Dang Near Dead (An Aggie Mundeen Mystery Book 2) by Nancy G. West Page A

grown up in Wisconsin, I looked up the state’s marijuana laws: possession of marijuana was punishable by six months in jail and/or a fine of $1,000 for the first offense. Conditional discharge was available for first offenders. Subsequent offenses incurred three-and-a-half years in jail and a fine of $10,000.
    Suppose authorities had previously caught Trey with marijuana. The Landsdales might have paid the $1,000 fine and had him conditionally discharged.
    At that point, they might have suggested he adopt a different name and get a job in Texas at the dude ranch where Vicki worked.
    He could keep an eye on his sister and himself out of jail.
    In Texas, possessing marijuana incurred 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine. Having two to four ounces drew a year in jail and a $4,000 fine.
    Possession or sale of stronger drugs carried greater penalties in both states. Trey Landsdale must have known that if he went to Texas, he’d have to be very careful. If he got caught using illegal substances, his parents might balk at paying the price of keeping him out of jail.
    On the other hand, the Landsdales might prefer having Trey jailed in Texas. They’d have a better chance of keeping his misdeeds out of the Wisconsin papers.
    I still had time to check my email before dinner. Sure enough, somebody had written to Dear Aggie.
    The paper would have to email her my answer. This reader needed advice fast.
      
    Dear Aggie,
     
    Our friends have a ranch. They insisted we visit them. Dinner and camaraderie were great, but tomorrow we’re going on a three-hour hike. I’d just as soon jump off a cliff, but I can’t get out of it. Any suggestions?
     
    Creeped-out in the country.
      
    Dear Creeped,
     
    First, wear cool, comfortable clothing with a sweater and COMFORTABLE walking shoes. No boots you haven’t broken in. Don’t even consider flip-flops or espadrilles. High-topped tennis shoes are good. If you wear regular tennis shoes, stuff your jeans into tube socks. Wear sunscreen and a hat. You don’t want to survive outdoor life only to look like a hag. Use bug repellant. Mosquitoes either love you or hate you. Why chance it?
     
    I know you’re thinking about snakes. Most are not poisonous and avoid people. If that doesn’t make you feel better, wear gloves and sprinkle granular Snake-Be-Gone around you as you walk. Or sprinkle it on your shoes.
     
    Better still, walk in the open. If your host starts to walk though brush, walk directly behind him.
    Remember: heat, Deet, and feet.
     
    Aggie
      
    I was glad we weren’t taking any prolonged, age inducing hikes. I could hardly wait to get the dirt off, even in a primitive shower using lye soap. Fortunately, I discovered I’d packed a bar of Ivory.
    Meredith and I were in our underwear, mid-way through blow-drying our hair when the power went out in the building. Cabin electricity apparently couldn’t support two hair dryers. We groped around in semi-darkness, trying to find clothes that matched.
    Millie’s voice carried through the breezeway. “Is it almost morning? I had a terrible dream about a snake.” In loud voices, as though they had to shout to be heard over the darkness, the other two girls explained the electrical malfunction to Millie, reoriented her to pre-dinner time and didn’t mention the snake.
    When Sam banged on the front door, the lights came on. “Are you ready to go eat?”
    “Y’all go on,” Jangles called. “We’ll get Millie ready and be there in a minute.”
    Meredith opened the door. “We had to dress without lights,” she told Sam.
    “I spent the last hour listening to George and Selma Tensel argue,” he said. “George hates everything about this place. They don’t serve liquor, so he had to drive to Bandera for booze. He hates having to walk everywhere. Selma harped he needs more exercise but pointed out he has no trouble chasing young girls like Vicki.”
    “Ouch.”
    Poor Vicki. This was one more conflict she didn’t