Moonshine Murder [Hawkman Bk 14] by Betty Sullivan La Pierre Page A

under the covers, stretched and glanced at his sleeping spouse. He remembered peeking at the clock when he felt the mattress bounce at three in the morning. She'd either gone to sleep watching the tube, or her muse had visited her with some brilliant ideas for her book.
    He jumped into the shower and by the time he dressed, the aroma of bacon had made its way to the bedroom and wrapped around his nose. “Aah, that smells so good,” he said, padding into the kitchen carrying his boots.
    "Figured you'd be hungry,” Jennifer said, smiling.
    "You certainly didn't get much sleep last night. How come you're so bright and bushy tailed?"
    "I really got plenty, went to sleep in front of the television watching a boring show. Didn't awaken until I dreamed about a horse and wagon going down the road."
    Hawkman glanced up at her, while pulling on his boots. “You sure it was a dream?"
    "I sure couldn't find any evidence of it. I looked out the kitchen window, checked the bridge, then across the lake, and saw absolutely nothing. If it was going in the other direction, surely I would have spotted it leaving earlier."
    "Yeah, sounds like you had a nightmare."
    She laughed. “Why do you say that?"
    "As far as we know, the only people using a wagon drawn by horses are the Hutchinsons."
    She put a plate of food in front of him. “The explanation answers why I woke with such a start."
    "So what are you going to do today?” Hawkman asked.
    "I might go to Yreka and do a little shopping, just to keep from thinking about Beth."
    "You don't expect any telepathic messages?"
    "No. I have a feeling she'll be just fine"
    After they ate their breakfast, Hawkman left for work. On his way to Medford, he couldn't stop thinking of Jennifer's so called dream. He had a feeling the whole thing happened. Possibly Jeb took the horse-drawn wagon out on the narrow, dirt back road. It could be done, even though it would be a rough haul, but worth it to Jeb, if his load was illegal. Jennifer hadn't seen anything, because she'd looked in the wrong direction, thinking he was leaving the area; but Jeb could have been returning home with an empty wagon and took the easiest route.
    Hawkman had some ideas forming in his mind about what Jeb might be doing, but wasn't ready to discuss them with his wife, or the law authorities, until he had more proof. He also worried about Jennifer's blooming friendship with Beth. The woman could well be in the thick of things with her husband, yet hiding unlawful activities from her children, and using Jennifer as a patsy.
    Another thing bothered him: what did Jacob Hutchinson have to do with this operation? Hawkman felt in his gut, the man had an investment in Jeb's project. Someone had to put up the money, and what better person than your own father. The sooner he could find out what sort of shenanigans were going on, the better he'd feel.
    He decided when he got home tonight, he'd talk to Jennifer about trying out the plan they'd discussed earlier. If they calculated right, and arrived at the property near the same time, maybe Jennifer could entice the whole family into the cabin, and he'd be able to sneak a look inside those outbuildings.
    * * * *
    Jennifer headed for Yreka with her list. She hated leaving the house, in case Earl came needing her, but she planned to visit Beth this weekend and hoped to find her feeling well. Sweeping the negative thoughts from her mind, she concentrated on her driving. She first stopped at Walmart where she found several harder puzzle books for Randy. He seemed to find them fun, yet they were educational, so he learned while recuperating. Passing the baby items, she couldn't resist some cute toys for Marcy, and a darling pair of booties.
    Leaving the department store, she headed for the Thrift Shop. She roamed the aisles and picked out a couple of comical tee shirts for Randy, a work jacket she thought would fit Jeb, and a couple of long sleeved casual shirts for Earl. Searching through the