Caught in the Frame (Ponderosa Pines Cozy Mystery Series Book 3) by ReGina Welling (novel24 .TXT) 📕

“If you hurt her, I’ll kill you.” There was no threat in the words, only a promise.

“Look at you, Ernie Burnie,” Remy sneered. Dalton let the insult pass. He wasn’t interested in reverting to childish name calling. “She’ll choose me. Just like she did the first time. I won then; I’ll do it again.”

“If you hurt her, I’ll take you apart in little pieces, and hide them where no one will ever think to look.” Dalton repeated.

“You don’t scare me, Burnsoll. One word from me, and you’ll go sniveling off in a corner like you always did.” Remy’s dismissal pushed Dalton’s buttons.

“Time passes. Things change. I’m all grown up now, Remy. Too bad I can’t say the same for you. EV’s mine now. You had your chance with her, and you blew it.”

“Maybe you should tell her that, so she’ll stop sniffing around. I don’t think you can hold her.”

The image of Remy’s head rocking back as Dalton pumped fists into his face rose up in Dalton like a siren’s song. Several deep breaths passed before he felt fully controlled enough to get up and walk away. His parting shot, “Remember what I said.”

If he’d thought the confrontation would release the angry pressure he felt whenever that scumbag was in the room, Dalton had been wrong. The argument had made it ten times worse.

Chapter 13

The jingling of her phone for about the fifth time in as many hours elicited an internal groan from Chloe. She was sure it was Talia again, with another photo update on how Sugar and Spice were doing while she was away. For crying out loud, I love them, but they’re cats. Sure enough, her inbox showed another new message featuring a picture of Sugar and Spice curled up together on a fluffy sage green ottoman Chloe recognized as part of Talia’s living room furniture.

Not bothering with even a perfunctory response, Chloe instead opened the group message including Veronica and Mindy. Four unanswered texts all wanted the same info; those two had one-track minds—well, maybe two-track. First, the intimate details of what they imagined was a romantic getaway for her and Nate; second, to ensure that Chloe wasn’t screwing up the relationship in their absence. Chloe suspected a significant part of the second was related to concern that she’d be leaving them without another full couple for future game nights if the relationship went south.

I’m in bridal hell, and my mother is wielding the pitchfork. Not a lot of time for extracurriculars, but we’re making the best of it. Girls’ night when I get back; the entire story is going to require many mojitos and about three pounds of fudge. Miss you!

She knew they’d be clamoring for more, and as she silenced her phone Chloe’s mind began to wander back to Ponderosa Pines. This trip, supposed to be fun and relaxing, had turned into anything but. Right now, she would rather be curled up in her own bed next to Nate—all thoughts of Remy, Javier, and high crime expunged from her memory.

To top it all off, her editor, Wesley, had insisted she write at least one current edition of ‘Babble & Spin’, in case anyone noticed a correlation between the timing of her absence and the lack of an original column. She and Wesley had concocted a plan—initially Chloe’s idea—of releasing several “throwback” editions of the paper during the rest of her vacation. Each would feature news from the past, in what Wesley had coined a Retro-Spective. The chosen articles would reflect a theme; any new pieces highlighting the changes that had taken place between the past and the present.

It was a good plan—one people would enjoy—but one that required her to get creative. Luckily, EV’s cell was burning up with a slew of text messages detailing all of the goings-on back home, and though the residents of Ponderosa Pines fancied themselves above most of the high-tech nonsense, they were all just as hooked on social media as the rest of the country.

Although Chloe typically followed up on leads gleaned from sites like Facebook and Instagram in person, she figured one column of recycled information wouldn’t hurt anyone. Everyone else was occupied with their own tasks at the moment, and since Nate still didn’t know about her secret job title, it was as good a time as any to get it out of the way—one less thing she’d have to worry about.

After scouring the web for useful information, Chloe combined her findings with the texts EV had deemed useful to pen a short but informative column.

Hey Piniacs, are you ready to dish? Looks like we’re rudderless without our fearless leader. Miss Grapevine herself is off living it up in style at an Irish castle. Hope she and her sidekick are having a great time. We’re all on the edge of our seats wondering about Lila LaRue’s new fiancé. Hope they’re taking lots of pics for us homebodies!

Meanwhile, back on the ranch, Lottalia are making folks uncomfortable everywhere they go—can’t sisters just get along? It’s old news that Lofty Lottie has always lorded over little ‘sis; guess she’s having trouble now that Teeny Tallie’s grown a monster-sized pair. Maybe what’s private should remain behind closed doors, huh ladies?

Chloe pushed aside the modicum of guilt she felt at calling out two people she actually considered friends, especially one who was doing her a big favor at that very moment. Still, their antics were getting out of control, and she was just carrying on the decades-old tradition of unrelenting snark Wesley expected of her. Besides, maybe a little public humiliation would encourage Lottie to back off her newly-widowed sister.

By the time the task was complete, Chloe felt a weight lift from her shoulders; partially because she could now focus on what was in front of her, but mostly because she had made the decision to come clean with