Prime Cut

again. Not daring to look at Julian’s happy face, I picked up the serving spoons and moved them around. You can’t hold on to people, I warned myself. You can’t keep them, any more than Charlie Smythe could protect his wretched treasure.

A whoop arose from the elephant rock.

“They found it!” Hanna cried. She had brought bird-watching binoculars, which she now swung into place. “Goodness, it’s just an old coffee can!”

We all watched Cameron Burr carefully uncap the discovery and pour it out on a piece of canvas.

Boyd cried, “Hey! How much is there?”

Sylvia Bevans, who had changed from the linen Unen suit to baggy khaki pants, sensible boots, and a wide- brimmed sun hat, bent down to ask Cameron a question. Then she turned toward us. Her face was stern. And then, for the first time in my life, I saw Sylvia smile.

“Jewelry!” she cried. “Old bills! Gold coins!”

I exhaled and smoothed the tablecloth. Well, finally, I thought. It’s over.

“So don’t you want to know what I told Leah?” Julian asked when we got home. His face was bright with mischief.

I pressed my lips together and unpacked the first box of dirty dishes and set them in the dishwasher in my brand-new beautiful kitchen. You can’t hold on to him any more than Leah could hold on to her grandfather’s land. Or Bobby could be a young and slim model forever. Or you could keep Andre forever. You can’t hold on to people. You can’t hold on to anything.

Tom’s large hand clasped mine. He murmured, “Stop worrying so much.”

Julian put his hand on my shoulder. “I told Leah,” he said, “that I really appreciated her offer to move in with her. But that I already had my family here.”

My eyes filled and I cursed them. The doorbell rang. “Oh, answer it, answer it!” I cried. “I can’t deal with any more in one day.”

Julian disappeared. I heard him open the front door and then argue with someone whose voice I did not recognize. Tom gave me a hug and I snuffled contentedly into the familiar warmth of his shoulder. We really are a family, I thought. An absolutely terrific family.

Julian reappeared in the doorway. His face was ashen.

“It’s the county health inspector. Should I let him in?”

About the Author

DIANE MOTT DAVIDSON lives in Evergreen, Colorado, with her her husband and three sons. She is the author of eleven bestselling culinary mysteries, including Dying for Chocolate, The Main Corpse, The Grilling Season, and Chopping Spree.

This edition contains the complete text of the original hardcover edition.

NOT ONE WORD HAS BEEN OMITTED

Prime Cut

A Bantam Book

PUBLISHING HISTORY

Bantam hardcover edition / 1998

Bantam mass market edition / March 2000

All rights reserved.

Copyright © 1998 by Diane Mott Davidson

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

For information address: Bantam Books.

eISBN: 978-0-307-42882-0

Bantam Books are published by Bantam Books, a division of Random House, Inc. Its trademark, consisting of the words “Bantam Books” and the portrayal of a rooster, is Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and in other countries. Marca Registrada. Bantam Books, New York, New York.

v3.0_r2