Page 13 of Dairy and Deadly

Though she could feel Johnny’s gaze on her, she couldn’t bring herself to lift her head again just yet. Too many new emotions were zinging through her. Emotions she couldn’t even begin to sort out.

Chapter 4: Subtle Surveillance

Brie starting nodding off before she’d barely finished half the bottle.

Ashley forced herself to meet Johnny’s gaze again, not surprised to find him watching her with a hooded expression. “Do you have a spare blanket around here?”

“It’s warm enough for the calves in the hay.” His voice was patient. He understood she didn’t have much experience working with farm animals.

“I believe you, but I still think it would help.” She trailed her fingers across the calf’s head again. “That is…if you don’t mind humoring a city gal.”

Johnny silently stood and left the room. He returned with an old quilt in hand. “Only been employed for a few minutes, and already you’re becoming a pain in my backside.”

“Best boss ever,” she retorted sweetly, reaching for the quilt.

He tossed it at her. “Quit calling me that!”

She grinned as she caught it. “Thanks.” It was so much fun getting under his skin, and not the least bit professional like she’d promised herself she’d be after he hired her.

Ashley rubbed Brie’s head and managed to coax another few ounces down her. When it became clear that the calf was done, Johnny held out a hand for the bottle.

Ashley gave it to him. “Thanks.”

He held his other hand out to her. “How about we go take a look at your castle next?”

“Sounds like a plan.” Ashley took the time to tuck the spare quilt around the calf first. Brie burrowed her nose into the folds of fabric without reopening her eyes. With a sigh of resignation, Ashley finally placed her hand in Johnny’s and allowed him to pull her to her feet.

“There you are!” A brittle female voice resounded off the walls of the cozy room, making Ashley yank her hand back.

It was Caro Madison.

Without thinking, Ashley’s finger rose to her lips in a silent warning to the woman, angling her head suggestively at Brie. Caro’s loud greeting had made the little calf flinch, though she still didn’t open her eyes. Her full belly must be making her too sleepy. She snuggled deeper into the quilt and grew still again.

“What are you doing here?” Caro’s voice was threaded with suspicion as she flicked a glance between Ashley and the sleeping calf.

As usual, she was way overdressed for Heart Lake. This morning, she was wearing black leather pants —Leather!— and a blood-red wool coat that fell just below her knees.

Ashley wasn’t sure why The Black Widow was going to so much trouble to stand out. Usually, people with something to hide tried a little harder to fit in. Wouldn’t it be wiser to traipse around in jeans and boots like everyone else?

“I own the place, remember?” For no particular reason, Johnny’s teasing voice rubbed Ashley the wrong way as he ushered the two women from the room ahead of him. “I think the real question is what brings you to my humble dairy farm?”

“I was referring to her, and you know it.” Caro’s red-painted lips turned down at the corners as she glanced pointedly between him and Ashley.

Johnny frowned in puzzlement for a moment. Then his expression cleared. “Oh, you mean Ashley?” He gave a low whoop of satisfaction. “You’re looking at my newest farm hand. I’m not sure if the two of you have been introduced.” He closed the door to the calf feeding room and made some exaggerated gestures while doing the honors. “Caro, this is Ashley Perkins. Ashley, this is Caro Madison, the events manager at Chester Farm.”

Caro made no attempt to shake Ashley’s hand. She was too busy preening over his introduction of her. “Management looks good on me, doesn’t it?”

“Yep.” Johnny started walking.

She pivoted in such a way as to cut Ashley completely out of their conversation. Then she hurried forward to fall in step with him.

Ashley trailed behind them at a slower pace, taking in the row of cattle hooked up to milking stations. They were heathy, filled-out creatures with glossy black patterns covering their otherwise white hide. Like snowflakes, each patch of black hide looked unique.

God’s own artwork.Ashley was so busy ogling the beautiful creatures that she jumped when a cowboy stepped out from behind one of the milking stations and swaggered into her path.

“Yo, Johnny!” Though his gaze was on her, he addressed her boss instead.

She’d never laid eyes on him before. Like Johnny, he was wearing faded jeans and well-worn boots. Unlike Johnny, he had a piece of straw sticking out of the corner of his mouth. “We’ve got a loose valve on one of the machines. I’m doing what I can to tighten it down, but the O-ring is partially stripped out.” He pushed back his Stetson to frown ferociously at the dripping end of the cord dangling from his hand.

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