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“I think we’re all set.” Lauren Denman scrutinized the table, sporting a few dozen of her new creation. The Gold Rush was a chocolate and vanilla marbled cupcake, with vanilla buttercream frosting decorated with mini chocolate stars, and a faint dusting of edible gold powder.
“Your new cupcakes look amazing.” Zoe Crenshaw, her cousin, admired the display.
“Thanks. I thought it would be fun to come up with an idea that tied into today’s topic.”
“How’s everything?” Denise, the director of the senior center, hurried over to them. In her fifties, she wore a tailored white blouse and smart fawn slacks, looking as if she belonged in the large, elegant room, decorated in ruby with cream accents.
“Everything’s ready,” Lauren replied.
“Wonderful.” She glanced at her watch. “The historian who’s giving the talk today will be here in a few minutes.”
“Thank you for thinking of us,” Lauren said. “We haven’t had a catering job for a while.”
“I don’t know why not.” Denise tsked. “Our members are always talking about your coffee and cupcakes, and Annie, of course.”
“Of course.” Lauren smiled as she pictured her Norwegian Forest Cat, currently relaxing at home. A silver-gray tabby with long fur and a long plumy tail, she seated the customers at their café in Gold Leaf Valley, a small town in northern California.
Lauren baked the cupcakes, she and Zoe made the lattes and served the customers, and her pastry chef Ed made divine Danish pastries. But she’d always suspected that Annie was the real drawcard. The feline would sit and “talk” to her favorite customers, and seemed to have an uncanny knack of knowing when someone wanted her company and when they preferred to be on their own.
“It’s a shame Annie couldn’t be here with us today,” Zoe commented.
“I think a lot of people might be too much for her,” Lauren replied, “and I wasn’t sure if you had a no animals policy.” She turned to Denise.
“You’re right, apart from service dogs,” Denise said, “although I’m sure we could have made an exception for Annie.”
“Is he here?” A senior lady with curly gray hair, wearing blue slacks and a matching fuzzy sweater, barreled toward them, pushing her rolling walker like a racecar driver.
“Hi, Martha.” Zoe grinned, her short, brunette pixie locks bouncing against her forehead.
“Those cupcakes look amazing!” Martha’s gaze fastened on the sweet treats. “When do we get to try one?”
“When the talk is over.” Denise sounded amused.
“I wish this historian would hurry up,” Martha grumbled, her gaze lingering on the cupcakes, the gold dust sparkling in the lit room. “Lauren, are you serving hot chocolate as well? You know it’s my favorite.”
“I thought Martha’s marshmallow latte was your fave,” Zoe joked.
“That too. And your pumpkin spice marshmallow mocha.” Martha grinned.
“I’ve only got coffee and hot tea today,” Lauren apologized. “We weren’t able to set up our espresso machine.”
“Yeah, that thing weighs a ton,” Zoe added.
“I’ll have to stop by tomorrow for my hot chocolate – and Annie – fix.” Martha winked.
“What about your Zoe and Lauren fix?” Zoe teased.
“That too. I love visiting with you girls.”
There was a stirring in the doorway. A man in his fifties, wearing a suit and a blue and white spotted bowtie, walked toward them, carrying a small suitcase.
“Hello, Howard,” Denise greeted him. “I think everyone’s here. We’re all looking forward to your talk.”
“Thank you.” He nodded and glanced around the room: chairs lined up in rows facing a small podium, Lauren’s cupcake table at the back. Some people had already taken their seats and looked around expectantly.
“Let me show you the way.” Denise led him to the podium.
“See you girls later.” Martha barreled toward a front row.
“Is Mrs. Finch here?” Lauren craned her neck.
“She said she was coming,” Zoe replied.
Mrs. Finch was their friend who visited the café regularly. She was also a member of their craft club, and held the meetings at her house on Friday nights.
“Oh – there she is.” Lauren waved and smiled at the senior, who tapped her way over to them with her walking stick. Her gray hair was piled up on her head in a bun, and she wore a beige skirt with a dusty rose cardigan. Delicate pink spectacles perched on her nose.
“Hello, girls. I’m not late, am I?” She rested for a moment on her cane.
“Not at all,” Lauren assured her.
“Where would you like to sit?” Zoe asked. “Martha’s nabbed a seat at the front.” She gestured to their friend.
“The front row sounds like a good idea.” She smiled.
“Why don’t we walk down with you?” Lauren suggested tactfully.
“Why not?” Mrs. Finch’s eyes twinkled.
The three of them strolled down to the first row of seats, stopping to say hello to people on their way. Martha moved to the empty chair next to her, so Mrs. Finch could sit next to the aisle.
“Make sure nobody steals those cupcakes,” Martha told them.
Lauren glanced toward the refreshment table. A couple of people stood near it, looking at the treats.
Zoe followed her gaze. “Oops. Gotta go!” She zoomed to the back of the room.
“We’ll be serving hot tea after, as well as coffee,” Lauren told Mrs. Finch, knowing she sometimes enjoyed a cup.
“Thank you, dear.” Mrs. Finch smiled. “I’m looking forward to trying your new creation as well.”
Lauren headed back to the cupcake table. When Denise had contacted them about catering for this afternoon’s event, she’d mentioned that a historian was going to give a talk about the Californian gold rush, dating back to the mid-1800s. Since Gold Leaf Valley was a town that had sprung up during that era, Lauren was keen to hear more about it.
Her cottage dated from that time, as well as the café. When her Gramms had left her both properties a few years ago, she’d left her sometimes hum-drum office job in Sacramento and taken over the running of the café with Annie. Zoe had visited them for a weekend and had decided to stay, becoming their assistant.
“Hello, everyone.” The historian spoke through the microphone set up at the podium. “I’m Howard, and I’m here to give a talk on the local gold rush in the 1850s.”
“Can you still find gold here?” Martha called out.
“That depends,” he answered seriously. “If you live near a stream or a riverbed, then yes, you can try panning for gold.”
“How do you do that?” an elderly man asked.
“You dig up some dirt near the water, put it in a pan, then put it into the stream or creek, fill the bowl with water, and then give it a swish. The gold – if there is any – will settle at the bottom of your pan. Once you’ve swished it several times, you should be able to see if there is any in the pan.”
“Ooh – I’m going to try it!” Martha sounded excited.
A few audience members chuckled.
“Now, Gold Leaf Valley was founded in 1850 and the California gold rush started in 1948. When people started finding gold out here, they sent word back to their friends and family, and more and more people came.”
“That’s how Gold Leaf Valley came to be,” a woman with silvery blonde hair, cut in a bob, spoke. “My great-great-grandfather was one of the founders.”
A woman around the same age – somewhere in her sixties – with salt and pepper hair, said, “So was mine, Joyce. My great-great-grandfather was Ambrose Bosworth.”
“Only a few people really struck it rich back then, and more made enough to keep going for a while,” Howard, the historian continued. “Some gave up very quickly, and others might have found enough small nuggets to put away for safe keeping, or they sold them and ended up with enough to build a house and settle here. Panning or mining for gold was backbreaking work. You wouldn’t want to do it when you got older.” He chuckled, then seemed to realize his audience was comprised of seniors, some not much older than him, and flushed.
“I’ve got a gold nugget from back then,” the woman who’d spoken to Joyce piped up. “My great-great-grandfather found it back then and the family kept it as an heirloom.”
“Really?” Howard looked interested. “How big is it?”
“Quite big.” She held up her hands and made a shape.
From Lauren’s vantage point it looked like a big apple half.
“Why didn’t you bring it with you, Shirley?” Joyce sounded skeptical.
“Yeah, I’d love to see it!” Martha sounded excited.
“How much do you think it’s worth?” A portly man sitting behind Shirley nudged her shoulder. “Why don’t you sell it?”
“Oh, I don’t think so, Bob.” Shirley turned around to look at him, her feathery short hair brushing her cheek. “Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything. I want to keep it in the family.”
“I’d be happy to appraise it for you.” The historian rubbed his hands together. “I do have some experience in that field. I’ve found my own tiny gold nuggets years ago when I tried panning myself, as well as some flakes. But I sold what I found for a decent price. I know who the reputable dealers are and can introduce you.” He looked excited at the thought.
“Oh – thank you, but I don’t think so.” Shirley sounded flustered.
“You should bring in your nugget.” Bob nudged her again. “Show it off.”
“Yes,” Joyce said. “I would love to see it.” She sounded skeptical.
“I shouldn’t have said anything.” Shirley shook her head. “Please continue.” She looked at the historian.
“Poor Shirley,” Zoe murmured to Lauren.
Lauren nodded.
Howard continued talking, but no one else spoke up about having a gold nugget in their possession.
“I haven’t seen Shirley or Joyce in the café, have you?” Zoe said.
“No. Nor Bob.”
“Well, maybe they’ll stop by after they taste your Gold Rush cupcake.”
“I hope so.” She enjoyed greeting new customers, and always hoped they would become regulars.
When the talk ended, the audience drifted over to the refreshments.
“Load me up.” Martha eyed the cupcakes. “And I guess I’ll have a cup of coffee – please.”
“Are you really going to try panning for gold?” Zoe’s brown eyes sparkled.
“You bet!” Martha grinned. “Why don’t you two – three – join me? Just imagine if we struck it rich!”
Lauren and Zoe glanced at each other.
“Why not?” Lauren said slowly. “But it would have to be when the café is closed.”
“So that leaves Saturday afternoon or Sunday,” Zoe said. “After church.”
“Or next Monday,” Lauren added.
“That’s a long time to wait.” Martha looked disappointed for a second. “Everyone might have beaten us to it by then.” She looked around at the other seniors waiting for their turn to be served. “Okay – next Saturday afternoon.”
“It’ll be fun,” Zoe promised.
After Martha barreled away with her treats, they served the other customers. Lauren made sure Mrs. Finch received a cupcake and a cup of tea, and carried it over to a spare chair for her.
“Thank you, Lauren, dear.” Mrs. Finch smiled up at her. “I enjoyed that talk – did you?”
“Yes.” She explained how they were going to try panning for gold next Saturday.
“That does sound like fun! Let me know if you find anything.”
“I will.”
“I didn’t realize Shirley had a gold nugget.” Mrs. Finch sipped her tea.
“Do you know her?” Lauren asked. Mrs. Finch had lived in Gold Leaf Valley a long time and knew many of the locals.
“Oh, yes.” She nodded. “We were in the same knitting group years ago, before my hands got too bad.” She inspected her knotted arthritic hands. “Her great-great-grandfather was one of the town founders, and so was Joyce’s.”
Lauren would have liked to chat longer, but she caught Zoe waving frantically to her.
Making her apologies, she dashed back to the table, and helped her cousin serve the rest of the crowd.
“Your new cupcake is delicious, Lauren.” Denise, the director, approached them when the treats and throng had thinned out. Only one lone Gold Rush cupcake remained.
“Thanks.” Lauren offered her the remaining cake.
“Why not?” Denise took a delicate bite. “We must have you cater for us again when we have another speaker.”
“We’d love to,” Lauren spoke, “but we can only do it when the café is closed.”
“I understand.” Denise nodded.
“And on Saturday we’re going to pan for gold with Martha!” Zoe’s eyes sparkled.
“I hope you find something.” Denise chuckled. “She’s certainly a livewire, isn’t she?”
They chatted for a few more minutes, then an elderly lady asked Denise to help her choose which class she should attend next week – watercolor painting or macrame.
“Anything left?” Howard approached them, looking disappointed at the empty table.
“Hot tea or coffee,” Lauren replied.
“The cupcakes are all gone,” Zoe informed him.
“I got caught up talking with some of the members,” he told them. “The gold rush era is certainly a fascinating topic.”
“Especially when someone says they have a gold nugget.” Zoe’s expression flickered with excitement. “We’re going to pan for gold on the weekend.”
“You could get lucky.” He gave a little chuckle. “In fact, I’m selling basic equipment, in case anyone is interested.”
“Really?” Zoe’s eyes lit up.
“Come and look.” He gestured toward the podium.
“I’ll be back!” Zoe zoomed to the front of the room, Howard almost jogging to catch up with her.
A couple of minutes later, she returned, waving a blue pan and a sieve. “This is a classifier.” She pointed to the sieve. “And this is the pan where the gold ends up. Only eighteen dollars. Now we really can find some something!”
Howard came up behind her. “Let me know if you do.” He paused. “You don’t happen to know that lady called Shirley, do you? I tried to find her after my speech but she seems to have disappeared.”
“I don’t remember her coming over for refreshments.” She turned to Zoe.
“Nope.” Zoe shook her head. “Sorry.”
“Too bad. I was hoping to talk to her about that nugget she has. It would be good if she could get it authenticated – then it really would be a family heirloom she could hand down to the next generation.”
Lauren poured him some coffee, and he left, clutching his cardboard cup.
“Maybe Shirley decided to go home so she wouldn’t be pestered about her gold nugget,” Zoe mused.
“I probably would have done the same.”
“But you probably wouldn’t have told a crowd that you had treasure in the first place,” Zoe teased.
“True,” Lauren admitted.
“But that lady called Joyce didn’t sound as if she believed Shirley had a nugget, did she?”
“No.” She thought back. “She did sound skeptical.”
“Just think – if we find gold with Martha, I might be able to buy a car!”
Zoe had been on the search for a second-hand car, and had been seriously saving up.
“That would be great.”
“Yeah, but – now I’m living next door to you – and the café – I guess I don’t really need one now.”
Zoe and her husband Chris had been living a few blocks from the café, but when their lease had expired, they’d needed to find somewhere else. Fortunately, they’d been successful in finding a rental right next door to Lauren, and her husband Mitch.
“How’s the house?” Lauren asked.
“I love it.” Zoe sighed happily. “So does Chris. It’s in great shape – much better than our old rental. Wouldn’t it be awesome if our landlord decided to stay with his family and keep renting it to us forever?”
Before their marriages, they’d been roomies, and Lauren had to admit that it was nice knowing her bestie was just next door – except Zoe had started to develop a habit of popping in unexpectedly.
“Yes.” She smiled.
“Hey, do you know where Shirley is?” The portly man called Bob came up to the table. He’d already enjoyed a Gold Rush cupcake and coffee.
“No.” Lauren shook her head.
“She might have left early,” Zoe added.
“Too bad.” He frowned. “I’d love to see that gold nugget.”
“I think everyone would,” Zoe said.
“Great cupcake.” He eyed the empty table. “You don’t have any more stashed in the back, do you?”
“I’m afraid not,” Lauren replied.
“But you can stop by the café tomorrow morning,” Zoe told him. “Lauren’s going to make more then.” She looked sideways at her.
“That’s right,” Lauren picked up the cue. “And Ed will be baking his delicious Danish pastries as well.”
“I’ve heard about those.” He nodded. “Maybe I’ll drop in.” He wandered over to Joyce, who was talking to the historian.
“Maybe you should make a double batch tomorrow,” Zoe said. “I want to buy some for Chris – he’s been working hard lately. They’re still looking for another paramedic to join their crew.”
“Good idea.” Hopefully they’d be just as popular tomorrow.
***
THE NEXT MORNING, LAUREN dusted the top of the vanilla buttercream with edible gold powder as she put the finishing touches on the Gold Rush cupcakes.
“They look good.” Ed, her burly pastry chef with monster rolling pins for arms, commented.
“Thanks.” She pushed one toward him. “You didn’t have time to try one last week.”
“I’ll save it for lunch.” He smiled briefly. “How did the catering gig go?”
“Everyone seemed to like the cupcakes, and the talk about the gold rush was interesting.”
“I wouldn’t mind finding a nugget.”
“Me either.” She told him about their plans for panning for gold with Martha.
“Let me know if you find anything.” He looked intrigued. “Maybe Rebecca and I can try it.”
Rebecca was his lady friend, and they both volunteered at the local animal shelter.
“I will,” she promised, then took the cupcakes out to the café.
“I can’t wait to have one.” Zoe eyed the treats. “Quick, let me put some away for Chris – and me.” She grabbed a cardboard box and snaffled three of them. “Are you going to take some home for Mitch?”
“I was planning to.” Lauren smiled and placed two in a cardboard box.
Zoe dug her wallet out of her jeans’ pocket. “Let me pay you now before we get slammed with customers.”
“You know you don’t have to do that.”
“I know. But I did take three.” Zoe looked guilty for a second. “And you’ve only got two.”
“But you bought the gold panning equipment. I should pay you half.”
“Why don’t we take the cost of the equipment out of our finds?” Zoe’s eyes sparkled.
“Deal.”
“Brrt!” Annie called in agreement from her pink cat bed. She’d inspected the café while they were getting everything ready for their first customers, and then decided to have a little rest in her basket before they opened.
Lauren smiled at her fur baby – her long, silver-gray fur, sweet face, and intelligent green eyes made her heart melt every time.
“Oops.” Zoe peered at Lauren’s practical white wristwatch. “It’s already nine-thirty.”
“I’d better get the red velvets.” Lauren hurried into the kitchen for the rest of the cupcakes while Zoe unbolted the oak and glass entrance door.
The scent of golden pastry and baked apple greeted her as she nodded to Ed and grabbed the tray of treats.
“The apricot Danishes are nearly ready,” he told her.
“Great.” She’d felt a little lazy that morning only baking two types of treats and not her usual three, but she had made a double batch of Gold Rush cupcakes. Now, she was sure they had enough for all their customers – hopefully it would be a busy day.
Lauren slid the goodies into the glass counter. Zoe was already there, ready to greet their first customer.
“Where is everyone?” Zoe asked a few minutes later.
“We don’t always get someone coming in the minute we open,” Lauren reminded her.
“True.” Zoe paused. “So, when are you and Mitch returning to Puerto Rico?”
“We only just got back!”
“I know, but you said you had a great time, just like Chris and I had on our honeymoon there.”
“We did.” Lauren sighed as she remembered her one-year anniversary trip with her police detective husband. It had been magical. Zoe and Chris had looked after Annie, and Zoe, Annie, and Ed had run the café for the week she’d been away.
“Maybe you could go every year. Chris and I are talking about that.”
“Good idea.” She’d have to discuss it with Mitch.
A customer walked in. Zoe nudged her and wiggled her eyebrows. A woman in her sixties, with salt and pepper hair cut in a feathery style, glanced around the room.
“Hi,” Lauren greeted her. “It’s Shirley, isn’t it?”
“Yes.” She nodded, looking smart in an embroidered green sweater and dark slacks. “I didn’t get a chance to try your cupcakes yesterday, so I thought I’d treat myself this morning.”
“Brrt!” Annie trotted up to her.
“Well, look at you.” Shirley smiled at the feline. “Aren’t you pretty?”
“Brrt.” Thank you.
“Annie will show you to a table,” Lauren told her.
“Really?” Shirley looked intrigued. “I’ve heard my friends talk about this place, but I thought they might be making some of it up.”
“Brrt.” This way. Annie walked to a small table near the counter, then stopped and turned around, as if checking that Shirley followed.
“No, they haven’t made anything up,” Zoe assured her.
They watched Shirley sit down at the table Annie had chosen for her. The pale-yellow walls and wooden floorboards all fit together with the pine furniture. A string-art picture of a cupcake with lots of pink frosting decorated one of the walls, evidence of one of Zoe’s past hobbies.
Shirley picked up one of the laminated menus. “Oh, I didn’t see which cupcakes you have today.”
“Gold Rush, and red velvet,” Lauren told her. “And apple Danishes. The apricots are almost ready if you’d prefer one of those.”
“Oh, I’d like the cupcake you had yesterday at the senior center.”
“Coming right up,” Zoe said cheerfully.
“Would you like a latte or a hot cup of tea? All our drinks are listed on there.” Lauren gestured to the menu Shirley held.
“Oh – I’d love a cappuccino, please.”
Annie perched on the chair opposite Shirley.
“Brrt?”
“What is she saying?”
“Maybe she wants to know if you really do have a gold nugget.” Zoe brought over the cupcake.
Lauren steamed the milk, the hiss of the espresso machine a comforting background noise.
“Yes, I do. Although now I’m sorry I said anything yesterday.” Shirley made a face.
“Do you know that lady Joyce?” Zoe asked.
“Yes.” Shirley nodded. “Our great-greats were founding members of this town but our families aren’t close. She obviously doesn’t believe I have a nugget, either.”
Lauren brought over the cappuccino. She’d made a peacock design on the micro foam. They’d taken an advanced latte art course a while ago, and it had really paid off.
“This looks wonderful.” Shirley stared at the design. “I can’t believe I haven’t been in here before.”
“We love new customers.” Zoe glanced at Annie. “Don’t we?”
“Brrt!” Yes!
“Yesterday after the talk, the historian asked if you’d left. I think he wanted to speak to you about your gold,” Lauren remembered.
“He probably wanted to take a good look at it.” Shirley stirred her coffee, the peacock breaking up. “It’s a shame to ruin such a lovely design.” After a sip, her eyes widened. “This is excellent.”
“Thank you.” Lauren smiled.
“Lauren’s coffee and cupcakes are the best.”
“Brrt!”
Shirley chuckled. “I can see why people come here. I’ll definitely visit again.” Then she sobered. “If you girls ever have something valuable, don’t tell people. Bob called me last night wanting to come over and look at the nugget.”
“That’s the portly guy who sat behind you yesterday, right?” Zoe checked.
“Right.” Shirley nodded. “I know him, but that doesn’t mean I want him to come to my house and look at my valuables.”
“I hear you.” Zoe nodded.
“I think I would feel the same,” Lauren said.
“Maybe I should get a safety deposit box for the thing,” Shirley continued. “Although, it’s in a very safe place at the moment.”
“That’s good,” Zoe approved.
“Brrt!”
Shirley smiled at Annie. “You are a dear. No wonder your café is so popular. But where is everyone?” She glanced around the empty room.
“Sometimes it doesn’t get busy until later,” Lauren said.
“We’re usually slammed during the lunch rush.”
“That’s good to hear.” Shirley nodded.
They left the older woman to enjoy her treats.
“Maybe there’s something else on at the senior center today,” Zoe mused.
“You could be right.”
A couple more customers trickled in by the time Shirley left.
“I’ll definitely come again,” she told them as she paid at the register.
“You’re very welcome,” Lauren assured her.
They waved goodbye to her.
“Hopefully she’ll become a regular customer,” Zoe said. “Just like Ms. Tobin, Mrs. Finch, Hans, Father Mike, Claire and Molly – hey, I didn’t see Ms. Tobin at the talk yesterday, did you?”
“No.”
“Huh. I wonder why she wasn’t there?”
“I’m sure you’ll ask her when you see her.”
“I will!” Zoe’s eyes sparkled.
Ms. Tobin used to be their prickliest customer, but she had mellowed since they’d saved her from a romance scam a while ago, and now they considered her a good friend.
“Maybe she was shopping in Sacramento,” Zoe mused. “It’s a shame Annie and I aren’t doing kitty day care now, otherwise we could have looked after her cat Miranda.”
“Even if you were still doing kitty day care, we had the catering job yesterday, so—”
“Oh yeah.” Zoe nodded.
Zoe’s latest venture had been running a kitty day care with Annie, held in Lauren’s cottage, which connected to the café via a private hallway. Overall, it had been a success, but it had also been tiring, and an incident had occurred involving Miranda, and Ed’s Maine Coon cat, AJ. Looking back on it, Lauren could definitely see the funny side, but at the time it hadn’t seemed so humorous. Luckily, none of the kitties had been hurt, and AJ had apologized to Miranda. But Zoe and Annie had decided not to host any more day care events.
A man peered in through the door, then stepped through the entrance.
“Got any of those cupcakes from yesterday?” he asked pleasantly.
Lauren’s eyes widened as she recognized Bob, the portly man who had sat behind Shirley at the senior center yesterday.
“We sure have,” Zoe told him. “How many would you like?”
“Three. Can I take them home?’
“Of course.” Zoe picked up tongs and placed them neatly into a cardboard box.
“Would you like a latte or cappuccino as well?” Lauren asked.
Annie trotted over and looked up at him inquiringly.
“Hey, it’s true – you do have a cat in here!”
“It’s a certified cat café,” she replied.
“Good idea.” He smiled down at Annie. “What do you do all day, huh?”
“She seats the customers and spends time with them,” Zoe told him.
“Neat trick.” He chuckled. “Hey, what did you think about that talk yesterday? I’d love to see Shirley’s gold nugget, wouldn’t you?”
“Shirley might prefer her privacy.” Lauren felt she should defend her.
“Then she shouldn’t have told everyone about it,” he returned.
“Maybe it just popped out before she realized,” Zoe said. “That happens to me sometimes.” She looked rueful.
“And me,” Lauren added.
“Well, the whole senior center was buzzing about it after she left. I don’t think I’m the only one who wants to lay their eyes on that gold nugget. Otherwise, it’s just talk, you know what I’m saying?” He glanced at the espresso machine. “Maybe I should get a coffee as well. Make it a large latte.”
Lauren nodded and ground the beans. She finished the latte off with a swan design, thinking it a shame to cover it up with the lid.
“I might be back for more cupcakes if these are as good as yesterday’s.” He lifted the box in the air and left, Zoe holding the door open for him.
“Huh.” Zoe wrinkled her brow. “I don’t know if I want him as a repeat customer.”
“I know what you mean, but he’s probably harmless.”
“Brrt,” Annie said thoughtfully.
More customers came in, including Martha.
“Check out my watercolor painting.” She flourished a piece of paper with hazy green trees and a muddy blue river. “What do you think?”
“Is that where we’re panning for gold on Saturday?” Zoe studied the piece of art.
“I didn’t think of that.” Martha looked at it. “I did it this morning at the senior center – we didn’t get to have an expedition, either. Just in one of the classrooms. I used my imagination.” She winked.
“It looks very ...” Lauren tried to think of something tactful to say “... artistic.”
“Yeah.” Zoe nodded vigorously. “I haven’t tried watercolor, but I think it’s supposed to look like that.” She’d discovered a talent for sketching while making pottery mugs for the café, with designs of Annie on each one.
“I knew you’d get it.” Martha beamed. “What do you think, Annie?” She bent down slowly and showed Annie the drawing.
“Brrt.” She placed her paw gently on the paper.
“I think Annie says we should pan for gold there,” Martha announced.
“Where is there?” Lauren inquired.
“We could drive around and see if we find somewhere that looks like this.” Martha waved her artwork.
Lauren had visions of them driving around all afternoon and not finding anything that they would all agree looked like that.
“I know!” Zoe’s eyes lit up. “Why don’t we – I – ask Shirley if she knows where her great-great-granddaddy found the gold nugget? Then we’d have a starting point.”
“Good idea.” Martha grinned.
“Brrt!” Yes!
Annie jumped onto the black vinyl seat of Martha’s walker, and directed her to a four-seater in the middle of the room with a series of brrts and brrps. After bringing their friend a hot chocolate with plenty of marshmallows and a Gold Rush cupcake, they chatted with her for a few minutes.
“Can’t wait to find some gold on Saturday with you girls.” Martha took a gulp of her hot chocolate. “Lots of marshmallows – goody.”
“We mightn’t find anything,” Lauren pointed out.
“True – but I hope we do,” Zoe said.
“Brrt!”