Page 49 of Dairy and Deadly

“He’s my brother-in-law.” Johnny wasn’t sure if the old farmer was aware of their relationship.

“No kidding?” Looking delighted, Farmer Monty unfolded his arms and slapped his hands down on his thighs.

“Yep, and they don’t make in-laws any finer.” Johnny thought the world of Clint. His only complaint was Clint’s refusal to jointly invest in the dairy farm. He’d never understood it and felt downright guilty about it somedays. He didn’t like playing the role of Clint’s employer instead of his partner.

Farmer Monty’s jovial expression faded. “Listen, I couldn’t have been more sorry to hear about your heartache up in Wyoming.”

Johnny glanced away, swallowing hard. “Thank you, sir.”

“My hat’s off to you and Clint for sticking together the way you have.”

Johnny nodded. “Like I said, they don’t make ‘em any finer than him.”

“So’s that it?” Farmer Monty leaned closer to him. “You got what you came for?”

“Not quite, sir.” Johnny met his gaze levelly. “You’re one of our town’s greatest treasures.”

The old farmer snorted. “Meaning I’m not gonna like what you’re gonna say next?”

“Probably not.” Johnny laid out a plan for round-the-clock security to be embedded at Chester Farm. “Nearly everyone at Lonestar Security has volunteered here at some time or another. We’ll all take turns. It won’t be too hard to work out a seemingly random set of shifts.”

Farmer Monty grimaced. “For how long?”

All Johnny could do was nod. He didn’t have an end date on the books yet.

“All because of some anonymous tip,” his aging friend groaned.

“It’s only because we care.” Johnny couldn’t give him a better answer than that.

“I know, I know,” he grumbled. “Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

“This is just between you and Lonestar Security,” Johnny informed him carefully. “And the police. No one else needs to know what we’re doing here. It’ll compromise the integrity of our mission and put our security team in danger.”

Farmer Monty looked mildly incensed over his warning. “I wasn’t born yesterday, kid. Your secret is safe with me. But…” He held up one gnarled finger, “I have one condition.”

“Name it, sir.” Johnny had come prepared to negotiate long and hard, so he had plenty of room to make concessions.

“You and your team need to protect Caro, too.” His expression sharpened with warning. “And before you start blustering, you need to understand something. She has become like a daughter to me.”

Uh-oh!“You’ve only known her a few months.”

“You’ve known Ashley Perkins for a lot less time,” the old fella shot back.

Johnny stared at him in astonishment. “What in the world does that have to do with anything?”

Farmer Monty pointed at him. “I’ve got eyes, kid, and these eyes saw the way you were looking at her at church yesterday. I also noticed how it upset Caro.”

Johnny wasn’t sure what to say to that. His growing attraction to Ashley was too new, too unexplored.

“I also noticed how less upset she was after Clint finished helping her move yesterday,” Farmer Monty chortled.

For a moment, Johnny couldn’t wrap his brain around what the guy was suggesting. When he did, he shook his head.That’s impossible!

“I know what I saw.” The old farmer grew serious again. “So, if you aren’t gonna pursue Caro yourself, how about you step out of the way?”

With pleasure!It hadn’t been Johnny’s idea to link his name to Caro’s in the first place. “I’ll do what I can, sir.”Clint and Caro, though?No matter how hard Johnny tried, he couldn’t picture them as a couple. Caro was a pinkies-up kind of gal, whereas Clint was, well, Clint.

“You’re doing what?”Clint stomped around Johnny’s unfurnished living room, making the ceiling fan rattle.

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