Who Moved My Goat Cheese?

by Lynn Cahoon

  “Are you an existing client or a new one?”

  “New, but I don’t see how that changes the answer.”

  Now the voice didn’t sound so friendly. “No need to get snippy. I’m just the answering service. The note from Mr. Foreman says if you’re an existing client, I can give out his cell number and tell you he’s just in Sun Valley so feel free to call. But since you are a new customer, the directions tell me to say he’ll be back in the office at ten on Monday. “

  “Thank you for your help. I’ll give him a call then.” Angie hung up the phone and made a note on Monday’s page. She looked out the front window and caught Heather watching her from the reception window. When their gaze met, Heather ducked out of sight behind a wall. “Now, that’s weird.”

  Angie put the car in gear and left the parking lot. Maybe Heather was just trying to see why she hadn’t left yet. The woman seemed to have her finger in just about everything surrounding the cheese commission. Small town America. Everyone knew your business, sometimes before you even did.

  CHAPTER 19

  Angie drove out to a larger grocery store and filled her cart with items she needed at the house. After putting the food away and making lunch, she still had two hours before Ian needed her at the farm. She looked at Dom who’d been watching her since she got home.

  “I know, I’ve been gone a lot this week. But you need to get used to it. Once The County Seat opens, I’ll be gone a lot more.” She called the dog over to her and rubbed his huge head. “Want to go for a walk?”

  The woof was louder than she expected and Dom ran to the door and sat. Angie grinned at him. “No one could tell me you don’t understand what I’m saying.”

  He whined and pawed the floor in front of the door.

  In less than ten minutes, they were on the road, a backpack with bottled water, granola bars, dog treats, her phone, and wallet. She wanted to get some pictures of the farm while she was there so she could use them in promotions in the future for the restaurant. The parking lot at the trail head was empty today. She grabbed her backpack, clipped the leash on Dom, and they headed up the trail.

  As they wandered, she kept a lookout for any sign of Moss’s cave. The estate needed to get in there sooner than later to make sure everything was still all right. Of course, Ian could know where the cave was and just hadn’t told her.

  Dom barked, bringing her out of her musing. She leaned down, trying to match his gaze. “Hey, what do you see?”

  The grass by the trail had started to turn brown. There hadn’t been a lot of rain in the area and the gentle sloping canyon wall where the trail led didn’t hold in any moisture. A rabbit bounced away from her and for a second, it looked like it was following a trail. She inched forward, trying to find the path’s beginnings.

  A vibration buzzed on her back, causing her to jerk and go down on her knees from her crouched position. Dom nuzzled her face as she moved to a seated position and took her phone out of the backpack. Glancing at the display, she hit the accept button. “Hi Felicia. What’s going on?”

  “I just wanted to see if Estebe had gotten a hold of you.”

  Angie pictured her new second in command and groaned. She couldn’t open without him. Or at least someone else to help. “No, why?”

  “He wants to meet you at the kitchen tomorrow about three. He says he’d like to talk about the recipes again.” Felicia paused. “He seemed kind of upset. I’m not sure why he didn’t call you yet.”

  “When did you talk to him?”

  “Two, no, three hours ago. I’d left my phone up in the apartment when I went down to grab something from the fridge in the kitchen. When I came back, I had three missed calls from him. I didn’t even have time to call him back when my phone lit up again. If he was that insistent on talking to you, why didn’t he call after we talked?”

  Angie held the phone out and checked her missed calls log. Nothing. “Well, if he calls back, tell him I’ll be there at three. And let’s hope he’s not really just quitting. I don’t know how I’d pull off opening night without a sous chef.”

  “If that happens, we’ll call for a temp. The employment agency I was working with said they could get me a temp cook, no problem. He or she probably won’t have the skills Estebe has, but we’ll get through. Don’t worry.”

  That was easy for Felicia to say. Angie had worked with temp cooks before. She hated it. There was no team work or friendly banter. No, they just saw it as a job. She wanted staff that loved the place as much as she did. After she said her goodbyes to her friend, she traded her phone for one of the water bottles and Dom’s dish. She poured half of the bottle into Dom’s dish. Then they took a break and Angie stared down the canyon where the Snake River cut through the landscape. The sun was lower and she checked the time. Almost five. She didn’t have time to try to figure out if there really was a trail here or not. At least, not today. Chugging the rest of the water, she stashed the empty bottle into her pack and stacked some rocks into an arrow shape while she waited for Dom to finish drinking. She’d come back and look harder, maybe tomorrow morning. Before she had to meet with Estebe.

  * * * *

  When they pulled into the driveway at Moss Farm, Angie parked by Ian’s wagon near the front of the house. She figured he was in the barn, helping the milkers, but she could pretend that maybe he was in the house. She left Dom tied to the porch rail and knocked on the door. “Ian, are you in there?”

  Trying the knob, she found the door unlocked and with a quick peek over her shoulder to make sure Ian hadn’t heard her pull up, she slipped into the house. It was cool after the heat of the day. Tree cover replaced the need for central air. She saw Ian’s bedroll still spread out on the couch. Making a beeline to the desk, she opened the roll top and sat down, flipping through papers on the top. Nothing popped out. Then she opened a side drawer and found folders labeled, bills, reports, and bingo, bank statements. She scanned through the paperwork until she found the downturn Mildred had mentioned.

  Snapping a picture of the statement, she looked at the ten-thousand-dollar withdrawal that had depleted the savings down to just a couple hundred. What had Gerald paid ten thousand dollars for? She glanced around the house. Definitely not furniture or upkeep. She opened closets and doors and confirmed that the place’s only heat source was a wood stove. No upgrade there. And he’d taken the money out several months ago.

  Maybe there was something in the barn he’d bought? She’d look there next. But what had happened during March that had Gerald keeping that kind of money in cash? And had someone known he had the money on site? Was that why he’d been killed?

  But if it was the money, why would someone wait three months? Nothing was adding up. She knew the next question she had to answer. What happened to the money?

  She closed up the desk, putting away the file folders in the same order they’d been, and headed to the door to go find Ian. Dom was still sitting on the porch, watching out for stray goats. He remembered the place, Angie could tell. The fur on the back of his neck stood up. She ruffled his mane and untied his leash. “Are you afraid we’re here to get Precious a friend?”

  He looked up at her with fear in his eyes and she laughed. They strolled toward the barn as she snapped pictures on her phone. It would be sad if the new owner decided to subdivide and turn this into high end ranches for people who didn’t ranch. But she guessed progress happened everywhere, including River Vista.

  Ian was at the front table paying the milkers their weekly check. He looked up at her. “You’re early. I’ve got about ten more people to pay out and then we can talk about how to divide up the kids.”

  “Okay if we sit outside? I don’t know if Dom’s allowed in here.”

  The old man in the front of the line laughed. “Dogs are fine. They are clean animals. Besides, Mr. Moss’s dog, well, he’s sad. Maybe he would like some company.” He nodded to the corner
of the barn where an older blue heeler lay in the straw watching them.

  “That’s a good idea.” Angie turned toward the dog. “What’s his name?”

  “Gollum.” The old man peered at his check. “Strange name for a dog.”

  Angie caught Ian’s grin and smiled herself. Apparently, Gerald Moss had been a Tolkien fan. She hoped that didn’t mean she’d be stuck with the dog as well as the baby goat. She eased Dom toward the other dog, holding his leash just in case the greeting wasn’t friendly, but she shouldn’t have worried. Dom leaned down, sniffed the older dog’s snout, then proceeded to clean his face. She sat on the hay bale next to Gollum and petted him.

  “What a good boy. You miss your guy, don’t you?” Angie crooned softly to the old dog who seemed to lean into her touch. She wondered how much attention he’d gotten since Moss’s death.

  When Ian was finished, he walked over to her and crouched next to the dog. “I brought him inside last night and he went right to Gerald’s bed, jumped on top and laid down, like this. The poor guy is grieving.”

  “What’s going to happen to him?”

  Ian shrugged. “I guess that’s up to the new owners. Since an heir hasn’t made him or herself known, I’ve been asked to see if there is a will somewhere in the house. I can’t believe Moss would leave his dairy and animals up in the air with no one to take care of them.”

  It was hard to believe there wasn’t a will, but then again, the man had taken out ten thousand in cash in the last three months from his business account. Maybe he’d been suffering from dementia. “In all the time you knew him, he didn’t say anything about a relative?”

  “We didn’t talk about that. I asked him once what would happen to the farm and he told me to mind my own business. That he had it handled.” Ian ran his hand over his neck. “Maybe me working myself to death is his definition of handled.”

  “Did he buy any new machinery this spring? Maybe something for the farm?” She looked around the barn. Everything seemed old, like 1950s old, but still in good shape. Moss had taken care of what he owned.

  “Not that I know of. Why?” Ian’s eyebrows raised as turned his attention from the dog to her. “Have you been snooping?”

  “Maybe a little. Anyway, Mildred said that he’d told her the business had a downturn in March. Did he buy something that didn’t work out?”

  Ian glanced around the barn, taking the condition of the milking equipment into consideration before he answered. “There’s nothing new here. And if he’d bought something, there’d be a receipt and an owner’s manual. I swear the guy kept every owner’s manual he’d ever gotten. There are things that I don’t even know what they’re for.”

  She bit her lip, wondering whether or not she should mention the bank statements. But if he was looking at why the business was struggling, he should find the withdrawal, sooner or later. And she wouldn’t have to admit to a breaking and entering charge even though the door was open.

  A horn sounded in the driveway. He stood and stretched. “You’ve been saved by the bell. We will return to this subject after the kids leave.”

  Ian brought the kids and leaders inside the barn where he had them sit and gave a quick rundown of a working goat dairy. Angie could see the kids squirming. One little boy hit the one next to him, and the leader/parent had to step in. The rest of the kids turned to watch the fight, and Ian talked louder, trying to get their attention.

  A little girl stood up and raised her hand. Ian, looking for a lifeline, nodded toward her. “You have a question?”

  “Where’s the treasure?”

  At her question, the kids stopped fighting and the group turned toward Ian, waiting on his answer.

  “I’m sorry? What did you ask?”

  She put her hands on her hips like she was talking to a child. “The treasure. My mommy said that Moss Farm holds a treasure. So where is it?”

  “Maybe she meant the farm was in the Treasure Valley. That’s what they call this whole area in between the mountains.” Ian offered.

  The girl raised her eyebrows. “I’m not stupid. I know this is the Treasure Valley. I’m in fourth grade and we’ve already studied that part of the history book. I want to know where the treasure is and what it’s made of.”

  “It’s probably gold.” The dark-haired boy who’d hit the other one, pipped in.

  “I heard it was jewels. Like the ones that kings used to hide in castles.” His victim said, giving the first boy a little push. “You’re so dumb.”

  “No one’s dumb.” The woman in the back moved the two boys on either side of her, keeping a grip on each one. “Let’s finish listening to Mr. McNeal and then we’ll go feed the goats.”

  Angie could hear the words the woman didn’t say. And then I can get you all back to your parents and out of my life. She didn’t blame her. Managing ten kids with only one other parent who was on her phone the entire time must have been brutal.

  “I’ve heard rumors of a treasure, here at the farm, but I haven’t ever seen it.” Ian’s voice rang over the chatter that had taken over the group. “I’ve been all over the property and have never found a single cave.”

  “That’s because it’s hidden.” The little girl nodded sagely. “You have to find the map first, then you can find the treasure.”

  “Okay, then I’ll look for a map. But for now, let’s go feed the goats. I know they are probably hungry by now.” He pointed to the back of the barn. “Who can tell me what goats eat?”

  As the women stood watching the group follow Ian like the children in the Pied Piper book, the frazzled mother reached down and rubbed Dom’s head. “Your man is good with kids. You two have any?”

  “Oh, he’s not my man.” Angie stumbled over the words. “I mean, we’re not married or anything.”

  “Well, you might want to grab that one. Handsome, hardworking, and good with kids? He’s a keeper.” The woman sighed and shook her head. “Sorry, I’ve got to go. Jimmy? You hit Scott one more time and you’ll be banned from field trips for the rest of the school year.”

  After the kids left, Ian nodded to the house. “I’ve got a six pack of beer in the fridge if you’d like one.”

  “That would be nice. Typically, I like kids, but I’ve only been exposed to them one at a time. In a group, they’re kind of scary.” She followed him toward the porch chairs.

  “That Jimmy’s a scamp. He’s going to be a hellion when he grows up a little. I feel bad for his mother.” Ian nodded to the chairs. “Sit down. I’ll get the beer and I think I have a bag of chips we can break open.”

  “Maybe if his mother came along on these trips, she’d be more aware of the way he acts.” Angie slipped into a chair and leaned back, closing her eyes. When he tapped her with the cold bottle she sat up. “They wore me out.”

  “Children. And by the way, Jimmy’s mother was the other woman in the group. The one on her phone?” He sat the bag of potato chips between them. “Sorry, I have no dip. Anyway, I expect Jimmy acts up to see if she’s even watching.”

  “Now that’s just sad.” Angie grabbed a handful of the ruffled chips. “I like plain chips. They’re the best.”

  “I totally agree. I guess we have more in common than our love of goats.” He took his own handful and threw one to Dom.

  “Who said I love goats?” She glanced at her watch. Almost seven and she hadn’t eaten dinner. She’d have to deal with that soon or she’d be starving and eat the entire bag of chips.

  “You took Precious in without even a blink of an eye. Don’t tell me you don’t love goats.”

  “She’s special. She’s an orphan and, well, she’s awful cute.” Angie took a second handful of chips. “So tell me about this treasure. Did Gerald ever tell you anything about it? Or is it all just regional lore?”

  “I’m not quite sure. I asked him about it once, but he blew me off. Said it
was none of my business.”

  “That’s the same reaction I got when I asked to see the cheese cave. You would have thought I offered to sleep with him. He told me never to bring it up again.” Angie sipped her beer. “But he did say that my grandmother knew about the cave. Which was news to me.”

  Ian sipped his beer and then looked at her, his blue eyes intense. “Maybe you have the treasure map, as the little girl called it, somewhere in your grandmother’s house?”

  CHAPTER 20

  As Angie heated up some of the potato soup she’d pulled out of the freezer, she thought about Ian’s statement. Could her grandmother have known not only where the cheese cave was but also about the treasure? Was the treasure actually real? She glanced around the room. Most of Nona’s stuff had been either gone through and donated, or mixed in with her own stuff. But she had tucked some letters into a box she’d put in the attic. Could there be a clue there?

  She decided to wait until after dinner and then she’d go pull down her grandmother’s Pandora box. After the funeral, she hadn’t been strong enough to sort through what was important and what wasn’t, so all of Nona’s writings, journals, and probably grocery lists were in that box. Or in the stacks of boxes in the attic that Nona had collected.

  Dom barked and ran to the open door to look out the screen. Mrs. Potter came up the stairs with her walker. Angie held the screen door open as the woman made her way into the kitchen. She plopped down on a chair, breathing hard. Angie poured her a glass of water and she took it, then took small sips. She started choking, but waved Angie away as she pulled out a handkerchief and wiped her mouth.

  “Are you all right? Maybe you should have Erica drive you over here next time you decide to visit.” Angie sat down and watched her elderly neighbor as she caught her breath.

  “Now, don’t you start on me. Erica babies me enough. And don’t tell her I came over. She’s studying for her classes. She doesn’t need to drop everything just because I wanted to come visit.” Mrs. Potter finished off the water.