Less than five minutes later, Hannah was talking to Winnie on the phone. After the initial pleasantries were exchanged, Hannah waited for Winnie to ask about the accident. Since there were no questions forthcoming, either, Winnie was exercising uncharacteristic restraint or she’d been busy on the farm and hadn’t answered her call from the Lake Eden Gossip Hotline.

“Good to hear from you, Hannah, but why did you call?” Winnie asked in her forthright way.

“I wanted to find out more about the party you’re giving for your grandson. Mother said it was this weekend?”

“That’s right.”

“And you want six dozen pirate cookies?”

“That’s exactly what I want.”

“Why pirate cookies?”

“Because Little Matt’s favorite movie series is Pirates of the Caribbean and he says he wants to grow up to be Jack Sparrow. That’s why we’re having a pirate party. It’s going to be a real big deal. Connor drew a treasure map and all the kids are dressing up like pirates. They’re going to follow the clues and dig up the treasure we buried in the pasture.”

“That sounds like fun.”

“Oh, it will be. Connor makes a great pirate leader and all of my kids just love him.”

Hannah heard the warmth in Winnie’s voice and she smiled. After several bad marriages, perhaps Winnie’s horse trainer was going to be the perfect man for her. “How old is Matt?” she asked, pen poised over the stenographer’s book she kept by the kitchen phone.

“He’ll be six this weekend, and he’s a real pistol. That kid’s got more energy than the new stallion that Connor’s trying to break. He went to Janice Cox’s preschool last year and she told me he was inquisitive and extremely verbal. I think he’s going to grow up to be a lawyer.”

“Do you know what else you’re going to serve at the party?”

“I sure do. Little Matt told his mother and me exactly what he wanted. We’re having pepperoni pizza from Bertanelli’s, root beer, and potato chips. It’s not exactly a healthy meal, but it is his birthday and we promised him he could choose.”

Hannah jotted another note, potato chips, pizza, and root beer. “Are you having a cake?”

“We’re having a cake and pie. Little Matt just loves my Blackberry Pie. He calls it Blackbeard Pie.”

“That’s funny. You’ll have to give me the recipe sometime.” Hannah stopped and realized that she was asking for a family recipe. “If you want to, that is,” she added.

“It’s no secret and it’s real simple. I’ll give you some blackberries, too. I’m the only one who grows them around here. I stake ’em so they’re easy to pick and I’ve got a big patch on the edge of the north field. And that reminds me. When Connor comes in for lunch, I have to ask him to pick me some more. I baked the pies for Little Matt’s birthday party real early this morning and would you believe? Somebody stole one right off my kitchen window ledge when they were cooling! I guess that’ll teach me not to leave my kitchen window open.”