Page 41 of Dairy and Deadly

“I’ll try to find the article and forward it to you,” Ashley offered.

“Don’t bother.” Caro’s tone was patronizing. “There’s a reason Johnny hasn’t heard of it. Take it from a country gal like myself. Injecting anything unnatural into milk is a bad idea!” It was obvious she was trying to paint Ashley into an uninformed city girl.

“Agreed.” Johnny raised his cup of coffee to her.

Ashley found it ironic that Caro was pooh-poohing a process she may have ended three lives over. Unless, of course, she was deliberately muddying the waters.

The barista returned with Ashley and Clint’s coffees, setting the cups on the bar with a flourish.

Ashley eagerly reached for hers. “Thanks for talking me into coming.” She lifted her cup with both hands and gestured sweetly at Clint with it.

“My pleasure.” He winked at her. “Us farm hands have to stick together.”

“Next topic.” Johnny sounded dry. “When are you moving to Chester Farm, Caro?”

Her expression brightened. “Today, actually.”

What?Ashley’s insides tightened with foreboding.

Caro idly pushed her coffee straw around in her cup. “My apartment manager was kind enough to let me out of my lease early.”

“You’re moving on site?” Ashley gaped at her.

“Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?” Caro’s voice was sugary with an edge of bitterness. “Like you, it only makes sense for me to put down tent stakes where I spend the most time.”

Clint leaned companionably closer to her. “Need us to rustle up a moving crew for you?”

She drew back a little, looking like she smelled something unpleasant. “Oh, I wouldn’t want to put anyone to that kind of trouble.” Despite her protest, she gave Johnny a hopeful look.

Of course, you would! As long as it’s Johnny.Ashley’s sniff of disdain was swallowed up by the hubbub around them.

“It’s no trouble.” Clint leaned closer to her, clearly enjoying crowding her space. “I can call a couple of buddies, and we’ll have you loaded up in no time.”

Her lips tightened. “You’re too kind.”

The four of them finished their coffee and moved into the sanctuary. To Ashley’s surprise, Johnny stayed glued to her left side while Clint remained at her right side, anchored between her and Caro.

A small band flooded onto the stage and led them in some worship music. As they sang, Ashley forgot all about who was standing next to whom.

A sense of peace stole over her, chasing away the mental exhaustion she’d been grappling with. Though a lot of things in her life weren’t perfect, her presence at the Sunday morning service made her feel like a ship drifting into a safe harbor.

I needed this.

Johnny angled his body toward her and slung an arm loosely around the back of her chair. Though he didn’t touch her, she was very aware of his nearness. What was he doing? Anyone who saw where his arm was might easily get the wrong impression.

She darted a glance at him and found him studying her with an inscrutable expression.

He leaned her way to speak in her ear. “Old rodeo injury. Hope you don’t mind me stretching my shoulder a bit.”

She nodded instead of answering. No, she didn’t mind, but he had to know how it looked, especially to Caro. Biting her lower lip to hold in a sigh, she returned her attention to the middle-aged cowboy jogging across the stage in jeans and boots. Was he the minister? He sure didn’t look like one. He wasn’t wearing a suit or a tie, nor was there a pulpit anywhere in sight.

“Welcome and thank you for being here. I’m Joe Swanson, a semi-retired rancher who’s honored to serve as one of your pastors.”

One of them?Ashley studied the man in puzzlement. He held a Bible at his side and gestured at them with his other hand. There were no other props on the platform. Not even a microphone stand. He spoke into a thin, wireless mic resting near his mouth. “I know many of you have been up since the crack of dawn, so I’m gonna start off by praying a blessing over you for your faithfulness in showing up this morning.”

He opened his Bible and read an iconic passage from the Book of Numbers. “May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord cause His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up His countenance toward you and give you peace.”

Peace.Ashley latched onto the word. She’d experienced so little peace since the death of her partner at the Dallas PD. Or during the subsequent smearing of his good name. She’d had trouble eating and sleeping. At times, the darkness of her memories felt downright suffocating.

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