Venison Stew
A Murder Picnic Mystery
By S.A. Gorden
Chapter 1
The crisp late August morning turned hot as the sun beat down on the tar paper roof I was repairing. Em's father had asked me to get his fishing cabin ready for the fall. A mid-summer storm had torn the tar paper roof and a few boards had been cracked when a large limb was blown off a tree. The cabin was on a small lake that every neighbor called by a different name. An old rowboat was tied to a tree next to the shore. A few maples were just turning to yellow, orange and red from a hard August frost. I wiped the sweat from my eyes and sat back enjoying the soft breeze that just started blowing off the lake. I had no idea that such an idyllic scene would usher in so much blood and death.
A sheriff's car drove down the rutted road to the cabin. Em stepped out. "You should bring out the tractor and level those ruts. The steering wheel was nearly ripped out of my hands a few times."
"I know. Did you just stop by to complain or is there something else?"
She reached into the back seat and threw a newspaper wrapped package up to me. Inside was fresh hard crusted bread lathered with home turned butter and filled with roast beef. I bit in and smiled.
I pointed to the ladder. "You going to climb up and join me?"
"You going to make it worth my while?"
"Of course."
She peeked up at me from under her bangs and grinned. She removed her tan jacket with the sheriff's badge pinned to it but left on her shoulder holster with her Colt 1911. She picked up the loaded basket and climbed up the rickety ladder. I planted a kiss on her check and got a dimple. She laid her head on my shoulder and started munching on a sandwich.
She looked over the water at the far shore. "In a few weeks it will be very pretty out here."
"It's not bad now." And I gave her a squeeze.
She pulled in closer. She sighed and said, "Got to go back to work."
I watched her climb down and drive off in her cruiser. I took a last look at the lake and got back to fixing the roof. I was packing up my tools when I heard another car driving down the road. Em's father came out.
"Hi sir."
"Don't call me sir. Use my first name."
"Yes sss … Josiah."
"Did you finish or are you just done for the day?"
"The roof is done. I haven't checked out the rest of the cabin and I haven't started on the road."
"It is a little rutty. Don't do too good a job on the road. I wouldn't want everyone coming to the lake."
I nodded. He seemed to want to say something more but didn't know how to start. I decided that a little fixit talk would loosen up his tongue.
"The outhouse handled the storm better than the rest of the place. When I get done working here, I should work on ours. It is so old I have to replace the logs it is built on. The logs are rotting into the ground. I have been putting it off since we don't use it much, only when the power is off. That indoor plumbing is sure nice when it is forty below in the winter."
"That's right. Your parent's farm doesn't have power yet. You've only been with indoor plumbing since you moved into your place."
"They might get it in a year or two. The electric co-operative is talking about putting a line out past their place this year. We were sure lucky with our farm. That main trunk line between the towns goes right past our driveway."
He seemed to want to say something more but wasn't quite ready. I finished loading the car and sat on the bumper waiting. I had a slight burn from the sun and heat off the black tar roof on the side of my neck. I eased my collar way from the burn and looked at my father-in-law.
He shrugged his shoulders and straightened into an oratory stance. "I've got some suppliers who like to hunt. I go every year but I'm just a so so hunter. Do you think you could help organize a week long hunt?"
"I take the old shotgun out every year and get a few ducks, partridge and even a deer but it is just for food. Old Albert is the guy you want."
"He's already been hired."
He shook his head. "I'm needing to sign new contracts this year. Arne Hoffmier got a better deal last year. He hired out a boat from Two Harbors and fished for lake trout. My suppliers talked about it all year. Joshua Hirschfield even mounted his lake trout and put it over his desk in the Cities. I need to impress them a bit."
I pulled at my collar. "Okay I'll try but if Albert gets free you should still ask him."
He smiled and shook my hand. "Excellent."
"How many in the party?"
"I've got two suppliers from the Twin Cities, a shipper from Duluth and a source in Winnipeg. With me that would make five. Bruce Zbikwoski from the Cities said he might bring someone up with him so you will need to plan for at least one more."
"When will this be scheduled?"
"Second week in November."
"I'll start asking around and see if I can find some good hunting spots."
He smiled, got in his car and drove off.
I finished packing my tools and supplies and followed him out. At home, Em was cooking supper so I went straight out to the barn for chores. While I was washing up, I told her about the hunting and asked her about her job.
"The day started out with a little excitement. Old man Arkin came in saying his daughter Beatrice was missing. Found out nearly immediately that Beatrice had eloped with one of the Franklin boys. Most of the rest of the day was the usual mix of minor complaints."
"Are you still happy about the sheriff's job?"
She pulled me close. "I love it. Enough simple easy stuff to fill the day and just enough big stuff to keep things interesting."
We snuggled a little and went into the kitchen to eat. After supper, I sat in the living room with a piece of paper and pencil. I fell asleep trying to put together a list of people and things to do before November.
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