Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 130255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
We made our way over to the goat barn. The only conversation between us was her intermittent smacking of lips and, “Oh, that’s a good spot of tea,” and my mutters under my breath that I wouldn’t know.
I wouldn’t.
She stole my tea.
I unlocked the main door to the barn and held it open for her.
“Good morn—oh, Vincent! Get off poor Selena!” Grandma scurried over to the trio’s pen and waved her hands at Vincent.
He wasn’t paying her the blindest bit of attention.
“Let him get on with it,” I told her. “He’s got no bloody balls anyway. He’s just copying the others.”
By the others, I meant Ryan Goatling.
Who was currently having his way with a hay bale.
I couldn’t wait to move that later.
“Oh, they’re all so horny,” Grandma said, looking over at Ryan.
“You are the authority on that after your conversations last night.”
She side-eyed me as she walked over to the other main door to open it. “Were you eavesdropping? Wasn’t it enough to shove your big head in the door just to make googly eyes at Ellie?”
“I did not make googly eyes at anyone, least of all Ellie.”
“All right, not googly eyes, but you were eyeing her like she was a steak and you were starving.”
“Grandma, I beg you, read some non-fiction once in a while.”
“It’s fine to have a crush, you know.”
I opened the gate and let myself into the goat pen so I could open the door to their field. “I do not have a crush.”
“I wouldn’t mind her for a granddaughter-in-law.”
“Only for the free books.”
“That’s just a bonus.”
I unlocked the door and hooked it open. The trio rushed outside into the sunshine, and after closing the door again, I switched to the boys’ pen and did the same thing. Their fields were separated so we had no issues with the boys getting over and reproducing with Selena or Goatie until we were ready.
“It’s not going to happen. Get your head out of your romance novels.” I closed the door behind me so they couldn’t get back in while I cleaned out their messes. “You’re going to have to accept it.”
“I do accept your decision not to get married and start a family, but that doesn’t mean I don’t live in hope that you’ll find happiness, dear.” Grandma stopped and looked up. “Isn’t that her cat?”
I jerked my head around and looked at the big ginger and grey blob on top of the hay bales. “Yes. That is her cat.”
“Did he escape again?”
“I don’t think she carried him over here, no.”
“He seems quite happy up there,” Grandma mused. “Shall we leave him?”
I closed my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Do you have her number?”
“Why would I have her number?”
“Because you’re friends.”
Grandma blinked at me. “I’m surprised you don’t have her number.”
“Grandma.”
“All right, all right.” She held up her hands. “No, I don’t have her number.”
I sighed and walked over to the stack of hay bales. “I’ll take him home, then. If she knows he’s out, she’ll be worried. If not, she’ll be glad to have him back anyway.”
“Is she leaving a window open?”
“Nope.” I climbed up. “She has no idea how he’s getting out. If she’ll let me, I think I’ll have to go in and see if I can find it myself. Hey, Winston.”
He rolled his head back to look at me and yawned.
I picked him up before he could jump down this time and slowly made my way back down to the ground with him safely under my arm. He hung there in my grip like a ragdoll, and I scooped him around to hold him properly.
“Right. I’m going to return him to where he belongs,” I said, adjusting Winston in my arms. “I’ll come back and sort the goats out after.”
“Take your time,” Grandma said, strolling out of the barn. “I’m off to see the ducks. I think Countess Quackula is due to hatch today.”
• • •
The door was open.
Why was the door open?
Winston meowed in my arms, and I slowly approached the door.
“Ellie?” I called out. “Are you here?”
There was no response, so I edged closer until I was on the steps.
“Hello?”
Nothing.
Where was she?
She had to know that Winston had escaped and was out looking for him. That didn’t explain exactly why the door was open, but I imagined that she’d probably disappeared in a bit of a hurry.
The problem was that I didn’t know if she had keys or not with her. So I either had to take Winston back to my house or wait in here for her to get back just in case.
Winston wriggled in my arms and jumped out, running inside.
Well, that was my decision made for me, wasn’t it?
I ran inside after him. He was in the kitchen, eating, so I closed the kitchen door. I just had to check to make sure the other door to the living room was closed, then I’d be able to wait outside for Ellie.