The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree (Berkley Prime Crime)

here.”
    “Oh, did he?” Ophelia felt a vast sense of relief. Of course, that didn’t explain why Jed had told her that it was the sheriff who asked him to come out.
    “Yes. They were wild to go with the sheriff and the dogs to hunt down the escapees, and I knew I couldn’t keep them at the house for long. So I ran to the Spencers’ and called Jed. I don’t think he raised a finger in anger, but he cert’nly put the fear of God into those boys. They’ve been a little more mannerly to me since.”
    “I’m glad to hear it,” Ophelia said, and smiled happily, thinking that she was glad. “Jed has always been good with Ralph’s kids. You have any more trouble making them mind, you let him know and he’ll give ‘em a good talkin’-to.”
    “Oh, I will.” Lucy tilted her head. “I’m sorry, Opie. I’d offer you some tea, but I don’t have any. I need to do some grocery shoppin’ when I can get a ride to town. I’ve got some garden coming on out back, so there’s plenty of peas and greens and the like, and I’ll be putting up beans and tomatoes before long and we’ll have okra and corn come summer. But right now, I’m about out of anything other than garden truck and bacon and sausage from that pig Ralph butchered last winter.”
    Ophelia was surprised, then realized she shouldn’t be. “The Studebaker isn’t running?”
    Lucy shook her head. “Ralph is bringing the parts with him when he comes home next time. I could hitch up Junior’s horse, but he’s limping pretty bad on his right foreleg, and I don’t want to risk making it worse with an eight-mile round trip.” She shrugged. “It hasn’t been too bad, I guess. Tea and coffee are what I miss most”
    “Well, for pity’s sake,” Ophelia said warmly. “You can’t go without coffee and groceries, Lucy. Get dressed and comb your hair. I’ll take you into town and bring you back.”
    “Really?” Lucy’s luminous gray eyes opened wide. “Oh, Opie, that would be swell! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate—”
    “You don’t have to,” Ophelia said, shushing her. Doing good was its own reward, she’d always thought. “Did Ralph leave you some money?”
    “Enough,” Lucy replied. “And the hens are laying. I’ve got a couple dozen eggs to trade.” She hesitated uncertainly. “Listen, I’d ask you in, but the place is kind of—”
    “That’s all right,” Ophelia said. “I’ll just wait in the car.”
    “Oh, good. I’ll go and put on a different dress, then. I’ll be just a jiffy.”
    Lucy was true to her word, and startlingly lovely in a yellow print dress with a white collar and piping down the front, her red hair loose and flowing under a ribbon-trimmed felt hat, her gray eyes sparkling with excitement. “It is so kind of you to lend a helping hand,” she said, when she got into the car beside Ophelia. “I sure hope Ralph gets that car fixed soon.”
    When they drove into town, Ophelia made a detour past the Dahlias’ new clubhouse so Lucy could see it. She had invited Lucy to become a member, and Lucy (who confessed that she really was awfully lonely) had agreed. She noticed that Beulah’s beautiful sign was still leaning up against the cucumber tree and made a note to let Liz know it hadn’t been put in the ground yet. Just then, she saw her neighbor walking down the block toward home, her hair freshly curled.
    “That’s Mrs. Adcock, just back from Beulah’s,” Ophelia said, and added, with just a touch of spite, “Let’s wave, Lucy.”
    So they both waved merrily and Ophelia honked the horn. She was gratified to see Mrs. Adcock’s prissy mouth drop open when she saw who was with her. She drove down another block and then up to the courthouse square, which she circled twice, very slowly, waving at Beulah and Bettina, who were walking out of the Savings and Trust, and at Verna, who was just going into Lima’s Drugs. She nosed the Ford into the curb in front of Hancock’s Groceries, next to a dusty old roadster with patched tires and a ripped cloth top.
    Ophelia and Lucy went into the store. Mrs. Hancock was behind the counter, and from the way her eyebrows went up when she saw the two of them together, Ophelia guessed that she had heard about Jed and Lucy. Ophelia gave her an extra-large smile.
    “Lucy needs to stock up on staples, Mrs. Hancock. Lucy, where’s your list?”
    Lucy handed over her list. Mrs. Hancock swallowed her surprise and got to work. Flour, sugar, salt, cornmeal,