Kate’s Vermonth Adventure (4 page)

Sydney sighed. “That's so sweet!” She grinned at Kate. “So maybe you and Phillip will fall in love and get married someday!”

Kate shook her head. “No way! But maybe we will end up as friends like Aunt Molly said. I just never thought about it before.”

Sydney nodded. “And who knows? Maybe I'll even learn to like Michael.” She shrugged. “It's possible.”

“I hope so,” Aunt Molly said. “That would be nice. He's such a great boy.”

“Hmm.” Kate wrinkled her nose. “I guess we need to give him the benefit of the doubt, even though he didn't make a very good first impression.”

“I still plan to beat him in the skiing competition,” Sydney said. “And I do need to practice. But I'll make you a deal, Kate. Today I'll go back to the creamery with you
one
last time. But tomorrow, you have to come skiing with me. Promise?”

Kate paused. She didn't know if she should promise such a thing or not. After all, she'd never skied before. “I—I guess so,” she said, finally. “But for now, let's get back to cheese-making!”

Sydney made another face then shuddered. “I sure hope there aren't any rats this time.”

“Surely not,” Aunt Molly said. “But if you
do
happen to see one, just remember that story I told you about the mousetrap. It's better to forgive than hold a grudge.”

“It's better to forgive than hold a grudge,” Kate agreed. Then, with a happy heart, she looped her arm through Sydney's and they headed back to the creamery.

Kate and Sydney walked the three blocks to the creamery with snow falling all around them.

“Don't you just love Vermont?” Sydney asked. “It's so pretty here.” She began to describe the beautiful trees and the crystal-like snowflakes. On and on she went, sounding like a commercial.

“Mm-hmm. I like it here, but it's so cold!” Kate shivered.

“It's cold in Philly, where you live,” Sydney said. “And in D.C., where I live, it gets really cold in the wintertime. So, this doesn't feel any different to me. No, I love the cold weather. And I can't wait to put on skis and glide down the mountainside. Oh, it's going to be wonderful! You're going to
love
it, Kate. I promise!”

“If you say so.”

As the creamery came into view, Sydney groaned. “I can't believe I offered to come back here. This place is so scary. Do we really have to go back in there?”

“We do. But maybe we'll have a better time if we think happy thoughts,” Kate suggested. “We'll focus on the good things. For example, I've been saving my allowance so I can buy different cheeses to take back to my class. You can help me decide what flavors to buy. Should I get Swiss or cheddar? And if I get cheddar, which kind? There are so many, you know.” She went off on a tangent, describing her favorite kinds of cheese.

“I can't believe you're actually going to
eat
something made there.” Sydney scrunched her nose. “I'd be scared to! Aren't you worried?”

“Nah,” Kate said, shaking her head. “And besides, I have the
strangest
feeling about all of that, Sydney. I'm convinced someone is sabotaging the Hamptons. But, why?”

“Hmm.” Sydney walked in silence a moment. “Maybe we should put McKenzie or one of the other Camp Club Girls to work, figuring out who their main competitor is. Maybe someone from another creamery is jealous and wants to put the Hamptons out of business.”

Just before they entered the building, Kate caught a glimpse of someone familiar off in the distance. “Hey, look, Sydney! It's that boy…Michael! Are you going to tell him that you're entering the competition?”

“No way!” Sydney grabbed her arm and whispered. “It's top secret, remember? I don't want him to know.”

They walked inside the store at the front of the creamery, and Kate took a deep breath. “Oh, it smells so deliciously cheesy in here!” She closed her eyes and breathed in and out a few times. “I totally believe this is what heaven it going to smell like.”

Sydney grunted. “Heaven…smells like
cheese?
I sure hope not! Doesn't smell so good to me.” After looking around the empty store, she added, “Look, Kate. Have you noticed? We're the only ones here. That should tell you something! People are scared to come back.”

“Or maybe we're just early.” Kate looked at her Internet wristwatch. “Ooo! I have an e-mail.” She quickly signed online and smiled as she read a note from Bailey that said, “Have fun in Vermont!” Kate quickly typed back, “Having a blast!” then pressed the tiny S
END
button.

“I don't blame people for being scared to come here,” Sydney said.

Kate looked up from her watch and shrugged. “Well, let's not think about all that. Since we're here, let's sample the cheeses.”

“I guess so.” Sydney shrugged. “But you can do the sampling. I'll just watch.”

They walked around the large glass case, looking inside. “Oh, I
love
Colby Jack!” Kate reached for her camera and took a picture of the tray filled with chunks of orange and white swirled cheese. Then she lifted the clear dome top from the cheese tray and took a piece. With her mouth full, she pointed at the tray next to it. “They have every kind of cheddar imaginable! Yum!” She lifted the top on that tray and took several pieces. “Wow, this is great!” She'd never seen so many different kinds of cheeses…and all the samples were free! But which one should she buy for her classmates?

“My favorite is the Swiss,” Sydney said, taking a tiny piece. “Mom puts it on my turkey sandwiches.”

“Ooo, you're making me hungry.” Kate took a couple of chunks of the Swiss cheese and ate it right away. “Let's order something to eat.” She pointed at the Cheese-o-Rama Snack Shack in the corner of the room. “Look! It says they make the world's best grilled-cheese sandwiches, and you can pick the kind of cheese you want. I'm going to ask for the Colby Jack on mine. What about you?”

“Kate, we just ate breakfast a couple of hours ago,” Sydney said. “And then we ate your aunt's gingerbread cookies. I don't need the extra calories. And I still think we should be careful not to eat too much cheese from this place.”

“Calories, schmalories.” Kate shrugged. “Who cares?”

“I do.” Sydney gave her a stern look. “I have to stay in shape to win that competition next weekend.”

“You're already the fastest, strongest, most athletic girl I know!” Kate said. “What else do you want?”

“I want to win.”

“Well, I'm not competing, and I'm hungry. Besides, it's almost lunchtime and we'll never make it back to the inn in time for Aunt Molly's food. So, let's eat!”

Kate went to the counter and ordered a cheese sandwich with a side of cheese-flavored chips. Mr. Hampton—her aunt's friend—prepared her sandwich. He looked a little worried.

As he placed her plate in front of her, Kate whispered, “Mr. Hampton, did my Aunt Molly Oliver call you?”

“She did.” He gave a hint of a smile.

“Could I speak with you…alone?” She looked around, hoping not to be overheard, then remembered no one else was in the shop. “I'm working on a paper for school and would love to get some information—straight from the source!”

“Sure, I'd be happy to help.” His shoulders sagged as he looked around the shop. “Doesn't look like we've got many customers today, anyway.” He sighed. “What a mess this is! We can't afford to lose customers right now.”

“I understand.” Kate gave him a sympathetic look. “And I want to help you with that. In my essay I'll tell everyone how wonderful your cheeses are. That should help your business! But I'll need your help. Thanks for answering a few questions for me!”

Just then, a cheerful female voice came over the loudspeaker. “Ladies and gentlemen, the Mad River Creamery will conduct a tour of its facility in exactly ten minutes. The tour is free of charge, and complimentary cheese samples will be given along the way. Join us for the tour of a lifetime.”

“It's the tour of a lifetime, all right,” Sydney whispered in Kate's ear as she drew near. “Complete with rats.”

“Shh!” Kate ignored her and turned her attention back to Mr. Hampton. “Maybe after the tour you could answer some questions for me? I'll be sure to give you credit in my paper. And I'll need to purchase lots of different kinds of cheeses to take back for the kids in my class, so I'll need help picking those out, too.”

“Of course!” he said with a smile. “I'm always happy to help a customer.”

Just then, a couple more customers came through the door—a woman in a beautiful white fur coat and a man with a sour look. He shook the snow off of his leather coat and looked around the shop with a frown.

“Wow, he doesn't look happy,” Sydney whispered in Kate's ear. “Do you think his wife made him come?”

“I don't know.” Kate stared at the man, then turned back to her sandwich. “Maybe he heard about the rats and is afraid.”

“He doesn't look like the kind of man to be scared of anything. He just looks…mean.” A look of fear came into Sydney's eyes. “I hope they're not coming on the tour with us.”

The woman walked toward them and the man followed closely behind, muttering all the way.

“Uh-oh.” Kate let out a nervous giggle. “Looks like they're joining us. Just smile and be friendly. Maybe they'll turn out to be nice.”

“Whatever you say,” Sydney whispered.

Within seconds, Kate and Sydney were tagging along behind Mr. Hampton and the two strangers into the creamery. She couldn't get rid of the nagging feeling that the man and woman were up to no good. And Sydney made her a little nervous. She wouldn't stop talking about rats.

“I can't believe I'm doing this again!” Sydney whispered. “I still have vermin-phobia after our last tour!”

“Shh.” Kate turned and gave her a
please-be-quiet
look.

The girls walked from room to room, listening as Mr. Hampton explained the process of cheese making. Kate pulled out her video camera and began to film his presentation. In one room, he pointed out something he called curds and whey.

“Just like Little Miss Muffett,” Kate whispered.

“What?” Sydney gave her a funny look.

“‘Little Miss Muffett sat on her tuffet, eating her curds and whey.'” Kate giggled. “Now I know what curds and whey are. I never knew before. Kind of looks like cottage cheese. Kind of chunky and…”
Gross
was the only word that came to mind, but she didn't say it.

“Doesn't look very appetizing!” Sydney made a terrible face. “It's enough to scare me away, too!”

“Well, in the nursery rhyme, a
spider
frightened Miss Muffett away,” Sydney reminded her. “Not the curds and whey. And certainly not a…well, a you-know-what.”

Mr. Hampton turned and gave her a warning look. He put a finger over his lips, then whispered, “Don't even use the
r-a-t
word. And please don't talk about spiders, either. I'm having enough trouble keeping my customers without worrying them even more!” He nodded in the direction of the man and woman, who stood on the other side of the room, looking at the big machine that held the curds and whey.

Kate apologized, then added, “I'm sure your customers won't be gone for long. You have the best cheese in the state, Mr. Hampton. My mom has bought Mad River Valley Cheddar for as long as I can remember.” Kate raised her voice to make sure the man and woman heard her. Sure enough, the woman looked her way. “I love, love, love cheese!” She licked her lips. “Without Mad River cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches wouldn't be the same!”

“Cheeseburgers wouldn't be as cheesy!” Mr. Hampton threw in.

“String cheese wouldn't be as…stringy,” Sydney added, then giggled.

The woman in the white coat moved their way and nodded as she said, “Cream cheese wouldn't be as creamy.”

Kate turned to the man, who crossed his arms at his chest and remained quiet. Hmm. So, he didn't want to play along.

Kate decided to change the subject. “This cheese-making stuff looks like fun. I wish I could make cheese at home,” she said with a sigh.

“Why, you can!” Mr. Hampton said. “If you have a gallon of milk, you can make a pound of cheese. You would need the help of a parent—and it takes a couple of days—but it's worth it. I can show you how to make your own cheese press, if you like.”

“Would you, really?” Kate grew more excited by the moment. “Oh, I would love that. I think I'll write my paper on that, then!”

“Let's finish the tour, and then I'll show you a homemade cheese press,” Mr. Hampton said. He led the way into a large room with a huge rectangular contraption filled with what looked like thick milk.