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Bec looked dismayed. “Hot dogs? But I’m a vegan,” she wailed. “Please, I’ll shovel pig manure if you want, but not that!”
Ashton’s eyes gleamed. “No, I can clean out the pig pen. The fair is where we need the most help. May I tell my mother you’ll be there?”
“What about Lily?” Bec asked. “She’s responsible too.”
Ashton got out his phone. “The police should be happy to come around and have a little chat,” he said pleasantly.
“No!” Bec exclaimed in horror. “I’ll help your mom. Just let me get the bread ready or something.”
Ashton slipped the phone back into his pocket. “I’m sure that can be arranged,” he said. “You can do the bread or the condiments or something. Just do your fair share and I’ll consider the debt repaid.” He turned to Lily. “I have something else for you to do.”
“What?” Lily asked, her voice trembling. She wasn’t sure if it was from the shock of getting caught or being in Ashton’s arms again. She felt shaky all over.
“I have to sort through a big pile of nuts and bolts and other odds and ends in the barn,” Ashton said. “I’m trying to tidy up and I need help to make the job quicker. I’m afraid some things have been there since my grandfather’s time.”
“Aww, why does Lily get the best job?” Bec complained.
Ashton turned to her. “You were the mastermind of this evil plot,” he said with a frown. “Lily just went along with it. Don’t make me change my mind.”
Bec gulped and closed her mouth. Ashton grinned.
“That’s better. Anyway, who said sorting out the mess in the barn is a good job? Lily will have to deal with cobwebs and dust and me. Are you sure she’s getting the best deal?”
Bec looked at him. “I think you’re trying to provoke me,” she said. “And I’m not taking the bait.” She stuck her nose in the air and turned her face away.
Ashton burst out laughing, and Bec looked offended.
“You’re a crazy woman,” he told her. “I don’t know how Lily manages to live with you. She’s lucky you haven’t landed her in jail long before now.”
“I was born that way,” Bec defended herself. “And I’ve never been to jail, just for your information.”
“Yet,” Ashton said meaningfully.
Henry grunted and started ambling down the street.
“We could stand here arguing all day,” Lily said. “But Henry needs to go home, and to be honest, I won’t be sad to see him go.”
“I’ll go home and get my trailer,” Ashton said. “He’ll be happy to be home again.”
They started walking toward Lily’s house and Ashton returned to his truck.
“Ashton,” Lily called as he was about to get in.
He turned to her with a questioning look on his face. “Yes?”
“Why were you driving down our street? You never did say.”
“I was coming to see you,” he replied, then gave her a grin and jumped into his truck.
Lily’s heart skipped a beat, and she wondered when Ashton wanted her to help clean out the barn. She hoped it would be soon.
14
“Things mightn’t be so bad for Bec, after all,” Lily giggled, pointing at her friend.
Ashton looked over at the hot dog stand, where Tyler and Bec were serving a customer. They were laughing and chatting and having the best time.
“She teamed up with Tyler,” Ashton said with a wry grin. “She’s doing the bread and Tyler handles the hot dogs. He just gazes at her with great admiration and trots off to do her bidding.”
