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“Let me try out a few recipes. It’s the only way I’ll know how much I need to make batches for the bakery. If I can make anything from the raw material taste even half as good as this pie, I’ll be your number one customer.”

He smiles. “Our only customer. At our age. The cherries and honey were a hobby we shared with a friend who owned a bakery.”

I smile and nod. “I have a feeling we’ll be doing business together for the foreseeable future. Orders might be slow at first, depending on how popular the bakery is.”

“If these cookies are any indication. You’ll have them out the door and around the block. Rumor has it you’re making bread, too.”

“Yes, I’m trying sourdough, sandwich loaf, and one or two others to start.”

“My Ellie makes some mean pumpernickel. You might even talk her out of the recipe.”

“I’d love that. Thank you so much for the warm welcome, Dutch.”

We spent the next twenty minutes talking before Dutch hurried home to Ellie.Maybe one day...I think wistfully before hurrying back to the kitchen.

Chapter 8

Effrem

After I take care of Duke, I take another shower, dress in fresh clothes and head into the office. I can’t report for duty until Monday morning, but I can grab messages and check in, now that I’m officially cleared. I park the truck in my spot. It’s a blacked out F250 Tremor Dually. Seized it in a raid a few years ago. Sent it to the shop for the boys to supe up. She’s a helluva beast.

Trixie dressed in the ugliest Christmas sweater I’ve seen to date. It’s such a train wreck. My eyes can’t make sense of it.

“Afternoon Sheriff. I thought you’d be in today. Left something for you on your desk.”

“Thanks, Trixie. Colorful sweater.”

She lights up like a Christmas tree. “Thanks Chief.”

She has half the deputies deputies and nearly all the office staff calling me chief. I shake my head and continue to my office. It’s unlocked. A plate on the desk holds two fried pies. My mouth waters. Ellie McGraw must have dropped them by.

I slide into my seat, grabbing the first pie. I take a huge bite. The familiar taste of tart cherry and honey hits my taste buds seconds before it registers something new; black pepper, and some kind of sweet cheese. It’s good, but the original is my favorite. I polish off the first one and bite into the second one. If heaven is a bite, this is it. Who would have thought black pepper would make such a difference? The black pepper in the cherry-honey pie is amazing.

I walk out of the office. “Any more of those pies left?”

“I’m not sure. Tray is in the breakroom. The silver tray has the ones with cheese in them.”

“When did Ellie stop by? Was Dutch with her?”

Trixie shook her head. “Ruby brought them along with a bunch of other things for us to taste test.

“That was nice of her.”

“I swear half the town has already knocked on the bakery door for free samples and to request their favorites.”

“The bakery’s been missed. People are excited we’re getting a new one.”

“And she’s making bread. We’ll have honest to goodness fresh bread.”

I didn’t say anything. Dee made fresh bread at the house regularly.

“Seems she’s already a hit.”

“I hope so. I’d hate to go back home to Indiana.”

I almost ask how she knows where Ruby is from but I’m familiar with the small town gossip network. It spreads faster than California wildfires in the summer.

“Once she gets started, you can put in a standing order for Mondays and Fridays again.”