Town in a Blueberry Jam

moustache seem all the whiter.

At that moment a voice cleared behind them, and someone else spoke. “Miss Holliday?”

Candy turned.

Helen Ross Pruitt stood behind her, looking quite sophisticated in a stylish black suit, a lavender silk scarf that added a bit of color, and a wide-brimmed black hat with a matching lavender band. Candy’s gaze flicked to the right. Standing just there, off to one side, hands folded formally in front of him as he waited patiently, was Hobbins the butler.

With the height of dignity and compassion, Mrs. Pruitt extended a thin-boned hand to Candy. “I have spoken to Cameron and the others,” she said, “but I wanted to express my utmost condolences to you personally on the passing of your friend. I can’t say I knew Ms. Vine well, but I do know that she had a wonderful spirit and energy. She certainly will be missed in this town.”

Candy shook hands with her. “Thank you for your kind words.”

Mrs. Pruitt then turned her gaze to Herr Georg. “Might I borrow Ms. Holliday for a moment,” she asked politely, “so we could have a private word?”

Expertly taking his cue, Herr Georg first kissed Candy’s hand, then bowed deeply to them both. “Of course. I must get back to work. Candy, I will have a little surprise for you early next week. Something special I’m baking. I’ll bring it by the farm.”

She smiled at him warmly. “I can’t wait.”

He nodded to Candy, then to Mrs. Pruitt. “Ladies,” he said gallantly and took his leave.

Candy turned back to Mrs. Pruitt. She noticed that Hobbins the butler had stepped away to a discreet distance, far enough so he was out of earshot, yet not too far away should Mrs. Pruitt have need of him.

It was just the two of them now, standing beside the Jeep, under the clearing sky.

“I would simply like to tell you,” Mrs. Pruitt began, leaning in toward Candy and speaking in low tones, “that I am aware of what you have been up to this week. I wanted you to know that I am greatly impressed by your valiant efforts and congratulate you on your success. I’m not sure you’re aware of it, but the whole town is talking about your sleuthing skills.”

Candy tried not to appear as surprised as she felt. “I... wasn’t aware I had those skills. But thank you very much anyway, Mrs. Pruitt. That’s very kind of you to say so.”

“Risking your own safety as you did, and capturing that horrid woman. It’s quite amazing, really.”

“I had help,” Candy said magnanimously.

“So I understand. But you were the catalyst. Your conviction and tenacity were admirable.”

“Thank you,” Candy repeated awkwardly.

“As you know,” Mrs. Pruitt went on, “Haley is scheduled to be crowned as the new Blueberry Queen on Sunday afternoon.”

“Oh, yes!” Candy looked around. “Where is Haley?”

“She’s waiting in the Bentley. I’ve asked her to give us a few moments to talk alone. Well, to come to my point: we would be honored if you would join us at Town Hall on Sunday for the ceremony and for a brief reception afterward.”

“Of course. It would be my pleasure.”

Mrs. Pruitt nodded in acknowledgment. “Excellent, excellent. We shall look forward to seeing you there. Two o’clock sharp.” She started away, then stopped and turned back. “Oh, and Candy dear — perhaps you would like to come to Pruitt Manor for tea some day next week? We could tour the gardens afterward. I know how much you love them.”

Candy was almost at a loss for words. “That sounds wonderful. Yes, I’d love to.”

“Good! I’ll have Hobbins arrange it. And do you think your friend Ms. Tremont would like to join us?”

“I’m sure she would, yes.”

“Very well. Please extend my invitation to her also. She’s such a nice woman. Delightful sense of humor.”

Candy had to hold back a chuckle. “She certainly has that.”

Mrs. Pruitt gave her a pleasant smile and started away again, but a thought suddenly popped into Candy’s mind. She couldn’t help blurting out, “Oh! Mrs. Pruitt!”

“Yes?” Helen Ross Pruitt looked back expectantly.

“I — I have just one more question for you.”

“Yes?”

“Well, I was wondering — why did you hire that lawyer for Ray?”

Mrs. Pruitt gave her a long look that seemed to tell her the answer was obvious. Still, she answered as pleasantly as she could. “Just like you, Ms. Holliday, I, too, knew Ray Hutchins had not killed that girl. He has been doing good work for us at Pruitt Manor for many years, and I am quite a good judge of character. Ray’s innocence should have been clear to anyone with a bit of common sense, but it seems you and I were the only ones who knew the accusation against him was a grievous error. Regardless, I wanted to do something to help him, and since I knew he did not have the financial capabilities to hire a good attorney himself, I thought it was the least I could do, to help out a fellow Caper. Wouldn’t you have done the same had you been in my place?”

“Of course.”

“And I did set you onto the right trail, didn’t I, when you visited me Wednesday morning?”

Candy had to think about that a bit, recalling the conversation they had had at Pruitt Manor that day. Yes, now that she thought about it, Mrs. Pruitt had brought up the subject of bribery, which had fueled Candy’s curiosity, driving her to dig deeper.

“You did,” Candy acknowledged.

Mrs. Pruitt nodded emphatically. “Well. There you are. ’Til Sunday then.”

And taking the arm of Hobbins the butler, Mrs. Helen Ross Pruitt walked regally toward her waiting Bentley, her chin held aristocratically high.

“She’s a piece of work, isn’t she?”

Candy looked around. Maggie had come up behind her. “She’s a pistol all right. Definitely someone who marches to the beat of her own drummer.”

“Have you noticed that we seem to have a lot of those kind of people in this little town?”

“I’ve noticed.”

Maggie sighed dramatically. “I guess every town has its own burdens.” She tilted her head toward the departing Mrs. Pruitt. “So what did she have to say?”

“Well, for one thing, she’s invited us to Pruitt Manor next week for tea.”

“Ooh! Did I hear you say us? Does that mean me too?”

“It means you too. But we’ll have to do it later in the week. I’ve got some busy days ahead of me.”

“The farm?” Maggie queried.

“Oh, yeah, that too. I almost forgot — it’s berry-picking time, isn’t it? Thank goodness we’re ready for it. Doc’s got the winnower and rakes all set to go, and we’ve a truckload of crates from the plant. But that’s just part of it. I’ve also got to find some time to write a column for the newspaper and bake pies for Melody.”

“That’s right! The café! I forgot about that.”

“I almost did too, until Melody called me this morning to make sure the pies were coming on Monday. She says she’s counting on me. So is Ben, with the column.” She paused, her eyes darting. “Speaking of Ben.”

She nodded as he joined them. “Good morning, Maggie, Candy,” he said, nodding to each of them in turn. “You look like you’ve recovered well from last night’s excitement.”

Maggie rubbed at her shoulder. “Just a few bruises. Right, Candy?”

Absently Candy’s hand went to her throat. She could still feel Bertha’s hands wrapped around it, and that morning she had indeed noticed some bruising on her neck. But she nodded. “Right... just a few scrapes. But it would have been a lot worse if you hadn’t showed up,” she told Ben.

He smiled. “I’m just sorry I arrived too late to get in on all the fun.”

Candy knew that though they were all speaking of it lightly, those had been some harrowing moments up on the widow’s walk of the opera house. Ben was the one who had been driving the car, the one that had swerved and gone up on the sidewalk. Right after Bertha had gone over the side of the building, he had burst through the hatch door, scaring Maggie and Candy half to death. He called the police and an ambulance. The police found Bertha