“It was all a wild goose chase,” Janet greeted them, sinking into the first convenient chair. “I wish I had stayed home with you. Is there any fudge left?”
“Plenty,” Valerie said. “Didn’t you have any excitement?” she asked sweetly.
“Nary a crumb,” Carol declared. “For once Janet’s sixth sense was totally wrong.”
“You mean it led in the wrong direction,” Phyllis said. “You didn’t need to chase off after the excitement. It came to the ranch.”
“What are you talking about?” demanded Madge.
“What happened to Tom?” Virginia continued as her brother and the Sheriff and Mr. Wilson left the ranch house and walked toward the bunkhouse.
“Did he fall off his horse?” added Janet.
“He was shot,” Phyllis said innocently, gleefully noting the sensation her words created.
“What’s this?” Carol asked, rousing herself from a comfortable position. “Did I hear aright? Shot? How? By whom? And why?”
“Haven’t you noticed the living room is slightly awry?” Gale demanded.