More Drama
The next morning was clear and fair, the rain having cleared out all the clouds for miles around. Maria looked forward to a solid day of work and hopefully a pleasant talk with Grandma Austin about that good news she’d mentioned.
But when Maria got down to the kitchen, Jessie looked worried. “I forgot to lock the door when we were leaving in the rain last night,” she said. “We just got in here—we were running late this morning—and look at this!”
She motioned to the kitchen. Every pot, pan, and kitchen utensil had been flung on the floor. The drawers had been emptied. What a mess!
“At least the walk-in was locked,” Jessie said. “I had the key, so whoever it was couldn’t get in there.”
“Thank goodness for that!” Maria said. “I wondered why you had a lock on the walk-in, but I’m glad you do!”
“A few years ago, we had a few bad apples who would steal food,” Jessie said. “But when Tim started working here, he turned things around. The guys we have now are a good bunch.”
“Who do you think did it?” Maria asked. “And what should we do? How are we gonna get this cleaned up in time for breakfast?”
“I’m workin’ on it,” Rob said. He was filling the big industrial sinks with water. The pots and pans would need to be washed first thing.
“I don’t think the hands would do this as a prank.” Jessie put her hands on her hips. “This looks like sabotage to me.”
“I think you’d better call Tim,” Maria said.
“I think you’re right,” Rob said. “Jessie, why don’t you call Tim? Maria and I will clean up.”
The main thing was to get breakfast made as soon as possible. Maria rushed the most crucial utensils and pans to Rob for washing and started getting food from the walk-in.
Jessie was hardly off the phone before Tim showed up, his brow a thundercloud under his cowboy hat. “Was there a note?” he asked. “I’ve called the police. Is anything missing?”
“I have no idea,” Jessie said. “We haven’t been able to take inventory yet. But there wasn’t a note.”
Tim surveyed the mess. “Maybe you guys shouldn’t have touched the things that got dumped out,” he said.
“We could have had the police go over them for fingerprints. Although, now I think about it, your fingerprints would have been all over the place already. Never mind. I wish I could catch those goons!” He smacked his fist into his other palm.
Poor guy, he looked so frustrated. Maria found herself standing watching instead of getting out more kitchen supplies. That wouldn’t do. She scurried back to the walk-in.
The police came as Jessie, Rob, and Maria feverishly served a belated breakfast to the ranch crew and guests.
The officers questioned the kitchen workers—Jessie explained about having forgotten to lock the crash bar on the door before they left in the rain yesterday—and asked about possible suspects.
“The chief’s gonna refer this to the detective bureau,” one of the policemen told Jessie. “Seems like you guys have a lot of trouble here lately. If anybody has any information about it, they’d better let us know right away.”
They wrote up the pertinent information and left, leaving Tim and the kitchen workers.
“I’d better get something to eat before I go out on the range,” Tim said. “Jessie, can I help myself?”
“Go ahead,” Jessie said. “Get whatever you want. We’ve got plenty left.”
Tim piled himself a huge plate of bacon and eggs. “Gotta go. I’ll bring back the plate. I’m gonna tell Pat what’s going on.”
He wasn’t going to eat bacon and eggs on a horse, was he? Maria rushed to the door in time to see Tim swing himself up into his truck. No, he wasn’t eating on a horse. Supposedly cowboys had done that a lot in the old days, though.
“Going somewhere?” Maria turned and found Jessie watching her with a twinkle in her eye.
Maria flushed. She must have looked silly, running over watching Tim leave.
“He’s a looker, isn’t he?” Jessie followed Maria’s original line of sight. “Competent and helpful, too.”
“I—” Maria sputtered. “Yeah, Tim’s great.”
Jessie chuckled. “Come on, let’s get this kitchen cleaned up.”
Jessie probably thought Maria was crushing on Tim. She’d just been curious to see a cowboy eating bacon and eggs on horseback, that was all. Nothing else.
§
Not long after breakfast, Grandma Austin called the kitchen phone to request Maria’s presence. Maria dried her hands and hung up her apron, nervousness tingling through her. Even though she’d heard this was good news, what could Grandma Austin want to talk to her about?
She found Patricia in her office in front of a stack of papers.
“Come in, Maria,” Patricia said. “Sit down. I want to tell you about an opportunity.”
“What’s that?” Maria sat down in front of the desk. Grandma Austin’s stern face didn’t tell her anything. This was supposed to be good news, right? She fidgeted with a button on her shirt.
“Russell and Steph and I have been talking,” Grandma Austin said.
“They haven’t been happy with the way things are going around here, especially since Owen Beck offered to buy the ranch.
They say that since this is a family business, and they’re part of the family and do a great deal of work, they ought to have some say in what’s going on.
After consideration, I think that’s a good suggestion.
The family members who are investing their time and energy into this place need to feel as though they have some kind of agency. ”
“That makes sense,” Maria said.
Where did she come into this?
“I’ve decided,” Grandma Austin said, “to give a percentage of the ranch’s shares to my children and grandchildren who work here.
This is a private family business. Until today, I was the owner of the whole thing.
But with this new plan, if any big decision comes up about what to do with the ranch, the family can vote.
I have two hundred shares. Russell and Steph have two hundred shares, and their family can decide how to vote with them.
Your mother would also get two hundred shares, but since we lost her”—Grandma Austin paused, but Maria couldn’t read her expression—“her shares would go to you.”
Maria’s mouth dropped open. Good thing she was already sitting down. She had always assumed that when Mom got married, she’d been completely disinherited. Maybe Patricia wasn’t quite as much of a porcupine as she’d thought.
“Wow,” Maria said. “That’s—wow, that’s huge. Thank you, Grandma Austin.”
Owning part of the most beautiful place in the world? Having a say in what happened on one of the biggest ranches in Montana? It was a long way from sautéing vegetables and making pizzas. Maria would be a millionaire, probably.
Patricia held up a finger. “But,” she said, “I can only give shares to those family members who choose to live and work on the ranch. If you’re interested in having a share in the family business and voting on big decisions, you need to be all in—you need to live on the ranch full-time, like the others.
” She leaned forward. “If you decide to do that, I’d be willing to deduct the money your father owes me from Amy’s share of the ranch. ”
Maria sat back. If the first piece of information had been a bombshell, this piece was a nuclear explosion. All of her family’s debt gone. A share in this paradise. But she would have to move here permanently.
“What do you think?” Patricia’s voice was impassive.
Was Maria supposed to make a decision, just like that?
“Wow,” Maria said. “I—this is a lot to take in.”
This would solve all her family’s financial problems. Dad wouldn’t have to scrimp and save to pay back all that money.
But how could she leave him and Grandma alone in Michigan?
On the one hand, financial freedom and the most beautiful place in the world.
On the other hand, being with the happy family that loved her.
This was too huge a thing to quickly say yes or no to.
“I realize this is a lot of information.” Was Grandma Austin smiling?
She was. Surprises would never cease. “If you need to think about it, I’ve written everything down.
Here it is.” Grandma Austin handed a piece of paper across the desk.
“Feel free to take your time and ask me any questions you have.”
“Wow,” Maria said again. “You’re right. I’d better think about it.” She got up, legs wobbly under her. “Thank you, Grandma Austin.”
Grandma Austin actually did smile. “You’re welcome,” she said. “I know I’m a crusty old bird. But I do think about the welfare of my children and grandchildren.”
She nodded at Maria and went back to her paperwork. No hug, no fancy words, certainly no apologies. Well, Maria hadn’t expected much. But this was still a huge change, and a huge piece of news to digest.
Maria turned to go.
“Wait,” Grandma Austin said.
Maria stopped.
“I’ll tell Jessie to give you the rest of the afternoon off.
” Grandma Austin picked up her phone. “I want Tim to show you around this place. You need to actually see the Rocker A, and you can’t do that going back and forth between the ranch house and the kitchen.
Your cousins don’t give a rip about the ranch, but I think you do. ”
How did Grandma Austin know she hadn’t really seen the ranch yet? She hardly saw Maria.
“Jessie and Rob are pretty busy cleaning up, with the sabotage that happened. I’m sure they could really use my help,” Maria protested. “And Tim’s riding all around looking for clues. Won’t he be too busy to give me a tour?”
“He can take you with him looking for clues,” Grandma Austin said. “I’ll send Steph down to help in the kitchen. I’m going to call Jessie right now. I’ll order pizza for dinner at the house.”