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

there was George Hayfield, who was probably only there because he had a thing for Jeannie.
    By ten past twelve, Jeannie decided that enough people had showed up. “Thank you all for coming,” she said. “I hope you all had a great morning.” The room met her with silence. “We're here today to talk about the preservation of trees in Strawberry Shores.”
    Dana sighed. “Jeannie, cut the crap. You're here because you think the town charter doesn't apply to you. You're here to keep that eyesore of a tree, and the barn, standing.”
    Jeannie recoiled in mock dismay. “Dana! That's hardly why I'm here. I mean, your little town charter is a little outdated, but that's hardly any of my concern. My concern is people like this.” She pointed at Tim Hayfield. “Recklessly destroying your beautiful town. As the head of the CBSS, shouldn't that concern you too, Dana?”
    “Hey, I'm just doing my job,” Tim growled. “Leave the tree, bulldoze the tree. It doesn't matter to me. Just pick one so I can get back to work.”
    “You're bulldozing the tree,” Dana shot at Tim. She turned back to the room. “I can't even believe we're having this discussion.”
    “What discussion?” Kevin piped up. “There shouldn't be any discussion, right Dana? It's in the town charter. Tell her, Dana.”
    “Now, now,” Jeannie said. “We live in a democracy. Everyone is equal. Everyone's opinion is valid. And my opinion is that because I'm taking over my father's estate, and because an exception was made for him, that the same exception extends to me.”
    “There was no exception!” Dana stood up now. Her face was red. “Your father was just a pain in the ass so we let him leave the barn up. Now your father is gone and fun-time is over. The barn goes and so does the tree.”
    A tear plopped from Jeannie's eye. “How dare you? That barn has been in my family for generations. And now you're going to try and take it from me?”
    Dana rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on now. Enough with the drama.”
    “No. No.” Jeannie turned away and moaned. “Oh, why me? Why are you people doing this to me? Here I am trying to keep your town beautiful and all you do is punish me for my good deeds...”
    “This is a waste of time.” Huffing, Dana left the table. Just before she disappeared into the stacks, she turned on her heel. “The tree is dead, Jeannie. The barn burned to the ground forty years ago. We're bulldoz—”
    Dana's promise was cut off by Jeannie moaning at the top of her lungs. “Oh, why is everybody against me? I try to do something nice and everyone just spits in my face...”
    Dana threw up her hands and stormed off. Tim looked at Jeannie, and then at us, and excused himself.
    “Now, now, it's okay,” George said. He put his arm around Jeannie's shoulders. She pushed him off.
    “Quit trying to get in my pants, loser. If you want to do something, help me keep the tree up.”
    George grimaced and left behind his father. He avoided eye contact with us as he passed.
    “Girls.” Jeannie looked at us. “You understand my struggle, don't you? Please, sign my petition.”
    I shook my head. “I have to get back to work.”
    From over my right shoulder, Emily said, “I'm sorry. I was writing a lot last night and got writer's cramp. The doctor says I can't sign anything for at least a week.”
    From over my left shoulder, Alex said, “No.”
    With that, we departed, leaving Jeannie to her meltdown. I said goodbye to Alex and Emily and retook my seat beside Susan.
    “So how did it go?” Susan asked.
    From the back of the library, Jeannie moaned. I shook my head.
    “This is not going to end well,” I told her.
     

Chapter 7
     
    My last patron of the day on Monday was Maryanne French. She came up to the desk with a copy of The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. I smiled, took the book, and set about checking her out.
    Behind Maryanne, Alex and Emily came in.
    “Hi,” I said to them as I ran the book through the scanner. “Just