Chapter 4

Maria Rodriguez recovered quickly.

"Oh, dear heavens, it must have been me!" she cried, wringing her hands.

"This afternoon, before we came, I made some bean burritos for the road. I... I think the tortillas might have been made in a factory that processes peanuts! There could have been cross-contamination!"

She looked at Mom and Dad, her eyes pleading. "It's my fault! I'm so sorry, Ashley, baby!"

Ashley, propped up on the sofa now, coughed weakly. "It's okay, Mama. You didn't know."

Dr. Henderson raised an eyebrow but said nothing, continuing to check Ashley's vitals. The redness was already fading.

The comments were confused.

"Wait, what? Vanilla? Then why the reaction?"

"Cross-contamination? That's a stretch."

Mom looked at Maria, then at Ashley, then at me.

A flicker of something – doubt? – crossed her face.

"Maria," Mom said, her voice firm but gentle. "Perhaps... perhaps with all this excitement, and your long journey, you're not quite yourself. It might be best if you didn't handle Ashley's food for a while. Just to be safe."

She turned to Dad. "John, maybe it's time Maria took a break. She's worked hard for us in the past, but... things are different now."

Dad nodded slowly. "Susan's right, Maria. We appreciate everything, but perhaps it's best you... well, that you're not on staff anymore. We'll give you a generous severance, of course."

Maria's face fell, but she quickly masked it with tearful gratitude. "Oh, Mr. Jenkins, Mrs. Jenkins, you're too kind. Of course, I understand. Anything for Ashley's safety."

She was escorted out, not fired exactly, but relieved of her duties and her on-site housing. She'd find a place in town.

Ashley looked distressed, but didn't protest too much.

The seed of doubt was planted. Mom and Dad weren't looking at me like I was a monster anymore. Just... confused.

The comments, however, didn't stop.

"Kylie got lucky. But Ashley's still the true daughter."

"This isn't over. Not by a long shot."

A month passed. A tense, awkward month.

Then, one evening, the comments went into overdrive.

"DANGER! Ashley's walking to Maria's new place – that sketchy trailer park on the edge of town!"

"Those rodeo bums hang out there! They'll recognize her! She's going to be attacked!"

"Kylie, you have to save her! AGAIN!"

My phone rang. Ashley.

Her voice was breathless, terrified. "Kylie? Help me! Some guys... they're following me! I'm scared!" Then the line went dead.

Here we go again.