Chapter 82: Things I shouldn't bring up

DEACON

Miss Sissie and my grandmother disappeared through the door, leaving Emma and me alone with the bleating goats.

"I hear you're the one responsible for the new residents at the farm." I raised my eyebrows. "Just so you know, I petitioned for years for horses or lambs. I was told we were not that kind of farm, and they were too much work. I'm not sure how you managed to sweet-talk Pop into these rascals."

She laughed softly. "It was an ongoing conversation over the course of several months, and I didn't use sweet talk. I used facts, ideas and common sense. In the end, Jimmy made up his own mind, thank you very much." She stroked the velvety nose of the nearest kid. "But you have to admit that they're darling."

"They're not bad," I admitted grudgingly. I watched her as she petted each one in turn, crooning to them and giggling when they climbed all over her. She looked so relaxed and completely natural, at home in this place that had always been so much my own. I remembered