Page 105 of Hell Hath No Fury

The interior of the house appeared to have been updated not long ago. There were no marks or scuffs on the vinyl plank floors or the white painted walls. Instead of framed watercolors or family photos, the walls were covered in shadowboxes filled with an assortment of what had to be Fran’s finds. More rusted relics filled a pair of built-in shelves and the tops of side tables around the room.

“You’ve been at this a while,” Emma said, hoping she didn’t sound judgmental.

Fran beamed. “It’s my passion.”

Matthias mumbled something Emma couldn’t make out. Apparently Fran couldn’t either.

She pointed at Emma’s hands. “I see you’ve brought my treasures back to me.”

He grumbled again.

Emma looked around for a place to dump the items.

“Come with me.” Fran gestured them into an eat-in kitchen, where she grabbed a towel and spread it on the table.

Emma deposited the key, hoof pick, belt buckle, and horseshoe nail on the towel and backed away. Fran stepped in, eagerly picking up and examining each piece as if it was priceless.

Emma moved to Matthias’s side and waited for Fran to notice the missing item. He leaned toward Emma and whispered in her ear, “You want to keep one of those pieces for yourself.”

Not a question or a suggestion. She sensed he wanted to see how Fran would react. Emma had considered holding onto either the key or the hoof pick, but that was before she’d taken a good look at the ring.

“If you don’t mind,” she said, “I’d like to keep the hoof pick. It has sentimental value.”

Fran looked at her and scowled. “It’s just an old horse grooming tool. I have a collection of similar items, but not one of these.”

Matthias crossed his arms. “You found this stuff on Emma’s farm. Technically, it all belongs to her. She doesn’t have to let you have any of it.”

Fran whirled to face them. Her expression reminded Emma of a child who’d been told she had to give up a favorite toy. “I usually keep what I find. I have a legal form.”

“Which I don’t believe Emma signed.” He looked at her. “Did you?”

“No,” Emma replied and came back to Fran. “Did Eric sign it?”

“No.” Fran slouched, dejected.

Matthias gently elbowed Emma. When she glanced at him, he raised an eyebrow. She didn’t have to ask what he meant. “Oh. There was one other item, but I was confused about its origins.” Emma reached into her pocket, dug out the ring, and held it out on her open palm.

Fran’s eyes widened. She reached for it, but Emma curled her fingers around the band and drew back. “Let me see that,” Fran demanded.

This time, Emma pinched it between her forefinger and thumb, holding it up but not offering it to Fran. “Where did you find this? Not on my farm, I’m betting.”

“I can’t tell you anything if you don’t let me see what it is.”

Emma shot a look at Matthias. He shrugged. She debated turning it over and pictured Fran shoving it in her mouth and swallowing it. Emma realized how silly she was being and reached toward Fran to drop the ring in her eager hand.

Fran stared at the band, her face awash in emotions to the point that Emma couldn’t figure out what exactly she was feeling. Awe? Excitement? Amazement? Gratitude?

Grief?

She did not, Emma noticed, look at the inscription.

“You didn’t find this on my farm.” Emma didn’t pose it as a question.

“No.” Fran blinked as if she’d forgotten she wasn’t alone. “I had this in my pocket already. From a previous hunt.”

“Where?” Emma asked.

Fran blinked again. “I—I’m not sure.”