by Lynn Cahoon
“Where are you? I thought we were going to the winery for lunch?” Felicia whined. “I’m starving.”
“I’m right down the street.” Angie pushed open the door. Ian was getting into an older wagon with logos on the side announcing the River Vista Farmers Market. She supposed she should thank him, but he hadn’t been particularly supportive of her ideas. In fact, he’d insinuated she’d fail. Well, she’d show him. Creepy, he was creepy, not her. She spun left and headed to the restaurant.
The short walk did nothing to cool the steam. That man was infuriating. If he wasn’t key to The County Seat being successful, she’d show him what he could do with his concern about her smile. This is why she liked being in the kitchen. There, no one bothered her, except maybe a waitress with a bad attitude or a sous chef who wasn’t pulling his weight. Those things she could handle.
She found Felicia sitting outside with a book in her hand. Another Highlander romance from what she could tell by the cover. When her friend saw her, she popped up. “I’m so hungry, I could eat this book.”
“Sorry, I got tied up.” She motioned to the back of the building. “I parked in the back. Let’s go before I decided to go back and trash his office.”
“I take it the meeting went badly? What are we going to do about supplies?” Felicia followed Angie around the building, trying to keep up.
“Oh, he’s letting people sell to us. He doesn’t think I’ll be very effective working with his farmers though. He treats me like…” She paused and considered the last hour. “A helpless female.”
“Oh, boy.” Felicia climbed into the passenger seat.
Angie started up the car and looked over at her friend. “That’s all you got? Oh, boy?”
Felicia squirmed in her seat. “It’s just that I know how you can get. If you think you’ve been slighted, well, you go a little overboard to fix things.”
“I’ve never gone overboard.” Angie pulled the car out of the small lot and drove out of town.
Felicia turned toward her. “What about the time you sent 12 dozen cookies to the reviewer who didn’t like your dessert?”
“She deserved them. She wouldn’t know a good dessert from a store-bought cookie.”
“And the time you bought out every avocado, lime, and tomato the market had on hand because they refused to special order your produce?”
That had been a little extreme. They’d been making some sort of salsa special for the next week, trying to use up all the produce before it went bad. “It worked didn’t it? The manager called me the next day and set up an ordering process.”
“You can’t always get what you want by bulldozing people. You need to find some charm and use that.” Felicia smiled. “Like me. I’ve made a lot of new friends since we moved here. There was a rocking band down at the bar last night. I love that I can just walk home when I stay out too late.”
“You really should be careful. Bad things can happen here, just like they do in the big city.” Angie snuck a look at her friend. Man, she sounded like an old lady. Or maybe like Kirk, the vet. And from the look on Felicia’s face, she was taking the unsolicited advice just as well as Angie had from Kirk.
“I’m a big girl. If I want to be griped at, I’ll call my mother.” Felicia slumped in her chair. “What has your goat today? Did Ian really tick you off that bad?”
The car was quiet for a while, then Angie blew out a breath. “I don’t know if it’s Mr. Moss’s death, or just being home. Maybe a combination of everything. He was so sweet, and he knew Nona. I wish I’d known him when I lived here as a kid. But I was too busy doing kid stuff. If she’d offered to take me out there, I probably would have begged off to read or go to the town pool.”
“Kids think everything’s going to be the same forever. They don’t have the ability to think past the next swim party.” Felicia leaned forward. “Speaking of swimming, did you know they float in rafts and on inner tubes down Indian Creek? There’s a park where people leave their vehicles, then they float downstream to another spot where someone drives them back. I was talking about floating the Boise River soon and Tank told me about the creek just outside town.”
Angie smiled at the memories that came flooding in. She’d been a teenager the last time she floated the creek. Who had she been dating then? She couldn’t remember his name but he was tall, dark, handsome, and the captain of the football team. The summer romance hadn’t lasted past fall when she’d gone off to college, but he’d been fun.
“By the look on your face, you did know about the creek. You have to tell me the story behind that blush.” Felicia crossed her leg under her and turned toward Angie, leaning back against the door.
“Just memories.” Angie ignored the plea in her friend’s voice and turned up the radio station. She hadn’t had a country station set on her vehicle for years. Now that she’d returned home, she found the station she used to listen to was still going strong. “Tell me about the hiring. Any hiccups?”
“I’m still looking for your sous chef, but the college says they might have someone locally who would be interested. I guess they graduated a few years ago but haven’t worked in the field.” Felicia pulled out her phone. “Good news is I’m fully staffed for front of the house. We have our first training next week. I was hoping you’d come.”
“That would be perfect. We could do a trial run on a few of the menu items the same day if you can get my kitchen staff in for a few hours before and we’ll do a family meal together.” Angie started humming along with the song playing on the radio. Everything was going to work out. She could feel it.
“So what was the old guy like? I’ve heard stories he could be mean.” Felicia put her phone away after making a few notes on her calendar. “All fire and brimstone?”
“He was a little brusque at first. Dom liked him and you know he’s a good judge of character.” Angie thought about Dom stuck in the kitchen. Maybe they should run home first and let him out for a minute. She glanced at her watch. They had an appointment with the winery owners at two and if she made the detour, not only would they be late, they might miss the lunch serving. She sent positive thoughts to her dog and hoped he was sleeping rather than using her kitchen table leg as a chew toy.
“Dom is still a puppy. He hasn’t had a chance to meet any truly evil people. Maybe he just likes everyone?” Felicia narrowed her eyes. “Where is he by the way? Did you get that fence installed and I didn’t notice?”
“The crew’s coming tomorrow but I decided to leave him in the kitchen. I put everything away.” Including the clean jars she’d gotten ready for the failed strawberry jam that morning. “The doors are shut tight to the rest of the house.”
“You like to live dangerously.” Felicia grinned. “Anyway, I heard Mr. Moss killed a girl when they were young.”
“Mrs. Potter’s sister.”
Felicia sat straight in her seat. “What? You’re kidding, right?”
Angie told her what she’d heard from Mrs. Potter. “I’m sure it was just sour grapes. I mean, the Sheriff didn’t say anything about Mr. Moss being a murderer. And besides, if he was, he’d be in jail, not running a goat farm.”
“Maybe they isolated him because they couldn’t prove it but he was shunned from all human contact.” Felicia sat up straighter in her seat and Angie could see the wheels turning as she concocted a story.
“You read too much fiction. Especially stories about wounded heroes.” Angie tapped the steering wheel with her fingers, thinking about how she might find out. “Maybe we should go visit the library and see if they have the old newspaper articles on file. If she was murdered, it should have made the paper.”
“If she stubbed her toe on the sidewalk it would have made this paper. Have you read it yet? I can’t believe the things they call news around here.” Felicia grinned. “In California there would be too many murders to do an article about each one. He
re, they do articles on the local festivals and new businesses opening in town. And by the way, a reporter named Doris will be calling you tomorrow. I pushed her off a day since we were so busy today.”
“Why didn’t you handle it? You’re part owner too.” Angie grumbled, her good mood disappearing as fast as it came. Burning the jam this morning had started off a run of bad luck. She needed to get home and try again so at least the day would end on a positive note.
“She wanted to interview the successful chef coming home.” Felicia shrugged. “I thought it was a good angle. Oh, there’s the winery. Isn’t this location lovely?”
It definitely was lovely. The winery sat on the ridge of the canyon. The road they were on would wind its way down to the riverbank and cross the new bridge that had been constructed a few years ago. The old bridge had been turned into a walkway for bicyclists and pedestrians to get to the trails on the other side of the river.
The winery hadn’t been here when she left. Or if it had, she hadn’t thought about it as a place to go. Of course, she’d still been too young to drink when she went off to college. A fact that didn’t seem to stop her from drinking too much, especially her freshman year. She’d straightened up during her first culinary class during sophomore year. When she’d found her calling.
She found a parking spot near the door. The lunch crowd had already left which would make it easier to talk business with the owners. Walking into the building, she was reminded of the Napa Valley wineries she’d visited the summer before they’d left California. Same lovely flowers planted in large half barrels. But here, a row of white rockers sat on the porch. “Kind of looks like Cracker Barrel, doesn’t it?”
Felicia shot her a ‘be quiet’ look and pulled open the door. They entered the winery and walked toward the hostess table that doubled as a cashier station for the wine that was displayed throughout the room. Little signs on tables suggested food pairings to go along with the wines. Angie picked one up. “This is a great idea. We should think about a suggested wine or drink pairing with the entrees.”
“Do we hire a sommelier? Or a sous chef? Because we can’t afford both.” Felicia nodded to the hostess stand. “Let’s get a table. I’m starving.”
The hostess led them to a small table covered with a white linen tablecloth. Empty wine glasses sparkled in the sunlight. The woman set up a small chalk board. “These are our lunch options. The soup and salad are always popular as is the grilled salmon sandwich. Take your time, Connie will be with you in a few minutes.”
“I guess this saves money printing up menus.” Angie picked up the menu board. “But you’d have to come in early every day and write out the different selections.”
“Maybe that would be the sommelier’s job. He would need something to occupy his time since we’ll be paying him an arm and a leg to pair wines.” Felicia smiled up at the woman pouring water in her glass. “I think Mr. Harris is expecting us. Can you let him know Angie Turner and Felicia Williams are here to see him?”
“Sure, hon. Can I get you something else to drink besides good old Snake River water?” The woman’s eyes twinkled.
“Bring us the local white zinfandel. Glass only. We’re on business.” Angie was scanning the wine list that had several options from the winery as well as other local sources. “This is a good sign. It looks like they’re used to working with other local businesses. There’s even a beer that’s brewed in northern Idaho. Did you know they grow hops there too?”
“I’m more of a domestic bottle girl.” Felicia grinned at her. “You are such a food snob. I’m kind of embarrassed that I don’t know all the stuff you do about food and beverages. You should write a blog. It would be good for the restaurant. You could spread the gospel on locally sourced food and how it’s going to save the planet.”
“You’re funny.” Angie sipped her water.
Felicia shook her head. “I’m dead serious. That’s a great social media angle for The County Seat!”
“I heard you two were out here.” A man approached their table. He leaned down and kissed Angie on the cheek. “It’s so nice to see you again. We were all so saddened by the passing of your grandmother. The winery sent flowers, but you probably already knew that.”
“Mr. Harris?” Felicia held out her hand. “I’m Felicia Williams and apparently you already know our chef/owner, Angie Turner.”
“Ms. Williams, so nice to meet you. Call me Rob.” He turned toward Angie and put a hand on her shoulder. “Of course I know Angie. She broke my heart at the senior prom.”
CHAPTER 5
Angie almost knocked over her water glass. The weird thing is she didn’t know this guy. Seriously, how could she not remember who she went to prom with. Then memories started to flow back. “I didn’t go to senior prom. I had a college tour that weekend back east.”
Rob Harris held up his hands. “Exactly. You probably didn’t realize this but I was planning on asking you to go with me. I had the whole scenario planned out in my head. Music, flowers, even a large bottle of Coke with plastic champagne glasses they sell at the party stores, even though I’m more of a Pepsi person, I still remember you loving your Coke.”
“We went to school together?” Clearly this guy knew her and her inappropriate love of the too sweet soda. It was almost a guilty secret now a day. She kept a stash hidden in the bottom drawer of her fridge, just in case she had a craving. “I’m sorry, I don’t quite remember.”
He put his hand over his heart in fake dismay. “So you’re not here to rekindle our fiery teenage love that never quite worked out for either of us?”
When neither she or Felicia responded, Rob pulled up a chair and sat next to the table. “I’m just kidding with you. I don’t think you even knew I existed, but man, I did have a crush on you. As soon as you showed up sophomore year, I was your slave. Or could have been, if you ever talked to me.”
“I was shy.” Angie remembered arriving at River Vista High School that spring after her parents died. All she’d wanted was to wake up from the nightmare and be back in her canopy bed in Colorado. Instead, she wandered like a ghost through the halls and cooked with Nona at night. The only thing that kept her going was knowing that she’d be gone off to college in a few years and she had to cherish every day she had with her grandmother. Especially since she hadn’t given her folks that respect before they died.
“You were amazing.” Rob grinned at the two women. “Anyway, enough of my teenage wounds. So you’re opening up a dinner place in River Vista? Tell me about it.”
Angie went through the concept, how she wanted to locally source all of the main proteins and most of the ingredients from the area. Seasonal and fresh. She hadn’t worked through a winter menu, yet, but she imagined it full of soups and chowders unless she could find a local greenhouse that would grow her greens inside. When she paused, lost in thought about options, Felicia took over.
“And we’d love to feature your wines. Of course, we’ll have some local microbrews on tap as well, and maybe some locally produced liqueurs, but I’m sure the wines will be the focus for the food pairings.” She picked up the glass that the waitress had brought her while they were talking and sipped. She winked at Angie. “Maybe you could even help us choose the pairings?”
Rob chuckled. “Not sure that my girlfriend would be on board with me spending so much time over at your new place, especially since she runs the lunch restaurant here at the winery. That being said, we’re excited about your new venture and would love to partner with you.”
“That’s wonderful.” Angie held up her glass in a toast. “Felicia will handle all the ordering and I’d love to have you and your girlfriend attend opening night, my treat.”
“Tasha and I will be there.” Rob lowered his voice, scanning the room to see who could overhear. “Tough luck about Old Man Moss dying. I hear you were the last to see him alive.”
“Actually, no.
There were a lot of people still at the barn when I left. Including my realtor, Reana.” Angie wondered where that particular piece of gossip was coming from. Ian and the Sheriff had been under the same assumption. “I guess the Sheriff just wanted to know what I was doing out there.”
“The guy had more enemies in town than friends.” He shrugged. “I hate to speak ill of the dead, but the guy was a tool. He hated everyone. My mom said your grandmother used to take the church visitation every month when his name came up. No one but her ever wanted to go visit, even if it got them in good with the big guy upstairs.”
Angie remembered her grandmother doing visitations to different church members as part of her woman’s group. Nona had tried to get her to go, but even when she talked her into driving, Angie had stayed outside in the car and waited. The memory made her smile. “She loved going visiting.”
“She was an amazing woman. Everyone loved her.” He looked at his watch. “Sorry, I’ve got another meeting. It was great to see you again Angie. And Felicia, I’m sure we’ll talk soon. Call me tomorrow and we’ll figure out what you need for your first order.”
As he walked away, Felicia sank back into her chair. “That went better than I’d expected. When I’d called to set up the meeting, he was less than enthusiastic about partnering. Who else had a crush on you in high school that we can use?”
“How am I supposed to know? I didn’t even remember Rob.” Even now, she couldn’t quite place the dark-haired, good looking man with any of the boys she’d remembered from her three years at River Vista High. She was going to have to review her yearbooks so she wouldn’t seem rude the next time a former classmate came up and wanted to revisit the glory days. “I was a loner. I didn’t have many friends and mostly, I just counted the days until I could get out of high school and back to what I’d considered home. Of course, I never did return, even after college.”
“I’m on a Facebook page with my class. We chat all the time.” Felicia took a bite of the sandwich they’d ordered before Rob had descended on their table. “This is good, but I don’t think they are really focusing on their food.”