Pepper Lane Sweet Shoppe (Pepper Bay #14)

20

Tyler

It was the most bizarre thing Tyler had ever seen in his life. Someone was dressed as a Christmas tree, running around the tree field at the front of Silver Wish Farm. He had to admire the costume and thought it might be an idea to purchase one for the following year, not that he planned to wear it, but one of the staff members would for a small bonus, he was sure.

‘Hey,’ he called, marching over to the dancing tree.

No doubt it was one of his mates messing around, but he soon realised whoever was inside the costume wasn’t a friend of the family because no friend would try to tug a tree from the ground, and this person had started doing exactly that.

‘Oi,’ yelled Tyler, picking up the pace.

The fake tree continued to tug at the real Christmas tree, kicking and pushing the poor thing and snapping branches.

‘What the hell do you think you’re playing at?’ Tyler snapped, pushing the culprit away.

The baby Christmas tree was looking quite dishevelled and in need of replanting, but it didn’t stand a chance, as one more boot had it tilting sideways.

Tyler jumped in the way, immediately smelling the stale odour of booze wafting from the costume.

‘I want that tree,’ said a slurry male voice.

‘Well, you’re not getting it, so sod off.’ Tyler pointed to the entrance of the driveway, hoping the drunk would go sleep it off somewhere.

No such luck.

The man threw his arms around the damaged tree and hugged it tightly. ‘I want my tree.’

Why me?

Tyler sighed loudly, growing angrier by the minute. ‘Get off the tree or I’ll call the police.’

A hiccup followed by a burp was the only reply, then the man started tugging at the tree again.

Tyler grabbed him, gaining a mouthful of wiry tinsel for his trouble. He spat out the dusty taste as he grappled with the tree killer. ‘I’m warning you, mate.’

The man grumbled and groaned, saying something or other about baubles and stars.

The real tree was flopped sideways, the man was still putting the boot in, and Tyler could take no more.

‘Right, that’s it. I’m calling the police.’ He went to whip out his phone, then realised he’d left it in his mum’s kitchen.

Great!

There was no one else around, as his family were working all over, and the customers were in the garden centre or inside the Frozen Forest. Surely someone had to come along in a minute. It was the farm’s busiest time of year.

Tyler could hardly leave the drunk alone with what was left of the tree. He knew, as soon as his back was turned, the thief would leg it up the drive with his wares.

‘Would you stop?’ yelled Tyler.

It was no use, the man in the costume was determined to uproot his Christmas tree.

Tyler had to do something more drastic. He lunged at the man, tugging him away, but a couple of thumps to his side seemed to wind him. He staggered back and just caught Heath’s truck entering the drive. The next thing he saw were green legs running away, as he was suddenly on his knees.

I don’t feel right .

He removed his hand from where he had been punched to see it covered in red liquid. Had that come from the thief? Was the small tree bleeding?

The farm started to spin at the same time a terrible pain ripped through Tyler’s body. He could hear Heath’s voice, and he was sure he could see Erin’s face, but he couldn’t be certain, as everything was fading fast.

‘Wake up, Ty,’ yelled Erin, shaking him.

He opened his eyes but could only focus on the pain he was feeling. Something was wrong. So very, very wrong, but he wasn’t sure what. ‘Erin?’ he queried, swallowing hard.

‘Don’t you fall asleep,’ she told him, but her voice sounded weird.

‘Ambulance is on its way,’ said Heath, at least that’s what Tyler thought he heard.

His head seemed to be tilted on someone’s lap, possibly. Was that his mum’s voice he could hear? ‘Ow!’ he yelled, as something was pressed into his side. Feeling faint, he tried to close his eyes again, but his cheek was poked.

‘Stay awake, Ty,’ snapped Erin, and he had no idea why she was annoyed.

‘Listen to me, Tyler Silver, you keep your eyes open and on me,’ said his mum.

He blinked hard, homing in on her pale face. He wasn’t imagining it. She was there, pressing his side, and he really wanted to swear because she was hurting him.

Bryce was the next person he heard, and he wondered why his cousin was there stating he was going to kill someone.

‘This is what violence does,’ spat Fran. ‘Look at my boy. He’s been stabbed. Isn’t that enough, Bryce? No more.’

Stabbed? I’ve been stabbed?

Tyler felt sick and so weak. With the last remaining piece of strength he had in him, he lifted his head to look down at his side. Blood was everywhere. On the ground. Covering his mother’s lap, and all over his top. Was that all his? Did he have any left? He flopped back, feeling woozy. A siren filled the air, then everything turned black.