A Dude Ranch Mystery: A Killer’s Dream

By Ann W. Phillips

Lynn Thrower inherited her grandfather's estate and thriving landscaping business as a young woman. She is so focused on her work that she has never taken a vacation, so for her birthday, her colleagues pitch in and send her on a two-week stay to a dude ranch in Colorado.

This much-needed holiday brings the love of a good man into her life. And it could cost her life. She struggles to find who wants to kill her, and why.

Lynn finally gets the answers she is looking for, but will she live long enough to tell about it?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Jan 31, 2020
• ISBN: 9781645368342

Ann W. Phillips

"Having grown up with Ann, I feel like I know her best. I can attest to her integrity and sincerity. She was born on a plantation, and we lived on a few around the low country because our father was the caretaker of them. Ann has always loved cats, and I cannot remember her ever being without one. Ann married in 1963. They had two beautiful children and they had six grandchildren. Her husband passed away in 2014, so she now lives with her crazy cat Charlie in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. She loves her family and her Lord." * - George Worsham

Book preview

Twenty-Two

About the Author

Having grown up with Ann, I feel like I know her best. I can attest to her integrity and sincerity. She was born on a plantation, and we lived on a few around the low country because our father was the caretaker of them. Ann has always loved cats, and I cannot remember her ever being without one. Ann married in 1963. They had two beautiful children and they had six grandchildren. Her husband passed away in 2014, so she now lives with her crazy cat Charlie in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. She loves her family and her Lord.

- George Worsham

Dedication

To my family and friends who put up with me during my writing and for their love and support.

Copyright Information ©

Ann W. Phillips (2020)

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher.

Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

Ordering Information:

Quantity sales: special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the publisher at the address below.

Publisher’s Cataloging-in-Publication data

Phillips, Ann W.

A Dude Ranch Mystery: A Killer’s Dream

ISBN 9781643786162 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781643786179 (Hardback)

ISBN 9781645368342 (ePub e-book)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019916879

www.austinmacauley.com/us

First Published (2020)

Austin Macauley Publishers LLC

40 Wall Street, 28th Floor

New York, NY 10005

USA

[e-mail]

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Acknowledgment

To my special friends and family who helped with advice on certain aspects of the story. Thank you.

Chapter One

As Lynn sat thinking about tomorrow and her trip; she knew that when she came back, things would need to be changed. Her family thought of her as an old maid that was just too plain and dull to ever have a life of her own. So why not run the company that their grandfather had left to her? They never bothered to come in and share the workload. They only reached out for spending money every week. After all, they did have a life.

If it hadn’t been for her good friends and her loyal employees, she would not even have this trip to look forward to. For her birthday, they had all pitched in and paid for a two-week stay at a dude ranch in Colorado. She had always loved to ride horses and be out in the fresh outdoors. She figured that that was the reason her grandfather had left her his estate and his thriving landscaping business. He always put his love of the outdoors and his love of family, friends, and his Lord as his first priorities. He had been very disappointed in Jason, his son. Jason’s mother had run off with another man, taking Jason with her. It had turned out to be a very bad decision. The man deserted her and Jason when he found out she didn’t have control of all the Thrower’s millions. When she told him that she was expecting their child, he laughed and said, Well, that’s just too bad. I don’t intend to be stranded with a bunch of brats and a rundown hag. I’ve got places to go and things to see.

After finding out about the situation, Edward Thrower threw himself into a search to locate her and Jason. When he found Marjorie and Jason, she was living in a poor neighborhood, working as a waitress trying to support herself, Jason, and the twins that she had conceived while living with Edgar. She was very sick and only through the support of the wonderful family in the adjoining apartment was she able to manage. Edward took her and the children home, adopted the twins, and never brought up what had happened unless she needed to talk about it. Edward and Marjorie made their peace and lived a happy life until she died eight years after her return.

As Jason and the twins, Stacy and Tracy, grew up, Marjorie depended a lot on the nanny that Edward found to relieve her of some of the duties of raising children. Helen Perkins, the nanny, was very young and seemed to let things get out of hand quite often. She totally spoiled the twins and let Jason pretty much do as he pleased. Jason blamed his father for everything—his mother’s frailties, her constant doctor’s visits, and her depression. Jason resented his father for everything that went wrong in his life. Because his mother never explained why she left, he had taken the word of the man Marjorie had run off with about all his father’s faults. He never understood why his mom came back and why she acted like she loved this man he was supposed to call father. Well, he may be forced to stay here, but he didn’t have to listen to the old man. As soon as he could, he was going to pack up and leave this place.

At twenty-one, Jason left home, never to return. After he had been gone for ten years, Edward got a call from a woman claiming to be Jason’s mother-in-law. She claimed to have Jason’s daughter and asked Edward if he wanted her. Jason and Susan, his wife, had been killed in an automobile accident on the way home from a party. The lady claimed to be on a fixed income and could no longer care for the child. Without hesitation, Edward left to gather the child and bring her home.

Mrs. Snowden was very glad to see Edward when he arrived. She fixed them a meager lunch with what she had. Edward spent some time getting all the details of Jason’s married life. Mrs. Snowden very much regretted having to give up Lynn, but her health was not the best and her finances were just enough to buy the bare essentials after paying the utilities and buying her medicine. She had learned who Jason’s father was when she was going through his personal belongings.

Jason never talked much about his family, but he had a photograph of them that he kept in his bureau drawer. The names were on the back of the picture.

Mrs. Snowden, Edward asked, why don’t you sell this place and come with us to the plantation? We could always use your cooking skills. I think this is the best biscuit I have ever tasted. He continued, We have plenty of room and it would help the child to settle in, knowing she would have you to turn to if she got scared.

Well, I don’t know. Could I talk to you about that later on today? I don’t have much, but it is stuff that my mom and dad left to me. This house has been my home since Allen and I got married in August, 1936. He went in the army right after we got married. When he left for his second tour of duty, I was pregnant with our Susan. Allen never got to see his daughter. He died in Italy somewhere and was buried over there. He had come home because he had been wounded, but one month later he was called back. We lived a lifetime in the month he was home on medical leave. At least we had that month, Mrs. Snowden finished.

You take all the time you need, Edward said. If you would rather, I will wait in town until your friends bring Lynn back home. You won’t need to leave your belongings behind. We have a caretaker’s house that is vacant. You could stay there with Lynn if you wanted, he continued.

Lynn will be surprised enough about having a grandpa, but to be forced to just go with him and leave you behind might scar her for life. I know the problems my wife and I shared certainly scarred Jason, because we never took the time to fully explain what happened. We just moved forward without ever discussing the past and the mistakes we both had made. Marjorie had left him a letter explaining everything that happened when she found out she was dying, but I waited for things to settle on their own. I was hoping we could move forward without destroying the image he had of his mother. She begged me to give it to him as soon as she passed away, but I just couldn’t. Now it’s too late for us but maybe I can make amends by caring for his child.

I have told Lynn that her grandpa is coming, and that she will get to go visit him. At six years of age, she will adjust okay in time with your love and care, she said. Mr. Dupont from town used to live in your area. He knew you and your family by reputation and that’s why I finally gave you a call. He said that you were a man of excellent morals and a fair and honest man to boot. He knew about your strong faith in the Lord and your openness to help anyone that was willing to help themselves. I figured that there was a reason you and your son fell out, but I knew that as he matured, he often thought of you. Susan and he used to sit on the porch and talk, and she would encourage him to get in touch and let bygones be bygones, but his life ended before that happened.

Chapter Two

Lynn looked in the mirror and took a look at the girl looking back. She had mousey brown hair that was long and straight, blue eyes, and a slightly turned up nose. Her complexion was smooth and flawless, except for a few freckles here and there. She had a tan from always working outdoors. But she made sure to always use moisturizers to keep her skin healthy. She pulled out her makeup bag and started to get it packed. She didn’t wear much, just lipstick and a little eye makeup now and then. She went through her earrings and picked the ones she was going to take.

Grandma Emily had given her a pair of jade earrings that her husband, Allen, had brought her when he came home from his first tour of duty. They were made somewhere in Italy and they were gold teardrop design with the jade inlay. Grandma always said they were her backup for emergency needs. But she never had to sell them, thanks to Grandpa Edward. Enough of this procrastination! You need to finish packing, Lynn thought. She got everything packed and headed downstairs with her luggage. She decided she would go over to the office and make sure her and Laurie, her manager, had everything worked out for the two weeks she would be gone. Laurie was a petite but athletic forty-five-year-old. She had dark brown hair that she usually wore in a ponytail. Laurie was very outgoing and got along with everyone that she met. She was a widow. Her husband died in Desert Storm Conflict about a year after their marriage.

Laurie and Rick, her crew foreman, were already at the office, finishing up with the evening close-up of the day’s jobs. They would have to stay on top of all the jobs already taken, plus take care of the incoming calls. Lynn had tried to make these two weeks light, but you always had your regulars to attend to. They had hired a part-time worker last week and he seemed to be working out real well.

Henry was a retired marine that just needed a little boost to his income. He was a hard worker and fit in with their regular crews.

Well, I guess you are ready to go and join the ranch dudes and have a vacation, Rick said.

It will seem strange to be able to sit and relax by a pool and let someone else do all the work around the place, she said. It will be good not to have to do paperwork for a whole two weeks, she added. Rick came over and gave her a friendly hug before he walked out the door. Rick was thirty-two, married with two children. He was a hard worker and knew his trade well.

Laurie, could I speak to you about something? Lynn asked. Even though nothing seems to be missing, I still worry about the two break-ins we had last week. I told the twins that you were not authorized to take money out of the private account, so they should not be a bother to you. I know they won’t show up to volunteer to do any work, but they can be a handful at times.

Would you go and quit worrying about everything? Laurie said. Since you let Henry start living in one of the old slave quarters, we haven’t had any more trouble with break-ins. He is a hunk and a great worker and he really takes pride in the place and his job. At fifty, he is pretty nifty, Laurie joked.

You’re right, but you have to remember that this is my first big trip since I took over the business. I don’t know how to go have fun away from here, Lynn said. I love this place and the work, and you all are like family to me. I just worry, but I know that it will be in capable hands and that God will keep you all wrapped in His love while I am away.

Lynn picked up the phone and called Henry and let him know that she was ready for him to take her to the airport. Henry kept to himself and didn’t talk too much unless it was about work. He sometimes relaxed and joked around with the crew. They all respected him and counted him as a part of their work family. She asked him if he would like to stay in one of the old slave houses a few weeks ago