Table of Contents
Knitting Mysteries by Maggie Sefton
KNIT ONE, KILL TWO
NEEDLED TO DEATH
A DEADLY YARN
A KILLER STITCH
DYER CONSEQUENCES
Acknowledgments
First, I want to thank Jill Koenig, one of the Lambspun regulars, who suggested the title for this, the fifth book in the Knitting Mystery series, Dyer Consequences. Jills a great gal who knits and spins in addition to breeding llamas and Navajo-Churro sheep.
Next, I want to thank the owner of Lambspun, Shirley Ellsworth, for giving me a private lesson on how she creates her gorgeous custom-dyed yarns. It was fascinating to watch as she mixed powdered crystals and liquids, creating entirely new colors, then allowed the yarns to absorb those colors. Each finished skein was unique in its patterns.
Finally, I want to add a note about a character I referenced briefly in A Killer Stitch, but who went on to play a much bigger role in Dyer Consequences: the Larimer County policeman who patrols the canyon areasDeputy Don.
I took the inspiration for this character from my dear friend and neighbor Ann Gouin. Her late husband, Don, had spent many years as a deputy sheriff for Larimer County, here in Northern Colorado. Don Gouin was a career Air Force officer, a navigator, who served several tours flying in Vietnam during the 1960s and 1970s, and finally flew home safe and sound to his wife, Ann, and their two daughters, Lee Ann and Sherry. After retiring from the Air Force, Don entered law enforcement and patrolled the mountain areas near Fort Collins, including our beautiful Cache La Poudre Canyon and Red Feather Lakes. Ann and Don spent a great deal of their spare time fishing in the canyon. A pastime they both loved.
I never had the pleasure of knowing Don Gouin because he died much earlier than he should have. But Ive grown to appreciate him by way of the wonderful stories his wife, Ann, has shared over the years Ive known her. Sowhen the fictional deputy sheriff made his first appearance in my mysteries, I knew immediately what his name wasDeputy Don. This fictional Don has gone on to develop quite a personality of his own, as all my characters do once theyre allowed on the page. I hope you enjoy reading his scenes as much as I enjoyed writing them.
One
Kelly Flynn angled toward the clearing, her skis slicing through the new-fallen snow. Colorado Powder. She slid to a stop and took in the view of the Continental Divideall 360 degrees of it. Turning in a slow circle, Kelly gazed at the mountain peaksglazed white with wintersurrounding her. On this early February afternoon, the sky was a brilliant blue, and sunshine reflected off the glaciers in a blinding glare. Shed forgotten how beautiful it was up here on the slopes. Had it really been five years since shed last skied?
She heard an adrenaline-soaked yell, and a flash of yellow streaked by as a snowboarder descended the lower portion of the ski run, his posse of friends trailing in his wake.
Beautiful and crowded, Kelly thought as she scanned the slopes above and below. Fully half the people negotiating down this moderate-level ski run were riding snowboards rather than skis. Snowboarding had exploded in popularity. She also noticed thatlike hermost of the people coming down the slope were now wearing helmets. That was definitely new.
Kelly tried to inch her scarf up higher to cover her cold nose. Shed also forgotten how frigid it was up on the slopes. Her nose and cheeks were freezing. Even her fingers felt frozen inside her insulated ski gloves, especially after her last tumble down the slope. And her goggles were fogging up again. Steve had joined her on the chairlift earlier and reminded Kelly how to clean her goggles. Kelly felt like shed forgotten almost everything she ever knew about skiing.
But it was slowly coming back. Memories of shifting her weight as she descended the slope, remembering to use the edges of her skis, balancingit was all coming back. Kelly just wished it would come faster. Moguls on this moderate blue run were still causing her problems.
A flash of red and black caught Kellys attention as her boyfriend, Steve Townsend, swooshed to a stop beside her. Ready to try a black diamond run? he said after he pulled down his ski mask. Ill ski with you.
Not yet. I want to be able to make it over all these moguls without falling before I tackle an advanced run.
Then Ill see you at the lodge below. Gregs hungry again, and I could use some hot chocolate. Pushing away with his poles, Steve shot down the slope in a low crouch.
Kelly stared after the streak of red and black, watching Steve deftly zoom in and around boarders and skiers alike, while visions of hot liquids danced before her eyes. Hot chocolate. With marshmallows. Kelly could almost taste it. And where there was hot chocolate, there was bound to be coffee. Hot coffee. The caffeine lobe in Kellys brain began to throb. Even lukewarm coffee would taste good right now.
That settled it. Kelly snuggled into her newly knitted alpaca wool scarf and took off at a more modest pace down the slope. The moguls between her and the promise of caffeine were getting smaller by the second.
Carefully balancing her cup of hot chocolate, Kelly clomped her way to the cozy corner where she and her friends had claimed two comfy sofas in the spacious wood-beamed ski lodge. Shed also forgotten how clumsy she felt walking around in ski boots sans skis.
Awkwardly maneuvering around relaxing skiers and riders in the crowded slope-side lodge, Kelly finally managed to reach the corner sofas, hot chocolate intact.
Arent you warm yet? Greg teased. Thats the fifth chocolate.
Wrong. Kellys friend Lisa spoke up beside her boyfriend. The first three were coffee. This is Kelly, remember? The Queen of Caffeine.
Hey, leave me alone. Im just starting to thaw out, Kelly said as she settled on the sofa beside Steve.
Reflexes coming back online? Greg asked. You looked like you were doing okay on the slopes.
Kelly took a sip of the sweet chocolate. I wish theyd come back faster. Moguls are still throwing me, literally.
Youre doing great, Steve said, his hand tousling her dark hair before settling on the back of her neck. I predict youll be zooming over those moguls the next time we come.
I keep forgetting how gorgeous it is up here, Lisa said, sweeping her long blonde hair into a ponytail as she stared through the windows.
We should schedule a whole weekend next time, Greg suggested before draining his cup.
Kelly caught the devilish grin Lisa sent her way and decided to ignore it. A weekend trip meant she and Steve would share a room. Kelly didnt know if she was ready to go there yet. She was getting close, but...
Im game, but youll have to run it past Miss Workaholic here, Steve said as he stroked the back of Kellys neck. His hand was warm on her skin.
Hey, isnt that the pot calling the kettle black? Kelly retorted. Youve been buried since the holidays with plans for your new site in Old Town.
Greg leaned back into the sofa beside Lisa. I thought your schedule was getting better, Kelly. Whats up?
That ranch property in Bellevue Canyon is whats up, Lisa replied before Kelly could. Shes been working more than usual ever since she bought the canyon ranch last month.
