The August weather in Sleepyside was murder. But it wasn't the heat, or even the humidity, that was irritating Trixie that morning. It was her brother's speed, or lack thereof, that was annoying her as they walked up the path to the Manor House stables.
“Come on Mart, hurry up,” Trixie called out, a few paces in front of her brother.
Mart rolled his eyes at his sister. “What's the rush, Trixie? Jim is going to be here all summer, there’s no need to hurry every minute of every day.”
Trixie turned to stare at her brother in disdain. “Oh, just wait until next year, Martin Belden, when you go to college and you're separated from your girlfriend. You'll be just as bad as me…or as Brian.”
“God, I hope not. I can't believe Brian skipped breakfast just to spend more time with Honey.”
Trixie snorted. “Well, I can't ever see you doing that. But trust me, you'll value holidays and vacations. If there's one thing I'll never take for granted, it's time.”
Luckily, Mart decided to pick up the pace before Trixie decided it was time to kill him. Evidently the speed wasn’t necessary, since when they arrived, no one was there.
Trixie stopped in the doorway to look around. It was so unusual to see the stables empty of people that she felt compelled to take a moment to just enjoy the order and comfort of the stables. Regan had taken off a week for a rare vacation and had given the stables an extra spotless cleaning before he left. Trixie walked over to where Susie was nickering and stroked the smooth, velvety coat. She breathed in deeply, enjoying the smell of fresh hay and clean horseflesh.
Hearing voices nearing the stables, she ended her contemplation of the neatness of the stables and rushed to the door, straight into Jim's arms. Behind Jim, Honey and Brian strolled in holding hands.
“You guys are so pathetic,” Mart chided. “It's like you can't stand to be apart for even one…oh, Di's here!” He broke off and rushed over to greet his girlfriend, ignoring the laughter of the others.
“I'm not sure why everyone is laughing,” Diana began. “I probably don't want to know. Does it have anything to do with that horseshoe in the middle of the floor?”
“What horseshoe?” Trixie turned, catching sight of a lone horseshoe in the middle of the aisle between the stables. She walked slowly over to it, puzzling the entire way. ”That wasn't here a few seconds ago.” Standing directly over it, she turned to her brother. “Mart, did you put it there?”
“What? Why would I do that?”
“I don't know, but unless we have a ghost, you must have dropped it,” she concluded. “It wasn't here before.” Trixie crouched down to get a closer look at the horseshoe.
“It wasn’t me, Trixie.” Mart walked over to stare at the horseshoe himself.
Jim looked over from where he was saddling Jupiter. “Ummm…Trixie? Unless this is a magical horseshoe, it didn't just appear.”
“It is sort of mysterious though.” Honey ignored the simultaneous groans from her brother and her boyfriend and crouched down next to Trixie. ““If Trixie said it wasn't there a couple of minutes ago, then it wasn't here. I wonder where it came from though.” She looked up at the rafters.
Deciding that it wasn't a crime scene and she wouldn’t be disturbing evidence, Trixie reached down and touched the shoe. Her brow creased as she realized it was warm to the touch. “Okay, this is seriously weird. It's, like, warm.” She picked up the shoe and stood up, turning it around in her hand.
Drawn by the curiosity in her voice, Jim, Brian and Diana walked over to examine the horseshoe themselves. Looking at Trixie for permission, Jim took the shoe out of her hand. His eyebrows rose up when he took a closer look.
“It is warm. And, oddly enough, it doesn't have any nail holes.” Jim commented.
“Maybe it's for decoration.” Honey offered.
Trixie took the horseshoe back from Jim. “Whatever. That still doesn't explain how it got here.”
“Are you sure that it wasn't here before, Trixie?” Brian asked.
“I am 100% positive that it wasn't here before. I was just admiring how neat and organized the stables were. And I would have tripped on it when I was walking over to see Susie.”
“Well, that's true, Trixie.” Mart nudged his sister good-naturedly. “You definitely would have tripped on it.”
Trixie had long since grown out of her clutziness and she just rolled her eyes at her almost twin. Besides, she was far more interested in the horseshoe.
“So how did it get here?” Diana pondered, reaching out to take the horseshoe, her eyebrows rising as she felt the warmth from the shoe. “Huh…you’re right, it is warm. And it’s getting hotter.” She switched the horseshoe to her other hand and stared in disbelief as the horseshoe glowed bright and started to fade away, her hand fading as well. “What—what’s happening?”
Diana’s last words sounded thick and faraway, like she was speaking underwater. Trixie watched in horror as Diana’s body became translucent, then began to slowly disappear. Mart made a grab for her free hand, trying to pull her back. When instead, he began to vanish as well, Trixie instinctively reached out to grip his hand. As Trixie was dragged into the unknown, she felt Jim’s hand grab hers like a vice and she knew that Honey and Brian would follow; each of the Bob-Whites determined to save one another and instead being dragged away.
Right before they disappeared completely, she heard Dan's voice. “Hey Bob-Whites, where are you? I hope I'm not too late. I'd hate if you guys left without me. Guys? Hello?”
With her last glimpse, she saw Dan approaching them, a look of curiosity on his face. When Dan reached out to touch their fading images, he exclaimed in shock as he too, began to evaporate away.
Author's Notes: So, Maryoma and I have had this concept for years now, evidently before July 12, 2005, when “Origin in Death” was released. Jenn, Kyrie, Mary and I (and a couple of Jenn's co-workers) went to a ballgame, and although Mary and I *did* watch the game, we also sat there and plotted out this entire crossover story between Trixie and In Death.
And in honor of the 8th Jix Anniversary, we are finally starting the story.
We are not making any money whatsoever on any of these characters, be thy Julie Campbell's or Nora Robert's characters. I respect both ladies far too much to do that.
Thank you to Julie Campbell for creating these wonderful characters sixty years ago. Thanks to CathyP for Jix, and thanks to all the admins and mods throughout the years for keeping it running.
I also have to thank Jenn and Mary for their edits and my friend Julio for a last minute coding fix.
I hope you enjoy it. Tune back in tomorrow to see the “In Death” portion of this crossover in Mary's chapter. - CW