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.”“Yes, no drinking and driving,” the man said.“It’s highly… very, very, very… highly dangerous.”“Shhhhh… no drinking and driving,” said Ashton.“You come now, woman.”“I don’t think so,” Christy replied sternly.“Oh, but you must because…”“Marshall,” the other man said.“Marshall needs to travel back to Bennett tomorrow morning.”“Yes… yes,” drawled Ashton.“Marshall… you need to come get Marshall too.”Christy slapped her forehead in disbelief.Marshall wasn’t in his room?“Are you drinking with Marshall?” she asked, racing up the stairs towards Marshall’s room.She turned the knob and it was unlocked.She stepped inside carefully, just in case Ashton was completely out of his drunken mind.But she could already sense there wasn’t anyone in it.“Yes.Come and get me and Marshall.”“Stay right there,” she growled.“I’m coming to get you both.”CHAPTER 15She followed the tail-lights of Margaret’s pick-up, maneuvering her crew cab expertly in the dark.She gave one angry glance at Ashton sleeping in the passenger seat, his head braced against the window.They turned right into their driveway and parked alongside each other.Christy leaped out first.“I’m really sorry about waking you up at such a late hour, Margaret,” she said.“I didn’t know what else to do.”“Don’t you worry about it, honey.” Margaret rubbed her arms gently.“Men will be men.And I know you don’t agree with what Marshall has done, but I’m glad he took Ashton out.Sometimes, they just need to sort things out over a glass of beer.”“A glass- yes.They drank a ton, Marge,” she grumbled.“I didn’t want Marshall going getting drunk right before traveling to Bennett.What would Beth say? That is why I opened an expensive bottle of Chardonnay.”Marshall slammed his door behind him.“No disrespect to Chardonnay, but wine doesn’t cut it as much as beer.So am I forgiven?”“Yes, I guess.” She scowled.“Really? Love you sis.” He wrapped his arms around her tightly, giving her a small hug.“Oh, you knew I would forgive you, you smart-ass.” She slapped him away.“Now, go to bed, you slobbering drunk.You’ve got an early flight tomorrow.”“Yes, yes.” He put an arm around Margaret and kissed her on the temples.“Come on, darling.Let’s go to bed.”“What about you?” Margaret asked Christy.“Aren’t you coming?”“I might stay with him for a little while.” She gave a small nod towards Ashton still sleeping in the crew cab.“Just to make sure he is okay.”“That would be good,” said Margaret.“He looks as if he’s completely out of it.He could get sick.”“The man cannot hold his liquor.Totally executive.Not like us hard-hats.” Marshall chuckled.“That’s not something to be proud of, Marshall,” Christy growled.“I think it is.” Marshall perked up his chin proudly and defiantly.“But what in the world did you give him to drink?”He scratched the crown of his head.“I don’t know.There was this list and we just worked our way down it.” He chuckled again.“The man cannot hold down his liquor.”“Oh, for god sakes, go to bed, Marshall,” Christy let out tiredly.“Come on, beautiful,” he said, pulling Margaret along with him.“Listen, honey,” Margaret said quickly before he could drag her any further.“Why don’t you sleep-in tomorrow? Don’t worry about, Marshall.I’ll take him to the airport.”“But, Margaret-”“Tut.You deserve it.You’ve been working late and this midnight trip is not going to do you any good.You need that extra sleep when you can get it.As for Marshall, he’ll be asleep on his flight back to Denver and then he’ll get another good nap on his bus to Bennett.He’s gonna get all the time he needs to sleep off his inebriety before he even meets Beth.”“Thanks, Margaret.”Margaret smiled and glanced at Ashton.“You better get him to bed too.”“Marge, come on,” Marshall called out to her.“I ain’t letting you walk in the dark alone, beautiful.”“I should go before he wakes the entire lodge up,” Margaret giggled.“Goodnight, honey.”*****Christy opened the passenger door of her truck and sighed as she looked at Ashton.“Ashton.” She shook him but all he did was groan.“Ashton, you’ve got to help me a bit, okay?”She tugged him out of the vehicle and then shouldered him as she slammed the door shut.She pulled in another deep breath before heaving him into the lodge and up the stairs to his bedroom.She threw him onto his bed and slumped down beside him, trying to catch her breath.“Christy,” he mumbled.“Yes, I’m here.”“Come here.”She frowned and leaned towards him.Was he sick? God, please let it not be alcohol poisoning.Should she call for an ambulance?He pulled her onto his chest, caressing her face.“I love you
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