Page 64 of Feels Like Falling
ELLISON: I can’t wait to find out
“I have a better idea,”I say, looking up at Grandad. “How do you feel about goats?”
30
MONTANA
Ihear the little fuckers before I even see them—my blood pressure skyrocketing with eachbahandbletthat comes from the pen behind the barn.
The one that’s supposed to be empty.
“Eddie!” I bark, startling at least one of the horses, but it can’t be helped. I donotdo goats.
“Hey, Max!” Ellison says brightly as I push my way outside where no fewer than ten goats of varying sizes prance happily around the paddock. “Aren’t they the cutest?”
Ellison holds a small one in her arms and nuzzles her face against the white fur, her mischievous gaze never leaving mine. Hermie sits at her feet, his tongue hanging out as his tail moves fast enough over the ground to create a little dust storm.
Traitor.
“Eddie,” I say through clenched teeth because as hot as she is and as cute as the damn goat is—I do not do goats.
“I know you said you didn’t want goats, but Bea is looking to expand her business, and it’s silly for her to find somewhere to get goats’ milk when you have plenty of room right here. Besides, Grandad loves milking the cows, so I’m sure he’ll like the goats too—you know, really give him a challenge. Besides he’s really taken with that one, wants to name it Patches, you know, to go with Buttons.” She points at a little tan goat with white blotches, and I growl as I internally count to five with talk of cat- and goat-themed names.
“He’s already seen them?! The man just got out of the hospital; he doesn’t need a challenge. He just had stents up in his heart. Hell, him gettin’ the tractor stuck is challenge enough.” Pinching the bridge of my nose, I pray for patience and everything else I can think of.
“To be fair, I had no way of knowing when they’d arrive.” She worries her bottom lip with her teeth, her eyes wide as she stares at me. “I can admit the timing could have been better with everything we have goin’ on.”
“You think?” I drag my hands down my face before staring up at the sky, the fight draining from me with a startling quickness. “Why does it have to be goats?”
Ellison squeals, and my lips twitch because I can’t stay mad at her even though I’m stillpissedat the prospect of having these ornery little shits here.
“Look! Maybe we can even do goat yoga!” Ellison beams as she holds the little animal out to me, and I sigh as I take it.
“You better be naked when I get done today.”
“This morning wasn’t enough?” she teases with her head tilted to the side.
“Never enough, but also that was before you brought home goats.”
“They’re Bea’s goats.”
“Yeah, like that makes a difference.”
Her eyes sparkle as she pops up onto her toes and places a kiss on my cheek. “You can have anything you want.”
“I want a lot of things…” I let the words trail off, a wicked smirk playing on my lips.
“I just bet you do.”
“Hey, so you’re cool about the goats?” Archer asks cautiously as he follows the same path I took out of the barn. Bea gives me a nervous smile, eyeing the goat in my arms.
“I’m paying him in sexual favors,” Ellison says with a shrug as Bea nods and Archer’s face flames.
“Your sacrifice is noted and much appreciated, but I need to know, what’s your aversion to goats?” Bea says with far too much glee.
“There’s no story; I just don’t like them.”
“There’s definitely a story,” Ellison stage-whispers, earning a glare from me and another beaming smile from Bea.
