Chapter Sixteen
The trees whizzedby until we reached the interstate. Zoey drove like an FBI agent with her crazy roundabout way of getting up to Eagles Landing. “Okay, we can all breathe. We should be out of Sheriff Crazy’sjurisdiction.”
As if she’d thrown down the gauntlet daring the finest of the Magnolia Corners police department to find us, a light whirled, and a sirenechoed.
“Great, they found us,” I mumbled. “I’m sorry Dylan, but I promise Ashton will help with the best lawyer money canbuy.”
He only smiled and kissed my cheek. With no time to waste, I dialed Ashton’s phone, hoping he’d answer this time, but nothing. “I’ll call the club. Certainly they’ll pull him out ofdinner.”
“Sadie is going to kill us for interrupting, but she’ll understand,” Zoey said over hershoulder.
Dylan tapped the back of Zoey’s seat. “Aren’t you going to pullover?”
“Nope, almost there.” Zoey stepped on the gas, sending us back against theseats.
I found the club number on the internet and dialed. A stuffy male voice answered, but before he could get out his welcome message, I blurted, “You have to get Ashton Dumont. We need his help. It’s anemergency.”
“Ugh. Darn traffic lights.” Avery pulled into a gas station around the side and out onto anotherroad.
“Madam, if you would pleasehold.”
I waited for Ashton but could only imagine the charges adding up against Dylan. If I knew the sheriff, he’d let Zoey and me go, but his vendetta he’d hold tight to until Dylan rotted away in a cell. “Maybe we should pullover.”
“Look, there’s the club.” Zoey changed lanes, did a last-minute U-turn, and dodged the cars before turning into the parking lot on the other side of theclub.
“Ashton Dumonthere.”
“Ashton, it’s me, Avery. We’re in trouble. Short version, we’re coming in hot and need a lawyer. Sheriff Milton is going to take Dylan to jail on trumped-upcharges.”
A second clicked by before Ashton answered. “Get inside theclub.”
Zoey squealed around to the front and dashed through the parking lot. The two sheriff’s cars came from the other side to cut us off, but they weren’t fast enough. The car jolted to a stop, and we all raced inside to find Ashton and Sadiewaiting.
The club went silent with the sound of the sirens outside and our abruptentry.
“What’s going on?” Sadie asked, grabbing my hands and holding them tight. “And what is that on your hand?’ A big smile creased herface.
“We’re getting married. That is, if Dylan doesn’t go to jail for no reason.” I looked at my man, who stood strong despite the litany of troubles he’d befacing.
Sheriff Milton busted inside the front door, met by a guard from the club and the front desk personnel. “Sir, may we helpyou?”
Ashton greeted Dylan with a handshake. “Can I ask what Sheriff Milton wants to arrest youfor?”
“Trespassing on the bakery. Dylan was going to get the cupcakes for the surprise party tonight and never made it inside before Sheriff Milton arrested him,” Zoeyblurted.
“But he had our permission,” Sadie said, her eyes narrowing toward SheriffMilton.
Ashton crossed the room with Dylan at his side. Sheriff Milton took out his cuffs and headed forDylan.
“The charges are invalid. He had our permission to be at the bakery. He was doing us a favor,” Ashton said in an official Dumonttone.
The man didn’t listen, though. “Try evading arrest, reckless driving, and a dozen othercharges.”
Zoey strutted forward with her arms out in front of her and bent wrists. “I was driving. I’m the one you should arrest. I kidnapped him to force him to marry mysister.”
A crowd of well-dressed patrons gathered in the lobby. Mrs. Dumont, Ashton’s mother, entered with a gasp. “May I ask what this spectacle is allabout?”
My fear faded with the sight of the woman who made things happen without fail, except thwarting Sadie and Ashton’s marriage. Poor Dylan stood in the middle of everyone, attempting to make things right. I joined him hand in hand and faced Mrs. Dumont. “The sheriff of Magnolia Corners is here to falsely arrest Dylan Markham, an active-duty officer of the US Army here on leave. He threatened to report him to his commanding officers for a crime he did not commit in order to stop us from gettingmarried.”
