The Whispering Widow's Wedding

By April Drake

Quinn Kelley and Eli Bloom are now married! Their wedding went off without a hitch. However, an expected complication puts a damper on their wedding reception. When Quinn heads back to the dressing area to change out of her wedding dress, she finds her mailman's dead body.

Devon McHugh was Quinn and Eli's new mailman, but why was he even at their wedding? Neither Quinn nor Eli had invited him, yet there he lay, stabbed to death in a pile of flower clippings with a large pair of scissors sticking out of his chest, and unfortunately, everyone knew the scissors belonged to Quinn's new mother-in-law, Esther Bloom.

Esther owns the local flower shop in town, and she and her assistant, Tonya Romayor, were making last-minute adjustments to the flower arrangements just prior to the wedding. Who could have guessed that just a few hours later, a dead man would be found in the remnants of the flowers with Esther's scissors buried in his chest?

Quinn doesn't want to get wrapped up in another murder investigation but quickly realizes she cannot sit still and let her brother, Sheriff Drew Darby, do all the investigating on his own-especially when it looks like Quinn's new in-laws are the only suspects.

As Quinn digs into McHugh's life, she has many questions to answer. Who was Devon McHugh? Why would someone want to kill him? What was he really doing in Sutter?

With the help of Quinn's friends, Bess Cartwright and Shayne Chapin, Quinn begins to figure out the mysterious Devon McHugh, one shocking puzzle piece at a time. The more she digs up about McHugh, the more she realizes what all the new mailman had to hide.

Unfortunately, though, the closer she gets to who the killer might be, the more her life is in danger. Now, all she has to do is put all the pieces of the puzzle together before the killer manages to make Quinn the next victim!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9781638440352

Book preview

Chapter One

Ithought finding that my sweet friend had dropped dead in the middle of class on an ordinary afternoon was the most shocking incident that I could ever encounter. But I’m fairly certain that finding my mailman’s dead body in the middle of my wedding reception took the cake.

I stood in the door of my changing room, too dumbfounded to scream, until I heard my brother call my name from off down the hall. His voice finally jolted me from my stupor.

Drew! I shouted with some alarm. Get over here!

He skidded to a stop after running down the hall to me.

What is it?

Apparently, he heard the alarm in my voice because I could see some alarm in his face.

I pointed into the room where my mailman, Devon McHugh, lay among the remains of the flowers that Eli’s mom had been working on at the last minute before the wedding. A large pair of well-used metal scissors was sticking out of his chest although patches of blood were visible all over his body.

Drew looked around the corner into the room where I was pointing and immediately fell into sheriff mode after only the briefest moment of surprise crossed his face. He nudged me aside so that I was no longer staring in shock at the dead body and then called out to Alvarez, one of his deputies, who happened to be down the hall around the corner I couldn’t see. I collapsed into a nearby chair outside the changing room.

Alvarez popped up a second later, looking very different from her usual deputy’s uniform in her formfitting blue dress that accentuated her nice figure, complete with heels.

I would never have been able to run in those heels, I thought absently.

She and Drew stepped into the room for a few moments. When they stepped back out again, Drew pulled the door shut behind him, and Alvarez stationed herself in front of the closed door.

Even in heels and a tight dress, she still looked like she could kick some tail. She was definitely the most experienced of Drew’s deputies and, in my opinion, the most competent. Pitt was still new, and he was very young, and Rasher was just a few years older than Pitt, with only about three years on the job. The best person to keep the curious out of that room was definitely Alvarez.

Drew squeezed my shoulder. I’m sorry, Sis. I have to make a few calls. Alvarez will be right here with you until I get back with Pitt and Rasher. I’ll send Eli in here.

I nodded, dazed. This was my wedding day. It was supposed to be wonderful and beautiful, and now a freshly dead body lay a few feet away from me on the other side of the changing room door.

How in the world could I run into two dead bodies in a span of four short months? More importantly, how could I find two murder victims in such a short amount of time? When had the small, quiet town of Sutter, Texas, become such a danger magnet?

Chapter Two

Instead of the grand celebration I had envisioned for our wedding reception, the rest of the evening unfolded in a manner that much reminded me of the afternoon Leigh Taylor had been murdered at school. Drew forbade anyone from leaving the reception hall, and he called in his buddy, another sheriff, from the next county over who brought in more deputies.

The reception hall was packed even though some had already left prior to the time I found McHugh’s body. The extra man power filed in about twenty minutes after Drew’s call and began taking statements, while Drew and Alvarez coordinated with the county coroner out of our sight, back where McHugh’s body still lay in my changing room.

At some point, Drew brought me my bag, and I went to change in another room. Bess followed to help me with my dress while Eli trouped off to the groom’s room to change into his street clothes.

Little by little, people were let go. Darby was still sitting in my lap in her silver flower girl’s dress when my mom and dad came to get her. Mom said she’d given Drew the guest book and was going home to get the entire mailing list for the wedding invitations so that Drew could go through it whenever he eventually got back to his office.

I couldn’t believe my guest list had turned into a suspect list.

I gave Mom and Dad a hug and kissed Darby and Carter on the cheek. The kids were already going to be alternating the time that Eli and I would be gone on our honeymoon between my parents and Bess, so they went ahead and left with my parents. Not long after my parents left with my kids, Drew finally came and told us that we could go too.

Are you sure? Eli asked.

Drew smiled. Don’t worry. I know where you live.

I couldn’t help but grin and smack my brother in the arm. Then I wrapped him in a fierce hug.

Love ya, Bub, I told him.

Love ya, too, Sis, he said. Then he let me go and shook Eli’s hand. I know you’ve been hooked to us forever already, but welcome to the family, officially.

Thanks, Eli said with a smile.

Sorry it’s starting out on this rough note, but we’ll get this figured out, Drew assured us. Y’all get on your way. I’ll talk to y’all next week when y’all get back.

Okay, see you then, I agreed.

Eli and I headed off to his waiting truck. It was decked out for a send-off, but there wasn’t going to be the usual send-off or any send-off at all for that matter. People had been trickling out as they were questioned and released, while others were still sitting inside waiting to be released.

I tried not to be too upset about how the day turned out. It had been absolutely glorious until I happened upon McHugh’s dead body. The church was wonderfully decorated, and everyone looked beautiful. They were all happy, enjoying the food and the music at the reception.

No matter how the evening had ended, I was now married to my best friend. It was time to be wrapped up in my husband. When we got back from our honeymoon, it would be time for Eli and me to start the rest of our lives with Carter and Darby.

I was ready for that. I was ready for us. I was not ready to worry over another dead body. And I had no intention of getting wrapped up in another murder investigation.

Chapter Three

Isat on the porch with my coffee the morning after we got back from our honeymoon. Eli was busy in the kitchen making us breakfast. The kids wouldn’t be back until suppertime, so we were going to enjoy a little more alone time before we got back to reality.

I was awfully ready to see my kiddos, but I wasn’t looking forward to the laundry we’d brought back. Thankfully, Bess had deep cleaned my house while we’d been gone as a welcome home gift, so I didn’t have to worry about that when we returned. For the moment, I wasn’t about to think about the laundry either, so I turned back to my coffee and leaned back further into the cushions on my porch swing. My porch swing was always my favorite spot. As much as I loved Eli, and as happy as I was to be able to revel in my time with him now that we were married, I was glad to be home.

Before we got married, Eli and I had decided to live in my house. It was the only home my kids had ever known, and I didn’t want to take that away from them. Besides, it just made sense for Eli to move his things over with us. It was easier to move one person than it was to move three.

It was also important to me to stay in my home because it had been John’s home, too, and Eli knew that. Eli was every bit as understanding and caring as John had been. Just as John would have done anything for us, so would Eli.

I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of them both. I was truly blessed to love both of them and to be loved by them.

My gaze was drawn across the yard to the street sign at the corner of my yard as I sat thinking. The sight of the sign brought Leigh Taylor to mind. When Drew was investigating her murder, he found a note where Leigh referred to me as the whispering widow. Thinking of Leigh made me wonder about Devon McHugh.

I couldn’t believe someone else had been murdered in our small town. I couldn’t believe I’d found both of them.

However, I did wonder why McHugh had been killed. I also wondered what in the heck he’d been doing at my wedding because I hadn’t invited him—we barely knew him. But I knew if I wondered too much, and stuck my nose in, my brother would probably blow a gasket.

Not that I was really trying to get involved with another murder investigation. I was just naturally curious, and he had been killed in my changing room at my wedding.

Drew tolerated my involvement with Leigh’s murder investigation because of the clues she left me in the poetry game we had played. I doubted he’d be too pleased this time if I started asking questions.

But I still couldn’t help thinking about McHugh. From the look of him, he’d been stabbed several times. Whoever it was that killed him must have been pretty angry to stab him so many times.

The door opened suddenly, pulling me from my thoughts. I set my coffee down and jumped up to help Eli with the plates of breakfast. He planted a kiss on my lips as he passed a plate to me. I smiled and kissed him back.

Food and love, I said, setting the plate down and sliding onto Eli’s lap as he sat down at the patio table.

He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close. My heart swelled at the idea of loving him for the rest of my life. A few moments later we were so lost in each other, we were startled by a voice from the bottom of the porch steps.

I know you’re newlyweds, but you’re on the front porch! Drew teased.

Eli and I had to stifle our giggles as we pulled ourselves together and stood up from the chair to greet my brother.

We’re fully clothed, I pointed out as I cleared the space of the porch to hug him as he reached the top step.

He laughed, hugging me back and planting a peck on top of my head.

You know I’m just teasing you, Drew assured us. And I hate to disturb you. I know you just got home last night, but we need to talk.

A sudden dread washed over me at his words. One glance at Eli and I could tell he felt it too. Instinctively, I stepped back over to him and grabbed his hand. Drew pulled a chair out and gestured for all of us to sit down.

What’s wrong? Eli asked.

I was thinking it but couldn’t get it out because it felt as if my heart was in my throat. The look on my brother’s face seemed to be drilling worry directly into my thoughts even though I hadn’t yet heard what he’d come to say.

I didn’t want to worry you while you were away, Drew began, but I also didn’t want you to hear any of this from anyone but me, so that’s why I’m here so early.

Sudden panic flashed through me.

Are the kids okay? I asked, my throat so dry it seems as if I were pushing the words out by sheer force of will. Is anyone hurt?

No, no, he assured me, reaching over and squeezing my shoulder. Carter and Darby are fine. No one is hurt. If it had been something like that, we would have called y’all immediately, honeymoon or not.

Relief washed over me just as suddenly as the dread had engulfed me a few moments ago.

Then what? Eli questioned, still tense.

Drew started to speak but stopped. Whatever he was going to say must be bad or shocking or both because he certainly was hesitant to say it.

We’ve been busy investigating McHugh’s murder, Drew explained.

That was expected news. Of course, they’d be trying to find the killer. I was sure that everyone at the sheriff’s office was trying to find the culprit. But there was something he was holding back.

At first, I had nothing to go on besides the murder weapon, Drew continued on.

I felt Eli stiffen next to me. We both plainly saw it on our wedding day. Only a fool could have missed the connection that was staring us in the face.

Eli’s mother’s scissors had been sticking out of Devon McHugh’s chest.

Drew sighed heavily.

I’m sorry, Eli, Drew said, sitting straighter and looking Eli in the eye. But I arrested your mother for Devon McHugh’s murder.

Chapter Four

For a moment, I thought my heart dropped to my stomach.

Eli shot up out of his chair.

You arrested my mother? he cried out, his face beet red.

Eli, I said calmly, reaching for his hand.

How could you? Eli exclaimed, near shouting.

Eli, I said again, trying to draw his attention so that I could try to calm him. But he didn’t see anything except my brother and the terrible news he was delivering.

I had no choice, Drew explained. Her scissors were sticking out of his chest.

But you can’t possibly— Eli began, heatedly, but Drew stood up too and cut him off.

No, Drew said, speaking more firmly. I do not think your mother killed him. However, I am obligated to do my job and uphold the law.

Eli looked a hair less angry after hearing Drew’s words, but it was obvious he was still steaming.

Please sit back down, I pleaded softly, pulling on both their wrists.

They hesitated a moment but sat back down.

Is she still there? Eli asked. No matter where we were, I can’t believe one of my brothers didn’t call me.

I looked back to Drew and a strange look crossed his face. Eli didn’t notice in his frustration over Drew’s news about his mother, but I saw it. I started to open my mouth, but Drew answered Eli’s question.

No, she’s not there now. She went home, Drew assured him. He had a moment of hesitation again, like he didn’t want to say what else he had to say, and Eli picked up on it this time.

Drew? Eli prodded.

Drew sighed heavily for the second time in the past few minutes. Frankly, that worried me.

Drew rarely showed emotion when delivering news or in tough situations. I know all sad and tragic news affected him. However, his years of experience had trained him to have a poker face. As soon as he turned eighteen, he was off to the Marines. Four years later, he