Page 33 of To Hold and Protect

He grinned back, and that sparkle of amusement was still in his eyes. “Billy’s name not so much, but Old Man Earl is an original. I need to ask him if he’s seen anything, so prepare yourself to meet Billy the Goat because where Earl is, Billy is. Word of warning, though, Billy loves to eat dresses and will have you naked before you know it if you don’t pay attention to what he’s doing.”

When he said “naked” and his gaze slid over her, she almost groaned at the way his eyes changed from amusement to heat.

Stop it. Just stop. Man Hiatus, remember?

“Gotcha. Beware of Billy the Goat.”

He drove down the dirt lane, slowing to a crawl because of the potholes. His jaw clenched, and she kept the grin off her face at realizing it was killing him to drive his precious car down a dusty road dotted with holes, some big enough that the Hellcat’s body dipped when a tire fell in one.

They came to a stop in front of a red barn, and she glanced around. “Where’s his house?”

“He converted the loft in the barn into living space. It’s actually not bad. He’s got a living room, bedroom, bath, and kitchen. No different than living in an apartment. Since he uses the original ladder to get to the loft, he built a lift so he can get Billy up and down.”

“Billy lives up there with him?”

“Like I said, where Earl is, Billy is.” He pointed to an ancient, rusted truck that looked abandoned. “That’s his truck, and if you peek in the window, you’ll see that Billy has eaten the seats, the lining, and most of the dash. Earl sits on a board to drive it.”

She laughed. “That’s hilarious. I need to incorporate a truck-eating goat in one of my stories.”

An old man wearing overalls and carrying what appeared to be a rug ambled out of the barn. Sure enough, a black-and-white goat trotted next to him. Parker lowered his window as Earl approached. “Afternoon, Earl, Billy.”

At hearing her chuckle when he greeted Billy, Parker glanced at her and winked, and whoa! She’d been winked at before, but a man’s wink had never made her heart flutter. Before she could examine that, Earl draped the rug over Parker’s door. The goat stood on his hind legs, put his front hooves on the rug, and peered in at them. This was one of the most bizarre things she’d ever experienced, and she was loving every minute of it.

Parker scratched Billy’s nose. “You hanging in there, Billy?”

“He was off his feed a little yesterday, but he’s feeling better today,” Earl said.

“Glad to hear it. Earl, I’d like you to meet Willow Landry. She’s Bob Landry’s niece and inherited his house.”

Earl put his head next to Billy’s and dipped his chin at her. “Pleased as punch to meet ya, Miss Willow. You sure are a pretty lady.”

“Why thank you, Earl.” Willow pegged him to be in his late sixties, early seventies, and there was a kindness in his eyes that made her instantly like him.

“Y’all wanna come in? I got me some sweet tea baking in the sun that should be ’bout done. I won’t let Billy eat on your dress, Miss Willow.”

“Thanks, but we’re going to have to pass on that today,” Parker said. “Have you seen any strangers around lately, particularly a man with a ponytail like mine and walking around with a backpack.”

“Cain’t say as I have. Why? He done somethin’ bad?”

“Maybe. We have someone starting fires in the area, so keep an eye out for anything suspicious. If you do see a man with a ponytail and backpack, you call me, the chief, or the sheriff right away, okay?”

“I surely will. He comes around here starting a fire, he’ll get some buckshot in his bottom.” Earl shifted his gaze to her. “Pardon my language, Miss Willow.”

“No problem.” She was utterly charmed by the man.

“Well, we need to get going. You need a ride from the jail next week, give me a call.” Parker pried Billy’s mouth from the sleeve of his T-shirt. “Sorry, bud, but you don’t get to eat my clothes today.”

“I’ll do that, but the sheriff or chief will probably show up when it’s time to go.” Earl pulled Billy away from the car, picked up the rug, and ambled back to the barn.

“If that goat ever dies on him, Earl will probably dig a hole and put himself in the ground right next to Billy,” Parker said as he backed up to turn the car around.

“He’s adorable.”

“Billy?”

That freaking grin of his. It did things to her stomach that she wasn’t sure she was ready for. “No, silly. I assume there’s no Mrs. Earl?”

“No, she died a while back.”

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