“You say that as if it’s a bad thing.”
“I’m not a reporter, but I’d say one of the worst things you can do is become too attached to your story. What if Jasmine turns out to be a bad guy? What are you going to do then?”
Ashley wiped her hands on her jeans. “I guess I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it. But just for the record, I don’t think she is involved in the fraud. She cares too much about the people she’s helping.”
“I think you’re right, but you don’t have the proof you need. If it gets too messy in New York, you can come back here. Bonnie and Harry could come, too.”
“I don’t think that would work. Bonnie and Harry are always bickering. I’m amazed they’ve survived living together.”
Matthew frowned. “Bonnie was in trouble. Harry didn’t have a choice. He had to help her.”
Ashley glanced at him. “Why did you help me?”
He looked into her blue eyes and sighed. If she didn’t know by now, she never would. “I didn’t have a choice, either. I’ll see you inside for dinner.”
“I’ll come with you.” She slowly followed him down the ladder, not saying anything until she had both feet on the ground. “Catherine and Toby are lucky to live here.”
It wasn’t the right time to point out that she could have lived here, too. “We’ve all been lucky. A lot of kids aren’t able to experience what mom and dad gave us.”
“I’m glad they didn’t mind me spending my weekends here.”
“They enjoyed your company as much as I did.”
Chan’s head appeared over the rail of his stall.
Ashley stopped and rubbed his nose, smiling as he blew warm air onto her face. “Good boy,” she murmured. “I’ll see you again, sometime soon.” She gave Chan a final scratch before leaving the barn.
Matthew wanted to believe that she’d be back, he really did. But life had a way of overtaking every promise Ashley made. He hoped that this time he was wrong.
