Page 25 of Pumpkin Patch Peril
Ivy’s smile became slightly apologetic. “Oh, I’m afraid I’m terrible at record-keeping. Tom’s always telling me I should track inventory better, but I just make what inspires me and sell what people want. I couldn’t tell you who bought what, when they bought it, or even how many of each design I’ve sold.”
“So if someone lost one of your bee wings,” Helen pressed gently, “there wouldn’t be any way to trace it back to the original buyer?”
“Not really, no,” Ivy admitted. “Though I have made quite a few of the bee charms. They’re very popular—I’d guess I’ve made dozens over the past year alone. The moving parts seem to fascinate people.”
Mona was examining other charms in the case, mentally cataloging the various nature themes, when the farm stand door opened with another cheerful chime. Tom Knowles entered, but his expression was far from cheerful when he saw the four ladies clustered around his wife’s jewelry display.
“Ladies,” he said with barely concealed suspicion. “Back again so soon?”
“They’re interested in my jewelry,” Ivy said brightly, apparently oblivious to her husband’s tone. “Isn’t that wonderful? I was just showing them the bee charms with the movable wings.”
Tom’s eyes narrowed as he looked from his wife’s display to the four women examining it. “Jewelry customers, are you? And yesterday you were what—pumpkin farming consultants?”
The atmosphere at the small farm stand grew noticeably tenser. Ruth straightened, Helen lifted her chin with dignity, and even Ida stopped examining the charms to look at Tom with surprise.
“We’re interested in supporting local artisans,” Mona said evenly, refusing to be intimidated. “Is there something wrong with that?”
“What’s wrong,” Tom said, moving closer to the jewelry display, “is that you’re not here to buy jewelry any more than you were here yesterday to learn about organic farming. You’re here because you think I stole Brenda Mossberry’s pumpkin, and you’re looking for evidence.”
Ivy looked confused, glancing between her husband and the four ladies. “Tom, honey, what are you talking about? These women seem very nice.”
“Nice women who are conducting some kind of amateur investigation,” Tom said grimly. “Nice women who are wasting our time with fake interest in our products.”
“Now see here,” Helen began, drawing herself up to her full height with the authority of someone who’d spent decades managing difficult people.
“No, you see here,” Tom interrupted. “If you’re not here to actually purchase anything, maybe you can be on your way. We have a business to run.”
The dismissal hung in the air like smoke from a snuffed candle. Ivy looked embarrassed, the ladies looked offended, and Tom looked like a man who’d reached the end of his patience.
“Well!” Ruth huffed, gathering her purse with obvious indignation.
“Come on, ladies,” Mona said with as much dignity as she could muster. “I think we’ve learned what we came to learn.”
They filed out of the farm stand with their heads high but their pride slightly bruised, Tom’s suspicious glare following them all the way to the parking area.
Once they were safely in Ruth’s car with the doors closed, the pretense of dignity gave way to excited whispers.
“Did you see how defensive he got?” Helen whispered.
“And how quickly he figured out why we were really there?” Ida added.
“The man’s hiding something,” Ruth declared, starting the engine. “And I intend to find out what.”
But instead of pulling out of the parking area immediately, Ruth sat with the engine idling, staring thoughtfully toward the Knowles property.
“What are you thinking?” Mona asked.
“I’m thinking,” Ruth said slowly, “that if Tom Knowles did steal that pumpkin, the evidence might not be in his house or his barn. It might be somewhere else on the property.”
“You mean like in a field or storage building?” Helen asked.
“Exactly. Somewhere a casual visitor wouldn’t think to look.”
Ida was practically bouncing in her seat with excitement. “Are you suggesting we conduct a reconnaissance mission?”
“I’m suggesting,” Ruth said with a grin that would have made her granddaughter proud, “that we take a little drive around the perimeter of this property and see if we can spot anything interesting.”
“Like a giant pumpkin?” Mona asked.
