Page 55 of Dairy and Deadly

“Under your watch, he gets free run of this place, doesn’t he?” Though Ashley was putting on a brave front, Johnny could tell she wasn’t handling the news about her ex very well.

Caro’s eyes widened a fraction. “Burden of proof, darling. Until I can prove you and your fiancé are up to your eyeballs in a deadly black widow scheme, he has as much of a right to be here as anyone...since he technicallyownsthe herd.”

“You’re pointing the finger at me?” Ashley’s creamy complexion took on a ghastly pallor. “If you think anyone in their right mind is going to believe a lowly events planner just happens to be so well versed on financial fraud, you’re in for a big surprise.”

“One of us is, that’s for sure.” Caro gave a snort of disdain. “Color me shocked that all you want to jabber about is the money. It’s all you’ve ever cared about, isn’t it?” Her voice grew sneering. “How much have you two socked away so far? Millions? Billions?”

“Wouldn’t that be nice?” Ashley sounded faint, but her voice quickly regained steam. “It strikes me that you know an awful lot about Martin Hobbs, too. Another thing that’s not making you look too good.”

Caro didn’t take the bait, choosing to maintain a tight-lipped silence.

“How could you be a part of something like this?” Ashley sounded mournful as she raised her weapon to gesture at the kneeling woman. “How could you betray someone as kindhearted and good as Farmer Monty?”

“I wouldn’t,” Caro snapped, sounding like she was close to losing her cool. “I’d just as soon break the legs of anyone who tried. So, you’d better take me out while you can, you little fraud. Otherwise, you might not be standing much longer.”

When Ashley didn’t respond, Caro swung her head back in Johnny’s direction. “What I don’t understand is your part in all of this, cowboy. There’s no way she bamboozled you into thinking she’s employee-of-the-month material. I bet she can’t tell the front end of a cow from the back end of one!”

“Caro, Caro, Caro,” Ashley mocked, coming alive once again. “I’m starting to think you picked the wrong career. You might’ve had a real future in Hollywood.” She raised and lowered her shoulders, wincing in pain from the movement. “Granted, it might not have paid as well as your Black Widow scheme.” Her words ended on a breathless note.

A siren screamed in the distance.

Instead of looking concerned, Caro looked amused. It was at that moment that Johnny came to the conclusion she was innocent. He didn’t doubt that something sinister was in play, but Caro wasn’t the villain she was looking for. As much as he hated to admit it, Ashley must be mistaken.

Before he could say anything, Caro’s gaze zeroed in alarm on Ashley. A thudding sound followed that made him pivot to see what had so thoroughly captured her attention. He discovered Ashley lying in a crumpled heap.

“Ash!” His frantic voice tore through the relative stillness of the room as he lunged in her direction.

In the same moment, Caro shot to her feet and beat him to the pistol Ashley was still clutching limply in her hand. She reared back a foot to kick it away.

“Stop,” he howled, fearing she’d break Ashley’s fingers. He shoved his gun back in its holster and fell to his knees to gather the woman he loved in his arms. He bent his head over her, checking the pulse in her wrist with his lips. “She’s not well.”

“I can’t believe you’re still defending her,” Caro stormed, reaching down to pluck away the pistol. “She’s probably only faking it, just like she did the night her partner died. I wouldn’t be surprised if her attorney fiancé staged the whole fiasco.”

“You’re wrong.” Rage kindled and spread through Johnny’s chest. “Both of you are.” He was more convinced than ever that his and Clint’s instincts had been correct. It was the two women in the room who’d gotten their wires crossed.

The door to the barn burst open, and Sheriff Luke Hawling entered with his gun drawn. “Special Agent Madison, are you unharmed?” he barked.

What in the world?Johnny sent him an incredulous look. “We need an ambulance. Now!”

Luke marched over to Caro and engaged in a quick exchange that Johnny couldn’t make hide nor hair of. Then the sheriff called for an ambulance.

Within seconds, a second siren wailed in their direction. Feeling betrayed, Johnny glowered at Caro and Luke until the paramedics arrived.

Ashley roused as he gingerly deposited her on the stretcher. “Did you catch him?” Her words were slurred.

“Not yet, but we will. I give you my word.” He briefly gripped her hands to emphasize his point. “Twenty-five-year-old female employed at Johnny’s Dairy,” he growled to the paramedics. “Recent bullet wound. Severe PTSD. Dehydrated and undernourished.”

Luke joined him behind the ambulance, but Johnny refused to make eye contact with him. He needed to know Ashley was going to be okay before dealing with whatever shenanigans the sheriff had been up to without telling him or the rest of his team at Lonestar Security.

“What I did was necessary,” Luke shared in undertones with him.

“We’re supposed to be on the same team.” Johnny shook his head at him. “But you lied to me. You lied to all of us.”

“I didn’t lie.” Luke sounded regretful. “I withheld information at the behest of the FBI. You would’ve done the same thing if you were in my shoes.”

“I’m riding with Ashley to the medical center.” Johnny sent a steely look in Caro’s direction. “Contrary to what you and your goon over there seem to think, Ashley Perkins is one of the good guys. Caro let the bad guy go.”

Luke ran a hand over the lower half of his face. “I promise you we’ll get to the bottom of this, my friend.”

---