayed. “Creator, thank you for another day of breath and for this food. Bless it to strengthen and nourish us. Help us to say and do right things in the right way.”
Gran might welcome the dawn with cornmeal to the four directions, but she was also an active member of the D.D. Etchieson United Indian Methodist Church and never saw any contradictions.
We filled our plates and started to eat—I began with a big gulp of burning coffee, of course—but Brian couldn’t contain himself any longer.
“What happened to him? Wish whatever it was had happened before he screwed everything up for Noah and his folks.” He frowned in disgust and snatched two strips of bacon. “He was a mean old creeper. How’d he die?”
“It looks very much as if he was murdered. You’re not to say anything to anyone at school, though. I know it will be all over town in a flash. But not from this house.” I reached for more of Gran’s fruit compote and paused to give him a stern look. “Okay?”
He shrugged. “Sure. Last thing I want is to be the guy who tells Noah that his real dad he never knew about and cussed out all over the place is dead.” He shook his head. “Talk about stuff that could warp you!”
“People in this town like to talk,” I said. “There will be all kinds of gossip once the word gets out. I just don’t want any of us adding to it.”
“You mean I can’t talk about it, even after they all know about it?” Brian sounded incredulous.
“Of course not. But don’t speculate or build it up any worse than it is.” I sighed and drank some more badly needed coffee. “People may think you know more than you do because you live with me. Just be careful when you talk about it.”
“Are they looking at Noah and his family?” asked Gran as she polished off her single piece of bacon.
I shook my head at her, but Brian had stopped eating to stare at me. “They won’t think Noah did it, will they?”
“They have to look at everybody who had any grudge against him.” I got up to pour myself more coffee and refilled Gran’s cup, as well. “And he went out of his way to give lots of people grudges against him. So they’ll be looking at a lot of people.”
I leaned back against the kitchen counter for a minute. “They’ll probably question Noah, but that doesn’t mean anything with this many people angry at the victim.”
Brian nodded, looking relieved, and turned back to the food. “Do either of you want the last piece of bacon?”
Gran leaned back in her chair and looked up at me. “That man’s going to keep on making trouble for everyone, even from the grave, isn’t he?”
You can read more about Skeet in Every Hidden Fear, the third book in the “Skeet Bannion” mystery series, published by Minotaur. The first book in the series is Every Last Secret. Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
GIVEAWAY
Comment on this post by 6 p.m. EST on May 31, and you will be entered for a chance to win a copy of EVERY HIDDEN FEAR. One winner will be chosen at random. Unless specified, U.S. entries only.
Meet the author
Linda Rodriguez’s third Skeet Bannion novel, Every Hidden Fear, was published May 6. Her second Skeet mystery, Every Broken Trust, was a selection of Las Comadres National Latino Book Club and is currently a finalist for both the International Latino Book Award and the Premio Aztlan Literary Prize. Her first Skeet novel, Every Last Secret, won the Malice Domestic Best First Traditional Mystery Novel Competition, was a Barnes & Noble mystery pick, and was a finalist for the International Latino Book Award. Her short story, “The Good Neighbor,” has been optioned for film. Find her on Twitter, on Facebook, and on blogs with The Stiletto Gang, Writers Who Kill, and her own bog, Linda Rodriguez Writes.
Follow dru’s book musing on Facebook for book giveaways, contests, posting about discounted books and some of my reading musings.
You had me at “golf course.” Please put me in the draw. This might well be my first read by a Latino author.
I’ve got to look for the first one too.
Sounds like a great book, would love to win/read it
this series is in my TBR…….
thank you for the giveaway!!!
Thank you for the chance 🙂
Another series I’ve put on my book list. It sounds great!
This sounds intriguing! Thank you for the giveaway!
Sounds very different, I would definitely be interested. Thank you for the chance.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
Sounds like a book that I will love.
Love Gran as a character. ~ Jim
Although we might rightfully say “Good Riddance” to that troublemaker, Ash Mowbray it’s still important to find the responsible party. We don’t want young Noah going to jail for it, do we? Thanks for the chance to win a copy of Every Hidden Fear.
Sounds like a good book.
Jagjhd, the murder weapon’s a golf club, if that helps.:-)
Thanks, Gram. I hope you’ll like it.
Thanks, everyone for stopping by to share Skeet’s day!
Jim, Gran’s a favorite of mine, too. I gave Skeet my own grandmother who died when I was not yet a teen, and it’s been lovely to watch others come to love her, too. Thanks.
I read the excerpt and really enjoyed it. She has a nice writing style that makes you want to read her book.
I think I could find Gram to be a bosom buddy. I’m the Grammy in my house and life is somewhat similar here. Never heard of this series before. Thanks for highlighting it here. Would love to read and review this book too!!
Nice post, Linda! I very much enjoyed reading it!
Wishing I could have a seat at that table, to partake of Gran’s wisdom . . . and good cooking. The world would be a better place if we all listened more to her kind of wisdom, and we’d be happier if we shared more meals in the proper spirit . . .
Gran, sounds like a wonderful influence on everyone she meets, and she cooks wonderfully too. Would love to win this book. Thanks Dru for the opportunity.
Thanks, Karen and Ronna!
*waves hello to Kathryn*
Mary and Annette, I think you’re both right. Gran could shape up this world if she had the chance. 🙂
Nice post, I’ll have to check this out.
kaye.killgore@comcast.net
Congratulations on publication of your third Skeet Bannion book, Linda! I enjoyed reading the first one very much! Write on!
I could almost taste Gran’s breakfast—now I’m hungry—and I like her rule to start the day out right. Thanks for the contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
We would all benefit from a level headed grandmother that this.
Thanks, Kaye!
*waves hello at Kay*
Sue and Libby, that’s what I think, too. But of course, I’m a wee bit prejudiced. 🙂
I am so glad to learn about the third book in this series. I have the first but still need to buy the second and now the third one and get them read and reviewed. Thanks once again for alerting me to the current statues of what sounds to be a lovely series about a grandmother and I know one well, (me), so want to read this asap. Thank you.
Cynthia
Breakfast sounds good at Grams. It sound different. I find it appealing and I am looking forward to reading it. It’s always nice to find a new series and author. Thank you for a chance at this giveaway.
I enjoyed the excerpt. Would love to read the book. Thanks for the chance to win
Cynthia, I’m so glad you liked the first book in the series. I hope you’ll like this one, too.
Thank you for stopping by, Melody and MaryB!
Going to read this series! Missed the first but I will play catch up fast!
Thanks, everyone, for stopping by and for all your comments. And many, many thanks to you, Dru Ann, for inviting Skeet to visit your blog.
It sounds like a fun and different mystery. I would love to read it. Thanks for having the giveaway.
It is a bit different kind of mystery, Anita! I hope you’ll enjoy it.
Nice post, I’ll be checking out Skeet! Thanks for the chance to win!
Thanks Linda for interacting with my readers.
Contest is closed.