Read 6 A Thyme to Die for Free Online

to plant a few willow trees in her front yard. That’s a good contract for next week—unless you think the flower show will stay closed. I could do it tomorrow while the weather is still nice.”
    “No. Let’s plan on being at the flower show tomorrow. We have too much invested in our exhibit to forget about it. I need you there.”
    “Okay.” He shrugged his broad shoulders. “You think Steve will give you a heads-up tonight? Or is discussing police/FBI business going to be a no-no between you?”
    Selena scoffed as she gave Peggy a cup of her favorite peach tea, fresh from the mini microwave. “You don’t know anything. There are no holds barred between a man and woman when they’re in bed together. That’s why they call it pillow talk. How do you think Mata Hari got all those secrets out of men? Men can’t keep anything secret from a woman. Right, Peggy?”
    Peggy looked up from her tea. “I don’t think I’m the right person to ask about that, at least not right now.”
     

Chapter Five
    Willow
    Hippocrates wrote of the medicinal properties of willow and its ingredient, salicin, in the fifth century BC. It had already been used for generations by ancient peoples for headache, fevers and body pain. In present day, we use a synthetic form of salicin as aspirin. The name aspirin was patented by Bayer in 1897. Willow was also the beginning of some of mankind’s earliest tools. Willow fishing nets, baskets, and other items were used as early as 8000 BC. The wood has been used for boxes, toys, paper and fiber. People ate the catkins from the willow. Today we admire its form and aesthetics, but in the past, humans relied on it for so much more.

    Sam made faces at Selena who frowned and went into the back of the shop to look for something.
    “Don’t worry about it,” Sam recommended. “This is a transition for you and Steve. You’re finding your way in a new relationship.”
    Peggy sipped her tea. “Thanks for the advice. I’d like to know your source. Was it the last three week relationship you had, or was it the ten-day relationship?”
    “ Ouch .” He frowned. “I think you need some chamomile tea in that cup. You know Steve didn’t want to keep all of this a secret from you. Anyone with eyes can see how much he loves you. He had to do this for his job.”
    “What about Mata Hari?”
    “That was different. She never loved anyone she seduced. She only did it for information. I don’t think even your amazing knowledge of botanical poisons would be enough to keep Steve around all this time if he didn’t care about you.”
    She smiled at the thought. “I know you’re right. I’m a little afraid of history repeating itself. It’s not a normal life, Sam. It’s scary not knowing if there will be another knock on my door late one night.”
    “I know. At least you two love each other. Most people don’t even have that, and there can still be scary knocks on the door late at night. Cops aren’t the only ones who don’t make it home.”
    “Thanks for the pep talk. And good news about the willow trees.”
    He grinned. “While I’m on a roll, I could really use another hand in the landscape part of the business. Things have picked up, and with Keeley gone, I don’t think I can keep up with it by myself.”
    “I trust your judgment. You know where we are financially. If we can afford it, do it.” She put down her cup of tea and picked up the phone. “I have a ton of phone calls to make to angry and frightened people about the flower show. Steve and I will be fine. I hope the flower show will be too.”
    Peggy sat outside in the pleasant courtyard returning phone calls and other messages. She noticed some of the large pots of plants The Potting Shed maintained were in need of work.
    While she talked to vendors who were worried about losing the money they’d invested in the flower show, she got out a small pair of pruning shears and took care of the yellow leaves on tulips and hyacinths. The