“It lives here, Poppy. I’m sure it can find its way back.”
“Back?” I lean away from Matt. “Do you know where this baby came from?”
Matt sighs, a muscle twitching in his jaw. “I saw a farm not too far from here. It’ll be fine.”
His tone is final, but something feels very wrong to me. Plus, I can’t get that image of a hungry bear waking up from hibernation out of my head. “If it’s not far, maybe we can bring it back?”
“I can’t—” Matt tips his head up, his lips compressing in a tight line. “I know you’re not an outdoor person, Poppy, but even you have to see that weather is moving in.”
“All the more reason for us to get this little guy or girl back to its home.” My heart clenches as I watch the goat root around my backpack.
“It’ll be fine, but we’re getting out of here.” Matt pulls me up, holding my elbow while I hop on one foot, trying to gain my balance.
“It could get eaten by a bear,” I protest.
“Better it than us.”
My eyes narrow. “I can’t believe you just said that. It’s a baby.”
“I’m not going to explain the circle of life to you.” He spins around. “Climb up on my back.”
“I’m not leaving without this goat.”
Matt whirls, his mouth twisting in an ugly, tight line. “Don’t be stupid, Poppy. I’ve got to get home.”
The little goat hops over my bag and butts its head against my leg. I sit back down on the rock, and it puts its front paws, or hooves or whatever, up on my thigh. I bend, ignoring the protest in my leg and pick it up. “We need to bring this goat back to its farm.” I square my shoulders against Matt’s obvious anger. “If the weather is as bad as you say, maybe we can stay at this farm until it passes. Or maybe they can help get me back to your car.”
“We can’t go to the farm.” He bites out each word. “Now put down that fucking animal and get on my back or I’m leaving.”
I swallow hard. Confrontation isn’t my strong suit. I’m always the girl who smiles and does what she’s told. My stomach clenches, unease fluttering through my chest. The little goat is soft and warm in my arms, and my fingers instinctively curl into the velvet coat. It nuzzles under my chin. “I’m not leaving it out here alone.”
Matt glowers, taking a step towards me, big and angry. I lift my chin, but I don’t move. Finally, he rolls his eyes, turns and stalks back through the brush.
My heart pounds. Did he really just walk away? I force myself to take a couple of deep breaths, waiting for him to come back.
Nothing.
My new friend nudges me again and I glance up at the sky. I need a plan. It really does seem stupid for me to defy Matt when I’m sitting here with a messed-up ankle, no cell service and no idea where to even start looking for this farm he mentioned.
A strong gust of wind blows across the clearing, the rattle of dry leaves scraping across the ground the only sound I can hear over my breathing. As dark clouds gather above me, I wonder how the heck I’m going to get off this mountain.
3
GIBSON
Ifinish securing the perimeter, keeping one eye on the weather. This wasn’t the day I expected. Early spring is busy, and I was on the far side of the property, clearing branches to prevent problems before the forecasted ice storm blows in when I got an alert at the nursery fence.
I figured it was just a blip. Some of the goats are playful and I’ve got a few little escape artists, which is why I had the fence installed in the first place.
But when I got there and saw what had happened, I knew it hadn’t been an accident. Someone got far closer than I imagined, the fence wire bent low, a clean cut.
My mind races over the possibilities, but one really stands out.
My sanctuary, my peace, has been breached.
Dread sits heavy in the back of my throat, like a handful of colorful pills that are too big to swallow. Anger simmers in my chest, the sharp bite growing as I survey the damage.
I ought to have taken even more precautions after my agent called me last month to mention someone had been calling to try and locate me for an interview.
