Page 48 of One Hundred Humbugs

“Merry Christmas, you troublemakers,” Becket said fondly, reaching out to scratch behind Houdini’s ears.

As they tended to the goats, refilling water and providing some holiday treats, Ruby was struck by how natural it all seemed. The rhythm of this life, once so foreign to her, now seemed like second nature. She watched Becket move around the garage with effortless familiarity, as if he could do it in his sleep. There was something comforting in his ease, and it gave her a quiet surge of love and certainty.

This was where she belonged. Here in Aspen Cove, with Becket, building a life surrounded by the close-knit community and the unconditional love of a herd of trouble-making goats.

She looked back at the scene—the contented goats, the warm glow of the single bulb hanging from the ceiling, Becket giving Daisy one last pat—and knew she’d made the right choice.

“What are you thinking?” Becket asked, coming to stand beside her.

Ruby leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. “I’m thinking that this is the best Christmas I’ve ever had. And I can’t wait to see what the new year brings.”

Becket pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Whatever it brings, we’ll face it together. You, me, and a bunch of goats.”

Ruby laughed, the sound echoing in the crisp winter air. As they walked back to the house, hand in hand, a sense of peace settled over her. The future stretched out before them, full of possibility and promise. And Ruby knew, with absolute certainty, that the best was yet to come.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Three months later

Becket paused his work with the tiller, straightening to stretch his back and wipe the sweat from his brow. The warm spring sun beat down on him, a welcome change from the harsh winter they’d just endured. As he looked out over the field, memories of the past few months flooded his mind.

The winter had passed in a whirlwind of cozy moments and careful planning. He and Ruby had huddled together in the old house, now their shared home, dreaming up their future. With Ruby’s business acumen and his farming experience, they’d crafted a plan to transform the home-based goat farm into a thriving artisanal cheese business.

Nights were spent poring over books on cheese-making and animal husbandry, while days were filled with caring for their growing herd and preparing for the spring. Through it all, their love had deepened, rooted in shared dreams and the simple joys of building a life together.

Now, as the first real days of spring had arrived, theystood ready to embark on their new adventure, armed with determination, a solid plan, and a herd of goats eager to play their part.

Becket’s gaze drifted across the yard to where Ruby was marking out plots for their herb garden. The sight of her, so at home here, never failed to make his heart swell with affection.

“How’s it coming, darlin’?” he called out.

Ruby straightened, pushing a stray lock of hair from her face, leaving a smudge of dirt on her cheek. “Almost done! This is going to be perfect for the chevre seasonings.”

Becket grinned, still amazed at how Ruby had taken to this life. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and her creativity seemed boundless. Just last week, she’d come up with the perfect name for their new venture: “Goat Town Creamery: Where Mischief Meets Flavor.”

Their improvements had come courtesy of an unexpected discovery in Uncle Peter’s attic where she found an entire collection of vintage action figures—G.I. Joes, Transformers, even a few rare Star Wars toys—all still in their original packaging.

Ruby had nearly doubled over with laughter when they realized how much the toys were worth. “I guess Uncle Peter was onto something after all,” she’d said with a grin. The auction had brought in more than enough to build the new goat barn and fund their expansions.

Becket’s eyes crinkled with amusement as he shook his head. “Are you up for a milking lesson?”

Ruby’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Absolutely! Let me just finish this last row.”

A few minutes later, they were in the barn, the sweet smell of hay and the soft sounds of the goats creating apeaceful atmosphere. Becket led Ruby to Daisy’s stall, the gentle girl watching them with curious eyes.

“Alright,” Becket said, positioning the stool. “The key is to be gentle but firm. You want to create a seal with your thumb and forefinger, then squeeze with the rest of your hand.”

Ruby nodded, her face a mask of concentration as she began to milk Daisy. Her first attempts were a bit clumsy, but soon she found her rhythm, streams of milk hitting the pail with a satisfying ping.

“I’m doing it!” she exclaimed, looking up at Becket with a proud grin.

Becket’s heart swelled with affection. “You’re a natural,” he said, leaning down to press a kiss to the top of her head.

As Ruby finished milking Daisy, Becket heard a commotion from the other end of the barn. He turned to see Houdini, true to his name, attempting to squeeze through a gap between the stall boards.

“Oh no, you don’t,” Becket said, rushing over to guide the goat back into his stall. “I swear, Houdini, you’re more trouble than all the others combined.”

Ruby laughed, coming over to scratch behind Houdini’s ears. “But he’s so adorable, aren’t you, you little escape artist?” The goat bleated, leaning into her touch.

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