Pepper, the Highlander & the Dead Guy

Tears rushed to my eyes. “Oh, they got to be together one last time.”

“A few days from what Max said,” my mom said, and I heard her choke back tears. “I believe his heart broke when Effie died, and he had no desire to live anymore.”

“I found their love letters, Mom, in Aunt Effie’s armoire,” I said.

“Well, they belong to you now. Aunt Effie told me time and again that armoire and all in it belonged to you.”

I heard a timer go off.

“I have to go.” She hung up.

I stared at the armoire. “What other secrets do you hold?”

30

I read a few more letters until my rumbling stomach reminded me that I had eaten very little breakfast, the waffle batter still in the fridge, and it was already past lunch. I headed downstairs and let Mo out after giving him a treat. Roxie got some of the tuna before I mixed it for a salad. Mo wanted back in as I finished mixing a chopped apple with the tuna. Sounds crazy but tastes delicious.

He took himself off to the bedroom for a nap, closing the door behind him and Roxie returned to her perch on the cat tree, eyeing the birds.

I sent a quick text to Ian since I hadn’t heard from him and worried when he texted back to let me know my dad was still questioning Beau who insisted he didn’t need a lawyer since he hadn’t done anything wrong. That didn’t sound good at all.

I texted Amy to let her know and, like me, she felt the same.

Not Good!

I took my sandwich and a glass of iced tea up to the attic and read more letters. Once I finished eating, I decided to thoroughly search the armoire, wondering if secrets needed to be kept or was it time to reveal them?

With my butt sore from sitting on the wood floor, I scooped the remaining bundles out of the drawer to take downstairs and that’s when I saw the large, white envelope. At first glance I had thought it was a drawer liner, but a closer look proved it was an envelope.

I didn’t waste a minute opening it and removing what was inside. There was a file folder and an envelope that had my name on it. I opened the letter.

My dearest Pepper,

All you need is in the enclosed file. You will understand when you read the documents. I knew there would be someone one day who I could entrust this all to. I had thought of your mom, but when you were born and I first saw you, instinct told me you’d be much like me, yet so much more, and I wasn’t wrong.

I wish I could offer you advice on life, but I learned we all walk our own path. Paths we choose ourselves and some paths fate chooses for us. I pray your paths are clear and easy to travel.

Enjoy life, my dear Pepper. It flies by far too quickly.

Love,

Aunt Effie

I wiped the tears from my eyes, my heart aching for my aunt. When I could finally see clearly, I took a look at the documents expecting to find that my aunt wanted the land turned into a preserve and that it was one of the provisions of the sale of the land.

I scanned the documents and my mouth dropped open.

I read them thoroughly, then I read them again.

“Holy moly!” I never expected to find what I did.

I heard Mo’s bark all the way in the attic and grabbed my phone and the documents. I hit Ian’s name as I made my way out of the garage into the house. Mo was really throwing a fit. He must have accidentally locked himself in, but he’d never done that before, and his barks wouldn’t be so frantic unless...

I stopped short when I entered the kitchen—too late.

“What are you doing here, Mr. Sands?” I asked, though had a pretty good idea as I walked further into the kitchen to keep the island between us. “I really should listen to my dad when he tells me to lock my door.”

“Too late now,” he said and pointed at the phone in my hand with the large hunting knife he held. “Put it down,” he ordered.

I placed it on the island counter and gave a quick glance to my bedroom door. Martin had made it to the door before Mo could open it and had jammed the knob with a chair. Mo couldn’t get out.

He glared at the papers I clutched to my chest. “You found them. Hand them over.”

I tapped the papers. “These aren’t going to help you. Hughes will free Ian of you, and you’ll get nothing from him.”

He laughed. “Honey, I haven’t survived all these years in this business by being honest. That sweet little deal I signed with Ian years ago covers everything and that includes anything he makes off this venture here. I’m not about to lose my cash-cow.”