Page 18 of Dairy and Deadly

She shook her head as she rolled her suitcases across the threshold. “What can I say? I’m one of a kind.”

“Yes, you are.” As a former police officer trying her hand at dairy farming, that alone would’ve set her apart. The fact that she traveled light was a fascinating additional piece of the puzzle that comprised Ashley Perkins.

He watched her face light up as she surveyed the interior of the cabin. Following her gaze, he tried to see the brown suede sofa and simple rocker in the living room through her eyes. A cream area rug lightened the place up a bit and added a hint of coziness. The stacked stone fireplace had a modest-sized flat-screen TV mounted over the mantle. A kitchenette graced one side of the room, and a sliding barn door was propped open, revealing a small bedroom on the other side.

“You like?” he prodded, wishing he’d had enough advance notice of her arrival to purchase a plant or a bouquet of flowers —anything to add a feminine touch to the otherwise masculine feel of the place.

“I do.” There was a sigh in her voice as she rolled her suitcases farther into the room. “About that washer and dryer you mentioned…”

He pointed at a set of louvered doors leading off from the kitchenette. “There. The last guy even left a half-full container of laundry detergent. No guarantee it’s a brand or a scent you like, but?—”

“I’m not too picky. Thank you,” she cut in breathlessly. “Just let me know what I owe you for all of this.” She circled a finger in the air to encompass her new living quarters.

Though both Clint and Tucker paid rent, Johnny found himself oddly reluctant to name a price with her. He tried to tell himself it was because she was a wounded cop, but it was more than that. He honestly didn’t relish the idea of being her landlord any more than he relished the idea of being her employer. It couldn’t be helped, though, since he filled both of those roles.

“First month is on the house,” he drawled. “After you make up your mind about this job, then we’ll hash out the details about your rent.”

She gave him an incredulous look. “I’ve already made up my mind.”

“If you say so.” He was in no mood to haggle over rent and utilities with her. “First month is still on the house.”

“I’m a woman of my word, Johnny.” Her chin came up. Her cell phone buzzed again, making her expression wobble, but she kept her chin stubbornly in the air.

Though he hadn’t meant to put her on the defense, he liked her show of spirit. “Good to know.” He waggled his eyebrows playfully at her. “Because I have a growing herd of cattle that aren’t gonna milk themselves.”

She shot a guilty look at the door. “I know I need to get back out there. I hope you don’t mind if I start a load of laundry first?”

“Not at all.” He gestured with both hands toward the closet containing the washer and dryer. “I’m gonna need you to take a detour to my office on the way back. There are a few forms needing your signature to make all of this official.”

“Of course.” She quickly dragged one of her suitcases toward the louvred doors.

He watched her pull them open, dive for the container of laundry detergent, and fiddle with the knobs on the washer. Then she unzipped her suitcase. To his amazement, it was stuffed to the gills with dirty laundry. The moment she popped open the lid, it came tumbling out.

She shot him a bemused look. “Don’t ask.”

He held up his hands. “Wasn’t planning on it.” However, his naturally inquisitive mind couldn’t help wondering how a woman could distill over twenty years of her life into two measly suitcases. Since one of them was filled with clothing, that meant she didn’t own much. Next to nothing. It was a real head scratcher.

He moved to the living room window to stare at the cattle pond on the other side, but he continued to watch her through his peripheral vision. The suitcase proved to be filled entirely with dirty laundry. Nothing else whatsoever.

He was momentarily distracted by a scratching sound on the back door. It grew louder. “You’ve gotta be kidding me!” He strode to the door and pulled it open.

Can Opener was prancing impatiently on the door mat. He gave a yowl of triumph at the sight of Johnny and dashed between his legs into the cabin.

“Hey! I didn’t say you could come in!”

The cat made a beeline for Ashley’s open suitcase. She was still pulling jeans and sweatshirts out to toss into the washer, but he plopped right down in the middle of what was left.

She snickered and engaged in a tugging match to get the leg of a pair of jeans out from under his furry legs.

He sank his teeth into the cuff and growled at her.

“Can Opener,” Johnny protested.

Ashley looked up at him and snickered. “It’s alright, boss. Sometimes, you have to just let the underlings work things out amongst themselves.”

Boss? Underlings?Though he shook his head at her, he was secretly thrilled that Can Opener had taken such a liking to her already.

Just like little Brie had.

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