Page 4 of The Cowboy Complication

Cooper shook his head, still grinning as he looked her over. “I like you.”

That wasn’t the declaration of desirability she’d been searching for, but it was the closest she’d gotten to it since coming to town, so maybe this day was looking up.

“Well I haven’t decided if I like you.” She stood from the bench, dusting off the bits of straw clinging to her hoodie and jeans. “I guess that depends on how nice you are to the goats.” She tightened the messy bun at the top of her head. “And it’s not looking good since you just called them assholes.”

2

Cooper

HE COULDN’T HELP the laugh that broke free. It was too loud and too long and there wasn’t shit he could do to stop it.

Grady’s newly hired helper wasn’t at all what he’d been expecting based on the information he’d been given.

Which was both a good and a bad thing.

He’d heard she was shy and maybe a little too nice for her own good, but the woman standing in front of him, glaring like she was considering taking him out at the kneecaps if he caused any harm to one of the goats who just knocked her on her ass, didn’t look like a pushover.

“I’m not here to hurt your little monsters.” He reached out to pinch a piece of the straw stuck in her dark hair, gently pulling it free. “I’m here to help make sure they live long, happy lives.”

He’d raised goats back in his 4-H days, so he was happy to pitch in when Grady asked for his help with the newly-acquired herd. Hell, he was happy to do anything that kept him from staring at the walls on his days off.

Isla—if he remembered correctly—eyed him with suspicion as they followed Grady back into the goat pen. The animals went straight for her, collecting around her feet as she walked, each one jockeying for a better spot as they tried to get her attention.

“Looks like you’ve got a fan club.” It was obvious she spent a good amount of time out here with them. That they were comfortable with her and used to her presence.

They certainly liked her more than they seemed to like Grady.

Cooper watched as his friend tried corralling them into the corner pen. The little bastards darted away the second Grady got close, racing in circles around the bigger, open area where they spent most of their time. The second Grady got most of them moving in the right direction, a few would break off, bleating at the top of their lungs as they ran and jumped away.

“Why don’t you go stand over there?” Cooper directed Grady to the far corner. “Maybe they’ll run away from you and go where we want them.”

Grady scowled at the bad behavers as he stomped into place, crossing his arms.

Cooper opened the gate to the small pen, holding it wide as he motioned for Isla to pass through. “If you go in, they’ll follow you.”

She didn’t seem thrilled about it, but she did as he suggested. And, as he’d hoped, the little heathens followed their beloved right in.

That was the thing about goats. They genuinely were assholes, but once they found someone they liked, they’d follow them to the ends of the earth. Especially if they had food.

Cooper went into the pen with Isla and the goats, closing them all in. Since the animals didn’t seem to like Grady, he left his friend where he was. He’d be no help and would just get them wound up. And since it looked like Isla was going to be the one helping him out, he started explaining the process to her.

He collected the harness he’d draped over the rail when Grady showed him the space earlier, before they’d left to check on one of the horses. “This thing is how we’re going to keep them still so we can do what we need to do. Back when I had goats, we used what they call a milking stand, but these little ones can get out of just about anything.” He held up the blue, flexible sling he’d ordered online. “Except this.”

Ilsa reached out, touching the fabric. “What is it?”

“Technically, it’s a dog grooming hammock.” He reached up to grab the straps Grady installed in preparation for the morning’s task. “But it’s supposed to be perfect for the little guys.”

Isla’s dark brows lifted. “You’ve never used it before?”

“I haven’t had goats in years, and they didn’t have anything like this back then.” He hooked one end of the harness into place. “I wish they did, because trying to keep them still for this is a pain in the ass.” He finished setting up and turned to where she stood. “You pick who goes first.”

Isla’s lower lip pushed out. “I don’t want to pick who’ll be the first to get stabbed.”

“They won’t even feel the shot.” Cooper grabbed the goat closest to him, hefting it into the harness before hooking the other side in place and cranking it into the air. “They can’t even really feel the hoof trimming either. Messing with their feet just pisses them off.”

He looked up to find Grady ready with the first injection. Taking the loaded syringe, he popped off the cap and turned to the goat dangling from the rafter. “This one goes just under the skin, so it’s a pretty easy injection to give.” He continued explaining the process, hoping it would help Isla feel a little more comfortable with what had to happen. “All you have to do is pinch a little bit of the loose skin around their neck, hold it out and slide the needle in.” He did it as he talked and—thank fuck—the goat barely reacted at all.

Isla’s dark eyes followed his every move, soaking up everything he said and did as he moved on to trimming the goat’s hooves.

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