Antique Discovery: An Alicia Trent Mystery, #3

By Eileen Harris

A vacation becomes complicated by murder, discovery, and friendship.  Danger lurks in too many directions.  Alicia and her friends will have to stay alive and sort through the clues carefully if they want to save an innocent friend and prevent the destruction of an historic treasure.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wings ePress, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 27, 2023
• ISBN: 9781613091227

Book preview

Dedication

My thanks to Timothy K. Watkins and the Kingman Bureau of Land Management for their help understanding the rules, regulations, and difficulties regarding the protection of our cultural history. As always I also need to thank everyone that donated their time and energy to improve this book.

One

V acation! What a marvelous idea!

My business partner, Barry Evans, looked up from his research on the antique French ormolu tole candelabra we'd just purchased and continued. Ali hasn't had a real vacation since we opened this place. When would the two of you go, Nick?

I thought we'd leave on the first and be gone for two weeks. We'd only have two days to pack and take care of any last minute details, but my office in New York is in good shape at the moment, and I know you and Lawrence can easily handle Eclectic Treasures.

Barry said, The date couldn't be any more perfect. Lawrence planned on being at Eclectic Treasures next week anyway, and I'm sure he can stay for the full two weeks. I'll call him right away and make the arrangements.

Uh, gee, guys, did you forget I'm sitting right here? It might be a good idea to consult me before deciding what I'm going to do.

Looking completely pleased with themselves, they both mumbled, Sorry, Ali.

Nick said, Maybe we did get a little carried away there, but we know how you are. You need this vacation, and I assure you, so do I! For once let's take a little time for ourselves.

Actually, I think a vacation is a great idea, and time for ourselves is an even better one. If Lawrence can be here for the two weeks, I'll start packing. If we leave on the first, we'd be back the weekend of September fifteenth. Those two weeks should be perfect at the Desert Experience. This time of year, your dude ranch and the whole area around Tucson will be cooling off. The weather should be beautiful. I suppose we'll fly down, so we won't even have to worry about the Labor Day traffic.

They all seemed surprised and relieved when I agreed that Nick and I were overdue for a vacation. It wasn't until they'd gone off to make their individual preparations that I remembered the date for the most recent prediction from the future clock had been for September third.

BARRY AND I RUN AN antique store in Scottsdale, Arizona. From time to time we take appraisal jobs for collectors. It's a good source of revenue and gives us the opportunity to pick up exceptional items before they go on the market. A little over a year ago, I'd done one of these jobs for the Hall family. It had been a harrowing experience, and during the course of my time there, I'd acquired two items that are hard to explain. I still hadn't learned everything these items were capable of, but I'd discovered over time that the swirling bottle reacted to whatever occurred around it and under certain circumstances answered questions. The future clock predicted future events of its own choosing. The most recent of the clock's predictions had said: September third of 2013, you will again be involved in a strange situation. Don't be quick to judge. The truth will be important. You can find the guns. I'd stopped trying to decide if these items were magic or something else entirely. Possibly I should have given them up, but as cryptic and often unhelpful as they sometimes appeared, it didn't seem right to abandon them. I knew they scared the heck out of me, but I also knew they fascinated me, and I wanted to understand them. Twice they had proven themselves accurate, and yes, even helpful.

I'd told Nick about both items and their past successes, but he would have preferred it if they didn't exist. He strongly believed in people making their own destiny and didn't want to believe in magic. I knew when I told him that the next prediction fell on a date that would occur during our two-week vacation, he would choose to go anyway. I didn't think it would matter, because the predictions had a way of coming true whatever choices I made.

Barry and Lawrence would be more concerned, because they'd both had more personal experience with the items. In fact, when I told them, Barry wanted me to cancel the trip. He relented, partly because I'd promised to call him at the first sign of trouble, but mainly because he trusted Nick to keep me safe. Lawrence just looked resigned and said, Call me any time if I can help.

The next two days were a whirlwind of packing and last minute chores to finish before we left. I divided my time between handling all the necessary details of leaving my business and my home for two weeks, packing, and hoping that this time the clock's prediction wouldn't be as serious as past predictions. At the last possible moment, I dropped Watson off at the neighbors'. I suspected that one of these days they were going to refuse to give my dog back, but for the moment they had contented themselves by asking how long he could stay. Even with so much going on, the time flew by, and ready or not, we took off for what I'd hoped would be the first of many wonderful vacations with Nick.

Two

Nick had encouraged me do the flying on the way down. I'd almost finished my lessons and would soon be licensed to fly solo. He had introduced me to his favorite pastime over a year ago, and I'd loved flying from the first minute. After a short flight, we arrived at the dude ranch about ten-thirty in the morning on the first of September.

I'd only ever seen the resort once. The visit had been early in my relationship with Nick, and at night. I'd been impressed then, but my first daylight view was breathtaking. Guests arriving by car entered through massive iron gates. The gateposts were tall enough to admit a semi truck and made to look like giant saguaro cactus. Across the top was a huge cow head, and the gates themselves were intricately carved wrought iron, depicting a man on a horse roping a calf. The gate was a work of art as well as functional and had been photographed by many of the popular desert magazines. Inside the gate, the property was a mass of buildings, corrals and pastures making up a real working ranch. All the buildings were enclosed in a wrought iron fence, creating a compound separated from the sprawling cattle range. The whole spread consisted of several thousand acres. Still part of this, but semi-hidden at the back of the enclosed area, were the ultra-modern buildings of the spa. The resort was unique because it combined the excitement of Old West ranch life and a world class spa.

The landing strip was located behind the spa and well away from the animals. When we touched down, what certainly appeared to be an authentic cowboy arrived to pick us up in a golf cart and take us to the building that served as Nick's home whenever he was in residence. Nick introduced him as Reed Conroy, and the cowboy turned out to be the ranch foreman and the person responsible for running the dude ranch. Tall and thin, with a well-worn cowboy hat covering any hair he might have had and a drooping dark gray mustache, he would have been perfect for the part of the cowboy in any Western movie. He didn't have much to say at this first meeting. I got the feeling he never said much, but that when he did speak, it paid to listen.

When we climbed into the cart, two big dogs jumped in with us. They were all over Nick and were obviously old friends. The dogs were tan and brown, with dark circles around their eyes. I didn't recognize the breed, but I hoped they were friendly with strangers.

Nick said, These two fellows are Cobber and Corker, and sometimes I think they are the hardest working hands on the ranch.

I held out my hand for them to smell, but I wasn't able tell them one from the other except that one had seemed to be slightly bigger. I held my breath as the larger one licked my hand, and said, What kind of dogs are they? I don't think I've ever seen another dog quite like them.

They're Australian cattle dogs, and they don't spend much time around the compound since they prefer to be out working with the cattle.

They sniffed us over a little longer and then without any warning, leaped off the moving cart and ran alongside just for the pure joy of it. They must have weighed forty-five or fifty pounds each, and I couldn't believe how agile they were. Aren't you afraid they'll get hurt?

Reed replied, Don't worry. The dogs are just doing what they love best—running. They'll get to the compound about the same time we do, and they won't even be winded. We just brought them in today for their shots. In the morning they'll be going back out to help with the roundup.

When the compound appeared in the distance, I remembered that paying guests had two options of where to stay. They could have modern suites connected to the spa or rooms in the bunkhouse. Both places had all the conveniences, and a person's choice depended on what type of experience they wanted during their stay. Sometimes guests wanted to be cowboys or cowgirls for a vacation completely different from their normal jobs. Some just wanted to relax in the lap of luxury and be pampered. Others took advantage of the best of both lifestyles.

Nick's house was separate from the guest lodging. The east side of the ranch ran along a tall, rugged mountain range. His house nestled up to this range, and a good portion of the building was tucked back inside the mountain. Before Nick bought the property, it had been owned by one family for four generations. They had struggled long hours every day in order to make a living. When the most recent owner had gotten too old to run the large ranch, his two sons hadn't wanted to take over, and so he had agreed to sell to Nick.

We'd only been at the house long enough to cool off when lunchtime arrived. The kitchen staff had stocked the house with food so we could eat at home when we wanted to, but the spa also had a five-star dining room and two smaller restaurants on the property. After lunch we planned to go on a trail ride with a group of other new arrivals. It would be the perfect opportunity for me to see more of the ranch and get a general idea of how it was laid out. We decided it would be easier to eat at one of the restaurants rather than fixing our own meal before the ride. I wanted to go to one of the smaller places. One, called Pizza and More, had Italian food I thought sounded especially good, but Nick insisted we had to go to the gourmet room. He'd eaten a huge breakfast before we left Scottsdale and I couldn't understand why he wanted to try the fancy place for lunch, but I went along, hoping they'd have a salad.

As it turned out, they did have just what I wanted. The restaurant was different than I'd expected. One side served cafeteria-style and offered a wide choice of food that changed with the time of day. The opposite side was the gourmet room. It boasted linen tablecloths, fine china, and five-star cuisine. The first salad on the menu was mixed greens with grilled salmon and a vinaigrette dressing. I had just opened my mouth to say that the food tasted like Laudine had prepared it, when she walked through the door from the kitchen, grinning from ear to ear. I jumped out of my chair and hurried across the room to meet her.

Laudine and I had formed a close friendship on my most recent appraisal job. She had proven to be a clever and resourceful woman, and I suspected Lawrence was a little in love with her. I hadn't seen her much since we'd left Pennsylvania. She had planned to work in Scottsdale so we could spend some time together. In fact, she was supposed to be my roommate for a while. As it turned out, the restaurant she wanted to work for couldn't start her until October, so she had been working temporarily at a restaurant in Tucson while she waited. I was delighted to see her.

This is a wonderful surprise, Laudine! I knew the spicy salmon tasted like your cooking. What in the world are you doing here?

The regular chef is taking a two-week vacation, and since I still have a little time before my job starts, Nick asked me to fill in. When he promised to have you here for the same two weeks, I couldn't resist.

This is fantastic. I'm ashamed I never got to Tucson to visit you. Things were so busy when I got back from Pennsylvania I never seemed to find a chance, but I should have made the time. Now I know why Nick insisted we eat in this restaurant. I hope there is an assistant chef so we can have a little time together.

She laughed. You have to be kidding. I have four assistants here, and any one of them could be the main chef most places. All I have to do is plan the menus and make sure the preparation is done right. I won't have any trouble getting away now and then. I think Nick probably planned it this way so I could rest up before taking over at the Kon Tiki. You don't need to feel bad about not coming down to visit. The road goes both ways, so I am as guilty as you are. However, right now you need to get back to your handsome boyfriend, and I need to get back to the kitchen. We'll talk soon.

All right, I'll go, but only if you promise to come by tonight after work so we can chat.

Once she'd promised, I'd hurried back to our table. Nick, I can't believe you got Laudine to be here now. This is wonderful! We'll be able to catch up on each other's activities for the last five months. I'll bet your guests are thrilled with the food.

He said, It worked out perfectly. Justin, our chef, wanted a vacation, and I knew you'd love seeing Laudine. I'm glad you like your surprise, and you're right about the guests. They are raving about the food. Justin is good, exceptionally good, but Laudine is in a class by herself.

Well, thank you for thinking of it. I'm thrilled. What do you want to bet we see Lawrence down here at least once before the two weeks are up?

I'd be a fool to take that bet. Are you finished eating? We can have coffee when we get back, but we only have about ten minutes until the trail ride starts.

I'm absolutely ready. I kind of think they wouldn't leave without the big boss man, but it wouldn't be nice to keep the others waiting.

Three

The stable turned out to be huge, and the cleanest ranch building I'd ever seen. There must have been thirty horses inside. They were looked after by a stable master and two helpers. I knew they had to be good at their jobs or Nick wouldn't have hired them. The horses were impressive, and Nick had told me that the ones used for the trail ride were especially gentle, since there were often first-time riders who wanted to go on the rides. He rode his own horse and had picked a little more spirited one for me than they used for the guests. I'm not an expert rider, but having lived most of my life in Arizona, I'd ridden enough not to be a novice. While we waited for the others to arrive, the stable boss came out and talked to Nick. He introduced me. The man's name was Ted Ingram, and Nick told me later he claimed to be fifty-five years old. I would never have guessed it, since he looked maybe forty. He was a short square man with a thick head of dark hair graying at the temples, and he had an unlined face and a younger man's body. With all the time he spent in the bright Arizona sun, it seemed impossible that he could look so young. His friendly manner made him easy to talk to, and I hoped all the employees would be as friendly.

Our trail guide, a young cowboy hired especially for the rides and to help with the horse training, turned out to be a good all-around hand. Nick could have been our guide, but he had no intention of working during his vacation. When the cowboy, Cody Paulson, had us all horseback, he asked each of us to introduce ourselves and tell where we were from. Then he put himself in front and Nick and me in the rear. Wisely, he wanted an experienced rider at each end of the column. There were ten of us going on the ride. I couldn't remember all their names from this first meeting, but since they were all guests, I figured I might get to know them later. There was a man and woman with two teenage girls. Their last name was Banner, but I wasn't sure of the first names. I didn't think any of them had ever been on a horse. Their two girls looked about sixteen and thirteen. A tall, heavyset man in front of me in the group was the only guest who sat his horse like an expert. His name was Wesley Clifton. The rest I'd have to get connected to their names later.

Our guide was impressive. He must have been about twenty-one, but he seemed unusually mature. Maybe an inch shorter than Nick's six-two, well-built, and good-looking, with blond hair long enough to show below the ever-present cowboy hat, he looked perfect for the job. He moved and handled himself like a pro, and I could understand why Nick and the stable boss trusted Cody with both the horses and the guests.

We'd been riding for about fifteen minutes and I'd been oblivious to anything except the scenery. This summer we'd been blessed with plenty of rain over the whole state, and the desert resembled a lush garden instead of having the burnt-brown look normal for early September. The wildflowers were still blooming in a variety of rainbow colors. There were shades of green from gray-green to bright grass-green in the cactus, trees, and bushes. The palo verde trees were blooming in brilliant yellow. I saw at least fifteen different types of cactus—from the tall saguaro to several varieties of cholla. Anyone who thinks the desert isn't colorful should have been on this ride. With the blue sky overhead and the purple mountain ranges in the distance, the scenery would have made an award-winning picture. In just the short time we'd been riding, we'd already seen jackrabbits and a pair of coyotes, as well as the ever-abundant chipmunks. The desert is home to a variety of wildlife, and I knew that if we got to ride in the early morning or around sundown, we'd see many of them. I was completely relaxed already and couldn't help wondering why I hadn't taken a vacation sooner.

I snapped back to the present from my daydreaming when Cody brought the column to a halt. Nick rode forward to see why we'd stopped. It only took a quick look for him to see a rattlesnake had decided to cross our path. If one got in the compound, they had to kill it to protect the guests, but this far out they tried to give them a chance to get out of the way. While we waited to begin moving again, Nick talked about some of the nearby landmarks. Not far to the north was an old silver mine dating back to the eighteen hundreds. There were several line shacks around for the cowboys’ use, and not too far south were the ruins of an old Spanish mission. The ranch had a rich history, and I was looking forward to seeing as much of it as possible during this vacation.

The rattlesnake moved on and we were able to continue the ride. This encounter reminded me that even though the desert is beautiful, it does contain danger. It doesn't pay to tangle with a rattlesnake, mountain lion, or scorpion, and they aren't the only predators around. I could deal calmly with most of them, but I didn't like snakes of any kind, especially rattlesnakes.

The ride usually lasted two hours, and we were about half an hour from where it would end back at the stable. The Banner teenagers looked wilted, and I thought they would be relieved to get off the horses. The riders all seemed to be drooping, but the horses had perked up, happy to be headed home. Suddenly, for no apparent reason, the oldest Banner girl's horse jumped sideways and bolted. As it took off across the desert, I got a glimpse of her white face and could see her hanging on for dear life. Immediately both Nick and Cody were flying after her. She didn't get more than a hundred and fifty yards before they caught up. One of them flanked her on each side. The way Nick grabbed the horse's reins and Cody swept the girl off the horse and onto his looked like a practiced maneuver. In no time they were back, with Nick leading the errant horse and the girl riding safely in front of our guide. The rest of us, watching the expert way they handled the situation, broke into spontaneous applause.

I thought the girl would be terrified and crying, but she seemed fine, and thrilled to be riding with such a good-looking guy. She looked almost a little too smug, and I wondered briefly if she had engineered the whole episode. Well, teenage girls are always a mystery. We made it back to the ranch with no further mishaps. The elder Banners looked pretty shaken and from now on would probably stick to entertainment that didn't require a horse. No one had a clue about what had spooked the girl's mount. It might have been a snake, but none of the riders had seen one. The horse would be taken out of the lineup for trail rides until they could be sure it wouldn't happen again.

When we reached the stables, Ted came out to welcome us back. When he heard what had occurred, he was upset that one of the horses had caused trouble on the ride.

He said, "I'm sorry, boss. I would a never pegged this fellow as a troublemaker.