Christmas Cow Bells

Book 1: Buttermilk Creek Mystery

by Mollie Cox Bryan

Genres: Amateur Sleuth; Culinary Cozy Mysteries; Female Sleuths

Synopsis

The first novel in Mollie Cox Bryan’s brand new mystery series, set in the Blue Ridge Mountains, will keep you guessing until the cows come home . . . Christmas is a time for new beginnings, so after her big breakup, Brynn MacAlister takes the gouda with the bad. With her three Red Devon cows, she settles in bucolic Shenandoah Springs, eager for a new life as an organic micro-dairy farmer and cheese-maker. Then her dear cow Petunia’s bellows set the whole town on edge. But it isn’t until Brynn’s neighbor, Nancy, dies in a mysterious fire that her feelings about small town life begin to curdle . . . It seems some folks were not happy with Nancy’s plan to renovate the Old Glebe Church. But is a fear of change a motivation for murder? As a newcomer, Brynn can’t ignore the strange events happening just on the other side of her frosty pasture—and soon on her very own farm. Suddenly Christmas doesn’t feel so festive as everyone demands she muzzle sweet Petunia, and Brynn is wondering if someone wants to silence her—for good . . . Praise for Mollie Cox Bryan’s mysteries “A playful charmer!” — Woman’s World on No Charm Intended “Scrapbookers and hobby cozy fans will enjoy this delightful holiday escape.” — Library Journal on A Crafty Christmas “A font of ingenuity . . . superb entertainment.” — Mystery Scene magazine on Scrapbook of Secrets

Release date: September 24, 2019

Publisher: Kensington Books

Print pages: 284

Sample

Sometimes a place reaches deep inside of you, flows through you with light and warmth, and fills you with a sense of belonging, a sense of home. Brynn MacAlister’s first view of the Shenandoah Valley from the Blue Ridge Mountains—a blanket of green, yellow, and brown rolling fields and farms spread for miles into the mists—had grabbed her with certainty. The village of Shenandoah Springs, a blip in her view, was small and tattered but oozed charm, tucked in the valley between the mountains and the town of Staunton, Virginia. She and Dan had figured this was the area for them to grow their dreams: a micro dairy farm to support their cheesemaking. Some dreams fade, such as her marriage plans with Dan, but Brynn was determined to make a go of the cheesemaking and dairy farm.

“Yoo-hoo!”

Brynn would know that voice anywhere.

She opened the door for her closest neighbor, who was dropping by for tea, and then quickly shut it against the cold December wind.

Nancy held a plate of scones, wrapped in plastic. “My grandmother’s recipe, straight from Scotland.”

Brynn took the plate. “Thanks so much. The kettle is on.” She led Nancy back to her favorite spot in the house, a kitchen nook where the table sat beneath a window with a view of her rolling backyard pasture and three Red Devon cows. Three cows were just enough for her to handle on her own. Maybe too much.

Nancy settled into her seat, and Brynn poured the tea. Earl Grey was the tea they had first bonded over in the grocery store, and then realized they were neighbors, both new to town, both into local, artisanal food, and both into farming, as were most of the residents of Shenandoah Springs.

“How’s it going with the renovations of the church?” Brynn asked.

“Things are going well. It was difficult to find contractors. They acted interested until I told them I was turning the old church into a farm shop. I don’t get it.” She stirred sugar into her steaming tea and set the spoon on the saucer. “I had to hire contractors all the way from Lexington.”

“Strange. Your plans support the local community. It’s too bad.” Brynn sipped from her tea.

“The locals are all lovely,” Nancy said. “But they do have some strange ways.”

Brynn hadn’t been in Shenandoah Springs long, but she agreed with Nancy. Most locals had roots that stretched back generations, and they didn’t feel the need to make new friends. Still, Brynn thought it would just take time to get acquainted.

“I thought I’d be doing something for the local economy by offering farmers a place to sell their goods every day, rather than just one weekly farmers’ market. I plan to sell produce, beer, wine, and even crafts. I just met a weaver who makes the most astonishing rugs and things.” She paused while taking sip of her tea. “But I don’t know. I sometimes get the feeling they either don’t get what I’m doing, or don’t support it.”

“Why wouldn’t they?” Brynn said. “You’re doing a wonderful thing for the area. Once it’s up and running, it will be a mad success. I know I can’t wait to see my cheese on display at the Old Glebe Market.”

Nancy cracked a smile. The crinkles around her eyes seemed to smile, too. Her big, droopy brown eyes reminded Brynn of a puppy. She wasn’t sure they were good enough friends for her to mention that.

“How’s it going with you?” Nancy asked. “I take it Petunia is still giving you trouble.”

Brynn’s stomach fluttered. Was it that bad? “Yes, unfortunately. I know she’s loud. The vet said cows have a strong maternal instinct, but she should get over the loss of her calf any day now.”

Petunia had given birth to a stillborn calf a week ago. Each morning, the moment she left the barn, the cow ambled right to the hillside where her calf lay, buried beneath an old oak tree, and bellowed through the day. To make matters worse, she wasn’t eating right, and she wasn’t getting along with the other two cows, Buttercup and Marigold, both docile and sweet. Marigold was the shyest cow Brynn had ever known. Yesterday, when Petunia came into the barn, she kicked over a bucket with a stubborn deliberation Brynn had never seen from her cows—and it scared Marigold.

“I’m worried about her.” Brynn picked up her cup of tea and drank in the strong brew.

“Perhaps you should call that hunk of a vet to come over again,” Nancy said, with one white eyebrow cocked. “I may be old, but I ain’t dead, honey. That man is something else.”

“He’s okay,” Brynn said. “But he’s a good vet, and that’s all I care about.” It had been almost a year since she caught Dan cheating, and she had no interest in men at this point in her life. She couldn’t imagine trusting one long enough to have a relationship. Not even the vet. Besides, he was married, which didn’t seem to concern Nancy.

“Boy, that Dan did a number on you. You’re young, and there’s plenty of time to find a new love,” Nancy said. “But then again, my husband’s been dead for years, and I’ve yet to find one man anywhere near as good as him.”

Brynn’s face heated. “Let’s eat the scones.” She unwrapped the plate and cinnamon wafted. She lifted a scone to her lips and bit into it. “Mmm.” She couldn’t speak because her mouth was full. “So good!” she said after she swallowed.

“Grandma Sadie wasn’t kidding around when she baked. She used real butter, real eggs and sugar, and the freshest cinnamon she could find.” Nancy bit into her scone. “I followed her recipe to a T.”

“It makes a difference,” Brynn said and took another luscious bite.

“I’m glad you like them. Now let’s talk about that cow of yours. You need to do something. I can hear her all day long. And I’m not the only one.”

Brynn dropped her scone. What did Nancy think she could do about it? Poor Petunia was in mourning. Dr. Johnson said she was depressed, and it would run its course.

“I’m sorry, Nancy. I’ll call the vet again.”

“Can’t you muzzle her? I mean it sounds cruel, but at least it’d be peaceful.”

Brynn’s heart broke at the thought of muzzling her sweet Petunia—and because her new friend didn’t realize that she adored her cows. She’d no more muzzle them than she’d muzzle a person.

“No, Nancy. I can’t do that.” She took another sip of tea, even as her stomach soured.

One of the many reasons Brynn and Dan had decided on Shenandoah Springs for their own farmette and cheesemaking hub was its active Community Supported Agriculture program. Residents bought shares and received locally grown or sourced goods once a week.

Brynn and Dan had responded to an ad in Mother Earth News: “Be a part of our farm community revitalization in the heart of the breathtaking Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Land is cheap, and the community practices organic, healthy, artisanal farming. We have a very active CSA and farmers’ market.”

They were both living in Richmond, with her family, until they could figure out their next step. When they found that Buttermilk Creek Farm was for sale at a reasonable price, it seemed like kismet. Buttermilk Creek was the small creek that ran through the property, though nobody seemed to know why or when it was named. But the name added to Brynn and Dan’s sense that it was the perfect place for them to grow their dreams. Brynn decided to keep it, rather than come up with a new name.

Brynn first fell in love with cheesemaking as a chemistry student in college. She’d taken the class on a lark because she needed the credit. But there was something so magical about the way milk turned to cheese, even though she understood the chemistry behind it. She couldn’t get ideas for cheese out of her mind. Throughout the rest of school, she experimented with making cheese. After she graduated from college, she searched for cheese school, much to her parents’ dismay. They’d paid for a degree in chemistry. Where was this cheesemaking thing coming from?

Brynn briefly considered Murray’s, a high-end cheesemaking school in New York City, but just as quickly dismissed it. She wanted a place with cows. A place that she could see and control the cheesemaking process from the start. She found St. Andrews Creamery, which is where she met Dan. He had the same mindset for wanting to control the cheesemaking process from start to finish, which meant knowing exactly what your cows ate and how the food affected the cow’s health and the flavor of the cheese. “All organic” and “grass fed” were not just buzzwords. They were away of life. It took time and care to create good cheese—why wouldn’t you want to know your cows and see that what they ate was the best for them?

Not only was there an artistic and healthy element to Brynn’s way of handling cheese and cows, but there was also a spiritual one that seemed to be in development at all times. She realized happy cows give better milk—just like Granny Rose had always said. She was always experimenting with what made them happy—music, a scratch behind the ears, a rubbing of the nose, and speaking to them as if they understood her. Sometimes she swore they understood her more than most people do.

And, when she tended her girls, a sensation she described as spiritual often came over her. She felt at one with the universe, like she was taking part in something bigger than herself.

Dan used to tease her when she expressed this sentiment to him. Yet, he understood that happy cows make better milk and cheese.

But Brynn didn’t want to think about Dan. Or the dreams they shared. Not today. Not ever. She needed to stay present as she drove to the fire hall.

Brynn had volunteered to help box the products for the CSA, and she’d brought along tiny linen-wrapped wedges of her Buttermilk Creek Farmstead Cheese to introduce to the locals.

As she arrived at the fire hall, a meeting place which doubled as the center where they held bingo on Thursday nights and square dancing on Saturday nights, she heard raised voices inside. She stopped awkwardly at the door, apprehensive, not knowing what to do with herself. She pressed on and opened it.

A large man with a Jack Daniels ball cap shadowing his face cleared his throat. “It’s an old church, and it should be preserved, that’s all I’m saying.”

“But it’s just sitting there,” a woman said. “It’ll be restored to its former beauty, and it will be a great place to sell our products.”

“But that’s what the fire hall is for! I’m just saying, people come from out of town and think they know what’s best for this community. I don’t like her or her ideas.”

Brynn tried to pretend not to hear him talk about Nancy, but as she set her box of cheese down, it landed with more of a thud than she wanted. All eyes were on her.

The woman who had been speaking in Nancy’s defense stood. “Hi, Brynn. How’s it going?” Willow Rush was an organic vegetable grower. “What do you have there?”

“Cheese, what else?” She tried to lighten things up with her tone. She felt as if she’d walked into a hornet’s nest, instead of a working meeting of the CSA. She moved along and inspected the boxes, brimming with organic, local, and artisanal products. Baggies full of winter greens, like arugula, rocket, kale, bok choy, collards, mustard, and turnips, along with brussels sprouts and small cabbage. “The brussels sprouts are almost too pretty to eat.”

“Thanks,” Willow said, beaming. Long and lean, mocha-skinned Willow had the freshest face Brynn had ever seen. And she had been the biggest help since Brynn had moved here.

A large, young man came into the room carrying jars of applesauce with ribbons on them. He placed them in the boxes, and, as he moved by Brynn, she smelled the strong scent of apples, nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon—scents that always comforted her. She recognized him as a part of the O’Reilly family, who own the orchard near her place. He turned his gaze toward her. He had the iciest blue eyes she’d ever seen.

The man wearing the Jack Daniels cap also looked at Brynn. The shadow lifted from his face as he looked up. “Hello. I don’t believe we’ve met.” He extended his hand as he stood. “I’m Tom Andrews.”

“Good to meet you,” Brynn said, although she wasn’t too sure about that. He was clearly a man with a temper, and his face was still red from his machinations. “I’m Brynn MacAlister. I’m living at the old rectory with my cows. Buttermilk Creek Farm. I’m a cheesemaker.”

“Nancy is your neighbor then. I don’t know what that woman’s doing,” Tom said. “I wish she’d go back to where she came from!”

Brynn’s mouth dropped as she tried to search for the right thing to say. She wanted to defend Nancy, but she didn’t want to make enemies.

“Now, Tom,” someone said from behind Brynn. “Now is not the time. We need to get work done here today and decide about raising our membership fee in the new year.”

Brynn turned to face the person who’d spoken. It was Josh O’Connor, the president of the CSA and a honey farmer. He held a box full of small jars of fresh honey—some still had bits and pieces of honeycomb in them. Brynn’s mouth watered. She made a mental note to seek out that honey, for both herself and for her sister, Becky, who loved honey.

Josh placed his brimming honey jars in the boxes. Brynn followed suit with her cheese.

“Besides, you’ll scare away our newest member.” He looked at Brynn, and his green eyes twinkled as if in acknowledgment of Tom’s mischief.

Brynn looked away. “No worries. I’m not so easily scared away.”

“Don’t pay any attention to me, sweetie, I’m just an old guy with old ways,” Tom muttered.

It had been a few years since a man had called her sweetie, other than Dan. It raised her hackles, but she stopped herself from telling him it was unacceptable. Just this once. If he said it again, she’d inform him. She was nobody’s sweetie—and certainly not his.

A few more people entered the room. They made introductions, and Brynn was certain it would take her months to remember all their names. But she would remember their products. Lavender. Radishes and rutabaga. Persimmons. Apple butter. And to top it all off, the local Christmas tree and pumpkin farmer brought miniature Christmas trees, which gave the boxes a festive flair.

She reached into a box and held up one of the tiny trees. “Adorable.”

“Thanks,” the man standing next to her said. “It’s a great way to use up scraps on the farm, and people seem to like them. I’m Kevin.” He extended his calloused but warm hand.

“Okay everybody. Listen up. We have a decision to make,” Josh said, after clearing his throat. “Some of us think we need to raise prices. We’re barely earning out.”

“But earning out is just one of our goals,” Willow said. “We wanted to support the community by offering healthy products and exposing them to what we’re producing. More people have ordered from my website since I joined the CSA.”

Which reminded Brynn that she needed to find someone to do a website for her. She planned to sell her cheese online and ship it. But first she had to find someone to create the site—she was not technologically astute.

“I say we give it another year before we raise prices,” Kevin said. “You know the local economy isn’t that great. If we raise prices now, I’m afraid we’ll lose subscribers.”

Mutters of agreement sounded from around the table, where they had gathered in a deluge of earthy-colored flannel shirts and wool sweaters.

“Tom?”

“Well, I suppose you’re right. It’s just that I sometimes feel like we’re giving our products away for nothing. I’m still teaching, so we’re doing okay, but if we were just trying to survive by our greens and such, we’d never make it. I wonder how some of you are doing it.”

Willow spoke up. “We all have other gigs, Tom. You know that.”

The group decided to table the issue until next year. After the meeting, they loaded the boxes into Willow’s truck, as it was her turn to make deliveries. If a member had a truck, they took turns. Brynn had thought about getting a truck, but she hadn’t followed through yet. A pang of regret plucked at her. There were a lot of things she needed to follow through with, but she had no time. Maybe Dan was right. Taking care of three cows on her own was too much for her, even if she was just milking one of them. But she could manage the cows—it was the rest of her life that fell away.

“How’s that cow of yours?” Willow said. “Is she still giving you problems?”

“Unfortunately, yes,” Brynn said.

“I have a friend who specializes in acupuncture and herbs for animals. She’s a vet of sorts.”

Acupuncture? Herbs? Petunia was too valuable to mess around with New Age pseudomedicine. “I don’t know if I’d trust any of that.”

“I know what you mean,” Willow said. “But she’s got a great track record. It might be worth a shot.”

“Complete and total mumbo jumbo,” Tom said. “What your cow needs is a muzzle.”

Brynn didn’t expect people to understand how she felt about her cows. She was a cheesemaker, not a farmer. She didn’t see her Petunia, Marigold, and Buttercup as “agricultural,” but more as a part of the team it took to make the artisanal cheese. The reason she owned cows was because she’d become a freak with wanting to control every part of the cheesemaking process—right down to what the cows who gave her the milk were eating.

She tossed and turned that night worrying about sweet Petunia. The cow had been blessed with such a sweet personality, a church at the edge of town had asked for her to be part of the local living nativity scene. Brynn thought it was an excellent way for the community to get to know her and her cows. But Petunia was mourning her calf. And her grief was taking longer than the vet said it would, so it worried her—and it broke Brynn’s heart. And it was starting to annoy the other two cows, who were avoiding Petunia.

Somehow, she fell asleep, jolted awake by sirens screaming a few hours later. She glanced at her clock: 3:03 AM.

She stuffed a pillow over her head, but the sirens were getting closer. The girls would be frightened and on edge. So she untangled herself from her quilt and slipped on her jeans and sweater. She padded down the stairs, realizing the sirens were close indeed. As she peered out the window, several fire trucks were flying down the road—toward the Old Glebe Church. She looked off toward it and saw flames.

“Oh my God!” She rushed outside, and then went back inside as the cold smacked her with an icy grip. She reached for her coat and slipped on her boots.

While struggling to get her coat on, she raced toward the church, over the hilly field connecting her property to the church property.

She almost tripped over several clumps of field grass as she made her way, heart racing as she came up over the small hill where the church came into view. Flames engulfed the old building.

She continued to run across the field toward the church, now surrounded by fire trucks and ambulances, along with several cop cars with red lights flashing.

Where is Nancy?

As she moved closer, the fire’s blistering heat enveloped her and the flashing lights shot through her eyes. She squinted, examining each person she saw. The firefighters were hosing off the place, and the police had gathered in a corner. The ambulance was lying in wait.

Where is Nancy?

She ran toward the group of police officers. “Where’s Nancy?”

One of them turned toward her, yelling over the roar o. . .