“What she’s asking is, if Ben was having an affair with Laura,” Dulcie said and shrugged when Jolene shot her a warning look.

“No. Ben? No.” Ronda turned around. She looked sick. “Who are you?”

“I’m sorry,” Jolene said. “This is Dulcie Hughes. She owns the old Beaumont place.”

Ronda’s gaze swung to Dulcie, her eyes widening.

“I’m sorry, but we have to ask you these questions,” Jolene said. “Midge Atkinson told us that her husband fired Ben because he was having an affair with Laura.”

“John was wrong. He was the one—” Ronda clutched the apron material tied at her waist in both fists. “Ben was never with Laura. She was my friend. You have it all wrong.”

“Then help us,” Jolene said.

She was shaking her head, her eyes dull with pain. “Please, you both need to leave now.”

“I know Tinker tried to protect Angel Beaumont the day her mother died,” Jolene said.

“Tinker?” Ronda’s gaze cleared. Anger shone in her eyes. “You leave my Tinker alone, you hear me?” She picked up the can opener from the counter and advanced on them as if she meant to strike them. “Get out and don’t you come back. If Ben catches you here...”

Jolene took a step back and Dulcie was already headed for the door when they heard a vehicle coming up the road.

“Go,” Ronda cried. “If Ben finds you here, he’ll think it’s about Mace. He doesn’t want Mace turning out like his stepbrother.”

Dulcie opened the door and they both stepped out on the porch as a truck drove past but didn’t stop.

Ronda stood in the doorway, hanging on to the knob as if her relief had turned her knees to water. Just before she slammed the door, Jolene saw the hateful look she shot the two of them.

As the sound of the door slamming died off, Jolene thought she heard someone sobbing on the other side. Huge racking sobs that tore at Jolene’s heart. How many lives had Laura Beaumont destroyed before losing her own?

“What do you make of that?” Dulcie asked, once they were in the car and far enough away there was no chance of running into Ben Carpenter.

“I think Ronda is afraid of her husband,” Jolene said.

“Then why is she still with him after everything he’s done to her? I told you what Nina Mae Cross said about the fight Ronda and Ben had and Ronda losing the baby after a fall. You know the bastard pushed her, just as you know he was having an affair with Laura.”

“Maybe there’s more to the story.” Jolene hoped so. “We’ll know in the morning,” she said with a sigh.