The Missing Party-Girl: A Rags-to-Riches Cozy Mystery Romance by Nhys Glover (read after .txt) 📗

She turned quickly to Adie and went on. “You can be sure that if he comes in here he’ll get sent on his way, right smart, with a flea in his ear!” The woman didn’t seem to notice that Adie hadn’t spoken or that Jig wasn’t keen on being petted.

“Jig is good, thanks for asking. And yes, I’m Adie Reynolds. And you are?”

The little woman clutched at her flat chest as if having a heart attack. “Oh, silly me. So sorry. I do tend to rabbit on, don’t I? I’m Phillipa Greggs. My family has owned this shop for three generations. It’s not quite the going concern it once was, but we make do.”

“Nice to meet you, Ms. Greggs. And I’ll definitely make a point of coming in for a cup of coffee next time I’m in the village. I won’t keep you now though…” Adie hurried to say before the next avalanche of words came.

The woman looked startled, leaving Adie wondering if she’d been a bit abrupt. But it couldn’t be helped. Phillipa Greggs made her uncomfortable in a way the vicar hadn’t. She had the distinct feeling this woman would be one of the town gossips. And it may not be benign gossip she passed on, either.

“Certainly, certainly. Plenty to do before we open. I just wanted to meet you and let you know how honored we are to have Minerva Reynolds’ niece living amongst us.”

Her tone when she said Minerva’s name was unsettling. But Adie couldn’t put her finger on why. Was it because she said it in the way many of the members of her mom’s church had said the names of some of the women in town. As if they were both jealous and despising of those more liberated females.

Adie tightened Jig’s lead and began stepping away. “Thank you for your welcome. I appreciate it.”

She hurried on her way, feeling the woman’s eyes on her back every step of the way.

Across the road was a small supermarket called the Co-Op. It seemed oddly modern and out of place in the very quaint, old-world village. On her side of the street she came to the village post office, which also carried tourist souvenirs. As it was open, she decided to go in. She tried not to blame her anxiousness to get inside on Greggs’ continued stares.

Dave had told her that dogs could accompany their owners into all but the Co-Op. As soon as the little bell announced her arrival, the elderly lady behind the glassed-off counter looked her way and smiled. If she was going to tell her to take the dog out, now would be the time.

“Good morning,” the old lady said, her accent strong but understandable.

She made no comment about Jig, causing Adie to immediately begin to relax.

“Good morning,” Adie replied, beginning to browse the shelves filled with cards and envelops close by.

Out of the blue, a pang of regret hit her like a blow. She wished she had someone to write to back home. Someone she could buy a touristy card for, on which she could write, ‘Wish you were here.’ But her life back in the States had been an empty and sterile one. Now her mother was gone, the only people she knew well were the bigoted church-goers who had always looked down their noses at her. They’d be the last people she’d wish were here in her lovely new life.

“Are you Adeline Reynolds?” the woman asked, after a few minutes.

Adie made her way forward with a smile plastered on her face. Jig seemed to sense her unease and crowded her side. This meeting strangers thing was starting to stress her out. She couldn’t believe she’d thought she was ready for it.

“Yes, I’m Adie Reynolds and this is Jig,” she pointed down at the big dog at her side.

Her fingers wound themselves into his long black and tan fur. It helped calm her a little.

“Nice to meet you, dear. I’m Sadie Samuels. I had the opportunity to speak with your aunt a few times over the years. Lovely woman. So good to poor Rory.”

Adie felt a more realistic smile take control of her lips. “I think Rory helped her by watching her farm for her.”

The old lady shrugged, as if unconvinced. “That man was a real mess when he came to Stratherby. Nobody in their right mind would have hired him to work unsupervised for them. But she did, because he was a vet damaged by the Troubles. He got better, over time, but back at the beginning…no, that was an act of pure kindness.

Her suspicion that Rory was in fact the son of Minerva’s missing friend solidified in her mind.

“My aunt thought highly of this village and its people,” Adie said politely.

And if it wasn’t quite true, the old lady didn’t need to be any the wiser.

“I’m so glad to hear that,” Sadie said with a gentle smile. “But she was foolish with her plans, wasn’t she? Encouraging that monster. The one who poisoned your dog. She should have known better.”

This was surprising news. She didn’t think anyone knew about her aunt’s decision to offer money to her nephew-by-marriage if Adie failed to solve the mysteries.

“Oh, aye, we all know about it,” Sadie went on, obviously reading her stunned expression correctly. “That man came in here a few weeks back, all smarmy-faced and putting on airs, driving his big fancy car and wearing his thousand pound suit. Asked about Minerva and her farm, but I didn’t tell him no’wt. None of us would, you understand. We’re loyal to our own.”

From the way she smiled at Adie, the younger woman knew Sadie considered her part of their ‘own’.

For a few heartbeats Sadie held