Page 140 of A Curse On Black Lake
Boots stomp on the porch out front, and the kitchen door opens. “Alright, darlin’, the coast is clear.”
Tiny licks my hand and saunters outside.
“How are you feeling?” he asks.
I lift a shoulder, and down the rest of my cold tea before setting the mug back on the table. Following him out the side door and down the steps, we go to the barn, avoiding the front.
“I’m going to go check on the herd. Do you want to come with?”
I shake my head. “I need to check on my other goats.”
“Everyone else is fine. I checked,” he says.
“Thank you,” I rasp, my throat too tight.
“I’m sorry, baby.”
He pulls me into his chest and takes my hat off, pressing his lips to my hair, then he sets it back on my head.
We walk down the hill to the barn, and I follow Killian into the tack room.
“Alright, I’m going to check the herds. I’ll be back.” He hesitates and stares at me.
“I’m fine, really.”
“It’s not you I’m worried about.” He pauses. “No, I am worried about you, but I’m more concerned about that bastard coming onto my property. He threatened you again. I had him, Eliana. I had that bastard. I should’ve snapped his neck,” he grits.
He puffs out a breath like the angry bull I was almost trampled by. It doesn’t matter if I kind of agree with him. I’m glad he’s safe because whoever has been watching me is violent, and the possibility of hurting Killian more than he already has is strong too.
“It doesn’t matter now. You’re okay. That’s what matters to me,” I tell him.
He huffs, and his shoulders drop. “Are you sure you’re okay for a while? I’ll go fast.”
I force a smile. “I’ll be okay.”
He grunts. “Tiny will stay with you.”
“Okay.”
He nods reluctantly and grabs his saddle for Chester.
The sun beats down on my back as I clean up after my goats, who are leaping for joy because I gave them some oats to eat. Goats will eat anything, but they have a thing for oats.
Winnie neighs at me, and I smile at her. “I’ll get to you in a minute, young lady.”
She dips her head up and down as if she understands me. Horses are smart, so she probably did.
I check on Gertrude, who is currently munching on grass further out in the field. I think she loves the space to roam. She has it on my property, but definitely not like this.
After I finish with the goats, I make my way back into the barn to grab Winnie’s saddle. I drop the bucket and head into the tack room. My chest splits, and I take a deep breath, rubbing the pain away.
Life is full of growth, child. This life does not come easy, but it is worth it.
“How would you know?” I mutter. “Some psychopath killed my goat.”
We simply do, and we are sorry. Evil is present around you, but it will not succeed.
“Yes, thank you. That makes me feel so much better.”
