Page 46 of Happenstance
The goat’s ears twitched as a brown hoof scratched the ground.
“Don’t even think about it,” my hand shot up, “Or I’ll be having goat meat tonight.”
I swear the snarky son of a bitch curled his lip at me, before barking out another bah and taking off around the house. After taking a minute to pry my nuts out of my throat, I rose to my feet. Much more aware of my surroundings this time as I made my way to the front door. I couldn’t see where the fucker went, but I knew he was out there.
Leaning over, I checked the sides of the house, and then knocked on the door. Greta answered almost immediately. I stared down at the older woman. Even a stranger could tell this was Lana’s grandma. She wore the same hard expression Lana did when she ran her mouth. Greta was much shorter though, with greying hair and fierce brown eyes.
“Well, are you just going to stand there and stare, or can you speak?”
Same sharp tongue as her granddaughter, too.
“You know why I’m here.”
“Don’t think I’m not watching you, boy.” Her eyes narrowed. “Just because you got my Lana pregnant, doesn’t mean I trust you.”
Well, she wasn’t stupid.
“And you still signed on the dotted line.” I leaned against the doorframe and crossed my arms. “If you ask me, I’d say you’re the one that shouldn’t be trusted.”
“You didn’t give my Lana a choice.”
“Neither did you,” I argued back. Although I was curious as to exactly how much Lana told her grandmother, or if Greta had come to this conclusion on her own.
“I had my reasons.”
“My point exactly.” I shouldered past her and waltzed into the house. “What are you hiding, Greta?”
She moved quick for someone her age. Her hand shot up and whacked me in the back of the head before I could spin around and look at her.
“Don’t talk back to me, boy.”
“Jesus Christ,” I grumbled, rubbing my head, “What the…”
I was cut off by another quick slap. “Do not use the Lord’s name in vain.”
“Shit lady…”
Another slap.
“There’s no cussing in this house.”
“Fuck sakes…”
Once again her arm flew through the air. “I said no cussing.”
“Jesus Christ…”
That one got me hit harder.
“Will you stop doing that!” I barked out, quickly shutting my mouth before I said what I really wanted to. At this rate, I’d be braindead before I got Lana out the door.
Lana’s grandma didn’t seem to care. Her little hands flew through the air, striking me on the back of the arm and leg. I suddenly understood how my old dog must’ve felt when my mom went after him with a newspaper.
“You get my girl pregnant,” she hit me in the stomach and then swung up to get my head again, “And then take her away…”
“Shit,” I growled, ducking under my arms, “You fucking gave her to me.”
The assault stopped and everything got suddenly quiet. Which kind of made me more scared. When I dared to come out from the protection of my arms and take a peek, the old woman was staring at me with wide eyes.
