Page 28 of One Hundred Humbugs

Becket hesitated, then surprised himself by saying, “That sounds like fun. Though I have to warn you, my baking skills are a bit rusty.”

Ruby’s eyebrows shot up. “Baking skills? Is there anything you can’t do, Becket?”

He grinned. “Well, I’m terrible at knitting. So, if we get stranded again, we’ll have to rely on Mrs. Brown for our sweater needs.”

The cold air was bracing after the heat of the kitchen, and Becket welcomed it, hoping it would clear his head.

“You know,” Cade said as they hefted a bale of hay, “it’s good to see lights on in this old place again. Are you staying for a while, then?”

Becket hesitated. He knew Ruby’s original plan had been to sell the house and leave, but after the past few days ... “I’m not sure,” he admitted. “I hope so.”

Cade’s eyes twinkled knowingly. “Well, between you and me, you seem good for each other.” He clapped Becket on the shoulder. “Don’t let a good thing slip away, you hear?”

After Cade left, he thought about the cowboy’s easy generosity, about Doc Parker braving the storm in his Blue Goose to check on people, about Mrs. Brown and her fashionable feline. He thought about Ruby, throwing herself into goat care with enthusiasm and determination.

He thought about her laugh, the way her eyes lit up at the mention of Indigo, the determination with which she tackled every challenge. Without realizing it, Ruby had carved out a space for herself in his life, and Becket was starting to hope it might be permanent.

“What do you think, Houdini?” he asked, scratching the troublemaker’s ears. “Should I tell her how I feel?”

Houdini bleated, butting his head against Becket’s hand.

“Yeah, you’re right,” Becket said. “It’s probably too soon. But maybe...”

His thoughts were interrupted by the creaking of the garage door as it opened. Ruby poked her head in, her cheeks flushed from the cold.

“Hey, Goat Whisperer,” she called. “Need any help in here?”

Becket grinned, ignoring the way his heart skipped a beat at her appearance. “Always. Though I’m not sure Houdini approves of my distribution methods. He keeps giving me the stink eye because I gave Daisy more, but she’s eating for two.”

Ruby laughed, making her way through the goat-filled garage. “Well, you know what they say. You can’t please all of the goats all of the time.”

As they worked together, feeding and checking on each goat, Becket appreciated how natural it all was. Here he was, in a new town, in the garage of a house that wasn’t even his, surrounded by near-strangers who had embraced him without hesitation. And at the center of it all was Ruby, transforming from reluctant house owner to enthusiastic goat co-parent in just a matter of days.

“Ruby,” he said, surprising himself. “I ... I wanted to thank you. For everything you’ve done. For the goats, for me ... for making me feel welcome here.”

Ruby paused in her task of refilling water buckets, her expression softening. “You don’t have to thank me, Becket. I’m just glad I could help. And honestly?” She grinned. “I’m having more fun than I’ve had in years. Who knew goat farming could be so exciting?”

There was a moment of silence, full of unspoken words and rising tension. Becket stepped toward her, feeling an invisible pull.

“Ruby, I?—”

But before he could finish, Daisy let out a loud bleat, startling them both. Ruby burst into laughter, her voice filling the garage and warming Becket’s heart.

“I think someone’s jealous of all the attention Houdini’s getting,” she said, moving to pet Daisy.

Becket watched her. He wasn’t ready to put his feelings into words just yet, but he knew one thing for certain: whatever happened next, he wanted Ruby to be a part of it.

As they finished up in the garage and made their way back to the house, a sense of possibility stirred within Becket—something he hadn’t experienced in years.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Ruby closed the garage door behind them, the coziness of the house a welcome relief after tending to the goats. The morning’s excitement with Cade’s visit and the delivery had left her stomach growling. She was struck by how naturally she’d adapted to this new routine, a stark contrast to her life in Chicago just a week ago.

“I don’t know about you,” she said, turning to Becket, “but I’m starving. We never got around to breakfast. How about I make us something?”

Becket’s eyes lit up, and a spark ignited in Ruby at his boyish grin. “Breakfast sounds amazing. What can I do to help?”

Ruby was about to answer when a loud crash from the garage made them both jump. They exchanged alarmed glances before rushing back to the door. The concern in Becket’s eyes mirrored her own, and a surge of protectiveness rose in Ruby for the goats she had come to care for in such a short time.

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