Page 29 of One Hundred Humbugs

“Houdini,” they said in unison, already knowing theculprit.

The scene that greeted them was one of utter chaos. Somehow, Houdini had managed to knock over a stack of boxes, scattering their contents across the floor. The other goats were taking full advantage of the situation, nibbling on papers and investigating the newly exposed treasures.

“Oh no,” Ruby groaned, taking in the mess. “Uncle Peter’s stuff. I hadn’t sorted through these boxes yet.” A pang of guilt hit her as she realized how much of her uncle’s life she’d been planning to simply pack away and sell.

Becket was already moving, shooing goats away from the debris. “Come on, let’s get this cleaned up before they eat something they shouldn’t.”

As they worked to contain the chaos, laughter escaped Ruby at the absurdity of it all. Here she was, in her deceased uncle’s garage, rescuing his belongings from a group of goats. The laughter bubbled up from somewhere deep inside her, a release of tension she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

“What’s so funny?” Becket asked as he wrestled a soggy newspaper away from one of the smaller goats.

“All of this.” Ruby gestured around them, her eyes dancing with mirth. “A week ago, I was sitting in my apartment in Chicago, wondering how I was going to pay my rent. Now I’m here, playing goat rodeo with a bunch of escaped farm animals and a sexy stranger.”

The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. Ruby’s cheeks heated as Becket stared at her. She’d been trying so hard to keep her growing attraction to him under wraps, and now she’d gone and blurted it out like a teenager with a crush.

“Sexy stranger, huh?” he said, a teasing look in his eye that made Ruby’s heart skip a beat.

Ruby opened her mouth to backpedal, but was saved byDaisy, who chose that moment to let out a loud bleat. Grateful for the distraction, Ruby turned her attention to the pregnant goat.

“Hey there, Daisy,” she said, approaching the animal. “How are you feeling, mama?”

As she stroked Daisy’s side, feeling the slight movements of the kid inside, Ruby was struck by a wave of emotion. She’d never considered herself an animal person, but there was something about these goats, about Daisy in particular, that touched her heart. The idea of leaving them when she sold the house seemed unbearable.

“She likes you,” Becket said, coming to stand beside her. His proximity sent a shiver down Ruby’s spine that had nothing to do with the cold.

“Yeah, well, the feeling’s mutual,” Ruby admitted, surprised by the thickness in her voice. “I never thought I’d say this, but I’m going to miss these guys when...” She trailed off, uncertain.

When what? When she sold the house and left? The thought, which had seemed so certain just days ago, now filled her with an unexpected sadness. Ruby pushed the feeling aside, focusing instead on the task at hand.

As they continued to sort through the scattered items, a glossy magazine caught Ruby’s eye. She picked it up, her eyes widening as she realized what she was holding.

“Um, Becket?” she called out, her voice full of disbelief. “I think I just found Uncle Peter’s dirty little secret.”

Becket made his way over, his eyebrows rising as he saw thePlayboymagazine in Ruby’s hands. “Well,” he said, clearing his throat, “I guess your uncle was a man of ... varied interests.”

Ruby snorted, already digging through the box for more. “Varied is one word for it. Holy cow, there must bedozens of these. And look at the dates! Some of them go way back.”

As they continued to sort through the magazines, Ruby’s mind began to race. She’d heard stories about vintage magazines being worth money. Could these be valuable? Hope ignited in her chest.

“Becket,” she said, an idea forming, “do you think these could be worth something? I mean, they’re in good condition, and some of them are old...”

Becket nodded thoughtfully. “It’s possible. Collectors pay good money for vintage magazines, especially if they’re rare issues. We’d need to do some research to be sure, but...” He trailed off. “Ruby, this could be the solution to your decoration problem.”

Excitement coursed through Ruby’s veins. This could be it—the answer to her promise to replace the town’s Christmas decorations. She looked up at Becket, finding his eyes already on her, filled with something that made her breath catch in her throat.

They just stared at each other, the air between them charged with unspoken words and growing tension. Ruby leaned in, drawn by some invisible force.

A loud sneeze from Houdini broke the spell. Ruby blinked, suddenly aware of how close she and Becket had gotten. She cleared her throat, taking a step back, her heart pounding.

“Right,” she said, her voice breathless. “We should, um, finish cleaning up. And then maybe we can start researching these magazines?”

Becket nodded, a slight flush on his cheeks. “Yeah, good idea. I’ll take care of the goats if you want to gather up the goods.”

Once the garage was under control, Ruby quicklyscrambled some eggs and made toast. They ate in a hurry, their conversation circling back to the newly unearthedPlayboycollection. Between bites, Ruby found herself sneaking glances at Becket, surprised at how easily she felt at home around him, despite barely knowing him.

After breakfast, they gathered Uncle Peter’sPlayboycollection and brought it into the living room. As Ruby spread the magazines out on the coffee table, she realized that she wasn’t just solving a problem for the town. She was, perhaps, finding a place for herself in this wonderful community. The thought both excited and terrified her.

The rest of the day passed in a flurry of activity. Ruby and Becket set up a makeshift research station, poring over collector websites on Ruby’s laptop while sorting through the magazines. She enjoyed the easy camaraderie between them, the way they worked together seamlessly as if they’d known each other for years.

---