AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Not only had I solved a mystery that had been bothering me like an uncomfortable itch, I had an idea of how I could solve another mystery that has been eating at me even more. A mystery I’m hoping might be just what I need to bring me and my sisters closer together.
In case someone’s watching through a window, I make my way to the front door slowly, head lowered, any sign of confidence or self-love in check.
On the stoop, standing between the colorful gnomes, I ring the doorbell and wait. No answer. Could they be in the woods playing Bigfoot? Sightings of Bigfoot during the afternoon, the hottest part of the day, are rare, but I’ve learned people are never as predictable as I’d like them to be.
I ring the doorbell again, then knock, but there’s still no answer. With a huff, I shove my hair behind my ear and straighten my shoulders, hope draining out of me.
I’ve waited too long already to put this plan into motion. Plus, I have to work the day shift for the next three days, and there’s no way I’m approaching Bigfoot at night. Waiting around here for Bigfoot to return is my only option.
I wander to the back of the house and stop at the sight before me. I’m recalculating my assumptions about the Bigfoot player as I take in the absolutely fabulous goat playground they’ve built for Barley Hopper. The little guy is inside what looks like an over-sized kennel with a roof. It’s a replica of the cottage and it’s connected, by small tunnels, to three identical kennels.
The playground includes bridges and barrels, goat-sized swings, and even a two story structure with goat-friendly stairs and space for far more than little Barley Hopper.
Although Barley has grown quite a bit since the last time I saw him and is now a full-sized adult goat for his breed, he’s not much larger than a small dog. We suspected when we got him at our sanctuary farm that he was a dwarf goat and that appears to be the case.
His fur is white with brown spots, and he’s got two nubby little horns.
He looks up as though he can hear me thinking about him and lets out a plaintive maa-aa.
“Hey there, Barley.” Seeing the little guy puts me at ease and makes me smile.
I much prefer animals to people. Animals are so much easier to read and to keep happy.
Quickly, I let myself into the enclosure and lock the gate behind me.
Barley leaps to his hooves and hurries through the back of his little house. Moments later, just as I’m reaching the kennel, Barley pops out around the front of it.
I kneel, happiness rushing up through me at the sight of this adorable little goat, so glad to see me, his love unconditional.
“Hey, there, Barley.” I open my arms and he trots right into them, bumping his head against my chin. I laugh and hug him, scratching his coarse fur.
“I’ve missed you, buddy.” I let him go and lean back. “Want to show me around your playground?”
“Step away from the goat,” a gruff voice says behind me.
***
I stand slowly and slide a hand into the pocket of my shorts. As I turn to face the owner of the voice, I pull out my pepper spray and raise it into a defensive position.
Unfortunately, I’m holding up a granola bar. Wrong pocket.
Before I can do anything about that, I’m distracted by the completely naked man standing inside the enclosure with me. And I’m not going to lie. As interesting as his purple hair is, my eyes go straight to the good stuff.
He’s covering it with one long-fingered hand, the visible veins that run up his forearm making my mouth go dry. I love cock, but good hands are almost as sexy.
I let my gaze rise slowly and take in a lean torso with delineated abs, a muscular chest and round shoulders. He’s got a good strong jawline and a great mouth with full lips that are parted as he stares at me wide-eyed.
“It’s you,” he says in a deep, gravelly voice. He’s staring at me with the most intense expression and my stomach swoops like I’m on the downhill side of a roller coaster.
I hold up one finger. Somewhere, in the reasonable part of my brain, a voice is reminding me this man is Bigfoot, and he’s blocking the only exit. Unfortunately for the reasonable part of me, it’s been way too long since I’ve seen anything this pretty.
“Give me a second.” I linger over his hand again as I peruse his body, taking my time to check out his strong thighs and good calves and very nice bare feet, before I meet his eyes again. “Do you know me?”
His eyes widen. “Why are you pointing a protein bar at me?”
I sigh and stuff it back in my pocket, then pull the pepper spray out of my other pocket, prop my finger over the trigger and point it at him. “Does this make more sense?” I give him a sweet, innocent smile.
“Not when you’re the one who broke into my backyard.” He doesn’t sound sure. In fact, he seems dazed. I can use that.
