Page 17 of Flowers Go Flying in Crumbleton

‘How can I help?’ she said curiously.

‘It’s Wilfred Manning.’

‘Uh huh?’ said Milly, racking her brain and wondering whether the name should mean something to her.

‘We met at the wedding on Saturday – I was the bloke with the horse and cart.’

‘Oh!’ said Milly in surprise. ‘How can I help you, Wilfred?’

‘Well… it’s like this…’ Wilfred trailed off, sounding awkward. There was a deep sigh before he carried on. ‘Were there any plants in the bride’s bouquet that might be poisonous?’

‘Poisonous?!’ said Milly. The word escaped in a high-pitched treble. Was this about Murray?! It was bad enough that her flowers had knocked him out, but if she’d somehow managed to poison him too—

‘Yes – for horses, I mean,’ said Wilfred, interrupting her spiralling panic. ‘Everyone’s blaming Hercules for eating the flowers.’

‘Hercules?’ echoed Milly.

‘The horse!’ harrumphed Wilfred. ‘Keep up!’

Milly thought back to the small, slightly rotund pony who’d barely been able to keep his eyes open. It was a pretty grand name for the little guy!

‘Look,’ said Wilfred. ‘I don’t think he ate it – but there was a lot going on what with that bloke on the ground and the ambulance arriving. He might have nibbled a flower or two - and I just want to check he’ll be alright. He seems a bit depressed, that’s all!’

‘Right…’ said Milly, shaking her head as she tried to get it on straight. ‘So… there were cornflowers, gerberas, sunflowers, roses and gypsophila. I don’t think any of them are poisonous – and I don’t use sprays or anything…’

‘Well – it’s a start,’ said Wilfred.

‘I’ll need to do a bit of research just to check the flowers are horse safe, though!’ she added. ‘Can I call you back?’

‘Please!’ said Wilfred. ‘I’ve been that worried about the little fellow. He’s my best friend. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to him.’

‘Of course,’ said Milly, melting slightly. ‘I’ll double-check now and call you straight back.’

‘What on earth was all that about?’ said Jo, the minute she put the phone down.

Milly sighed. The last thing she wanted to do was mention the wedding again, but there was no way around it.

‘The owner of the horse from the wedding wants to know if any of the flowers are toxic for horses,’ she said, firing up the shop’s laptop so that she could start researching. ‘Looks like Hercules helped himself to a bit of a feast!’

‘Blimey,’ said Jo, shaking her head. ‘If you ask me, that bouquet was cursed. Killing off the best man and the horse? Whatever’s next… the bride and groom?’

‘Hush!’ hissed Milly, her eyes going wide as she glanced over at the door to double-check they were still alone. The last thing she needed was any hint of supposedly cursed wedding flowers to get out. People were so weirdly suspicious around weddings as it was. ‘No one’s dead!’

‘Yet!’ said Jo, looking excited. ‘I mean, no one’s seen the best man since the accident, have they? He could have bled to death in the ambulance!’

Milly stared at Jo, feeling slightly sick for a second – and then common sense kicked in again. ‘There wasn’t any blood.’

‘Oh,’ said Jo, looking disappointed. ‘But he did lose several teeth!’

‘What? How do you know that?’ said Milly.

‘Kendra told me!’ she said. ‘According to her, the bloke fell flat on his face and there were teeth everywhere. Actually… I was going to ask if I could have a bit longer for lunch so that I can go down and help Kendra look for them in the gravel.’

‘Eww!’ said Milly. ‘Why?!’

‘Because it would be cool!’ said Jo with a shrug. ‘What do you think?’

‘I think I need a coffee,’ said Milly, opening the till and grabbing some money. ‘Here,’ she added, thrusting it in Jo’s direction. ‘Go find Mabel and grab us both an extra-large cappuccino – or whatever you fancy.’

---