Free A Corpse for Yew by Jim Lavene, Joyce Page B

had a job that day. She never had to worry about that aspect of the business, at least about it getting done. There was nothing Sam could do about the weather. The landscaping business was too slow to say they were making a profit, but they were hanging in there. It was nothing a few weeks of rain wouldn’t cure. In no time, Sam and Keeley would be swamped the way they normally were in the fall.
    “You’re up bright and early.” Sam came out the back door with a bag of fertilizer on his shoulder. “The store won’t be open for two hours. Just come to hang out?”
    “I suppose so.” She told him about Mai needing her at the lab. “I guess I came to get some equilibrium before I go. That old rocking chair always makes me feel better. I’m glad you convinced me not to get rid of it when we remodeled after the flood.”
    “I knew you’d still want it to be here.” He grinned. “This way you can rock next to your own personal miniwaterfall.”
    “You and Jasper did a great job on that. I wish we could’ve kept him on.”
    “Me, too. But there’s not much call for ponds and such right now. Unless we turn into the Sahara down here, I’m sure it’ll come back again, bigger than ever.”
    “Have you heard from him?”
    “Yeah. He calls me once a week or so. He’s working with his dad right now, and he’s not happy about it. I didn’t know what to tell him about working with us again. Then it came to me!”
    “Oh?” She raised a cinnamon-colored eyebrow. “Did you hear a different weather report than I did?”
    “Probably not. But I’m going to need a hand with a new aspect of the landscaping business. I’ve been reading up on it, and I think it could save us until the drought passes.”
    “Well, let’s hear it.”
    “I’d like to oblige you, but I’m on my way out to Mrs. Foster’s place to fertilize her yard. She’s having me plant grass seed and fertilize it. She said she feels rain coming in her bones, and she wants to take the chance. I tried to talk her out of it. Not very hard, but I did try.”
    Keeley pulled her car up beside them, her dark eyes narrowed as she rolled down the window. “Has he told you his idea yet?”
    “No,” Peggy admitted. “He’s being secretive this morning.”
    “I promise I’ll find you at lunchtime and we’ll talk.” Sam was halfway in the truck as he spoke. “Come on, Keeley, we’re already running late.”

6
    False Solomon’s Seal
    Botanical: Smilacina racemosa
    There are two types of wildflowers with the name Solomon’s seal. True Solomon’s seal has tiny white blooms that hang down on the stem. False Solomon’s seal has feathered white blooms at the end of the stem. Also, false Solomon’s seal has reddish purple berries in the fall; true Solomon’s seal has green seedpods. Other than that, it is difficult to tell them apart since leaves and stems are so much alike.

    PEGGY WALKED INTO THE SHOP through the back door and locked it behind her. It was over an hour before Selena would report for duty. Just enough time to enjoy a cup of tea and sit in her rocker beside the waterfall.
    She wasn’t able to enjoy her favorite rocking chair as much as she had in the past. She’d thought giving up her position at Queens would give her more time, but instead she was busier.
    Some of that was her parents being new to the area. She took them around and showed them the sights as much as she could. After leaving their farm, she knew it would be hard for them to adjust to the city. But even that didn’t truly explain her lack of time.
    She heated some water on the little electric cooker and took out a tea bag, smelling it as she did. It was orange and spice, her own blend, leftover from the holidays last year. The cooker and teapot were covered in dust, mute evidence of their lack of use. She needed to take stock of her herbal teas as well as her life, and find out how she could spruce them both up.
    Finally settled in her rocking chair, Peggy inhaled the