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“I have no idea,” Piper admitted. “I don’t think Margaret Smith ever remarried after her husband died, but I could be wrong.”
There was a pause for a few moments and they both looked down at their envelopes. “Ready?” asked Dawson.
Piper pressed her lips together. “Ready,” she agreed.
“Wait,” said Dawson and took out his phone. “If I decide to report on this, I need to capture both of our reactions to the first clue.”
Piper pulled a face. She might have made the suggestion, but she wasn’t entirely sure she wanted to do it.
It was almost like Dawson could read her mind as he set his phone to balance against the wall next to them both. “You have to agree,” he said simply. “It was your idea.”
Piper inwardly sighed but gave a brief nod. “Okay.”
He pressed the button and turned to the phone. “I’m Dawson McLeod and this is Piper Davis. We’ve just had a meeting at an attorneys’ office we were called to. We’ve been left some part of the estate from the children’s author Margaret Smith—the lady who wroteThe Mistletoe Crown. What’s unusual about this is she’s left us a series of clues to solve in order to meet the requirements for the inheritance.” He gestured to the envelopes on the table. “We’re just about to open the first clue.” He smiled at her.
Piper had watched in wonder at the way he’d just moved into reporter mode. He was so smooth.
“Ready?” he asked.
She nodded, concentrating back on what they were supposed to be doing and they both popped open the seals on the envelopes. She slid out a thick card with embossed writing in silver.
Welcome to our journey, it started long ago,
When two children came to visit,
One was early, one was late, the questions then complete.
A little spark started then, to ensure they would again meet.
Tarzan and Eve were an unlikely couple.
But the saying goes that opposites attract,
So find the place where this stands true,
Representing an act that can change another’s life.
Dawson sat staring for a few moments. It almost seemed like someone had stuck him in a freeze-frame.
Finally, he let out a sigh and ran his fingers through his hair. “Well, I get the first part, because she’s obviously talking about us. But as for the second half?” He held up his hands. “I don’t have a single clue where to start. It doesn’t mean anything to me at all.”
Piper gave a huge sigh of relief. “Oh, thank goodness.” She let out a laugh. “Because neither do I. Guess this could be a short trip.”
“It doesn’t even rhyme.”
“What?” Piper looked confused.
“The second half, it doesn’t even rhyme.”
She looked down at her card again. “Neither of it does. But these aren’t rhymes. They’re clues.”
Dawson lifted one hand. “Yeah, yeah. But doesn’t the first half sound better than the second? It sounds better when it rhymes.”
Piper started to laugh. “So, after the news today, your biggest complaint is that the best-known children’s author from around here left you a clue that doesn’t rhyme?” She couldn’t hide the teasing tone from her voice.
“I’m only saying.” There was a hint of defense to his words.
The bartender moved over to their table. “Two coffees,” said Piper quickly. One beer had been enough. She stared at the embellished card again. “There must be something to this.”
