Page 10 of A Package Deal

Georgia stepped outside the pen and I closed the gate before any of the hens tried to follow her out. She wrinkled her nose again. “Who’s peaches?”

“You are. Your name is Georgia, just like the state. And they’re known for peaches.”

She seemed to digest that for a few seconds. Then her face cleared and she started skipping across the grass. “Okay, Mista Wa-wy! Betcha I can skip faster than you!”

Considering I hadn’t skipped in decades, she was probably right. Then again, I’d never tried and there was no time like the present. It took me a few embarrassing tries where I felt like I had two left feet, but I was finally skipping in the direction Georgia had taken. Her giggle rang out as she looked over her shoulder at me. I started laughing too. I’m sure a six-foot-four man in snakeskin boots skipping across a hobby farm was quite a sight to see. Georgia went right by the goat pen, keeping a good foot of distance between herself and the fence. This small human was smart.

“Hello, goat-dogs!” she sang out, skidding to a stop at the gate. “Can I feed the goat-dogs?”

I caught up, putting my hands on my knees to catch my breath. Skipping was insane cardio. “Sure, but you have to watch out for Cleveland. He likes to ram his head into you and he has a really hard head.”

Georgia pointed at the darker-colored goat. “What about that one?”

“Oh, that’s Thistle. She’s a sweetheart.”

I got the gate open and pointed at Cleveland, barking orders at the ornery goat. “Stay back, Cleveland, or I’ll make cheese out of you!”

Georgia giggled, but stayed close by my side. Her confidence in my ability to protect her made me feel ten feet tall. Thistle came over and Cleveland kept his distance. I didn’t trust that fucker though. The second I turned my head he’d make his move. Georgia reached out a hand to Thistle, who let her pet the top of her head.

Georgia squealed. “Her head is scwatchy!”

A battering ram hit my backside, along with a bleat signaling war, just left of the bruise I already had from Bessie. I spun around to glare at Cleveland.

“You little sh?—”

Georgia’s hysterical laughter had me biting back the curse words. I lunged at Cleveland and his eyes widened as he jumped backward. Nothing funnier than seeing a goat jump on all fours. Georgia bent over laughing. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Thistle swipe her rough tongue across the top of Georgia’s head. Georgia just laughed harder as she grabbed for her hair, and I couldn’t help the smile that lit me from the inside.

With a warning finger in Cleveland’s direction, I had a seat right there in the dirt. Thistle immediately sat her rump down in my lap like a dog. Georgia found that amusing and gave her all the pets while she told her what a sweet goat-dog she was. Thistle ate up the attention while Cleveland found some grass in the far corner of the pen.

“Do you and your mama and daddy have a dog?” I asked quietly. I hadn’t seen a ring on Em’s finger. I was curious, that’s all.

Georgia lifted her head, her little hands still scratching along Thistle’s head. “Mama says sometimes kids don’t have daddies and tha’s okay.”

I nodded. “That’s definitely okay. Sometimes that’s even preferable.”

Georgia’s nose wrinkled and I braced myself for the question. “Perf-ball?”

My mouth hooked in a grin. Why was everything out of this girl’s mouth so damn adorable? And why did my heart lurch in my chest when she admitted she didn’t have a father?

“Preferable. It means better.”

“Why didn’t you just say better?”

Now that sounded just like her disagreeable mama. “Because people think you’re smart when you use big words.”

“Are you smart, Mista Wa-wy?”

Thistle stood suddenly, her tail lifting. I tried to shift out of the way, but was too slow. A dozen or so brown, round balls fell into my lap. I bit back another curse and got to my feet, the balls rolling off my jeans, but not without leaving a dozen dirty, stinky streaks. Georgia’s mouth dropped open right before she burst out into giggles for the hundredth time.

I stared down at my ruined jeans. “No, Peaches. I’m not very smart at all.”

“I’ll say,” drawled a familiar feminine voice behind me.

We both turned to see Em leaning her arms against the top of the pen. There was no hiding the grin this time. My contractor was barely holding in the laughter. She took pity on me though.

“Come on, Georgia. Let’s head inside so Mr. Warrick can change and we can eat some lunch.”

I checked my watch, astonished so much time had already passed. “Sorry. I was going to check in, but time got away from me.”

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