Fudge Cupcake Murder

in her husband's murder.'

    'Nonsense.' Hannah grabbed Andrea's hand and pulled her forward. 'Nettie knows that Bill's no killer. Besides, she's all alone and she could probably use some company.'

    'How do you know that?'

    Hannah gestured behind her. 'No cars on the street. They were probably double-parked here this afternoon.'

    'What if Nettie's tired and wants to rest?'

    'Then we'll make our excuses and leave. But I'm willing to bet she'll be happy to see us, especially since you didn't eat much for dinner and neither did I.'

    Andrea turned to look at her sister in consternation. 'What does that have to do with anything?'

    'You can bet every one of Nettie's friends has been here with food today. Her refrigerator is probably packed and she'll be glad to see two people with appetites.'

    'You could be right. People always bring their best dishes when there's a death in the family. They did when Dad died.'

    'I remember. The sheer number of casseroles, Jell-O molds, and cakes was staggering. It would have been just like a big potluck dinner if anyone had cracked a smile.'

    Cashew Crisps

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees F., rack in the middle position

    1 l/2 cups melted butter (3 sticks)

    2 cups white sugar

    2 teaspoons vanilla

    1/8 cup molasses (2 Tablespoons)

    1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

    1 teaspoon baking powder

    1/2 teaspoon salt

    1 l/2 cups finely ground salted cashews (grind them up in your food processor with the steel blade-measure AFTER grinding)

    2 beaten eggs (just whip them up with a fork)

    3 cups flour (no need to sift)

    Microwave the butter in your mixing bowl to melt it. Add the sugar, the vanilla, and the molasses. Stir until blended, then add the baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix well.

    Grind up the cashews in your food processor. Measure AFTER grinding. Add them to the bowl and mix. Pour in the beaten eggs and stir. Then add the flour and mix until all the ingredients are thoroughly blended.

    Let the dough sit for a few minutes to firm up. Then form dough into small walnut-sized balls and arrange them on a greased cookie sheet, 12 to a standard sheet. (These dough balls spread out so make them fairly small. If the dough is too sticky to form into balls, chill it for a few minutes and try again.)

    Flatten the balls slightly with a spatula or the palm of your impeccably clean hand, just enough so they won't roll off when you put them in the oven.

    Bake at 350 degrees F. for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges turn golden brown. Cool on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to finish cooling.

    Yield: Approximately 10 dozen, depending on cookie size.

    (Mother thinks I should put a small nugget of milk chocolate in the center of the balls, but she ALWAYS thinks I should add chocolate to my recipes.)

Chapter Eight

    When the door opened in response to Hannah's knock, she almost stepped back in shock. Nettie was dressed in jeans and a bright pink sweatshirt. To Hannah's knowledge, Nettie had never worn casual clothes before. She'd always dressed in designer clothing. But there was an even bigger change and Hannah just stood there and blinked. Nettie's brown hair, which had always been impeccably curled and coiffed, was now in a casual and slightly untidy ponytail.

    'Nettie?' Andrea asked, and Hannah could tell her sister was also wondering if the grieving widow had a relative who resembled her in every aspect but dress and grooming.

    'It's me.' Nettie gave a little smile and gestured for them to come in. 'You both look shocked. I guess I must look different.'

    'You do,' Hannah said, recovering first. 'Do you want us to come back another time?'

    'Come in and visit for a while. Everyone else left an hour ago and you caught me indulging a whim.'

    'The jeans?' Hannah guessed, following Nettie into the living room.

    'That's right. Jim hated it when I wore them. He said it wasn't the right image for a sheriff's wife. The last time I put them on has got to be at least twenty years ago. I was afraid they wouldn't fit, but they do. Of course I was never really slim like you, Andrea. Not even when Jim and I met.'

    'I'm not slim now. Doc Knight weighed me yesterday and I've gained twenty pounds in the past two months.' Andrea walked over and took a seat on the sofa.

    'You'll lose that in a hurry when you have the baby.' Nettie turned to Hannah. 'Would you girls like something to eat? The ladies left me enough food for months.'

    'Well, maybe just a bite… or a dozen bites,' Hannah said.

    'Just help yourself,' Nettie said with a smile. 'The baked goods are on the counter in the kitchen and they put the Jell-O and meats in the refrigerator. Did your mother tell you she dropped by this afternoon?'

    Both Andrea and Hannah shook their heads.

    'The whole Regency Romance Club was here. Your mother pointed out that in Regency England widows had to stay in full mourning for at least a year and then they could be in half-mourning. That meant they were allowed to dress in gray or lavender.'

    'How long did half-mourning last?' Andrea leaned forward as she asked the question. She appeared intrigued and that didn't really surprise Hannah. Her sister was always interested in fashion.

    'According to your mother, half-mourning usually lasted a year or two, but there were quite a few women who never wore bright colors again. And then there were others, like Queen Victoria, who remained in full mourning for the rest of her life.' Nettie glanced down at her bright pink sweatshirt and shrugged. 'Thank goodness the customs are a lot different now! Of course, I'm not out in public, either.'

    Hannah stood up, preparing to head to the kitchen. 'I'm going to see what the ladies left in the way of food. How about you, Nettie? Can I bring you something?'

    'A ham sandwich would be nice. I was just so happy to see that ham when Carrie Rhodes carried it in. It's that spiral-cut kind from CostMart and it's absolutely delicious. I adore ham, but Jim didn't care for it. We never had it in the house unless he was gone overnight.'

    'How about you, Andrea?' Hannah turned to her sister.

    Andrea looked uncomfortable and Hannah could tell that she was nervous about being alone with Nettie. 'A ham sandwich sounds wonderful, but I'll go with you. Then I can help carry things.'

    'Hannah can manage for a minute alone.' Nettie reached out and put her hand on Andrea's arm. 'I need to