Barnyard Murder: A Cozy Mystery (Strawberry Shores Mystery Book 2) Read Online Free

all.”
    “Great, another petition,” Alex grumbled behind me.
    I hesitated when Jeannie handed the petition to me. “Is this really about the tree? Or do you just not want Tim to tear down the barn?”
    Jeannie laughed, one of those fake, borderline-maniacal laughs. “Oh, girls! That tree has been on my family's lot for a hundred years. It's called a Northern Catalpa. It's quite a regal tree.”
    “Isn't that tree dead?” Emily asked.
    “No, it's not dead.” Jeannie snapped back, her face going stern. She regained her composure, assuming the artificial smile from before. “It's very much alive, but it won't be much longer if those mean men tear it down! What do you say?”
    “I'm going to think on it,” I said.
    Jeannie offered it to Alex. “No,” she said. “Besides, I already signed Dana's petition. I mean, I signed it 'Albert Einstein', but just the same.”
    She offered it to Emily, who just shook her head.
    “That's okay, girls. Tell you what, the first meeting of the Strawberry Shores Tree Foundation is tomorrow in the library at noon. You're welcome to attend.”
    “I don't remember hearing about any reservations to have a meeting in the library,” I said. “And I would know. I work there.”
    Jeannie laughed that fake laugh again. By now it was becoming grating. “It's just a small meeting. I hope to see you there!”
    She turned away. I turned to say something to Alex and Emily when George stepped forward and tapped Jeannie on the shoulder. “I'll sign your petition,” he said.
    “Great!” She handed it over. George signed it.
    “You know, I like how you're a take-charge kind of lady,” he said, handing it back. He gave her an off-kilter grin. “I'd like to get to know you better. How about a phone number?”
    “Show up at the meeting tomorrow,” Jeannie cooed. “Who knows what could happen?”
    With that, Jeannie turned on her heel and headed into the Pelican. George stood on the sidewalk, googly-eyed.
    “Wipe your mouth George,” Alex said. “You're drooling.”
    “It's because I'm in love.”
    George walking into the bar after Jeannie reminded me of those old Pepe Le Pew cartoons, when Pepe fell in love with Penelope Pussycat and hearts came pouring out of his head.
    “Well, that's gross,” Alex remarked.
    “I think it's cute. Maybe if George and Jeannie get together, Jeannie will forget about the tree.”
    Alex shook her head. “I doubt it. George's dad is Tim Hayfield. Right now, Tim and Jeannie are bitter enemies. The longer it takes Tim to knock down the barn, the more money he loses. He'd lose his mind if George tried dating Jeannie.”
    I shrugged. “Well, whatever. I'm working tomorrow so I guess I'll have a front row seat to whatever it is that Jeannie is planning.”
    “I'm off work," Alex said. “I'll join you.”
    “Me too,” Emily said.”
    “Now, about the Pelican.” I nodded at the bar. We could see Jeannie through one of the windows, passing around the petition. “Do we still want to go back?”
    Alex, Emily and I looked at each other. No words needed to be spoken. We headed back to the car.
     

Chapter 6
     
    Alex and Emily showed up at the library at eleven thirty. I was scheduled to work until two thirty, when the library closed, but Susan was fine with taking over for a little while; the library had been quiet all morning, and what few people had shown up were there for Jeannie's meeting.
    “Promise me we can leave if she gets too annoying,” Alex whispered as we approached the back of the library.
    “I promise,” I said flatly.
    We reached the back corner. Jeannie had arranged the tables in a rectangle which would accommodate sixteen people. Only seven had shown up. Tim Hayfield, for one. His presence wasn't surprising, given what Susan had said about the contract. Dana Jones was there with Kevin Drake, but something told me they were there to keep an eye on Jeannie, and not because they were particularly interested in what she had to say. Then