Page 27 of Exposure of Murder

“Well.” She sighed. “There are so many choices. I don’t know which one to buy.”

The man nodded and stepped closer, examining the chain saws. “It depends upon what you need it for and who will be using it.”

“I need to cut different size branches that were knocked down by the storm,” Jane replied. “And I want something that’s not too big that I can handle.”

“Hmmm.” He nodded thoughtfully and picked up a midsize model. “It’s not too heavy. A man or woman would be comfortable using it.”

“Thanks,” Jane said. “I’m always at a loss when I come to this store.” They stood in awkward silence for a minute until Jane spoke up. “By the way, I’m Jane. Jane Goodwin.”

“Nice to meet you, Jane,” he said. “I’m Victor Ruggerio.” He extended his hand.

Jane shook it, noting his callous-free hand and firm grip. “You don’t strike me as the kind of man who spends a lot of time in feed and hardware stores.”

Victor chuckled. “No, I’m more of a city guy, but I have some business here, and I like to explore new areas. You looked confused, and I know a little about chain saws.”

“Well, I appreciate the help,” she replied. “What brings you to Beaver Creek?”

“Business,” Victor replied. “I’m looking for new investments in the area.”

“Oh, what kind of investments?”

“Small stores for sale but mostly land. This is the perfect area for building houses on a small scale. You have the train to takepeople into New York City or Canada. The airport is close by. The area is a melting pot of farms and unique businesses that will attract people.”

“Interesting,” Jane replied. “Although I would hate to see Beaver Creek lose its charm and character, but there’s always room for more people.”

“I agree.” He helped Jane carry the chain saw to the cashier as they chatted about local spots to visit and things to do in town.

“Thank you for your help. I’m sure we’ll see each other around town again,” said Jane.

Victor smiled. “I’d like that. Maybe we could grab a cup of coffee sometime. I’d love to hear more about your farm.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Jane waved goodbye and got into her car. Wow! A chance meeting with a nice man wasn’t on her list of things to do today, but just maybe, if Victor was around, they could get together.

She turned on the car and drove to Wild Bean Roasters. The coffee shop was behind the courthouse and across the street from the Methodist Church on Crescent Street. One of these days, Jane vowed to take one of their cemetery tours. It was well known for its outdoor architecture and parklike grounds.

She parked behind the coffee shop and walked around to the front door.

As she entered the quaint coffee shop, the scent of roasted beans hit her. Today it smelled like hay, which meant it was the beginning of a new roast. Kai Abbott and Rhea Levine, the two women who opened Wild Bean, had explained the various scents of the roasting process to her—popcorn, during the first crack; grassy, halfway, when the beans began to yellow; toasty bread, as the beans tanned; and yeasty doughy, toward the end of the cycle.

They used local importers who sourced the different beans. It was the best coffee she ever tasted.

Emily was sitting at one of the wooden tables in the middle of the room.

“Hey, girlfriend,” she said, rising from her seat to hug Jane. “This is a treat. I’ve never been here before.”

“I’ll introduce you to Kai and Rhea if they’re around,” Jane replied. “Oh, and Claire will be a few minutes late.”

Jane took a moment to take in her surroundings. The coffee shop was all rustic pine wood, from the walls to the floor, to the tables and chairs. It was broken up by open shelving on the walls, green plants and a huge blackboard with coffee or tea selections written in colored chalk. She knew there was a good-size red-and-copper roaster in the back room where Kai roasted the beans. Rhea ran the front end. The muted chatter and clinking of coffee cups filled the air and comforted her.

Claire was just entering the shop, and Jane waved her over.

“Oh my, it smells heavenly in here,” Claire said as she sniffed the air. She looked over at the chalkboard and smacked her lips. “I think I’ll try a latte. What are you girls having?”

“I’m getting a cappuccino,” said Emily.

“Both sound delicious,” Jane replied. “I’m going to try the Sumatra Mandheling. It’s described as malty and full-bodied.”

Jane stood. “There’s no table service here. Since I invited you, it’s my treat.” She went to the counter and ordered. As she waited, she gazed at the glass case filled with muffins, scones and pastries. Her stomach growled even though she’d eaten breakfast, so she also grabbed a selection of different muffins to go along with the coffees.

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