Chapter 34
Thirty-Four
B ucky called Jane to inform her he was running late but would definitely make it to the farm late afternoon. Despite her claim that she could handle feeding the animals, he insisted. She couldn’t help but admire his strong work ethic.
Ethan invited Jane to his place around six o’clock. Leah was making her famous butternut squash lasagna with homemade sausage. Tanner was making a salad. And she promised to make … something.
Jane frantically searched the fridge and cupboards, hoping to find something to bring. She didn’t feel like making a trek into town.
Luckily, she had two artisan cheeses wrapped in the fridge: a cheddar and a fresh goat cheese that she had recently purchased and hadn’t touched. The cupboard contained grissini, fig jam and olives that she could include. She knew Leah was bringing bread that they could slice up.
Oh, there was a box of Ritz Crackers. Jane pulled that out, along with a package of ranch dip. She had butter and Parmesan in the fridge, which was all she needed to make zesty Ritz Crackers. It was an easy recipe she wanted to try, and now was the perfect time.
And she could also bring a loaf of cranberry orange sweet bread that she had in the freezer and… That was enough. Ethan said he was handling dessert.
She took a shower and looked in her closet. This was supposed to be a casual dinner. Jane pulled out a pair of skinny jeans, a mock turtleneck, a long-sleeved sweater, and a pair of brown lace-up ankle boots. After dressing and admiring her casual self in the mirror, she pulled her hair into a ponytail and nodded to herself. Sexy but modest.
She walked downstairs. Her heart raced in anticipation of seeing Ethan again. She was also nervous. Jane didn’t know where this budding relationship with Ethan was going. But getting to know Tanner better also would be nice. She and Leah met regularly, and she thoroughly enjoyed their friendship.
The crackers were cool and ready to be placed on a tray. She arranged the cheese and grissini on another small tray and filled small wooden bowls with the jam and olives. Jane found a couple of small artificial pumpkins and voilà. It didn’t look too shabby.
After searching for a small box to place everything in, she was ready. Walking out to her car, she noticed the lights were on in the barn. Good. Bucky was there.
The sky was a deep indigo dotted with several twinkling stars. She took a deep breath as the crisp evening air filled her lungs, carrying the distant aroma of wood smoke. The drive to Ethan’s house took less than a minute.
She pulled into the driveway and parked beside Leah’s car. Jane could hear bursts of laughter coming from inside.
It promised to be a fun evening. She knocked on the door, and Ethan answered, staring at her for a moment. “You look beautiful tonight.”
“Thank you.” Could he see her blush? Jane hoped not.
“Come on in.” He reached for the box. “I’m glad you were available on such short notice.”
Jane stepped into the living room. The space was large and comfortable, with a spacious leather sectional in front of a roaring fire and a large TV mounted above the mantle. Two leather chairs flanked a square wooden coffee table that was already laden with drinks.
Numerous family pictures hung on the wall. She’d look at them later. Another wall showcased several sizes of deer antlers, reminding Jane that Vermont was not Boston. She’d heard that her property was a prime hunting ground. Some of the surrounding farmers had her permission to continue to hunt there. She wondered if the McQueeneys ever hunted on it. They probably did.
“This is a very comfortable room,” she said.
Ethan chuckled. “It is.” He looked around. “Tanner and I made a few changes, like the sofa and TV, but that’s about it.
“Jane!” Leah walked into the living room, drying her hands on a towel. “Welcome. We’re so glad you could make it.” She leaned in for a warm hug.
Ethan handed the box to Leah. “Where do you want this?”
Leah peaked inside the box. “Yum. Bring it into the kitchen and we’ll unbox these goodies.”
Jane followed them into the kitchen, where Tanner was pulling plates from a cabinet.
The tantalizing aroma of the lasagna filled the air and made her mouth water.
She glanced around the spacious area and noticed the long rectangular wooden table that could comfortably seat ten people in a corner, and Jane envisioned Ethan’s large family sitting there sharing meals and stories.
“This looks wonderful, Jane,” said Leah as she playfully swatted Ethan’s hand as he tried to sneak a couple of Ritz Crackers.
“Ouch!” he cried, feigning injury.
Leah laughed. “You big baby.”
Jane snorted at the exchange. It was refreshing to see the big, bad, grumpy sheriff in a different situation, making him appear more human. It also made her miss her own family, recalling all the good times when they got together. She was glad they were coming for Thanksgiving.
“Jane, what’s your poison?” asked Tanner. “We have wine, beer, or I could make you a Bloody Mary or something else.”
“Hmm. White wine would be perfect.”
Tanner poured Jane a glass, handing it to her with a wink. Ethan grabbed two beers from the fridge, and Leah carried the hors d’oeuvres back to the living room. She set them down on the table and settled next to Tanner.
“So, Jane, I hear your greenhouse is up and running,” said Tanner.
“Yes. I’m excited for springtime.”
“Just a word of advice.” Tanner leaned in. “Wherever you decide to make a garden, enclose it with a fence. Otherwise, you’ll be feeding all the wildlife around here.”
Jane hadn’t thought of that, but Tanner was right. One more item for Bucky’s list—and her budget.
They talked about mundane things, allowing Jane to relax and ease into the conversation. Leah was very comfortable with the two men, and it didn’t take Jane long to notice Tanner was in love with her. Ethan kept glancing at Jane, his smiles soft and lingering.
After a while, Leah got up to check on the lasagna. Jane offered to help, but Leah told her it was a one-person job.
“Ethan, any new developments on the Thornton case?” asked Tanner.
Ethan shook his head in frustration. “We’re kind of at a standstill. We know he was stealing money but not from whom. Adam and I found a set of small keys when we searched Thornton’s house. One set opened a box of pictures, and I’m betting the others belong to a ledger or diary, which we couldn’t find.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “It’s a frustrating case.”
Jane asked, “What did Maggie say when you spoke to her?” Ethan had only informed her that none of his suspects seemed capable of murdering Thornton.
Leah walked in at that moment. “Maggie? I heard she’s dating someone new in town. Do you know who?” she asked Ethan.
Ethan was surprised. “I hadn’t heard that,” he replied. “Although she was looking better than I remember.”
“Was she upset about her father dying?” asked Tanner. “I know they had a contentious relationship.”
Ethan frowned. “She was sad about his dying, but I also got the sense she was very angry at him.”
“Any more on the gang that’s buying up property?” Tanner leaned back on the sofa, crossing his arms. “Has Sean uncovered activity around here?”
Gang? Buying property? This was the first time she’d heard about that. Was it a rumor or fact? Come to think of it, Victor was buying property. Was he part of a gang?
Nah. She couldn’t believe that.
Ethan sighed. “Thornton was involved in some shady dealings, but we don’t know who he was in business with.”
The conversation drifted to speculation. Jane wondered about the diary or ledger and what it would contain. Secrets. Wasn’t Victor obsessed with what secrets the farm had? But she had a nagging suspicion that Victor knew more than he was telling. What could it be?