A Churn for the Worse by Laura Bradford Page B

clients will be most interested in visiting. That makes a trip here a bit harder to sell.”
    â€œBut that’s
one
incident.”
    â€œAdd in the robbery and that’s
two
.” Bill poured somecream into his tea and then added a spoonful of sugar. After a quick stir, he took a sip. “And that’s not counting the murders that have occurred here over the past year.”
    Diane’s shoulders demonstrated the defeat Claire shared. “Heavenly is a beautiful place—a beautiful,
peaceful
place.”
    â€œI agree. And that’s the way I’ll present it to potential clients. But seniors research things online these days now, too. They see enough articles about crime and, well, it could have an impact.” Bill took a longer gulp, and then another, draining his teacup to the bottom. “The police need to get to the bottom of whatever happened here this week. The longer it takes, the worse it is for business. Unless, of course, you’re Jim, here”—he swept his hand and Claire’s gaze to the dark-haired, dark-eyed man seated on his right—“and your business hinges on problems that need to be fixed.”

Chapter 10

    Claire dropped the shop’s key into her purse and followed Annie into the alley, the cessation of mouthwatering scents wafting from the windows of Shoo Fly Bake Shoppe her least favorite part of six o’clock.
    â€œFive minutes ago, I was anxious for the workday to be over. Now, standing out here, all I can think about is wishing the day was still going so I could smell Ruth’s apple pie or her cinnamon cookies.” She caught up to Annie and matched her steps over to the hitching post behind the store. “Crazy, huh?”
    â€œYou could make such things at the inn. And then you could eat them, too.” Annie ran her hand along the neck of the waiting horse and then rested her forehead against its taut skin. “Hello again, Katie.”
    The brown Standardbred horse seemed to melt againstAnnie as if she were as glad to see Annie as Annie was to see her.
    â€œI see you drank some water and ate the oats I brought you during my break,” Annie said softly. “That is good.” Then, pulling back, the teenager smiled at Claire and motioned toward the gray-topped buggy. “I would be happy to bring you home. It is not a pie like Ruth could give, but it is still good.”
    â€œActually, it’s perfect. Thank you.”
    Annie nodded, then pointed again at the buggy. “You may sit down. I will unhitch Katie and we will go.”
    The young girl unhitched the horse from the pole, nuzzled the animal’s face with her own, and then climbed onto the bench seat beside Claire. A soft click of her tongue, combined with a firm pull on the reins, backed them into the alleyway. “Good girl, Katie. Good girl.”
    Claire couldn’t help but smile at the animation on her employee’s face. In fact, at that moment, it was hard to equate the girl sitting next to her with the one who’d first strode into her shop nearly five months earlier.
That
Annie had been standoffish, even a little surly.
That
Annie had been determined to use her Rumspringa to test the limits of her strict upbringing.
    This
Annie was more at peace—her determination to rebel weakening with each passing day thanks to better communication with her dat, and the ever-deepening bond with Claire. Katie was simply another plus in the positive column.
    â€œYou’re really enjoying her, aren’t you?” Claire asked as they headed down the alley and toward Lighted Way.
    â€œYah.”
    â€œI’m glad.” She rocked side to side on the bench as the horse navigated the cobblestone road with the slow, easy steps Annie permitted. “How is Henry doing?”
    Annie turned her head left as they approached the main road, but not before Claire picked up a hint of flushing on the young girl’s face. At any other point