Part 27 (2/2)
Mills opened his and smiled. ”Never, Ever Question the Sheriff's Judgment,” he read aloud and held the frame aloft. ”I'm going to hang that up at work.”
Alma opened the package for her and Raymond: ”Johnson-Deville Hunting Camp: We Have the Deer, You Bring the Beer.” When the laughter subsided, she opened the second, which read b.i.t.c.h in Kitchen. ”Ain't that the truth! Stella, sweetie, did you make these?”
”Yes, I designed them too. Why?”
”Because I love them. They're adorable and sa.s.sy-just like me. And so clever. You know, I never did get to ask, but what did you do back in New York?”
”It's cla.s.sified,” Mills and Nick said in unison.
”Oh,” Alma said with a confused look on her face. ”Well, if you're not too busy fighting crime, I'd love to sell these in the shop. My customers will flip over them.”
”Sure,” Stella shrugged. ”Seeing as cla.s.sified jobs are somewhat scarce at the moment, I'd love to.”
”Wonderful. We can discuss it more at the shop next time you're in. But for now, I'm heading home.”
”So soon?”
”Yep. Need an early start tomorrah. Jelly doughnuts don't make themselves.” Alma looked at Mills. ”Speaking of jelly doughnuts, would you care to escort a lady to her car, Sheriff?”
Mills looked up from his cross-st.i.tch piece in astonishment. ”I-I'd love to, Miss Deville.”
Nick and Stella watched from the doorway of their new home as Alma and Mills, in their pickups, drove down the pothole-laden driveway. When they were nearly out of view, Stella closed the door with a sigh and said, ”Thank goodness life is back to normal.”
”Yup.”
”The weather is cool again.”
”Yup.”
”We're in our new home.”
”Yup.”
”The Brunelles are behind bars.”
”Yup.”
”And we can finally relax.”
”Yup.”
Stella put her arms around his shoulders. ”What's with the Vermont accent?”
”Oh, just trying to blend,” Nick explained and slid his hand around Stella's waist. ”Especially since we have to go back to the hunting camp tonight.”
Stella's arms dropped to her sides. ”The hunting camp? Why?”
”Because our new bed won't be here until tomorrow.”
”So?”
He pointed to the air mattress that had been used by Allen Weston and Betsy Brunelle. ”So, guess what we forgot to replace.”
Stella looked at the spot indicated. ”Eww.”
”Yup.”
”Well, let's go get the mattress,” she sighed. ”But this time, can we deflate it before we move it?”
Nick smiled and opened the front door. ”Yup.”
end.
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