The Final Vow Read online

  “So by finding the artifacts, I got her arrested.” I said this barely above a whisper.

  Benji held up her hand. “I don’t blame you. Don’t worry about that. I know you had to tell the police what you found.” She clenched her hands together. “But I’m telling you, whatever wrong Piper did, she didn’t kill Vianna. She’s not capable of that. I know it.”

  “Did Piper tell you why she began stealing?” I asked.

  Benji shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “She said she did it to help pay her school bills. She said those were the only times she stole—well, until she stole from the Farm.”

  Had Piper ever heard of school loans? I kept this thought to myself.

  “Did you know that Piper had a history of theft?” I asked.

  Benji shook her head. “I knew she was keeping something from me recently. She’d been acting strange, but I never expected for it to be this.”

  “How’d she know about the artifacts?” I asked, even though I already suspected I knew the answer. I needed to hear it from Benji.

  My assistant hung her head. “I showed her where they were. It’s all my fault. I wanted to impress her with how the trunk opened. You know, with the sequence of levers you can push to open it without a key. I should have never taken her down into storage. I know non-employees aren’t allowed down there, and it’s for a reason—because stuff can go missing like this. Even when the items turned up missing, I refused to believe it had been her, even though I think I always knew that it was.”

  “Why did she hide the artifacts in the bell tower?” I asked.

  Benji squinted at me as if the answer pained her somehow. “That’s my fault too. I told her no one ever goes up there. This was before Krissie got it into her head that she wanted lights up there. I guess Piper thought it would be a safe place to stash the artifacts until she could sell them.”

  I pondered the missing revolver. “That was her only plan for them?”

  “I can’t think of anything else she’d do with them.” Benji rubbed her forehead. “She doesn’t understand how museums work and didn’t realize that the trunk’s items had very little monetary value. It wasn’t like she was going to make any money on the black market with Jebidiah’s watch. There are hundreds out there just like it, and Jebidiah wasn’t Abraham Lincoln or anything. He was just your average middle-class farmer in Ohio.”

  “Then why steal it?” I rested my elbows on my knees.

  Benji scrunched up her face. “That’s my fault again. I might have given her the idea that the items were more valuable than they actually are.” She frowned. “Piper is so upwardly mobile. She has all these great big dreams of being a big-time wedding planner, making ridiculous amounts of money doing it. I guess I didn’t want her to think the career I’d chosen, to be a historian, was lame. I’ll never make the money she will someday.”

  “It’s better to be happy than rich,” I said. What I didn’t add up was that Piper’s career wasn’t going anywhere as long as she was in jail.

  “Okay, we’ve got another mystery,” I went on. “What happened to Jebidiah’s revolver? It should have been in the trunk too, but it wasn’t. I found its tag in the oxen field.”

  Benji’s brow shot up. “You did? I suppose it could have fallen off the gun when Piper was moving the box.” She bit her lip. “The revolver was in there when I showed Piper the artifacts. About a month ago, I think.”

  “Was that the last time you saw the inside of the trunk?” I asked.

  She wouldn’t meet my eyes. “Yes. Piper must have remembered how to open the trunk to get into it.” She studied the linoleum floor.

  I put my hand on her shoulder. “Benji, I’m not going to scold you. You’ve learned your lesson from this times ten.”

  She nodded. “God knows I have.”

  “What are you going to do?” I asked. The question could apply to so many things for her, but I knew she understood what I meant when she answered.

  “I don’t know.” Her voice was tight. “Piper betrayed me by taking those artifacts. She knows how important preserving history is to me, and Barton Farm, and you. But I love her. I can’t help it. I don’t know what I’m going to do.” She looked at me with tears in her eyes. “What should I do?”

  “You need to decide that for yourself.” I gave her a sad smile. “You need to decide if what you and Piper have—despite what she’s done—is worth fighting for. I can’t tell you what to do.”

  She wrapped one of her braids around her forefinger. “Was it worth it for you and Eddie?”

  I shook my head. “I wanted it to be, but no, it wasn’t.”

  “For you and Chase?” she asked more quietly.

  I thought of Chase walking out of my cottage just a few hours ago, and perhaps walking out of my life all together. “I don’t know yet.”

  She nodded, as if happy I’d given her the honest although not simple answer. “I don’t know yet either.”

  I touched her arm. “You don’t have to make any decisions now. Let’s just get through this, and then you’ll have time to think.”

  She nodded, but she looked so crestfallen that it broke my heart. “What if the police are right? About, well, about everything?”

  Maybe Detective Brandon was right and Vianna had been killed in order for Piper to protect her theft. The saddest part was, Benji was correct that the items in the trunk had little or no value outside of Barton Farm.

  That meant Vianna’s death had been even more pointless.

  “Come back and stay at the cottage tonight,” I said. “It might help you not to be alone.”

  “I’ll be fine.” Benji wiped tears from the corners of her eyes. “Don’t worry about me, Kelsey. I’ll be in to work tomorrow. I know you’ll need my help with the final wedding preparations, and I imagine Krissie will expect more from you, now that Piper—well—now that Piper can’t help.”

  “Just because she stole those things doesn’t mean she killed Vianna.” I gave her a hug.

  “That’s nice of you to say, but how can you know? I want to believe that’s true.”

  “I thought you believed she’s innocent,” I said.

  “I do. At least, I think I do.” Benji stared at her hands. “I heard you ask the detective about a string of twinkle lights in the bell tower.”

  “I did. Do you know anything about that?” I asked.

  She wouldn’t look at me. “Piper put them there after the police left the Farm.”

  I blinked at her. At least one mystery was solved. “Why?”

  “She wanted to do it in honor of Vianna. Like a memorial or something. That’s why I don’t believe she could have killed her. I was with her when she did it. She wanted to do it alone, but I insisted on going with her.”

  I couldn’t help but wonder if Piper wanting to hang up the new twinkle lights had been a ruse to return to the bell tower and remove the artifacts from their hiding place. Benji insisting that she go with her had foiled Piper’s plan. But I didn’t share any of these suspicions with Benji. She already had enough worries about Piper without me adding to the list.

  “But what if I’m wrong?” Benji asked. “What if she put that string of lights up out of guilt? I thought I knew Piper, but I’ve learned she’s lied to me several times about big things. What else has she been lying about? Does she not really love me?”

  Chief Duffy’s wide form filled the doorway. “Candy told me you were in here.”

  I stood up.

  He gave me an apologetic smile. “You should both go home. There isn’t anything else you can do tonight.”

  “What about a lawyer for Piper?” I asked.

  “A public defender has been called in for the girl. It doesn’t look like she can make bail, so we’ll hang on to her for the time being.”

  My stomach turned. I knew, with all the evidence mounting agai
nst her, Piper was going to need the best legal counsel she could find.

  twenty-nine

  The next day, Thursday, went quickly. Benji was on the Farm grounds bright and early as promised. Krissie and her parents were too. The Pumpernickles were overjoyed that it looked like Vianna’s murderer was safely behind bars and they could get back to the business of planning the wedding. With both Vianna and Piper out of the picture, the brunt of the wedding details had fallen on me, and Benji jumped right in, helping any way that she could. I understood that she needed to work to keep her mind off Piper. By the end of Thursday, the arrangements were well in hand, or so I thought.

  The morning of the wedding was clear and bright. I checked the weather forecast on my phone while still lying in bed. It was going to be hot. The temperature was predicted to hit the high eighties by late afternoon. The reenactors I’d conscripted to participate were going to melt in their wool uniforms. At least with everything that had happened in the past few days, Krissie had finally given up on the idea of full-scale battle reenactment.

  Chase was going to be one of those reenactors, in his Union medic uniform. Or, that’s what he’d agreed to do back when I first asked Chief Duffy if some of his regiment could put in an appearance at the wedding.

  I sighed and rolled out of bed. The day had to start whether or not I was ready for it.

  Twenty minutes later I was in the kitchen, double-checking my extremely long list for the day, and Hayden came flying down the stairs.

  “Dad’s getting married today!” he shouted at top voice.

  I smiled at him. I was relieved that despite all the arguments and ugliness between Krissie and me, Hayden had been spared knowing about it. He was genuinely happy to see his father get remarried.

  Dad stepped out of his cupboard bedroom, fully dressed, cape and all, for the day. Underneath the cape, he wore jeans and a Union army flak jacket. His white hair was brushed back from his forehead pompadour style.

  I pursed my lips. “Is that what you’re wearing to the wedding?” Usually I didn’t much care what my father wore, but I knew that Krissie would.

  “Sure thing,” he said with a wide grin.

  I groaned. I knew it would be a complete waste of time to argue with him. If Krissie wanted my father to change, she would have to take on that battle herself.

  “The wedding is at six,” I said. “But be sure to bring Hayden over to the village side much earlier than that.” I flipped through the agenda clipped to my wedding-day clipboard. It wasn’t lost on me that this was the agenda Vianna had made before she was killed. “Krissie would like Hayden at the church by three.”

  Dad poured coffee into a mug from the carafe. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of Hayden. You handle everything else.”

  When Dad said “everything else,” he really meant it. I flipped through the agenda one more time and with a final sip from my coffee, got up. The sooner I faced this day, the sooner it would all be over. I said goodbye to my son and father and headed through the door with Tiffin on my heels.

  My corgi ran ahead of me when he spotted a squirrel up the pebbled path. While I walked, I went over all I had to do before the ceremony began. With any luck, the vendors would already be setting up in the village. At least I knew the reception tent had been put up the day before.

  Despite everything I had to do, thoughts of Benji and Piper and of Chase weren’t ever far from my mind. I’d thought several times of calling Chase after I got home from the police station Wednesday night, but I’d stopped myself every time I picked up my phone. After the wedding, I reminded myself. I would sort this out after the wedding.

  The visitor center came into view, and I saw Benji sitting on the top of a picnic bench outside of it. She had two coffees in paper cups on the table next to her. She stared out into the pasture, where the oxen grazed at a leisurely pace. They weren’t in a hurry. They never needed to be. I couldn’t help but envy them a little.

  Tiffin forgot the squirrel and barked. He took off down the pebbled path, ready to greet his friend.

  Benji jumped off of the table and greeted my dog, giving him scratches behind the ears and under his chin. Although much taller than I was, she looked so small squatting on the path beside my dog. Her wide smile that was always present was nowhere to be found. It was as if even her many black braids had also lost their bounce. Piper’s arrest had taken a toll on her. It pained me to see it.

  I stopped in front of them on the path. “Any news about Piper?”

  She shook her head. “I tried to call her public defender, but he didn’t answer his phone.” She frowned. “It’s not even eight yet. I know it’s too early to expect any news.”

  “What about her family? Have you talked to them?”

  She shook her head. “That’s the thing. Piper doesn’t have any family. Her mom died when she was younger, and she hasn’t spoken to her father in years. Everything she’s done, she’s done completely on her own.”

  “What about your family?” I asked.

  She grimaced. “No. I want to sort out how I feel about all this first. Then I’ll talk to them.”

  I opened my mouth to protest. Benji’s parents had always supported her in everything. I didn’t believe that this would be any different.

  Benji held up her hand. “Let’s just get through the wedding, okay? The police aren’t going to let Piper out today. She can’t make bail, and I can’t afford to spot her.”

  “I could help,” I said.

  She shook her head. “I can’t let you do that.”

  “Okay,” I agreed. “Let’s just get through the wedding.”

  She nodded. “Thanks.”

  Benji and I headed over to the village. When the church area came into view, I was happy to see the rental company carrying tables and chairs into the white reception tent.

  “Looks like this will go off after all, Kel,” Benji said. “You did it.”

  I smiled. “We did it, but let’s not say that just yet. The bride has yet to arrive.”

  “Right,” she said.

  By late afternoon, the caterer was there with his staff, setting up the chaffing dishes for the food. Civil War reenactors in full uniform milled about, chatting with the tourists who were on the grounds until the wedding guests arrived. I had yet to see Krissie or Eddie. I knew Krissie and her bridesmaids were getting ready at a swanky hotel just outside of New Hartford. Even though I’d yet to see her, text messages from her were coming in fast. She asked about every little detail. I finally stopped checking my phone. I hadn’t heard a peep from Eddie. I could only assume that was a good thing.

  Benji was inside the tent, going over the last-minute details of the menu with the caterer. I was proud that she was able to set her personal problems aside and focus on the wedding. Despite the mistake she’d made in showing Piper the artifacts, she would make a stellar museum director someday.

  I surveyed the scene, looking for places where I could help. Armin and his staff—minus the guy he’d tossed out of the flower shop—carried boxes of flowers into the tent. They had already decorated the church, which was full to bursting with flowers. Everything seemed to be in order. Across from me, Laura waved from the front door of Barton House. I waved back, but stopped mid-wave as Henry Ratcliffe came up the pebbled path.

  I took a deep breath and went over to meet him. “Henry, I’m surprised to see you here so early.”

  He scanned the grounds. The church doors were wide open, allowing passersby a view of the inside. Flowers and ribbons hung on the ends of the pews and enormous vases of daylilies stood on pedestals at the front. The tent was dressed up too. The side facing the church was open, and we could see the portable dance floor being pieced together and the tables set with golden cutlery and white, gold-

  rimmed dishes. Everything was perfect and lovely, just how Krissie had envisioned it. Just how Vianna had plann
ed it. It was sad that she couldn’t see the end result of all her hard work.

  “I stopped by at the Pumpernickle family’s request to make sure preparations were complete. I see you have everything well in hand, Ms. Cambridge,” he said in his droll voice.

  “You expected me not to?” I folded my arms.

  He smiled. “I knew you would do just as well as Vianna. I wasn’t concerned. Vianna was a complication that we didn’t need.” He brushed his hands together as if dusting them off. “I think we’re all better off not having to worry about her anymore.”

  Armin came out of the reception tent just as Henry said his last comment. He dropped the empty box he’d been carrying onto the grass and stomped toward Henry. “What did you say about Vianna?”

  Henry pulled his neck back like a turtle retreating back into his shell. “Who are you? I don’t have to answer you.”

  Armin pulled his arm back and, before I could warn Henry, popped the older man in the nose. Blood sprayed and Henry cried out in pain. I jumped back to avoid being hit by blood spatter. If the cracking sound I’d heard was any indication, I guessed that Henry’s nose was broken.

  Armin shook out his fist and walked away as if nothing had happened.

  “That had to smart.” Drunk Lincoln tucked a silver flask into his coat pocket and strolled by with his top hat under his arm.

  “I’ll sue you!” Henry managed a muffled cry through his hands.

  I scooped up Henry’s glasses, which had been knocked off by the punch, and I slipped them into his suit pocket as Laura moseyed over.

  “That was kind of amazing,” Laura said. “The wedding hasn’t even started yet and there’s already a fistfight.”

  I gave her a look.

  Henry moaned.

  “Can you take him back to the visitor center and get him cleaned up?” I asked Laura. “I really should stay here and supervise.”

  “Sure,” she said good-naturedly. “Come on, Henry.” She waved him in the direction of Maple Grove Lane.