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“What’s funny?” she asked.
“Oh, nothing,” Lily said hastily. “I was just thinking about how funny it would be if all those farmers knew they had a vegan in their midst. Don’t tell them, will you? It might make things awkward for us.”
Bec looked at her indignantly. “I should be telling them how awful it is that they keep animals for food,” she said. “But just for you, I’ll do my best to hold my peace. There’s a time and a place for telling everyone, and a party isn’t it. I don’t want to ruin it for you.”
“Thanks, Bec. I appreciate that,” Lily said, wondering if Bec would be able to keep quiet if she saw something that offended her vegan sensibilities.
She had a feeling she was sitting on a ticking time bomb.
3
Lily checked the text Jesse had sent regarding the details of the event.
“Hmmm, Masters Road,” she said aloud. “That’s getting a bit close for comfort.”
Bec looked up from the book she was reading at the kitchen table. “Why?”
“Because that’s the road Ashton’s farm is on. But it’s quite a long road, so it might be up the other end. I’ll have to call Jesse and ask for the number. He forgot to put it in the text.”
A few minutes later, she had the number, and her brow creased in concentration.
“It can’t be,” she muttered. “I wish I could remember the exact number …”
“The exact number of what?” Bec asked, laying aside her book.
“Ashton’s farm. I know where it is, of course, but I have no idea what number it was. Ashton took me there the first few times I went, and I had no need to look for a number. And after that, of course, I knew where to go. I wish I could be sure.”
“Well, why don’t we take a drive out that way so you know?”
Lily looked at her. “Are you mad? It’s a twenty-five-minute drive, at least. And all to know whether or not it’s Ashton’s farm? I can’t do anything there until tomorrow, so it would be a waste of time and gas.”
“But you want to know, don’t you?” Bec asked.
“Of course, but I’m trying to be practical here.”
“Practical is no fun.” Bec grinned at her. “Come on. I’ll drive. You just have to hang on and scream.”
Lily laughed despite herself. “I don’t know what’s worse, your driving or sneaking around stalking Ashton.”
“You goose. We’re not stalking Ashton. We want to avoid him at all costs. That’s why it’s best if we take my car. He won’t recognize that.”
“Fair point.” Lily straightened. “All right. You’ve convinced me. I might as well find out and put myself out of my misery before I arrive. What are the chances, anyway? It’s Jesse I’m dealing with. It’s his farm, not Ashton’s.”
“So why are you even worried?” Bec picked up her car keys off the table.
“When you put it like that, I’m not,” Lily replied.
“But we still should go, and at least you’ll know where to go when we get there tomorrow.”
“All right. Let’s do it.”
Twenty minutes later, Bec turned the car onto Masters Road. She slowed down, looking at the numbers along the gravel road.
“It must be up the other end,” Lily said as they approached the first farm. “Ashton’s farm is up the other end, too.”
“Will you be worried if it’s next door?” Bec asked.
“Maybe a little. I suppose Ashton might be a party guest if he’s friends with the neighbors.”
