to see her and Shamus’s costumes. She hasn’t let me see them yet. She wants it to be a surprise.”
“Take pictures for me. They’re going to be adorable.”
A knock sounded at the door, and Elle’s stomach dropped. It hadn’t been Brody on the phone; maybe he’d come by in person to talk. That made more sense anyway. She looked down at the shorts and tank top she was wearing and brushed at the dust that had settled across the front of her shirt from her cleaning frenzy. “I gotta go, Bryn. Someone’s at the door. Drive safe, and I’ll call you later.”
“Sounds good. Have fun today. And text me pictures later.”
Another thump sounded at the front door, and Elle pushed her phone in her pocket and hurried from the laundry room.
She came to a full stop in the middle of the living room as she caught sight of who was standing on the other side of the screen door. And it sure wasn’t Brody.
Chapter 18
Elle opened the front door and peered down at her visitors. “Since when do you knock?”
“Bleat,” Otis answered, which could have meant It’s a recent skill I acquired or Knocking on doors is only one of my many talents.
Tiny stood next to him and looked up at Elle with what could only be regarded as a smile on her face. She gave a snuffling snort and pushed past Elle’s leg, trotting into the house and lying down on the floor next to the sofa.
“Make yourself at home,” Elle said to the pig, then turned back to the goat and pushed out her leg to block his entry. “Not you.”
“Bleat.”
“Sorry, but last time you were in the house, you ate a throw pillow. Which was quite rude because Bryn left me in charge of her house, and I had planned to have it completely intact when she returned.”
The goat hung his head, which could have been a show of remorse or, in the case of this goat, could have been a clever ploy to gain sympathy and another chance at a throw pillow. “Bleat.”
Elle shook her head and stood her ground. “I’m not going to argue with you. But I will bring you a carrot.” She closed the screen door and hooked the latch, learning her lesson from the last time the goat let himself in.
She hurried to the refrigerator and grabbed a carrot, her lips curving in a sly grin as she heard the metallic clink of the latch. “I knew you’d try to sneak in,” she told the goat as she caught him with his head pushing against the door.
Releasing the latch, she opened the door and held out the carrot. The dang goat faked like it was going for the carrot, but instead slipped past her and ran into the house.
“Oh no you don’t.” She tossed the carrot on the kitchen table as she gave chase.
“Bleatttt.” The goat jumped onto the sofa, grabbed one of the smaller throw pillows, and took off again.
Elle ran around one side of the sofa, but the goat switched direction and jumped onto the love seat. Squaring his legs, the pillow hanging from his teeth, he stared at her as if daring her to make a reach for it.
“Give me that pillow, you stinker.” She carefully approached from one side and made a grab for it. But the goat was too fast. He jumped off the love seat, hopped over the coffee table, and vaulted over the pig as he leaped back onto the other side.
The sound of sharp toenails on the hardwood came from down the hall, and Roxy raced into the living room and shot up onto the love seat next to Elle. Her ears were up as she let out a growl and a warning bark at the goat.
“Aww, did you come to save me?” Elle said, reaching down to cuddle the dog’s chin. “I’m okay. He’s not hurting me.” She turned and narrowed her eyes at the goat. “But I might hurt him if he doesn’t give me back that pillow.”
She made another grab for the pillow, this time snatching a corner. She held on for a second, and Roxy jumped onto the coffee table between them and sank her teeth into the side of the pillow Elle was holding. She shook her head and let out another fierce growl.
Elle tried to keep her stare stern, facing down the goat with a serious glare. But Otis pulled back on the pillow, and Roxy’s legs lifted