Death on Tap Read online

  “Have a lemonade.” He tossed me a bottle of lemonade and pointed to the rocker.

  I followed his command and sat. “Hans, what is going on, and why are you asking me about my mail?”

  He took his time to open his lemonade and then took a long, slow sip. Then he sighed and met my expectant gaze. My feet bounced on the asphalt. “I thought my parents were going to talk to you directly about this, but I guess they didn’t.”

  “About what?”

  “About Der Keller.”

  “Oh no, is it really in trouble? What has Mac done?”

  “Sloan, relax. It’s okay.” He took another sip. “They decided after everything that’s happened recently that it’s time for them to scale back a bit. They think that what’s happened between you and Mac is their fault.”

  “What?”

  “I know. Trust me, I’ve told them everything you’re thinking a thousand times, but they won’t hear it. They feel responsible.”

  “I’ll talk to them.”

  “You should, but it’s not going to change anything. You know how stubborn they can be.”

  I smiled at the thought of sweet and kind Otto and Ursula, and how right Hans was about their stubborn streak. It was one of the reasons they had succeeded in Leavenworth. They refused not to.

  “That’s why they didn’t tell you. They were worried that you would refuse.”

  My mind spun. What would I refuse?

  Hans flipped the cap to his lemonade in one hand. “They decided that the timing was right to restructure the company.”

  I held my breath. Why was Hans so calm? If Ursula and Otto had restructured the company, that had to mean that they had given Mac more control. The entire time Mac and I had been together, Otto and Ursula controlled 70 percent of Der Keller’s shares. The other 30 percent was divided equally between Mac and Hans—a substantial piece when it came to pulling profit shares but not enough to give them any authority in decision making. Additionally Mac, like other employees, pulled a salary in his role as brewery manager.

  “But Mama and Papa are smart. They know that Mac can be impulsive. They kept ten percent, they gave me thirty percent.”

  I cut him off. “But that gives Mac a giant share!”

  “Hold up, Sloan. I wasn’t done.”

  “Sorry.”

  “They gave Mac thirty percent.”

  My confusion must have been evident on my face, because he rocked back in his chair and grinned. “I don’t understand.”

  “That’s why you should check your mailbox. They gave the remaining thirty percent of the shares to you.”

  “Me?” I must have heard Hans wrong.

  His smile broadened. “You. They gave you thirty percent of the company, Sloan. You deserve it. You’ve worked as hard—if not harder—than anyone else.”

  “No! No, they can’t give me that many shares. I don’t even want shares.”

  “That’s exactly why they gave them to you and why they didn’t want to tell you.”

  “Wait, no. This isn’t right.” Was this really happening? Why would Otto and Ursula give me that kind of stock in Der Keller? “This is your family business.”

  “Sloan, you are family.”

  “You know what I mean.”

  “Is your last name Krause?” Hans raised his brows.

  “For the moment, but probably not for long.”

  “Sloan, my parents love you. You are their daughter, no matter what happens with Mac. They want you involved in Der Keller’s future. Actually, I think Dad’s exact words were something like ‘there is no future without Sloan.’”

  “I never imagined they would give me part of the company.”

  “I know, which is why you’re the perfect person to control the remaining shares. Mac would run the company into the ground. Not intentionally, but because he has a tendency to leap without a net. Mama and Papa are astute businesspeople. They didn’t make this decision lightly. It’s been in the works for years. They talked to me about it, and I gave them one hundred percent approval. The timing got bumped up.”

  “Why? Why now?”

  “Like I said, they feel guilty. Giving you your stake in Der Keller now frees you up. You won’t have to work at Nitro, unless you want to, and I think quite honestly it’s a brilliant power play on their part. You and Mac are going to have to work together to make decisions for the company. They’re holding out hope that you’ll get back together.”

  “That’s not likely.”

  “Yeah, but they can hope. Plus, Mac has to come to you. He can’t make decisions without one or both of us signing off.” He winked. “Like I said, Mama and Papa might look like frail, little old grandparents, but Der Keller is where it is today because of their shrewd business decisions.”

  My throat felt like sandpaper, and not because I was thirsty. I couldn’t believe it. The Krauses had given me nearly a third of their multimillion-dollar operation. I was flattered and flattened by the news.

  CHAPTER

  THIRTY-THREE

  “HANS, I CAN’T ACCEPT THIRTY percent of Der Keller,” I said, standing up. “Don’t get me wrong, that’s the nicest gift anyone has ever given me, but I can’t take it.”

  He twisted the cap on his lemonade. “You don’t have a choice, Sloan. The paperwork is done.”

  “I’m sure I have a choice. You can’t just give someone shares in a company.”

  “You’ve met my parents, right?”

  “You know what I mean. I can refuse.”

  “Go ahead and try.” Dimples formed in his cheeks as he smiled. “Good luck with that. If you want, we can walk over there now. I’d like to see how this goes.”

  He had a point. I couldn’t refuse Ursula’s offers for Sunday night dinners or Otto when he insisted on paying for Alex’s summer camp. How was I going to refuse this?

  “What do you know about Mac making investments and borrowing against his shares?” I asked, changing the subject.

  Hans’s dimples disappeared as he answered. “Not much, but Mac plays his cards pretty close to his chest when it comes to me. He’s smart enough to know that I’ll push back.”

  “Do you have any idea what he might have invested in?”

  “He mentioned hop farms a few times, but he could have just been talking. You know Mac.”

  It was true—Mac was a big talker. When I first met him, I was dazzled by his larger-than-life dreams and personality. The reality of living with him day to day had tempered my enthusiasm. It was a rare occasion when he actually followed through on one of his ideas. I had learned to filter his plans and brainstorms. Usually, he’d get fired up about a new inspiration for a day or two before he lost interest. Maybe this was one of those times. It wouldn’t have been out of character for him to talk about investing and never actually follow through.

  “Sloan, don’t look so worried. Even if—worst case scenario—Mac has overinvested, you and I hold majority control of Der Keller. It’s going to be fine.”

  His confidence was inspiring, but I wasn’t as easily convinced. A buzzer vibrated on Hans’s tool belt. He pushed it off. “Time to stain.” Wrapping one arm around my shoulders, he walked me inside. “Sloan, I promise everything is going to work out.”

  “I hope so.” I gave him a weak smile and headed for the door.

  “Are you going to talk to Mama and Papa?” he called, shaking a quart of wood stain.

  “Yeah.”

  I had prided myself on living a quiet and calm life. I’d experienced enough change in my young years to last a lifetime. Up until a few weeks ago, my days had been uneventful. My routine involved working at Der Keller and making dinner for Alex and Mac. Suddenly, however, I’d been bombarded by change, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it.

  The sky felt heavy as I walked to Der Keller. Rain was in the forecast, and the clouds looked like they were ready to burst. I had a feeling I was, too. I wasn’t sure how much more I could take or if I could maintain my composure much longer.
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br />   Otto spotted me first. He was watering the hops and flower boxes in the front of the restaurant with a stainless steel watering can. “Sloan, hello, hello! Zis is a happy surprise.”

  Placing the watering can on a chair, he leaned in and kissed both of my cheeks. My throat tightened. I didn’t want to have to turn down his offer, but I had to.

  “Is Ursula here?” I asked.

  He nodded toward the back patio. “Ja, she is cleaning the tables.”

  That sounded like Ursula. She easily could have tasked any of the staff with cleaning the outdoor furniture, but she claimed that scrubbing and polishing the wood kept her young. Again, I wondered why Mac hadn’t inherited his parents’ work ethic.

  “Can I talk to you two for a minute?”

  Otto’s wide smile turned solemn. “Of course, but your face is so long.”

  I nodded. “I’m fine, but I need to talk to you and Ursula.”

  “Come, come, we will find her.” He moved with ease through the pub, giving a slight nod to a waiter who sprang into action when he realized that someone’s pint glass was nearly empty. There wasn’t anything that Otto missed. He knew each customer by name and waved friendly greetings as we weaved our way through the tables and outside.

  “Sloan!” Ursula’s face lit up when she saw me. She wore a pair of thick yellow rubber gloves that would have come up to most people’s elbows. On Ursula’s petite frame, they nearly came up to her shoulders. She squeezed her sponge into a bucket and tugged off the gloves. “How are you?” She embraced me in a long hug and then touched my hair. “I like your hair long like this. It is soft on your face, ja.”

  “Thanks. I’m good.” I returned the hug, not wanting to let go. I knew that turning down their offer would be a disappointment, but I felt weird about accepting it.

  “Sit, sit,” Ursula commanded, motioning to a table a few feet away that she’d already cleaned. “It looks like rain—maybe we should sit inside?”

  “No, it’s fine,” I said. I didn’t want to have this conversation in front of half the town.

  They exchanged a knowing look and sat across the table from me.

  “I just talked to Hans,” I started.

  Otto raised one bushy white eyebrow. “Hans?”

  “He told me about Der Keller.”

  “Ja, and you are happy, no?” Ursula studied my face and smiled brightly.

  “It’s such a wonderful gesture. I can’t thank you enough.” I noticed I was winding a strand of hair around my finger.

  Otto interrupted. “No, you don’t thank us. You have made this a success. We want you to have part of it.”

  “That is so kind of you, but I can’t accept. It’s too much.”

  “I told you zis is what she would say.” Ursula punched Otto in the shoulder.

  Otto shook his head. “No, zis is what we want for you, Sloan. It is not a gift. It is what you are due.”

  “But, I can’t take a third of the company. It’s not right.”

  Ursula sat up. “No, it is right. You must accept.”

  This was going to be even harder than I had imagined.

  “Really, I can’t. I wouldn’t feel right about it.”

  Ursula gave Otto another nudge in the arm. “See? I told you zis would happen. You tell her.”

  Otto nodded at her and then stared at me. “Sloan, you are our daughter. We always wanted a little girl and then you came along. We are so lucky to have you, and you are our best brewer. You have ze nose, as we say here. Zis is what we want, but it is also what is right for Der Keller. Ursula and I are slowing now, and we know it is much to ask of you, but we need your help. Our knees and backs need a rest.” His eyes twinkled. “Would you do that for us? Would you help us?”

  His words melted me. I blinked back tears as I met their sincere gazes. How could I say no to that?

  “But what about Mac? I don’t think it’s a great idea for us to be working together. And then there’s Garrett. I made a commitment and promise to him. I can’t leave him stranded.”

  Ursula knew she had won. She clapped her hands together. “Zis is no problem. We have already talked about it. Mac will run the day-to-day operations. You can oversee the brewing and attend board meetings for now. We will start to back away slowly. Not all at once. You can take your time and work with Garrett. It is perfect, right? We talked it through and want it to be the very best for you.”

  “That’s so kind of you. I can’t thank you both enough, but I’m still not sure. I don’t know what’s going to happen with Mac and me, and…” I didn’t want to mention anything about the company’s financial position. I wanted confirmation that Mac was really in too deep before I worried them.

  “Ja, ja, we understand,” Otto replied. “You do not need to worry about Mac. We will talk to him. Hans agrees. We talked to him, and he also wants you as part of the company. You are family, Sloan, and we want to keep Der Keller in the family.”

  Ursula reached across the table and placed her aging arm over mine. “Ja, family. It is right, don’t you see?”

  I nodded and wiped a tear from my eye. “Thank you.”

  Otto called for a round of celebratory beers. I didn’t feel exactly like celebrating, and yet I felt completely supported and surrounded by love. Otto and Ursula were like parents to me, and as much as I wanted to decline their generous offer, I couldn’t. I knew they had played me. They knew exactly what to say to get me to stay. Whether they really needed my help or not was a moot point. I was now a partial owner in Leavenworth’s largest brewery.

  CHAPTER

  THIRTY-FOUR

  I LEFT OTTO AND URSULA, and returned to Nitro, where Garrett had already opened the bar. Had I been gone that long?

  Mouthing an apology to Garrett, I hurried to the kitchen to assemble small plates for the evening. We had decided to roll out the new menu the next week, so in the interim I planned to pull together whatever we had on hand. Tonight that meant crackers, nuts, and a plate of the desserts I’d made that morning.

  We would offer complimentary bar snacks until we had finalized the menu, so I didn’t have to worry about pricing each platter. Once I’d assembled the food on trays, I circulated them around the room. It wasn’t very crowded yet. A handful of people had gathered at the bar, and three of our twelve tables were occupied.

  I wound my way back to the bar. “Sorry I’m late. I lost track of time,” I said to Garrett, placing the trays behind the bar. I knew if I put them front and center, the regular drinkers would devour them in a matter of minutes.

  “You have a lot on your mind,” Garrett replied, pouring a pint.

  Did he know that I was now a part owner in Der Keller?

  “Are you okay?” He wrinkled his forehead.

  “What?”

  “You’re acting kind of weird. Is everything okay? You’re not mad about what I told you?”

  “No, I’m fine, and I’m glad you told me.” I rubbed my temples. “Anything you need from me?”

  He handed me a tray with four beers. “Can you take this to table two?”

  “For sure.” I balanced the tray of beers on one arm and slid away, thankful for a chance to pull my thoughts together.

  Table two was a group of business travelers in town for a conference at the Sleeping Lady resort on the outskirts of town. It was a gem of a place and attracted visitors from all over for winter skiing, summer hiking, family vacations, weddings, and business retreats.

  I delivered their beers and gave them some suggestions for local hikes. I was about to return to the bar when I noticed Mac and April talking outside. With a quick glance to make sure that Garrett didn’t need me, I tucked the tray under my arm and opened the door halfway.

  “What’s going on?” I didn’t trust April for a second. I could only imagine the tale she would be spinning about how I was ready to list the farmhouse. The last thing I needed was for April to inflame an already fiery situation between Mac and me.

  “Sloan, there you are, dear. We
were just talking about you, weren’t we, Mac?” April batted her fake lashes at my husband and linked her arm through his. “Your ears must be burning.”

  Mac looked like he was burning. His eyes were so intense I almost lifted the empty beer tray to shield myself from his gaze.

  “Oh, yeah?” I tried to sound casual, but Mac was obviously fuming about something. Either April had gotten to him or he had learned that I now owned a sizable chunk of his brewery. Mac’s vision when Otto and Ursula retired had always been to retain sole ownership of the company. He knew that Hans didn’t share his passion for beer, and frankly, I think he liked it that way. When his parents finally handed over the reins, Mac would be in control—and the man liked to be in control. Them giving me a piece of the business had thrown a giant wrench in his plans.

  “Are you guys coming in for a pint?” I asked, keeping my tone light.

  “No, I’m on my way to meet with some very important businessmen in town.” April smoothed her ruffled barmaid skirt. I wondered if her outfit was considered appropriate business attire.

  “Mac?”

  He glared at me. “Nope.”

  Without another word, he and April sauntered away. He was pissed, and I loved it. Thank you, Ursula and Otto, I said to myself as I practically danced inside.

  “Someone’s had a change of attitude,” Garrett noted.

  I stacked the tray with the others and took an empty pint glass from one of the customers at the bar to refill. “Is it that obvious?”

  He handed another customer a taster tray. “Yes. Although I saw you talking to your husband, so to tell you the truth, this is not the reaction I was expecting you to have.”

  I had to pinch the top of my thigh to stop myself from saying anything about Otto and Ursula’s offer. It also didn’t go unnoticed that Garrett had been watching me. Was he simply showing concern as my new boss, or could it be that he felt something magnetic between us, too?

  I smiled. “Honestly, neither was I.”

  Business picked up over the next hour. I didn’t have time to dwell on Mac, or on Otto and Ursula’s offer, for that matter. Garrett and I poured pint after pint. I enjoyed the easy rhythm we’d fallen into, and it was obvious that the town had fallen for his beer. When it was time to head for home a few hours later, I had so many thoughts running through my mind that I thought it might explode.