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competitors.
    Delphine might be a small town, but this appeared to be more than a chance encounter.
    When Henry looked up, Elise thought he looked a bit guilty before he smiled and waved her over. “Hello, Elise. How are things at River Bend?”
    â€œAside from a little dry, just fine, Henry. How are you faring out your way?”
    The older man chuckled. “Oh, we’re getting by. Although the extra irrigation has added more expense than I’d like. But we’ll all manage, right?”
    Elise laughed. “Do we have any other choice?”
    â€œI’ve found there’s always another choice,” Pam added with more than a touch of sarcasm.
    Elise was sure she would say something more, but Henry quickly put a hand over the Pit owner’s forearm, and she clammed right up.
    What is up with that?
    â€œWell, I should be getting back,” he said. Standing, he leaned heavily on his ornate oak cane. “We’ll talk later, Pam. And quit worrying; it will all work out. You’ll see. Elise, it was a pleasure to see you. Give my best to your family.”
    Elise watched him go and wondered what Henry’s comments to Pam had meant. She hadn’t realized they were that well acquainted, but the meeting seemed to suggest otherwise. Sliding into the booth opposite Pam, Elise contemplated the best way to get the woman talking.
    â€œI spoke to Darrell Yancy today, and he said he’d run into you and Uncle Edmond.”
    Well, El, that was a lame opener.
    And of course, Darrell hadn’t actually said that in so many words, but his earlier reaction at her guesses had told her she was on the money.
    â€œIs that so?” Pam eyed her with suspicion. “And what did the fine deputy have to say?”
    â€œJust that you two thought things were going to somehow change at the vineyard in the near future,” Elise reported with mock innocence. “You know, I can’t imagine what that would be.”
    â€œOh, just you wait. Change is coming, all right.”
    Elise blinked and gave Pam another clueless look. Maybe just a little nudge of information was in order. “Do you mean the restraining order? You know, I tried to talk them out of that, but Uncle Edmond behaved so badly last night that the rest of the family wouldn’t listen to a word.”
    Pam’s head snapped up sharply at that little nugget, a shocked look on her face. “Restraining order? What restraining order?”
    Gotcha! Elise smiled inwardly and glanced at her watch. “Uh, the one that’s going into effect this afternoon or early tomorrow morning at the latest. It will bar Uncle Edmond from vineyard property. I thought you knew, being that you two are so close and all.”
    Elise watched Pam’s face go red and mottled with anger. She also thought Mrs. P. might have been wrong about Pam; there was a whole lot more than bipolar going on here, for sure.
    â€œThat dirty, rotten, no good son-of-a—”
    â€œPam?” Elise interrupted. “What’s the matter?”
    â€œIf Eddy Beckett thinks he’s going to screw me over, he’s got another thing comin’ , ” the other woman yelled. Heads turned all over the restaurant.
    â€œI don’t understand,” Elise leaned forward with false concern. “What has Uncle Edmond done?”
    Pam scrambled out of the booth, babbling madly. “I will not watch my business go under because of that loser , I’ll tell you that right now.”
    â€œWhere is Uncle Edmond, Pam?” Elise asked as the owner turned to stalk away.
    Pam spun around and glared at her. Elise held her breath, thinking the woman might have a complete meltdown right then and there. But after a moment she shook her head. “I haven’t seen him since this morning, but if he comes back here, I just may choke the life out of him with my bare hands.”
    Once Pam was out of range, Elise let out the breath she hadn’t