Pulling The Wool: A Magic Garden Mystery (Book 1) Read Online Free

Busy weekend in Thackery Village.”
    Alana stood up to inspect some flowers and they spoke for a few minutes about other topics. Then Fern pulled out her books, in preparation for getting them in order for Willie later on.
    “What’s that you’re doing with your invoice books?”
    Fern pursed her lips, her brows drawing together.
    “You’ll hear about this anyway, may as well come from me.”
    Alana sat forward in her seat, and pushed her glasses further up the bridge of her nose. She put down her pen.
    “What’s going on, Fern?”
    “Something terrible has happened and it seems like I’m also a suspect in the case.”
    “What? Tell me everything.” Alana, now in full reporter mode, was shocked to hear the words spilling from her best friend’s mouth. She had known Fern for eight years and she had never even harmed a fly.
    Fern set the books down and glanced at her friend who was looking very concerned.
    “I’ll start at the beginning.”
    “Good.”
    “Early yesterday morning, Lady Cecily discovered that three of their prize-winning sheep were dead in the paddock, so she called in the new vet, Owen Gordon, to investigate.”
    “Yes, I’ve met Owen. Nice guy…strange that he’s even related to Willie considering how different they are! Anyway, what did Owen conclude?”
    “Well, after investigating, he said that the sheep had died of azalea poisoning.”
    “Really? How did they eat the azalea?”
    “That’s just it, we don’t know. But as I stock the shrub and flowers, I’m automatically a suspect.”
    “Fern, that’s terrible. What are you going to do about it? How can I help?”
    Fern offered her friend a small smile. “Thanks, Alana. I’m working on it. I need to give my books to Willie so we can see who’s ordered the plants, but there are so many customers who’ve had these before, it’s going to be a big job finding the culprit.” Fern sounded depressed at the thought. “In the meantime, the sheep have been taken to a different paddock and are under strict watch from what I understand.”
    “You know who immediately springs to mind as a suspect, don’t you?”
    “Who?”
    “Matthew Barker.”
    Matthew Barker, who was similar to age with Sir Chesterton, only a few years younger, was one of the local farmers. It was no secret that he was also Sir Chesterton’s primary critic and competition when it came to sheep-rearing. Matthew also appeared to have a chip on his shoulder regarding Sir Chesterton’s aristocratic background.
    “I don’t think we should jump to conclusions, Alana, just because the two men don’t see eye to eye.”
    Alana lent back in her seat and crossed her arms. “That’s true. But there is more to it than their husbandry rivalry.”
    Fern interest was piqued and she raised an eyebrow.
    “Such as?”
    A smile appeared on Alana’s face. “Rumour has it that Matthew had a certain, how should I put it, tendresse, for Cecily in high school.”
    Fern’s jaw dropped open. “No! Seriously?”
    Alana nodded. “I don’t think he’s ever gotten over the fact that she chose and married Sir Chesterton instead.”
    Fern shook her head. Alana really was a source of all gossip in the town. “Poor Matthew. Still, I guess he did eventually move on and marry Lucy, God rest her soul.”
    Matthew’s wife, Lucy, had passed away in a car accident when their daughter, Angela, was eighteen.
    “Yes, I suppose he did. But it doesn’t look good for him, does it? Has Angela been in recently?”
    “No, I haven’t seen her for a while. She’s always so busy, wrapped up in farm life.”
    “She’s the best farm worker Matthew’s got. At least she genuinely loves the farm and will be happy to inherit the business one day.”
    A call to Alana’s mobile interrupted their conversation. She held up a finger whilst she answered.
    Fern busied herself with a few tasks whilst Alana chattered away. A few minutes later, Alana hung up and quickly gathered her stuff