Aunt Dimity Goes West (34 page)

never heard from him again.

“Do you miss Cyril?” I asked Dimity on our last

night at the Aerie.

I do, but I’m not sorry he’s gone. He fulfilled his purpose.

It was time for him to move on.

“What purpose?” I asked.

I believe that Mr. Pennyfeather remained in the Aerie in
order to save more lives, and he tried his best to do so. Do you
remember? He warned us that someone had reopened the Lord
Stuart Mine.We thought he was referring to James Blackwell
at the time, but he was, in fact, speaking of Dick Major. If we
hadn’t jumped to the wrong conclusion, we would have heeded
Mr. Pennyfeather’s warning and thwarted Dick Major’s plot.

“I never thought I’d live to see the day when you’d

admit that you’d jumped to a conclusion,” I said, grin-

ning.

There’s a first time for everything. And I am sincerely happy
for Mr. Pennyfeather. Having fulfilled his purpose, he has continued his journey and rejoined the woman he loves. He’s
earned the right to rest in peace.

“Have you ever thought of continuing your own

journey, Dimity?” I asked.

You’re part of my journey, Lori. I don’t mind putting the
rest of it on hold. I have all of eternity at my disposal.

292

Nancy Atherton

“Do you think I’ll spend the rest of my life rescuing

my children from homicidal maniacs?” I asked wistfully.

I imagine you’ll have a few hours to spare for knitting
socks and baking cookies. But if a situation arises that requires
you to save your children’s lives, you will. It’s what mothers
do. Besides, you’ve made progress—you came away from your
latest feat of derring-do unscathed.

“Annelise didn’t,” I said. “Her feet are still sore.

And Toby nearly broke his hand punching Dick Ma-

jor, but he enjoyed it so much that I don’t think he

feels scathed.”

Toby Cooper is a remarkable young man.

“I tried to thank him today, Dimity, but I just got all

teary-eyed,” I said. “He looked as embarrassed as if I’d spit up on his shoes.”

I’m sure he was embarrassed because he, too, was choked
up.You, Annelise,Will, and Rob have been his family for several months. He’ll miss you.

“I’ve invited him to visit us in England,” I said. “We

may not have rattlesnakes, dust storms, or snow in

July, but we have pretty good thunderstorms. I hope

he comes.”

As do I. You haven’t mentioned your shoulder lately, my
dear. Is it still troubling you?

“My shoulder is completely healed,” I said. “If the

scar wasn’t there, you’d never known I’d been shot.

I’m happy to report that I have my brain to myself

again, too. Abaddon has finally moved out.”

On the whole, your visit to America has been most satis-factory.

Aunt Dimity Goes West

293

“No one in Finch will believe it,” I said. “When they

think of America, they think of vulgarity and violence.

To be honest, I did, too, but I don’t anymore.With the

truly gigantic exception of Dick Major, everyone I’ve

met has been cheerful, helpful, and kind.”

Including Maggie Flaxton?

“I may not be Maggie’s biggest fan,” I said, laugh-

ing, “but women like her make the world go round.”

They do indeed.Will you miss Bluebird?

“I’ll miss the Rocky Mountains,” I acknowledged.

“I’ll miss the blue sky and the crisp air and the snow-

capped peaks. I’ll miss the wildflowers and the aspens,

the mule deer and the buffalo.”

But will you miss Bluebird?

I leaned back in the white armchair and gazed into

the fire. I thought of gossip and Calico Cookies and

scones. I thought of a place rich in history and blessed with great natural beauty. I thought of good people

doing their best to keep their small town alive, and as

always, my thoughts came around again to Finch. Bill

might not see the similarities, Annelise might ignore

them, and Aunt Dimity might discount them, but I

knew what home felt like when I found it.

“No, I won’t miss Bluebird,” I said, smiling. “After

all, I’m not really leaving it behind.”

Carrie Vyne’s Calico Cookies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Makes about 5 dozen cookies.

1 cup (2 sticks) butter

1/3 cup white sugar

1/3 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon almond extract

11/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ginger

pinch of salt

21/2 cups oatmeal

1/2 cup each: chocolate chips, dried cranberries, sliced almonds, toffee bits.

May also use raisins, butterscotch morsels, peanut

butter pieces, or white chocolate chips.

Mix and match to your heart’s content!

Cream butter with sugars. Add eggs, vanilla, and

almond extracts. Beat well. Add flour mixed with

baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, and salt. Fold in

oatmeal and beat well. Fold in the nuts, chips, and

bits; mix well. Place teaspoon-sized rounds of dough

on foil-lined cookie sheets. Bake 7–8 minutes.

Freezes well.