“I’ve been to their tasting room,” Dad said. “They’re doing good work.”
“Do you think they all moved here to find their family treasures?” I asked. “Wouldn’t they have approached you on more occasions than that one time in the vineyard?”
“They have not,” Robson said. “I cannot say why. Perhaps my father’s anger quelled their suspicions.”
Derek frowned. “And now you’re going to tell them that their suspicions were justified.”
“And that their raison d’être for moving here in the first place is about to pay off,” I added.
“Should be fascinating,” Gabriel said, chuckling. “I assume you want us there for extra muscle?”
“I do, if you would not mind.” Guru Bob looked around the room, shaking his head. “One never knows how a person will react to such shocking news.”
“I’m happy to tag along,” Derek said. “Although I can’t imagine you’ll have many complaints after you tell them they’re about to get back their priceless artwork and treasures.”
“I hope it will be a positive visit, but I will not be surprised if we experience a confrontational moment or two.”
Did I mention that Guru Bob never used contractions in his speech? It probably sounded odd to an outsider, but I was so used to it, I rarely noticed. He had once explained that it kept him consciously aware of his speech. He was all about being conscious and aware in each moment.
I was anxious about the visit to Frenchman’s Hill tomorrow and was more determined than ever to go along for the ride. If nothing else, I might get a chance to say hello to one or two of my old high school friends. And it would be interesting to see how well the French folks took the good news.
*
Early the next morning, Derek drove to Frenchman’s Hill with one contact name from Guru Bob. He had managed to track down a Monsieur Georges Cloutier and had requested a meeting with him and others who had emigrated from La Croix Saint-Just. Derek gave no clue as to the topic of the meeting except to assure him that it would be to the group’s benefit. Monsieur Cloutier knew Guru Bob by reputation and was intrigued enough to make some calls and offered his home for the meeting at one o’clock that afternoon.
Before Derek left, I’d told him that I planned to drive over to the winery. I knew he didn’t want me going into the caves alone, but it was important that we start an inventory of everything in there. It was the responsible thing to do. Derek had said he would try to meet me there later. I knew it was because he thought I was afraid to go into the cave alone, but I assured him that I wasn’t.
“All right, love,” he said. “But just in case.” And he gave me an extra tight hug and kiss before he left.
Now, in the privacy of my car, I could admit to being more than a little freaked-out about going inside the cave all by myself. It was one thing to tramp around with a big hunky guy like Derek, or one of my brothers, but all alone? In the dark? With spiders?
My shoulders jerked as chills shot across them. I was not looking forward to this, but it had to be done.
I pulled into the lot and parked, grabbed my legal pad, a fold-up stool I’d borrowed from my mom, and the heavy flashlight Derek had given me. As I walked to the storage-cave entrance, I was surprised to see Gabriel approach.
“Hey, you,” I said, giving him a one-arm hug. “Are you here to start setting up the security system?”
“Something like that,” he said with a sideways grin, cryptic as always.
“Have you been inside already? Seen the stuff in there? It’s pretty awesome, isn’t it?”
“Haven’t seen anything yet, but I know it’s really dark in there.”
I stared at him for a long moment. “Derek asked you to meet me here.”
“Why would he do that? You’re a big girl. You can handle this.”
“That’s right. I can.” I unlocked the wide double doors of the storage cave.
He shrugged. “I’m just here to make sure you don’t steal anything.”
I laughed all the way to the back wall.
Once we’d climbed inside the chamber, Gabriel took a long look around. “What a haul,” he said after a few minutes.
“It’s impressive, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. Now I see why Robson wants some extra muscle when he visits Frenchman’s Hill.”
I frowned at him. “You think they’ll be angry?”
“If any of this stuff was stolen from your family, wouldn’t you be?”
“I see your point, but I hope they won’t take it out on Guru Bob. That wouldn’t be fair.”
“Emotions get in the way of reason sometimes.”
“Too true,” I said. With that, I continued writing down what I found. My organizational skills were outstanding, but there was so much to figure out. I finally divided my list into sections: furniture; silver; paintings; small sculptures; larger sculptures and busts; jewelry; and miscellaneous.
After I’d been working for ten minutes, Gabriel told me some of his guys had arrived, so he’d be outside working on the security system.