“Trixie, please call them. I do believe I feel a nap sneaking up.” A yawn confirmed Nana’s exhaustion.

I pulled back the covers. “Dee Dee and I have a few errands we need to run. You can use my bed for your nap. I’ll stop at the desk and ask for a roll-away.”

“What errands?” Dee Dee shrugged and wore a blank look.

“You know, Dee Dee, the errands we discussed this morning.” I raised a brow.

“Oh, yeah. I remember.” She spoke loud enough to wake the dead. “Nana, can we do anything for you before we go?”

“No dear. You two go ahead. When you get back we can get some supper. Beau and I had burgers and fries in the car.”

Nana unzipped her overnight bag. I was amazed at how conveniently sharp Nana’s mind could be.

“Dee Dee, grab my jacket please. It’s much cooler out.” We donned our jackets and I retrieved my cane where it leaned against the wall. This trip had convinced me it would not be much longer before surgery was necessary. I picked up my camera and we shut the door, leaving Nana to her unpacking.

“What errands were you talking about, Trix?”

“I want to see if we can locate Sueleigh Dalton. Teresa said her family run one of the booths on the square.”

“She was John Tatum’s girlfriend, right?” Dee Dee asked.

“Yes. And she had a baby by him and then he denied being the father.” I looked at Dee Dee. “I believe that could be a recipe for murder.”

Chapter Sixteen

She laughed at my pun, but stopped short when she realized I was serious. “You’re right, Trixie. Murders have been committed for a lot less. Why, the sheriff thinks I killed Tatum over a silly argument. It doesn’t make sense to me. Just because I stood over Tatum holding the murder weapon….” A sheepish look claimed her face. “Oh, yeah. Holding the murder weapon doesn’t bode well for me, does it?” Her countenance fell.

It hurt to witness my friend in so much pain. With Dee Dee’s freedom on the line, I was determined to support her. She had supported me during my divorce and I wanted to be there for her.

“Come on,” I pulled her towards a booth surrounded by tourists. We waited in line for a funnel cake, a tasty treat made of deep-fried dough, covered with powdered sugar. I often thought just inhaling the aroma could add pounds to my figure—so I planned to order one for Dee Dee as well as one for me. If I were going to gain weight, I refused to gain alone.

I squeezed up to the counter before Dee Dee.

“Hey lady, can I help you?” The man behind the counter wiped his hands on his greasy apron.

What the heck. It was for a good cause. “Yes, we’ll take two funnel cakes please, and lots of powdered sugar.” He handed one to me and yelled for another one. “Can you tell me where I can find the Dalton’s booth?”

“Sure. They run the Backyard Bar-b-que. It’s across the street and down a ways to the left. That’ll be six fifty.” He accepted my change and barked, “Next!”

I had been dismissed. I moved over to let a less than petite woman elbow her way to the counter.

I handed Dee Dee her funnel cake and she unwound a long curl of the doughy treat. “This’ll be good for a quick energy boost.” She looked cute with white powder all around her mouth. “Where are we going?”

My mouth full, I pointed across the street. We headed in that direction, holding the flimsy plates steady as we savored our treats.

The Dalton’s booth was easy to find. Another long line flowed into the street. Eating must be the main event at Gold Rush Days.

“Looks like we might have to buy a sandwich, too.” I brushed my sticky mouth and threw the trash in a plastic-lined bin.

“Yes, it does.” Dee Dee added, tossing her plate in, as well.

As we approached the booth, I saw several people working inside. Two men and two women danced around each other as they filled orders. I wondered which one was Sueleigh.

“Next!”

“I’ll take two sandwiches and two Cokes, please.” As the man handed me our food, I asked which lady was Sueleigh.

“Neither one. Sueleigh is my daughter. Why ya’ asking?” His words were clipped and his tone unfriendly.

That would never do. I set on my reporter’s grin, and introduced myself. “I write for a historical magazine, and I want to interview her. Teresa Duncan, over at the Gold Museum, recommended I talk with Sueleigh about Gold Rush Days.” All right, we all stretch the truth at times. I prayed the end justified the means.

“Teresa. Why didn’t ya’ say so?” A smile softened his gruff exterior. “Sueleigh is driving the horse carriage for me today. You can catch her over there.” He pointed to the square. I glanced at my shoe. Unfortunately, I was familiar with the horse carriage.

“Thanks, thanks a lot.” I don’t think he heard me. He’d moved on to the next hungry customer. I turned around and bumped into Dee Dee.

“I heard. I guess we’re on our way to the carriage ride?” She grabbed a Coke and took a long drink.

“Let’s find somewhere to sit.” We sat in silence, on a bench facing the square. It was the perfect setting for people watching.

I’m a firm believer that if your self-confidence is in danger of waning, you should go to the mall and people watch. God made humans in all different sizes, shapes, colors, and personalities. The bottom line is, we’re all pretty much made from the same pattern.

“People watching again?” Dee Dee asked, slurping her drink.

“Isn’t it odd how the Lord made people in all shapes and sizes?”

We watched a family of four, one kid in braces, the second with a gap-toothed smile that showed he’d be next.

“Ever notice how the beautiful people on television are never at the farmer’s markets?”

“Or the mall.” Dee Dee nodded. “And their beauty has been enhanced, at that!”

I agreed, having participated in this activity many times after my divorce. My self-esteem was then at an all time low. It had taken me a great deal of contemplation to realize he hadn’t strayed because of my looks or my self-esteem. He had strayed because of his own lack of self-esteem, disguised as an overblown ego. He still didn’t understand, and I wasn’t making any bets he ever would. That was okay. I’d discovered that I needed to spend my limited energy on me and let God take care of Wade.

As I sat thinking, the clippity-clop of a horse pulling a carriage sounded behind us. We turned to see a stunning redhead high on the driver’s seat. She wasn’t alone. A man, who looked vaguely familiar, sat next to her.

I poked Dee Dee in the ribs.

“Ouch.” She rubbed her side. “What did you do that for?”

“Look over there. See the man sitting next to the redhead?”

“Sure. What’s so important about him you had to crack my rib?”

“That looks like Leroy, Joyce’s nephew. What do you think he’s doing talking with Sueleigh Dalton? That guy gives me the creeps. I thought I was going to wet my pants when he snuck up on me last night.” I wadded up my sandwich wrapper and threw it in a nearby garbage can.

“Don’t exaggerate, Trix. You said he was making his nightly rounds. It’s no wonder you were edgy last night after the horrible day we’d been through.”

I knew she was trying her best to convince me that I was wrong, but it wasn’t working. “Dee Dee, there’s something in my gut. I just can’t put my finger on it. To see him talking with Sueleigh adds fuel to the fire. Some coincidence if you ask me. Come on; let’s buy a ticket for the carriage ride. I’m going to find out one way or the other what he’s up to.”

Chapter Seventeen

When the carriage turned the corner, we were next in line. I glanced over at Dee Dee. “Close your mouth before a fly takes up residence in there.”