severely wounded from the fall off the roof, and rushed her to the hospital.
“It’s just a good thing you showed up when you did,” Candy said. “When you swerved and missed Judicious, it was just enough to distract Bertha.”
Ben looked at her oddly. “Judicious?”
Candy nodded. “He was standing there under the light, halfway out into the street. You must have seen him. Isn’t that why you swerved the car?”
Ben shook his head. “I heard gunshots. I thought someone was shooting at me.”
“You didn’t see Judicious?”
Ben gave her an indulgent look. “I’m afraid not. I was alone down there.”
“But...” Candy looked over at Maggie. “You saw Judicious, right?”
When Maggie didn’t respond, Candy pressed her friend. “You saw him, right? You heard him shouting?”
Maggie shrugged. “I might have heard something. I thought you were trying to distract Bertha.”
“I was, but...”
She saw him then, standing about fifty feet away under a tree, dressed in a black suit with a white shirt and black tie. Judicious F. P. Bosworth. He smiled faintly, gave her a nod. Surprised, she glanced at Maggie, then at Ben. They were both looking at her strangely. “But...”
When she looked back at Judicious, he was gone.
She let out a disbelieving laugh. “Well I’ll be. Maybe he really can make himself invisible.”
Looking concerned, Maggie put a hand to her friend’s forehead, as if checking for a fever. “Are you sure you’re feeling alright? Maybe you got a bad bump on the head last night.”
Candy let out a sigh. “Perhaps you’re right.”
Just then they heard a horn beep. They turned to see Doc drive up in his old pickup truck, waving through the windshield. As he pulled up beside them, he called out, “Look who’s with me!”
It was Ray. He had been formally released from the county jail earlier that morning. Doc had driven up to Machias to give him a ride home.
Ray was overwhelmed with joy as he climbed out of the cab. He immediately dashed to Candy and embraced her. “Doc told me what you did,” he said, barely able to contain his emotions. “I can’t thank you enough, Miss Candy.”
“You don’t have to thank me, Ray. That’s what friends are for.”
“You’re the best friend I ever had, Miss Candy.”
“Thanks, Ray. That’s very sweet.”
He glanced up the slope, where Sapphire’s grave was being filled in. “I’m sorry I missed it,” he said quietly. “I’m sorry she’s gone.”
“We all are,” Candy agreed.
“I’m taking Ray home,” Doc said from the driver’s seat. “I just thought we’d stop by and say hello. What do you say, Ray? Ready to see the old place and get back to normal?”
Ray smiled tentatively and bobbed his head. “That sounds good.”
He climbed back into the cab, and Maggie glanced at her watch. “I’ve got to get back to work,” she said. “I’ve got some folks coming in for a meeting in twenty minutes.”
They began to disperse then, Ray and Doc driving off, Cameron and Amanda heading to Gumm’s, Maggie heading to her office. Soon only Ben and Candy were left standing by their cars.
“Well,” he said, “I guess I should get back to work as well.” He looked over at her. “How about you? What have you got planned for today?”
Candy shook her head. There was so much to do. But she knew what was at the top of her list. “Well, for one thing, I’ve got a column to write.”
“Oh?” Ben gave her a curious look. “So what are you going to write about?”
Candy stood for a moment, looking back up the hill, then at the departing cars, then back to the tree, where she had seen Judicious standing a few minutes before.
And it struck her then, something Doc had said to her the day before at the kitchen table.
She hadn’t known then, but she knew now. She wanted to stay here, in Cape Willington, with these people. She wanted to run a farm and raise blueberries. She wanted to hang out with Maggie and Cameron and Amanda. She wanted to bake pies and work in Herr Georg’s shop.
And she wanted to write columns for Ben.
Tall, handsome, smart, employed Ben.
She looked over at him, batted her eyes, and smiled sweetly. “Oh, I’m sure I’ll think of something.”
Recipes
2 cups whipping cream
¼ cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
¾ cup Maine wild blueberries, mashed
Mix together all ingredients in a deep bowl (it spatters).
Whip with a mixer for 8 to 10 minutes or until it is a nice whipped-cream consistency.
It will be a beautiful shade of lavender.
Candy loves this on fruit, blueberry gingerbread, or any pie.
Refrigerate if you have any leftovers.
1 package of yeast
1 ½ cups warm water
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon oil
4 cups white or white whole wheat flour
1 cup dried Maine wild blueberries
1 egg
1 teaspoon water
Kosher salt
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Dissolve the yeast in the warm water; let sit for 5 minutes.
Add oil to the yeast mixture.
Sift the dry ingredients (salt, sugar, and flour) together and add the sifted ingredients to the yeast mixture.
Add the dried blueberries to the mixture.
Mix together until dough forms.
Put dough on a floured surface and knead until smooth, about 7 minutes.
Divide into 16 sections; roll each into an 8- to 10-inch strip.
Twist the strips into pretzel shapes and place on an ungreased baking sheet.
Mix the egg and 1 teaspoon water.
