Chapter 81: Goats

DEACON

"Since when do we have goats on this farm?" I looked up at Gram, who was standing on the porch steps grinning down on me. My ass was in the sparse grass, and five baby goats romped around me, each one vying for my attention.

"Blame Emma!" Gram chuckled. "She and Pop got to talking one night, and she told him about how she wanted to eventually have chickens and goats, but she doesn't feel she can handle them on her place yet, since the hospital takes up so much of her time. Next thing I knew, your grandfather was offering to get goats that the two of them can share, with the understanding that we'll house them here, and Emma will participate in their care and support, too."

"Huh." I reached out to stroke the bumpy head of one of the babies, and he butted against my hand. "If I were the insecure sort, I'd wonder if maybe Emma was replacing me as your favorite."

Gram smiled at me sunnily. "And if you were the smart sort, you wouldn't have let her get away from you, so that w