Page 49 of One Hundred Humbugs

Becket shook his head, amused. “Don’t encourage him. Next thing you know, we’ll find him in the kitchen, eating our cheese supplies.”

As if understanding the conversation, Sir Chomps-a-Lot let out a loud sound from his stall. Ruby giggled. “I think someone’s feeling left out.”

They made their rounds, checking on each goat. Daisy’skids were growing rapidly; Sir Chomps-a-Lot was, as always, on the lookout for food; gentle Buttercup grazed calmly; and, of course, there was Houdini, the troublemaker. Then there were Butterscotch, Pickles, Biscuit, and Nugget—less trouble but full of personality. Becket loved watching Ruby with them, her initial city-girl hesitation long gone.

After ensuring all the goats were fed and comfortable, they headed to the cheese-making room. Becket watched as Ruby added culture to the fresh milk, her movements precise and confident.

“You know,” he said, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind, “I never thought I’d find someone who’d be excited about making goat cheese with me.”

Ruby leaned back into his embrace. “And I never thought I’d fall in love with a goat farmer and leave city life behind. Funny how things work out, isn’t it?”

As they worked side by side, stirring curds and checking temperatures, a knock at the barn door surprised them.

“Hello? Anybody home?” called a familiar voice.

Becket opened the door to find Maisey, holding a basket.

“Maisey! What brings you out here?”

The older woman stepped forward. “Just thought I’d bring you two some lunch. Figured you’d be too busy to cook with all this exciting new business starting up.”

Ruby wiped her hands on her apron, coming to greet Maisey. “That’s so thoughtful of you! Please, come in and see what we’ve been working on.”

As Maisey entered, her eyes widened, taking in the setup. “Well, would you look at that! You two have been busy little bees, haven’t you?”

“We’re trying our best,” Becket said. Maisey, we werehoping to talk to you about featuring some of our cheeses at the diner once we’re up and running.”

Maisey’s face lit up. “Oh, I’d love that! Nothing better than locally sourced products. And coming from you two? It’s bound to be delicious.”

As they chatted, sharing Maisey’s homemade sandwiches and discussing potential cheese flavors for the diner, a sense of belonging settled over Becket that had nothing to do with the spring sunshine. This was community; this was home.

Their lunch was interrupted by a car pulling up. Through the barn door, Becket saw Doc’s old pickup truck coming to a stop.

“Looks like news travels fast in Aspen Cove,” Ruby said.

Doc entered the barn, his eyes twinkling with curiosity. “Well, well, what do we have here? Maisey said you two were starting up a cheese business, but I had to see it for myself.”

Becket led the older man to a converted shed just off the barn, their small but efficient cheese-making setup. Shelves lined the walls, stocked with supplies, and a stainless-steel workbench occupied the center. As they walked through, Becket explained their plans, detailing each part of the process. Doc nodded approvingly, asking insightful questions about the equipment, the cheese-making process, and the care of the goats.

“You know,” Doc said, stroking his beard thoughtfully, “my arthritis has been acting up something fierce lately. I’ve heard goat milk soap can be good for that. Any plans to branch out into that area?”

Ruby and Becket exchanged looks. “We’ve talked about that,” Ruby said. “It’s definitely on our list.”

Becket nodded, his mind already spinning withpossibilities. “We’ll need to do some research, maybe take a workshop or two, but I think we can pull it off.”

As the afternoon wore on, more townspeople dropped by, each bringing well-wishes, advice, and often, offers of help. Mrs. Brown promised to knit some cozy sweaters for the baby goats. Katie suggested featuring Goat Town Creamery products in her shop’s spring menu. Even Sheriff Cooper stopped by, jokingly asking if they needed any security measures to keep Houdini in check.

By the time the last visitor left, the sun was starting to set. Becket and Ruby stood in the doorway of the barn, looking out over their property, now bathed in the golden light of dusk.

“I can’t believe how supportive everyone is,” Ruby said, leaning into Becket’s side.

Becket wrapped an arm around her shoulders, a note of wonder in his voice. “Yeah, I didn’t expect this, either. But I guess that’s Aspen Cove for you. They know how to make you feel like family.”

They were about to head inside when a soft bleat caught their attention. Turning, they saw Houdini had managed to open his stall door and was trotting towards them.

“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” Becket groaned, amusement evident in his voice. “Come on, you troublemaker. Back to bed.”

As they herded Houdini back to his stall, making sure to secure the latch this time, a deep sense of satisfaction washed over Becket. This was his life now—caring for goats, making cheese, and building a future with the woman he loved, all while surrounded by the support of a close-knit community.

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