by Nerys Leigh
Goat’s eyes fixed on the bucket and she bleated again.
“Well, I could take that as a yes,” Grace murmured, unconvinced that it was.
Fred wandered over to them, attracted by the bucket. He hooked his face over the fence, stretching his nose towards the food.
Grace moved it out of his reach and rubbed his neck. “At least let me get it to the trough first.”
Opening the gate turned out to be harder than expected, with both Goat and Fred crowding the other side in their eagerness to reach the enticing bucket. Grace managed to shoo Fred back, but Goat was less inclined to be moved. Eventually she simply pushed it open a little, slid through the gap, then closed it again behind her, making sure to slide both bolts into place to secure it.
Goat immediately tried to jump up at her to reach the bucket.
Grace scooted backwards, raising her free hand. “Don’t you dare!”
Goat froze at her sharp tone.
She stood up straight and pointed at the animal. “If you get so much as a speck of mud on this dress, you are in big trouble.”
Goat’s eyes flicked between her and the bucket. Grace could have sworn she was weighing up the immediate reward of grabbing at the bucket against the indeterminate consequences of being in big trouble.
“All right, now we understand each other I’m going to put this into the trough and you’re going to wait until I have. And there will be no charging at me. Are we in agreement?”
The goat didn’t move. Assuming that as a yes, Grace took a cautious step away from the gate. When Goat still didn’t move, she straightened her back, held her head up high in a show of confidence she didn’t entirely feel, and strode towards the trough.
She half expected to feel a head slam into the back of her legs, so when she glanced back she was surprised to see Goat trotting along after her calmly and showing no sign of getting ready to charge, with Fred following.
Breathing out in relief, Grace picked up her pace.
On reaching the trough, she emptied the bucket into it and stepped back as Goat and Fred plunged their noses into the grain.
“Well, that wasn’t so bad.”
Smiling to herself, she returned to the gate, walked out, and fastened the bolt at the top.
She could do this. It wasn’t so hard.
~ ~ ~
Half an hour later, Grace was in the house finishing her preparations for supper when she heard a mild woof from outside. Brutus rarely barked, even softly, so she figured anything prompting such a reaction warranted checking on.
She walked outside to find him lying in the sun on the porch, as usual, head up and gaze fixed on the open door of the barn.
Shading her eyes with her hand, she strained to see into the gloomy interior. “What is it? Is something in there?”
When he failed to supply any details as to why the barn was of interest, she walked down the porch steps and started across the yard.
It was probably nothing. Just a rat.
Just a small, harmless rat.
Her footsteps slowed to a halt. She wasn’t sure she was ready to face a rat by herself, even a small, harmless one. But she had to face up to her fears sooner or later. There were rats and that wasn’t about to change, so she needed to get used to it. And today was as good a time as any to start.
“It’s just a rat,” she murmured to herself as she resumed walking. “Nothing to be afraid of. It can’t hurt me. It’s just...”
Something inside the barn thudded and she stopped, her heart pounding. It took two tries to get her voice to work.
“Brutus, come here, boy,” she called softly, patting her leg while keeping her eyes on the barn door. A few seconds later, a furry head nudged her hip. “Good boy. You just stay with me. And whatever is in there, feel free to chase it away. Or eat it.”
She resumed her reluctant creep to the barn, her hand on Brutus’ head to reassure herself of his presence and steady her nerves.
There’s nothing in there to be frightened of, she told herself as she reached the door. Nothing can hurt me. Although maybe I should have brought the gun...
A bleat interrupted her thoughts. From inside the barn.
“Goat?”
It took a few moments for her eyes to adjust from the sunshine to the gloom inside, but when they did, her fear was instantly replaced by horror.
“Goat! How in the world did you get in here? And what are you doing?”
The offending nanny goat was standing in the barn beside a barrel lying on its side, happily munching on the grain spilling from it.
Brutus looked up at Grace, tail wagging uncertainly. Probably wondering if he was still expected to carry out her previous instruction to eat whatever was in the barn, given that Goat was part of the extended family.
Recovering from her shock, Grace rushed in, waving her arms. “Get away from that! Bad goat!”
If a goat could glare, the look Goat gave her before darting around her to the door would have definitely qualified.
Grace made a grab for her as she hurtled past, only just managing a glancing touch to her back before she was gone.
She rushed after her, coming to an abrupt halt out in the yard when she saw the gate into the field. The lower half was pushed out, a Goat-sized gap between it and the fence post.
The bottom bolt. In her happiness at having made it out of the field in one piece, she’d forgotten to fasten the bottom bolt.
As Goat ran towards the gate, for one blissful moment Grace thought she was simply going to go back in. One very brief blissful moment. The next moment she was watching the goat run past, heading for the trees further up the hill that bounded the stream.
“No!” If she lost Goat, Gabriel would never forgive her.
Picking up her skirts, she sprinted after the animal, frantically calling her name. Unfortunately, Goat was a fast runner, easily outpacing Grace, and after an embarrassingly short amount of time she was forced to stop yelling in favor of breathing. Although she was impressed with herself that she managed to run all the way up the hill without stopping. Maybe all the fresh air was doing her good.
She reached the shade of the trees and stopped, grasping the bark of the closest tree and leaning forward to gasp in lungfuls of air. A smug bleat from somewhere ahead mocked her.
“Rotten animal,” Grace muttered, releasing the tree and resuming her pursuit. “If I catch you, we’re eating roast goat for the next few days.”
She was only half joking.
She continued through the trees to the stream and came to a halt. Goat was standing at the muddy edge, sucking up the cool water. She raised her head at Grace’s approach and backed away a couple of steps, looking ready to take off again. Grace watched her silently, trying to work out a way to get close enough to catch her without frightening her off.
It was then that she realized she had nothing to hold Goat with, even if she did manage to catch her. She could hardly carry her back to the house, even if Goat would let her, which seemed highly unlikely.
But she had to get the goat back.
Squaring her shoulders, she moved forward. First things first – catch the animal. She’d worry about the rest after that.
Goat backed away another few steps and Grace stopped again.
This was ludicrous. She refused to be bested by a goat.
“I realize you and I may not be on the best of terms, but the fact remains that I am the human and you are the animal and that means I’m in charge. And frankly, I don’t see what you’re complaining about. You’ve got a nice big field to roam in, two horses to talk to, all the food you could possibly want, and no worries in the world. You should try being me for a change. All but thrown out of your home by your own father, having to travel all the way across the country to marry a man you’ve never met, ending up cooking and cleaning and taking care of chickens and goats which you have next to no experience with, not sure if your husband even likes you. And for what? So you don’t have to marry a man twice y
our age with hairy ears! Do you have to deal with any of that? No, you do not. So what are you trying to escape for? Hmm? You should be happy to have such a peaceful, calm life.”
Goat had stopped backing away, listening to her with interest, and Grace resumed her slow advance as she spoke.
“Now I’m not saying I don’t understand the urge to be free and live your own life, but you have to ask yourself, what would that life be like? Gabriel said there are coyotes and wolves around here who would just love to get their teeth into a nice juicy goat. I’m sorry, but it’s the truth. I’m not going to lie to you. Life on your own can be downright dangerous. So for both our sakes, just do the sensible thing and let me...”
Finally within lunging distance, Grace sprang forward.
Goat darted to the side, too quick for her to get more than a brief grasp of her neck, and ran past her.
And before Grace knew what was happening, a head slammed into the backs of her knees. She plummeted forward with a cry, landing face first in the mud beside the stream with a splash.
For a few seconds she didn’t move, the wet mud seeping through her clothing. Behind her, Goat bleated. Grace could have sworn the rotten thing was laughing.
She pushed to her hands and knees, crawled to drier ground, and flopped onto her back, staring up at the canopy above her. And she’d thought this place pretty. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, although at that moment the latter felt more likely.
A hairy brown face appeared, looking down at her, and bleated. And then she began nibbling at her muddy skirt.
Batting Goat away, beyond caring if she ever went back into the field, Grace sat up. To her surprise, not only did Goat not run away, she lay down beside her and rested her head in Grace’s lap.
“I’m beginning to think,” Grace said, stroking one hand over her smooth head, “that you are just making fun of me.”
Goat’s only response was to close her eyes.
Grace sighed and looked around them. “Well, I’m going back to the house to clean up. You can come with me or not.”
Dislodging Goat’s head from her lap, she struggled to her feet, wincing at her aching legs as she looked down at herself. She was covered, literally head to toe, in mud. For once, she was grateful for the isolation of her home. At least no one would see her.
She walked a few yards upstream to the place where the bank turned from mud to rock and kneeled down to splash water onto her face and hair, rinsing off the worst of the dirt. Then she rose and returned to the path leading back to the house, barely glancing at Goat as she walked past where she still lay. After a few paces, she heard a rustling in the undergrowth behind her. A look back confirmed it was Goat, following her. Rolling her eyes, she faced forward and continued walking.
When they got back to the yard, Grace was surprised to see Jed in the field with Fred. Both bolts on the gate were fastened.
Gabriel emerged from the house, his eyes widening when he saw her.
Of course he’d choose this moment to return home. So much for not being seen.
He ran down the porch steps and came to a halt in front of her, his shocked gaze traveling down her muddy dress and back up to her face. He raised a hand towards her, stopping short of touching her.
“What happened? Are you all right?”
“Goat escaped,” she said levelly. “Ran to the stream. I tried to catch her. I failed.”
His eyes lowered to where Goat, who seemed happy now her point was made, stood calmly at Grace’s side.
There were a few seconds of silence.
And then he began to chuckle.
It was so unexpected that Grace simply stared at him, her mouth hanging open as his chuckles turned to outright laughter.
“I’m sorry,” he gasped between guffaws, “I’m not laughing at you. It’s just, you’re covered in mud and Goat’s there and...” All further explanation was swallowed in a renewed bout of merriment.
She should have been annoyed at him for laughing at her suffering. Her mouth seemed to disagree with her, however, as the corners, entirely against her will, twitched. She pressed her lips together, but a snuffling giggle escaped through her nose instead. She tried not looking at him, but the sound of his laughter was too infectious.
Within seconds she was laughing along with him, her arms wrapped around herself and her cheeks aching. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed so hard. Despite the circumstances, it felt good.
When their laughter finally petered out, she and Gabriel stood staring at each other. He was still smiling and, quite unexpectedly, a thrill shivered through her chest at the sight. He really was quite handsome, underneath the facial hair.
“You’d look good without the beard.” It was a moment before she realized she’d said her thoughts out loud. The smile dropped from her face. “I...I mean, um, I just wondered what you’d look like without it. That’s all.” She fervently hoped she wasn’t blushing.
His head tilted a little to one side. “Well, maybe I’ll put some thought into shaving it off.”
“You will?” It came out before she could think about it.
He pushed his hands into his pockets and smiled again. “I reckon a wife should like how her husband looks.”
Now she knew she was blushing. She looked down at Goat in an effort to hide it. “Well, I’d better get her back in the field, if she’ll let me.”
Amazingly, Goat followed her when she walked to the gate. Even more amazingly, she went in when Grace opened it, with just a little urging.
“You’re doing well,” Gabriel said, walking up to the fence as she pushed home both bolts and leaning his arms on the top. “I know it has to be hard going from your life before to all this.”
Jed hooked his head over the top of the gate and Grace rubbed his neck. “It’s an adjustment, that’s for sure.” She glanced at Gabriel beside her. “You came home. I didn’t think you would.”
Breathing out a long sigh, he turned to face her. “I’m sorry I got angry.”
The tension she’d been carrying since their argument the day before eased. “I’m sorry I made you feel like I don’t want you here. I do want you around, very much. I just don’t want you to get sick.”
After a moment’s hesitation, he reached into his jacket and pulled out the pouch of chewing tobacco he always carried with him. To her shock, he handed it to her.
“I haven’t had any since last night. I think you’re going to have to hide this though, because I want it so bad I can barely think straight.”
“You’re giving it up for me?” The leather pouch in her hand blurred behind the tears rising to her eyes. She hadn’t expected him to just give up on the spot.
His face fell. “Now don’t cry. I don’t know what to do when you cry.”
She smiled and wiped at her eyes. “I’m just... I’m happy. You’ve made me very happy.”
He stared at her in wonder. “I have?”
Stepping in close, her heart pattering, she reached up and kissed his cheek. “You have.” Her smile faded when she saw the mud she’d left on his clean shirt. “Oh, I’ve made you dirty.”
His gaze remained fixed on hers, a smile playing on his lips. “I don’t mind.”
She knew she was blushing again. “I promise I’ll do everything I can to help you.”
“I think I’m going to need all the help I can get.” His eyes went to the pouch.
She wrapped her hands around it. “I’ll go hide this. And supper won’t be long. I just have to start it cooking.” She looked down at herself. “I’ll clean up before we eat too.”
“I’ll clear up the mess in the barn.”
She’d forgotten about Goat’s foray into the feed barrel. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t even know she’d escaped until Brutus pointed it out. I hope she hasn’t eaten too much.”
He shrugged one shoulder. “It’s only grain. I can get more. It’s worth it just to see you covered in mud.”
He was teasing her. No man ha
d ever tried to tease her before. She liked it.
She gasped in a breath of mock horror, pressing a hand to her muddy chest. “You, sir, are a cad.”
A smile sidled onto his face. “Maybe, but I’m a clean cad.” He looked down at the streak of dirt she’d left on his chest when she kissed him. “Well, mostly clean.”
Very deliberately, she ran one hand down the front of her dress where the wettest mud still clung to her, stepped up to him, and wiped the dirt down his chest and both arms.
“Not anymore.”
His laughter sent warm tingles through her chest and she knew there wouldn’t be any more thoughts of leaving.
She was right where she belonged.
Chapter 9
Gabriel went back to his claim the next day, but this time he left with a smile on his face after having breakfast with Grace.
Something had changed between them. He wasn’t sure what it was, but he felt a lot more optimistic for his marriage. And not just the physical side of it. Important as that still was to him, he was beginning to feel as if there was more to being married than the bed.
Where those feelings had come from, he had no idea, but he didn’t hate them. In fact, being with Grace simply for the pleasure of her company had become his favorite way to spend time. He’d never felt that way about a woman before.
On the other hand, his tobacco cravings were becoming increasingly difficult to handle. When he was with Grace, she provided a much needed distraction. When he was alone, all he could think about was chewing. So he threw himself into his work with an energy he hadn’t felt since he’d first started looking for gold two years before, when all he’d had was a pan, a vague notion of how to do it, and a determination to somehow make it work.
By the time he headed home that afternoon, he’d found twice the amount of gold than the previous day. That was despite having broken his rocker box after kicking it in a rage and having to patch it up before he could carry on. Grace had warned him that his temper might suffer from quitting. She’d been right.
But just the thought of being around Grace buoyed him for the journey home, and when he arrived in the yard at around six he was tired but in a better mood than he’d been since he left that morning.
