Read Chaos in Mudbug (Ghost-in-Law Mystery/Romance Series) for Free Online Page B

in the street, but they were too angry to listen. A crowd had already formed and every second the yelling continued brought more people out of shops to see what was going on. The last thing Colt needed was store owners fighting with customers right in the middle of Main Street. Even though he had absolutely nothing to do with this fray, she knew some people would find a reason to lay the blame on him.
    Desperate for a way to stop the two screaming banshees, she spied a water hose at the edge of the beauty shop. Before she changed her mind, she grabbed the hose and turned it full blast on the two women.
    The shrieks increased a thousand times in volume and pitch when the cold water hit them. Immediately, they released each other and struggled up from the street, their gazes locking in on Jadyn. They were both drenched from the spray and had dirt and tiny flecks of asphalt clinging to every inch of their clothes and skin. But Purple Hair was in even worse shape.
    A mass of the offending dye had run straight off her hair and onto her face, neck and top, leaving her looking like an extra on Barney & Friends . She glanced down at her outfit, then glared at Jadyn.  
    “Look what you did!” she yelled. “You ruined my shirt. I’m going to sue.”
    “You’re not going to do anything of the kind.” Colt’s voice sounded across from her, and Jadyn peered around the two women to see him stepping through the crowd. He gave both women the once-over and shook his head. “You two ought to be ashamed of yourselves.”
    “Me?” Purple Hair said, her eyes widening. “She’s the one who did this to my hair.”
    “I did not do that,” Millicent said, clearly digging in her heels. “The chemicals reacted to something different on your hair or in your body.”
    “Regardless,” Colt said, “that doesn’t excuse you fighting like children.”
    Purple Hair threw her hands into the air. “What the hell am I supposed to do? I can’t walk around like this. My hair looks like an eggplant.”
    “I’m sure Millicent will work with you until your hair is back to a normal color.” He looked over at the angry beautician. “Right?”
    His expression clearly indicated that the only correct answer was “yes.” Millicent gave him a grudging nod, and Jadyn wondered if Purple Hair wouldn’t be better off shampooing her hair nonstop for a couple of days rather than allowing Millicent to put more chemicals on it.
    “Show’s over!” Colt yelled. “Everyone get off the street and back to your own business.”
    The crowd began to disperse, mumbling as they left. Purple Hair and Millicent gave Jadyn one final dirty look, then stalked back into the beauty shop. Colt looked over at Jadyn, his lips quivering, and finally the smile broke through.  
    “I can’t believe you hosed them down,” he said.
    “Well, logic and yelling weren’t exactly effective, so…”
    He nodded. “Sometimes, a cooling-down period is the best thing for everyone involved. I was just finishing up that list of villages when the beauty brawl broke out. Do you want to go over it now?”
    Jadyn put the hose back against the beauty shop wall. “It’s probably best if I get out of sight for a bit.”
    Colt grinned as they started down the sidewalk to the sheriff’s department. “I hope you don’t need a haircut anytime soon.”
    “I’d borrow Mildred’s Weed Eater before I set foot in there.”
    He laughed. “A solid plan.”
    Shirley, the day dispatcher, looked up from her desk as they walked inside the sheriff’s department. Jadyn gave her a wave.
    “Who won?” Shirley asked.
    Colt pointed to Jadyn. “She doused them with the water hose.”
    The dispatcher brightened. “I should have gone with you. That would have been worth the walk to see.”
    Colt shook his head. “Remember the pleasure you feel right now before your next hair appointment. You’re always talking about that karma stuff.”
    Shirley put her hands on her hips and frowned at Colt.