“He’d been sleeping in the car all night. I’ll bet he was nearly frozen,” Sandy said, hoping to dredge up a buried memory.
“Sorry,” Larry said. “Everything Mike did for a few years ticked me off. Even if he was frozen to the bone, I would’ve dragged him out to shovel manure.”
“Mike had a way of getting under Larry’s skin,” Millie explained. “It got to the point that Mike would argue that black was white if he thought it would make Larry mad.”
“How did you feel about Mike getting Betsy pregnant?” Sandy asked. “She thought it happened that night.”
Millie and Larry exchanged a glance before Larry replied. “You guys have done some investigating.” He took another bite of pork chop, chewed, and swallowed before answering. “We weren’t happy about it, if that’s what you’re asking. Betsy was a nice enough girl and, frankly, I thought she deserved better than Mike. When we found out, he was trying to get her to see a doctor about an abortion I put my foot down and told him they were getting married.”
“We knew something happened that night,” Millie said. “I guess maybe it was just me who knew. Anyway, Mike had been out all night a few times and he always came home and went right to bed. That morning he came home and got right on the phone. I don’t know who he was calling, because he tried to keep it quiet, but he was upset about something. I always assumed that he was talking to Betsy and that he was trying to patch something up that had happened during the night.”
“Do you remember him being really cold, or sick?”
Millie shook her head. “Not really. He was just upset about something. He talked on the phone for a while and then left. I remember that now because his boss called and wanted to know why he was late for work. I told him Mike was too sick to work, but I wasn’t sure where he was. I suspected he was at Betsy’s.”
“When did you see him next?”
“Supper time I suppose. It really doesn’t stick in my mind.” Millie replied.
Larry shook his head. “I remember a deputy stopping by the saddle shop to ask about Mike. He told me Aaron was missing and he wanted to ask Mike if he knew where Aaron was. I suppose I told him to check where Mike worked. I can’t remember for sure. Later that day a customer told me Kenny had been killed in a car accident.”
“Do you remember talking about those events with Mike?”
Both parents shook their heads. “There were a lot of things we didn’t discuss with Mike,” Larry said. “If the topic was distasteful to him he’d just walk off. I suppose I asked him about Aaron and Ken but I don’t remember what he said.”
“I remember hearing about Aaron and Kenny,” Millie said, “but I can’t remember discussing it with Mike either.” Can I get you a piece of cake, Sandy? I apologize because it’s store-bought, but I have some ice cream.”
“Thanks, but no,” Sandy said. “If I eat any more I’ll burst. And thanks for letting me have supper while we talked. I don’t get many home-cooked meals unless I cook them.”
“That pretty girl at the camera shop doesn’t cook suppers for you?” Millie asked with a smile.
“She’s not much of a cook,” Maki said as he got up from his chair. “If we’re eating in, it’s me who does the cooking.”
“I hired her to take some pictures for my advertising brochure,” Larry said. “Her photography skills make up for whatever she lacks in the kitchen. She put together a fine brochure and had ideas to improve the market appeal I’d never considered. Truth is that she really impressed me.”
“I should get back on the road, but I feel bad that I can’t help with the dishes.”
“Forget the dishes,” Millie said. “Larry will be on the tractor until dark and the dishes are the only project I have until bedtime.”
Floyd was surprised to see a county cruiser parked next to his house when they returned from the restaurant. His immediate fear was that someone had reported a break-in or someone snooping around the yard. The dog hadn’t come running to the sound of the car and that added to his anxiety.
“Stay in the car for a minute,” he said to Mary. “Let me see what’s up.”
He closed the car door and within seconds Spot rounded the corner of the house at a full run. She danced around his feet as he walked toward the back door.
“Hey, Spot, what’s all the excitement?” The sound of Floyd’s voice added to her animation. A second later Sandy Maki rounded the house corner and Spot ran to him.
“What’s up, Sandy?”
“The car was gone so I decided to make sure there wasn’t anyone snooping around. The house is secure and I didn’t see anyone lurking in the shadows.”
“I was afraid someone had called in a burglary,” Floyd said as they walked back to the cars.
Mary saw the smiling faces and got out of the car. “Is it safe for women and small dogs?” she asked.
“So far,” Sandy replied. “I can’t guarantee what the future will bring.”
“Is there anything else going on around the county?” Floyd asked.
“If there was any excitement, I wouldn’t be here. I even had time to eat supper.”
“Floyd told me that you’re getting married,” Mary said. “Have you set a date?”
“Not officially. I was thinking about a year, and Barb’s thinking next month.”
“Next month?” Mary asked. “You can’t get anything arranged in a month!” Mary froze and put her hand to her mouth. “Oh, my. Did I stick my foot in my mouth?”
“No, she’s not pregnant,” Sandy said, quickly seeing Mary’s embarrassment.
“I’m sorry to be so impolite,” Mary said.
“Hey, don’t sweat it. I’ve suffered a lot worse comments than that in the time Barb and I have been together. For a while, every place we went brought looks like I was out with a hooker.”
“I think Barb likes to cultivate that image,” Floyd observed.
“Yeah, but as people get to know her they see through the façade. Lately she’s wearing clothes that leave a little more to the imagination.”
“If Barb needs any help with wedding plans, have her give me a call,” Mary offered.
“I’m sure she won’t make that call. She doesn’t understand that people will really be okay with our wedding and that she’ll be accepted in the community. She isn’t close to her family so she’s not getting any support from them either.”
“Oh, Sandy,” Mary said, putting a hand on his shoulder. “If she doesn’t know that we’re excited for you two, I’ll call her right now.”
Barb Dupre answered the phone on the second ring. “Hello.”
“Barb, this is Mary Jungers, Floyd Swenson’s friend. Floyd just told me about your wedding plans and I wanted to tell you how happy we are for you.”
“That’s nice of you to say,” Barb said in her usual slow manner.
“I’d really like to help with any of the planning. I know your family isn’t nearby, but I can give you a hand.”
“Um, thanks. I don’t know what date it will be, but there will be some things to do. I can probably handle it though.”
“Planning for a wedding is fun, Barb. Will you let me help?”
“Okay, but I don’t know what needs to be done.”
“Are you working at the drugstore tomorrow? I can drive down from Pine Brook, meet you at noon, and we can talk over lunch.”
Barb was skeptical of the sudden friendliness. “That’s nice, but things are under control.”
“Barb, I want to help. It would be my pleasure. What time would you like to meet?”