SWINE AND SWINDLE (PAPERBACK)

Chapter 1

Angela made her way to the chicken coop, a bucket of feed swinging in her hand. Eggatha clucked softly as she scratched at the ground, her feathers puffing out protectively over her brood. “Morning, girls,” Angela said, scattering feed on the ground. She nodded at Indy and Christi, the two teenage chicks darting back and forth in the coop. Technically, they weren’t really chicks anymore, since Eggatha had had them last June, but she couldn’t quite bring herself to come to terms with the fact that they had grown up so quickly.

Eggatha ruffled her feathers but let out a tired cluck.
Angela pursed her lips as she watched Indy flutter up to the top of the coop and peck at the wood. “Indy seems a bit more... excitable than usual.,” she mused.

David leaned against the door frame, his hands shoved in his pockets. “Maybe it’s time to build that bigger coop we’ve been talking about. Those chicks need their space.”

Angela sighed, but nodded reluctantly. “I guess you’re right. I was just hoping to put it off a little longer, that’s all.”

After she fed the chickens, Angela made her way over to the pigpen, the slop bucket sloshing in her hand with each step. The pigs oinked and jostled each other as they crowded around the fence, their wet snouts poking through the slats. Angela tipped the bucket over, the sloppy mixture plopping out in chunks.

“Easy there, boy,” she said, as the biggest pig shoved the others out of the way. “There’s enough for everyone.”
Angela dumped the last of the slop into the pig’s trough, the wet, sour smell making her wrinkle her nose. She patted Petunia’s side, the pig’s coarse hair rough against her palm, before she grabbed the lead and guided the pig out of the pen.

“Alright, girl, let’s get you cleaned up,” she said, casting a glance over her shoulder at David. “We’ve got a rodeo to win.”

But her plans were thwarted as Ruff came out of nowhere, barking and darting between Petunia’s legs. She stumbled and fell onto the damp earth of the pen floor. Petunia oinked in surprise but stayed by her side, nuzzling her cheek with a wet, muddy snout. Angela groaned and looked around, only to find Ruff chasing after Indy, who had somehow escaped from her pen in the last ten minutes.

“Angela! Are you okay?” David rushed to her side and helped her up, his hands steady on her arms. Angela brushed the dirt and hay off her jeans with a grimace before she patted Petunia and checked the pig over for any signs of injury.

“I swear, that dog has more energy than a nuclear power plant,” Angela grumbled as she brushed off her hands and glanced over at Ruff, who was now sitting obediently by Indy, his tail thumping against the ground as he climbed back to his paws and ushered her into the coop. “And he’s supposed to be helping us with the pigs, not hindering.”

David chuckled as he helped Angela lead Petunia to the pump and started cranking the handle to draw water. “Well, you know Ruff. He’s got a one-track mind when it comes to chasing things.”

Angela rolled her eyes as she worked the pump, creating a steady stream of water that splashed into the wooden trough. Once it was full, Angela released Petunia into the pen and grabbed a brush from the shelf.

“Yep, just like his owner,” she said with a sly grin as she nodded at David. “Once he gets an idea in his head, there’s no stopping him.”

David raised an eyebrow, but before he could respond, Petunia let out a contented oink as Angela worked the brush over her muddy coat, the dirt coming off in wet clumps. Once the pig was clean, Angela packed up the brush, and they headed back to the farmhouse to get ready to make a quick trip into town. She needed to pick up more chicken feed before they headed to the rodeo.
As they stepped inside the farmhouse, the warm, savory scent of maple and bacon enveloped them. Angela’s stomach rumbled, and she shot David a surprised look.

“You cooked?”

David flashed her a grin, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “I did. Your mom taught me her famous pancake recipe, and I figured Petunia wasn’t the only one who deserved a special treat this morning.”

Angela’s heart fluttered as she took in the spread on the table—fluffy pancakes stacked high, a small pitcher of maple syrup, and a steaming plate of crispy bacon.

“You’re full of surprises, aren’t you?”

David pulled out a chair for her, and she slid into it, her gaze drifting to Ruff as David slipped him the ham bone under the table. “Good boy,” he murmured, giving the dog a quick pat before he settled into his own seat.
They ate in contented silence for a few minutes, the only sounds the scrape of forks against plates and Ruff’s occasional low growl as he chomped down happily on the bone.

After breakfast, Angela brushed the crumbs off her jeans and made her way to the mudroom. “I’m gonna run to town before we head to the rodeo.”

David smiled and nodded. “I’ll hold down the fort.”

Angela pulled on her old, worn leather boots and tugged a navy-blue baseball cap over her unruly blonde hair. Ruff perked up at the jingle of keys as she grabbed her jean jacket from the hook by the door. His tail thumped in a steady rhythm as they headed outside.

The crisp morning air nipped at Angela’s cheeks as she made her way back to the barn, her boots crunching on the gravel path that wound through the property. The scent of damp earth and fresh hay mingled together and tickled her nose.

Once inside, Angela flicked on the light and took a quick inventory of the supplies they’d need for the day. She ran a gentle hand over Eggatha’s feathers as the mother hen clucked and circled protectively around her two chicks.

“Don’t worry, girl,” Angela said softly. “We’ll only be gone for a little while.”

Eggatha cocked her head and let out a skeptical squawk, but Angela just chuckled and patted the wooden nesting box they had fashioned for her.

“Try to enjoy the peace and quiet,” she said with a wink. “You deserve it after putting up with this rowdy bunch.” She jerked her thumb toward the chicks.

Eggatha let out a trill that sounded almost like a laugh, and Angela grinned as she made her way further into the barn, after mucking the stalls and refilling the animal feed.

The drive into town was relatively uneventful, and Angela found a parking spot close to the main street without too much trouble. She locked the car and made her way down the sidewalk, nodding and waving to familiar faces as she went. The scent of freshly baked goods drifting from the bakery mingled with the sounds of birds chirping and distant lawnmowers.

As she passed by the old bookstore with its creaky wooden sign, a familiar face caught her eye. Bobby Tehella stood on the sidewalk, struggling under the weight of a large stack of colorful posters.

“Bobby?” Angela called out, adjusting the strap of her tote bag. “What on earth are you up to?”

Bobby looked up, his dark eyes widening in surprise. “Angela! Hey, I, uh, I didn’t see you there.”

Angela offered him a friendly smile and gestured to the jumble of paper in his arms. “Let me guess, your mom finally roped you into a job?”

Bobby’s shoulders slumped in resignation. “Yeah, you got it. She’s been on my case ever since I spent most of my winter break playing video games. Said I needed to contribute to the town if I was gonna stick around.”

Angela nodded understandingly. Mrs. Tehella could be quite persuasive when she wanted to be. Together, they made their way toward the print shop, and as Angela pushed open the door, the crisp scent of fresh ink and paper wafted over her.

“Wow, she got an upgrade?” Angela’s eyebrows shot up as she took in the sleek new printing press in the center of the room, its metal gears glinting in the fluorescent light.

Natalie Drussel, the owner, looked up from behind the counter, her tired eyes brightening at the recognition. “Yeah, you’re the first person to notice! Saved up for it all last year. Hoping to offer some new services and drum up more business.”

Angela nodded, impressed. “It looks great, really top of the line. I bet the holiday card orders kept you busy on this thing, huh?”

Natalie flashed a smile, and Angela turned to help Bobby unload the stack of posters. After they finished, Angela gave Natalie a friendly pat on the shoulder. “Well, we better let you get back to work. See you at the rodeo sometime this week, right?”

Natalie nodded, though her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Yeah, hopefully. Depends if I can finish all the print orders on time...”

Angela made a mental note to ask Michelle if she’d heard anything about the paper shortage in her next batch of investigative gossip. The last thing the town needed was for a staple business like the print shop to go under. As the little bell above the door chimed their departure, Angela glanced at Bobby.

“Good luck, buddy. And hey, don’t be a stranger, okay? Your mom might not admit it, but she really loves having you around.”

Bobby ducked his head, but she caught the ghost of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Yeah, I’ll do my best. See you soon, Angela.”

“Count on it,” she called over her shoulder as they went their separate ways. Once back outside, Angela took a deep breath of the fresh spring air and checked the time on her phone. She had to be at the rodeo grounds in just over an hour.

“Come on, boy,” she said, patting her jean pocket as she glanced down at Ruff. “We’ve got a rodeo to get to.”

They made their way down the sidewalk, and Angela’s heart skipped a beat as they got closer to the farm and she caught a glimpse of the colorful rodeo banners that fluttered in the breeze. But her excitement was short-lived as she turned onto the gravel driveway and spotted David leaning against her SUV, Petunia snoozing in the truck bed behind him.

“Hey, why are you all suited up?” Angela asked as she took in David’s denim shirt and cowboy hat, and the way he had dressed the truck up with ribbons and streamers in the rodeo’s bright colors. “We’re not leaving for a little while yet, are we?”

David flashed her a tight-lipped smile and helped her hoist herself up onto the tailgate before he climbed in next to her. “Actually, we are. I know it’s still early, but I thought we could go catch the opening ceremonies and maybe grab a bite to eat before the first event.”

Angela furrowed her brow but nodded. “Okay, sure. That sounds nice.”

As they backed out of the driveway, Angela sighed and leaned back against the seat. Hopefully, for once, she and David would finally get to spend a simple day relaxing at the rodeo.

The grounds came into view, and Angela’s eyebrows shot up as she took in the flurry of activity. Trucks and trailers were parked haphazardly, and cowboys and rodeo clowns darted back and forth, their colorful costumes a stark contrast to the weathered wood and metal of the pens and corals.

“Looks like half the town showed up already,” she mused as David threw the truck into park. “I wonder why everyone decided to go early this year.”

Before David could respond, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She frowned at the caller ID—her dad, Charlie. With a quick apology to David, she answered the call.
“Hey, Dad, everything okay?” she asked, as soon as she heard the indistinct murmur of his voice on the other end.

“Everything’s fine, sweetheart,” Charlie said, though Angela detected a hint of strain in his gruff tone. “I just wanted to let you know I won’t be able to make it to the rodeo today. Your mother... she’s having one of her moments, and I don’t want to leave her alone.”

Angela’s stomach twisted into a knot. Abigail had been fairly recently diagnosed with dementia, and she’d been slowly but surely going through the bouts of losing her memory, though she preferred to call them senior moments. “Oh, Dad. Why didn’t you tell me sooner? Is she okay?”

“Seems to be,” Charlie rumbled. “She’s resting now, but I don’t like the idea of leaving her. These things can come on suddenly. You know how they are.”

Angela clenched her jaw. “I understand. Keep me posted if anything changes, okay?”

“Will do, sweetheart. And Angela?”

“Yeah?”

“Try to enjoy yourself. She wouldn’t want you worrying about her the whole day.”

Angela swallowed back the lump in her throat. “I know. I’ll do my best. Give her my love, okay?”

She hung up and sighed as she turned toward the rodeo grounds. The mingled scents of animal and sweat tickled her nostrils, and the distant sound of a country band tuning up drifted on the breeze.

David gave her a sidelong glance, not liking the extra tension in her jaw. “Is everything okay?”

Angela tried to focus on the colorful merriment of the rodeo ahead of them. “Yeah, it’s just... that was my dad. He and Mom won’t be able to make it to the rodeo today. Apparently, she’s having one of her senior moments.”

David cringed and reached across the console to take Angela’s hand. “Oh, I’m sorry. Do we need to go see her? I’m happy to bring Petunia home if you want—”

Angela quickly shook her head. “No, Dad said he wants me to go on and try to have fun. Besides...” She swiveled and glanced out of the back window at the trailer where Petunia was sticking her snout out of one of the small holes between the bars. “We already signed her up for the competition and I know she’s excited to be out. I would hate to put her back in the pen so soon.”

David nodded. “Okay. But if you change your mind, just say the word and we can make like trees and leave.”

Angela snickered at the pun and gently nudged David’s arm with her own. “You’re the best. You know that?”

“I try.”

Angela and David parked the truck and made their way through the crowded grounds. Ruff weaved in and out of the crowd, his tail thumping excitedly against Angela’s jean-clad leg. Petunia trotted along beside them, the bells on her collar jingling in time with her hooves on the packed dirt.

Families clustered around the various event arenas, kids with sticky cotton candy fingers perched on their dad’s shoulders, cheering as young cowboys and girls practiced their bronco-busting skills. Vendors hawked their wares from colorful stalls, the air punctuated by the call and response of their sales pitches. The scent of popcorn mingled with the savory aroma of barbecued meats, and Angela’s stomach rumbled.

“I didn’t realize how hungry I was until now,” she said, nodding toward a food stand with a line stretching almost all the way back to the rodeo gate. “You want anything?”

David’s gaze drifted over the menu, and he flashed her a lopsided grin. “Surprise me.”

Angela ducked and weaved her way to the front of the line. After much deliberation, she ordered a pulled pork sandwich and a brisket platter, along with two sodas in souvenir cups. With her hands full, they continued through the crowd, searching for a place to perch and enjoy their meal.

They finally found an empty bench near the main stage and unloaded their food. The brisket was tender and smoky, practically melting in Angela’s mouth, and she stole a few fries from David’s plate in exchange for a handful of her own crispy slaw.

“Good choice,” he mumbled through a mouthful.

Angela smiled and nodded at the crowded bandstand as a fiddle and a steel guitar dueled in a twangy, upbeat melody. “I think they’re new this year.”

David’s eyes followed her gaze, and he bobbed his head in time with the music. “Yeah, sounds like it. I bet Megan knows who they are. She’s usually up to date on that kind of thing.”

Angela’s brow furrowed as she tried to place the tune. He was right—Megan would definitely have the answer. She made a mental note to ask her niece as soon as they got back.

Once they finished, they navigated their way over to the animal exhibition area. The crowd thinned slightly, but the mingled scents of hay and sweat only grew stronger. Thunder, Bram Cole’s prize racing pig, squealed in his trailer, the sound high-pitched and piercing.

“Looks like the gang’s all here,” David said, nodding toward a small cluster of people gathered near Thunder’s pen. Bram’s personal assistant, Dale, hefted around a fresh bucket of slop that seemed to be reserved for Thunder alone. Instead of dumping it into a trough like all the other pigs’ stalls, Dale hand fed the spoiled swine right out of the bucket. Thunder went between prancing around for his adoring fans and coming back to the bucket to stick his nose in every few minutes.

Bram stood front and center, cradling the piglet in his arms while he boasted about their upcoming race. A few of the other farmers nodded and offered half-hearted words of agreement, but Angela couldn’t help but notice the way they kept glancing at Thunder’s closest competitor, a sleek and muscular sow named Lightning.

“Maybe next year,” Bram chuckled, pointing at Lightning. “I think he’s had one too many snacks to be a top performer this year.”

Angela rolled her eyes but kept her thoughts to herself as she and David continued heading into the fray of the rest of the rodeo activities. As they walked, Angela caught the familiar click-clack of cowboy boots following behind them.

“Good luck, Angela.” Angela turned to find Grady Paulson, the owner of Lightning and Bram’s fiercest competitor, striding toward them as they stopped beside Thunder’s currently empty pen.

Angela flashed him a tight smile. “Thanks, Grady. But you know me, I’m just here for fun. Right, girl?” She patted the rough wood of the pen gate affectionately.

“Maybe so,” Grady added, raising his eyebrows as a gust of wind teased Lightning’s tail and rump. “But every dog has his day, and maybe this year, Thunder will finally be struck by Lightning.”

Angela stifled a giggle and tugged the brim of her hat down over her blonde hair. Some people were just too clever for their own good.