One Choice I'd Never Make

by Remi Carrington

  “Give it another try.” Joji backed up a bit.

  I grinned when milk splattered against the inside of the bucket. “I did it. I’m milking a goat.”

  No one would accuse me of being fast or efficient. I still jumped every time Maude moved and occasionally landed milk outside the bucket. But on day one, I was milking a goat.

  “You did a great job. Let me grab the next one. I always milk them in the same order. It’s easier that way. They like the routine.”

  One more thing to remember.

  “When we’re done with milking, you can take a short break. Then Clint is going to come show you how to muck the stalls.”

  “Is he the big guy who doesn’t smile much?”

  She grinned. “Yep. I’d teach you, but I have cheese I need to make. And he volunteered.”

  I had a feeling he wasn’t going to giggle about my antics like Joji did.

  Clint was about as warm as an iceberg and just about as big. “Here put this on.”

  A bandana?

  My messy bun was a little extra messy, but was it really so bad that he didn’t want to look at it? I folded the bandana into a triangle, then tied it around my head. I needed a mirror to know how it looked, but since the barn didn’t have one, my phone would have to suffice.

  Cameras couldn’t lie. Filters were an entirely different story. But even without a filter, I looked pretty good.

  Then Clint laughed. He knew exactly how to give a girl a complex.

  “What? Is it crooked? Is my hair—” That’s when I noticed the bandana covering his face. “Oh. Like that.”

  I pulled the bright red bandana out of my hair, making a mental note to get some because I liked the look. It went well with my overalls.

  Once I had my face covered, I picked up a shovel. “Now I’m ready.”

  “Joji was right about you. You’re funny.” Even behind the mask, his smile was obvious. His gaze dropped to my feet. “You are definitely going to need different shoes to do this.”

  “I have some rain boot type things that my grandmother gave me a few years ago. They come up to just below the knee and have this adorable flower pattern all over them.”

  “Those’ll work.”

  I dropped the shovel and ran to the trailer. Had I unpacked those boots? I smiled up at the sky. “Granny, I’m going to use the boots you gave me.”

  What would she have thought about my new adventure? She would have cheered me on. Rocking the boat was her favorite pastime. That was one reason I missed her so much.

  When I stomped back into the barn, Clint had already started working.

  “Tell me what to do.” I grabbed the shovel.

  He pointed at the yucky hay all over the floor. “Scoop up that and put it in the pile out there.”

  I stabbed my shovel into the hay and dropped at least half on the way to the pile.

  “It’s easier if you get it all in the pile.”

  “I’m trying.” My next attempt was better. “I just need practice.”

  He watched more than he shoveled, probably so I’d get more practice.

  “So, you and Joji, are y’all like a thing?” I’d seen the way he looked at her, but I didn’t want to assume.

  “A what?”

  “You know, an item. Or do people like you still call it going steady?”

  His brow pinched, and I was fairly certain there was no smile hiding behind the mask.

  “We’re friends.”

  “Yikes. You make it sound like a disease. She’s cute though, don’t you think?”

  He grunted, but I knew he meant yes. I had my work cut out for me here on the farm. Not only did the animals need my help, the people did too.

  And I was up to the challenge.

  Besides, if it worked out between them, I could add matchmaker to my resume.

  Chapter 16

  I sank into the couch, the most thankful I’ve ever been for the weekend. And I wasn’t naïve enough to think work on the farm only happened on the weekdays, but Joji had told me to take the weekend off. And I didn’t argue.

  Now I understood why she didn’t bother locking her door. When people came over, I was too tired to get up.

  Starting next week, I’d be working afternoons at the studio Monday through Thursday. Just thinking about it made me tired.

  This past week, I was up earlier and worked harder than I ever had before. I enjoyed it more than I expected, but my body was still adjusting.

  “It’s open.” If my insides weren’t begging for food, I’d go to bed even though it was only seven.

  Tessa stepped in, and Delaney followed.

  They set bags on the counter.

  “Before I get distracted, who is the shirtless guy working out there?” Tessa peeked out the window.

  “That’s Tyler. He is a ranch hand at the place on the other side of the fence. He only comes over so he can see the yoga instructor when they have goat yoga. I’m not sure why he’s out there working tonight.”

  “Goat yoga?” Delaney laughed and peeked out the window. “Does he have any friends?”

  “There are a few who come around. All of them are built like that.” I stretched. “Not that I’ve noticed or anything.”

  Tessa laid out vegetables and other packages on the counter. “You’re blinded by love. How many mornings has Harper surprised you?”

  “Only twice.” I waited for the retort.

  “And you’ve been here four days. That’s a lot. Where are your pans?” Tessa opened cabinets. “Either a skillet or a sauté pan will work.” She talked about pans like men talked about screwdrivers.

  How was I supposed to know what she needed? “Let me run and ask Joji if we can borrow a pan. We only need the one?”

  “And a pot for the rice. You seriously don’t have pans?” She continued looking through cabinets.

  “At my first place, my roommate had pans, so I didn’t bother buying any. Then I lived with Nacha. Her kitchen was a dream, and I cooked a little when I was there. And the apartment in the studio didn’t have a kitchen. And half of what I did have, I packed up and sent back to my parents.” I pushed up off the couch.

  She held up a folded notecard. “What’s this? It was in your cabinet.”

  I snatched it out of her hand. “Not sure.”

  Harper had left me another note. Thinking about you makes me smile. And I smile a lot.

  I stuck it in my pocket. “Harper left me a note.”

  Delaney furrowed her brow. “Let us know when he does something wrong. I’m sort of waiting for that . . . just to rule out the possibility that he’s a robot.”

  Rolling my eyes, I opened the front door. “Be right back.”

  Outside, I shot off a text to Harper. How many notes did you leave in my house?

  He sent a smiley emoji as an answer.

  I like the surprise of finding them.

  Good. Enjoy your girls’ night.

  Thanks. I’ll call you tomorrow morning. Late. I’m going to sleep in. I had grand plans for sleeping until well after the sun was up.

  Sounds good.

  Clint’s truck was parked outside Joji’s house, so I made sure I knocked. I didn’t want to walk in and see something I couldn’t unsee.

  Clint opened the door. “Hello, Cami.”

  “Hi. Is Joji here?”

  “Yes.” He pointed toward the kitchen.

  Wiping her hands on a dishtowel, Joji walked up to the door. “What’s up, darling? Need something?”

  “Um, if I’m interrupting something, I can come back another time.” I probably should’ve kept my mouth shut about that, but the words popped out before I thought it through.

  Clint walked away from the door.

  That probably meant I was interrupting.

  “No, not at all. I was just—doesn’t matter. What do you need?” Joji draped the dish towel over her shoulder.

  “My friends came over, and we were going to make dinner because I have a kitchen now. But I forgot to
tell them that I didn’t have any pots and pans.”

  She motioned for me to follow her. “I have extras. No pots and pans?”

  “Not everyone needs them.” Clint leaned on the counter.

  “Exactly.” I shoved my hands in my pockets. “Thanks, Clint.”

  He gave a slight nod. Saying two full sentences was too much to expect from the man.

  Joji opened a cabinet and stuck her head in. “What are you cooking?”

  “Rice. And chicken, I think. Maybe veggies.”

  She set three pans on the counter. “This saucepan should work for the rice, and then here’s a skillet and a sauté pan.”

  “Thanks. I’ll bring them back clean.” I loaded my arms with the cookware.

  “Keep them as long as you need.” Joji smiled as Clint opened the front door.

  I really wasn’t buying the whole ‘we’re friends’ bit.

  When I got back to the trailer, I kicked on the door.

  Delaney opened it. “You saved dinner.”

  “Joji had extras.”

  Tessa helped me get the pans to the counter. “And these are nice.”

  I dropped back to my spot on the couch. “Yeah. Joji isn’t a regular goat farmer. I’m not trying to say that goat farmers are poor. But she has money. I’m a little confused about how she ended up here. But I know why she stays.”

  Delaney raised an eyebrow. “Why is that?”

  “That cowboy.”

  “The one in the garden?” She peeked out the blinds like Tessa had done earlier.

  “Not that one. The old guy who taught me how to muck a stall. And trust me. You don’t want to learn.” I held up my hands. “You can’t even tell that I’ve ever had a manicure. My cuticles are awful.”

  “You going to quit?” Tessa looked up, but the knife in her hand continued to move.

  “Not a chance. And please don’t cut off a finger.” I walked to the counter, figuring I’d learn more about cooking if I were actually in the kitchen. “Tell me what you’re doing.”

  “First, tell me more about Harper. Why are we here tonight and not the guy who can’t go more than two days without seeing you?”

  “He didn’t even ask about coming over. Granted, when he showed up yesterday morning, the first thing I told him was that y’all were coming over. So, that’s probably why.”

  She poured rice into a pan, then added water. “I’m glad you still want to spend time with us.”

  “It’s a tough choice.” I picked up a green bean and snapped off the end, mimicking what she’d started doing. “You know I’m joking, but seriously, I’m a little surprised he didn’t run the other way. I’m not at my best right now, hovering somewhere between a spoiled child and an adult.”

  “You’re making a lot of tough choices lately.” Tessa tossed all the green beans into one of the pans.

  “That’s an understatement. I swore that I’d never do anything to make my dad this mad. I left my mom a message—just a hello, but still—she hasn’t called me back. They’ve disowned me, and I hate it.”

  Delaney opened drawers until she found my wine bottle opener.

  I didn’t care who’d paid for it. Some things were needs, so I kept it.

  “Give them time. Things will change, I bet.” She poured wine into a glass. “Who else wants some?”

  “Me! But only half a glass.” I followed Tessa to the stove. “I hope so. I want them to meet Harper at some point. I think Mom and Dad will be impressed.”

  “Of course they will. He seems like a great guy.” Tessa set the other pan on a burner, then turned down the temperature on the burner where the rice was cooking. “And I don’t want to hear any more about how it’s shocking that he likes you. You’re likable. He’d be crazy not to.”

  I watched as she continued to cook, paying close attention and hoping she was right.

  My blissful Saturday-morning sleep was interrupted by a screeching goat. Irritated, I yanked on my rain boots and stomped out to the barn in my pajamas.

  When I got to the pen, I pointed at the noisy goat. “Shut up. Seriously. I’m trying to sleep. What is your problem?”

  “She’s in heat.” Clint chuckled.

  “Ugh. Can’t you give her chocolate or something? Anything. I just want that noise to stop.” I covered my ears and walked back to the trailer. Since sleep wasn’t happening, I texted Harper. Free today?

  Yep. I thought you were going to sleep in. He must’ve been near his phone because the message popped up right away.

  Goats. That one word explained why I wasn’t sleeping.

  He sent a laughing emoji. I, however, wasn’t ready to laugh about it.

  Give me a half hour, and I’ll be ready. I tossed my phone on the counter, then grabbed it again when my mom’s picture popped up on the screen. “Mom, hi!”

  “Hello, sweetheart. Thanks for calling the other day. I hope you know your dad and I still love you. We just want you to make wiser choices.” She used her pacifying tone. Trying to keep everything peaceful at all costs was how my Mom operated.

  I swallowed my snotty response and tried a more adult approach. “I’m trying to make good choices, Mom. I can’t depend on you and Dad for everything.”

  “I know you’re trying. But I hope you know that you’re welcome to change your mind about coming home. It’s not like you’ve run off and married someone we hate. It can all be undone.”

  “I have a new job and a new place to live. It’s bigger than my last place.”

  “Great news. Send me the new address. Is it an engineering job? We can ship your stuff back. We have it all stored in your room.”

  Why had I opened my big mouth? “It’s not an engineering job.”

  “Oh. How are you? Really?” The façade slipped, and worry tinged mom’s question.

  “Mom, I’m happy. At this job, I’m learning a bunch of new things, and I have great friends here in town. I know this isn’t what you imagined for me, but I’m happy.”

  “Being happy now is fine, but we want you to think of the future. I need to run. Love you.” She hung up without giving me a chance to respond.

  Was she sneaking in a call to me when Dad wasn’t around?

  Probably.

  I changed in a hurry, ready to do something—anything—to take my mind off that conversation.

  Thankfully, when Harper knocked, I was no longer in my pajamas.

  He held up grocery bags. “How about a cooking lesson?”

  “Something yummy, I hope.”

  “Pancakes.”

  “Perfect.” I picked up two of the pans. “Do we need the bigger one or the little one?”

  “Probably the sauté pan.”

  I looked from one pan to the other. “The big one or the little one?”

  “The big one.”

  Maybe now I could remember which was which.

  I wouldn’t say this to Tessa, but cooking with Harper was more fun. My opinion had probably been swayed by the added kisses for luck. And they worked. The pancakes were amazing.

  “I’m almost too stuffed to move.” Harper leaned back in his chair.

  I carried the dishes to the sink. “They were so good.”

  “You did a great job. I’ll help you clean up the kitchen, then we can go for a walk or a drive. Or even go back to my place and watch a movie.”

  I slipped my arms around his waist as he walked into the kitchen. “Any of those are fine. I just want to spend time with you.” It was way too soon and I was way too broke to tell him I loved him, but I did. Or maybe I just loved the idea of him. Either way, I liked having him around. A lot.

  He pulled me to his chest and held me a minute before speaking. “Let’s go for a drive. But first, I want to meet the goats.”

  “That’s right! I haven’t introduced you. This’ll be fun. I don’t have all the names memorized yet, but I know which ones to watch out for.”

  A thump sounded on the porch, and Harper peeked out the door. “I’m guessing this one is
on that list.”

  “Boingo, go back to your friends.” I slipped out the door, blocking that silly goat from running inside. “He keeps coming over to my trailer. I don’t know what his problem is.”

  “He likes you.” Harper followed me out and pulled the door closed.

  “Dishes can wait. I’ll show you around now.”

  Tapping my leg, I walked toward the barn, and Boingo followed almost like he was a pet.

  Then without help, I managed to get that goat back into his pen.

  I wasn’t bad at this.

  Chapter 17

  After weeks of working afternoons at the studio, my body finally adjusted to my new schedule. I no longer walked around looking like a zombie from two until bedtime, but most nights, I was asleep by ten. Before working on the farm, going to bed that early only happened when I was sick.

  Tonight, Harper and I were watching a movie at his place. I really wanted to stay awake through the whole thing, so I brewed myself coffee.

  I walked around the trailer, cleaning up so it didn’t look like a slob lived here.

  While I was on the floor, someone knocked.

  “Come in.”

  Harper laughed as soon as the door swung open. “Looks like a pillow was attacked.”

  “It was.” I picked up another handful of fluff. “Boingo destroyed my favorite pillow.”

  “You’re letting him in the house now?”

  “Let is not the word I’d use.” I pointed at the trashcan. “What’s left of the pillow isn’t even salvageable. I’ve been picking up fluff since then. Every time I think I have it all, more appears.” I tossed the last few handfuls into the trash bag.

  “I’ll get you another pillow. Where’d you get it?”

  “Chase gave it to me.”

  Harper’s shoulders tensed, but only for a second. “I like Boingo. Have I mentioned that?”

  “It was a nice pillow. And it wasn’t as if he picked it out. His personal shopper did. She was great. The engagement ring she had designed was stunning.”