6 A Thyme to Die Read online

  “Isn’t there something else you wanted to say?” Mai raised an inquiring brow at her husband.

  “Oh yeah.” Paul took her hand. “We found out the baby is a little girl! Now we can stop calling her ‘the baby’ and call her Paulette!”

  “Paulette!” Mai hit him lightly with a napkin. “That’s awful.”

  Peggy was so thrilled. She was going to have a granddaughter. The circle of life was coming around. She hugged Mai and Paul with tears in her eyes. Everyone else had to get in line behind her to congratulate the happy couple.

  The lemonade was almost gone. She hadn’t thought to bring the second pitcher out. She ran back inside to get it. She grabbed her new cell phone at the same time to take some pictures.

  Steve had set her phone so she could pick up emails from her laptop. She glanced at it and saw she’d had an email from Nightflyer.

  Dear Peggy,

  I hate to send this your way after you’ve barely had time to recover from your ordeal. A friend of mine is investigating an old murder in Charlotte and might call on you for your help. I sent him to you because he has part of the puzzle you’d like to solve about John’s death. I’ll speak with you when I can.

  Nightflyer

  “Need any help?” Steve popped his head inside the kitchen door.

  “No. I’ve got this. Thanks.”

  Peggy put away her cell phone and picked up the pitcher of lemonade.

  The Peggy Lee Garden Mysteries

  By Joyce and Jim Lavene

  www.peggyleegardenmysteries.com

  Pretty Poison - 2005

  Fruit of the Poisoned Tree - 2006

  Poisoned Petals - 2007

  Perfect Poison - 2008

  A Corpse for Yew -2009

  Buried By Buttercups - an e-novella - 2012

  A Thyme to Die - 2013

  Coming in 2014: Deadly Dahlia

  Peggy meets with Nightflyer’s friend who is trying to solve the murder of his wife from twenty years ago. The man claims to have knowledge that could help the police finally solve her husband, John’s, murder – if she agrees to help him with his case.

  Peggy Lee’s Garden Journal

  It’s spring again! Time for seeds and new plants!

  What’s new for this year?

  In the sun, there is the new Everlast Series of dianthus. The plant is called Everlast because it will bloom all season, even going through some cold weather in the fall and spring. These are double dianthus so the blooms are big too. They come in white, burgundy, lavender and orchid colors. These are also perennials.

  I love one time planting, don’t you?

  Have you tried growing abelias yet? The new Raspberry Profusion is a very small abelia with mounds of fragrant raspberry colored blooms that will bloom from spring to fall. These even have reddish bracts for more color after the flowers drop. They are great in containers and are heat and drought tolerant.

  New roses this year include an old-time, deeply fragrant rose called Wollerton Old Hall from English grower David Austin. This rose has delicate pink blooms which last for months. It can be trained to climb, or to grow as a shrub.

  In the Language of Flowers: Looking for the perfect flowers to give your loved one? Try white clover which entices a special person to “think of me”. There is also purple lilac for new lovers. Mix with pink carnations to say, “I will never forget you!” Be sure to include a small note explaining the ‘language’ so your loved one knows you took the time to make it perfect.

  Summer Squash Recipe: Squash Blossoms!

  Squash blossoms are a tasty treat. I’ve never met anyone who didn’t enjoy them, especially fried. Try this recipe for delicious fried squash blossoms and see if you don’t agree!

  You’ll need about 20 squash blossoms for this recipe. Be sure to wash them gently before using.

  Combine 3/4 cup cornstarch with 1 teaspoon baking powder and 1/2 cup flour along with ½ cup of water and 1 egg. Add salt and pepper to taste. Mix well. Should be like thick pancake batter. Chill for about ten minutes.

  Separate the blossoms without breaking them. Remove the pistil in the center. Combine ½ cup ricotta cheese with 1/3 cup mayonnaise, I teaspoon of onion and 1 tablespoon of plain breadcrumbs. Mix this until smooth. Add about a tablespoon of this mixture to each blossom. Twist the top of the flower tight.

  Heat about ½ cup of vegetable oil in a frying pan. Carefully dip each blossom into the batter, coating both sides. Place each battered blossom in the hot oil and fry until golden crisp. Remove and drain oil on paper towels. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serves 2-4 people.

  Garden tip for the growing season:

  Pinch off the top of scarlet runner beans when they have reached the top of their supports otherwise the plant will become top heavy!

  Enjoy the Spring!

  Peggy

  About the Authors

  Joyce and Jim Lavene write bestselling mystery together. They have written and published more than 60 novels for Harlequin, Berkley and Gallery Books along with hundreds of non-fiction articles for national and regional publications.

  Pseudonyms include J.J. Cook, Ellie Grant, Joye Ames and Elyssa Henry

  They live in rural North Carolina with their family, their cat, Quincy, and their rescue dog, Rudi. They enjoy photography, watercolor, gardening and long drives

  Visit them at www.joyceandjimlavene.com

  www.Facebook.com/JoyceandJimLavene

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorJLavene

  Amazon Author Central Page: http://amazon.com/author/jlavene

  Table of Contents

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Peggy Lee’s Garden Journal

  About the Authors