Chapter 3
Willow
It was impulse to come up here. But I wanted to see the chicken. Just the chicken.
That’s what I told myself the whole way here.
But I know in my heart I wanted to see Falcon again. The moment I step out of the truck I can’t deny how he makes my heart race. I feel a sense of excitement I haven’t felt in a long time.
My life has always been planned out. I did the classes I was good at. I went to the college my parents thought was best for me. I did the things I was told I should do. Leaving college filled me with fear. But I just knew it was something I had to do.
But this is something new and exciting. Thrilling. I’m here with no plan. It’s something I probably shouldn’t do. And it feels….good.
“Your chicken is over here.”
Falcon shows me to a little chicken hut with an attached run. It has a little hand built house, painted black and white, complete with shutters and a little porch, railings and all the trimmings.
“You made this?” I ask.
He shoves his hands in his pockets and nods. “My brother builds things. He built my cabin, and he showed me a few things.”
“Why is Ms. Bubbleworth here on her own?” There is a bigger chicken coop a few steps away that obviously has five or six chickens in it.
Falcon opens a hutch and reaches in, pulling out a chicken that was hidden.
“This is BB. She’s got a bad foot and she was being picked on by the others, so I moved her over here, but she needed a friend.
” He holds the chicken like a pro, giving it a little pet on its neck.
“I agree that an animal shouldn’t be doomed just because it is different.
I’m hoping that these two get along, but if not, well, I’ll build a third hutch and just keep trying. ”
Never, in a thousand years, would I have pictured Falcon Kinglsey caring that an injured chicken has a friend. Even going as far as to build a second chicken coop. There is more to this man than I gave him credit for.
I watch as he carefully places BB back in her half of the coop. Then Falcon looks up at me, and again, there is just the hint of an almost smile. “Do you want to see something cool?”
I nod and follow him into the barn where I let out a little gasp of surprise.
There in a pen is a mumma goat with three of the cutest little baby goats.
The babies are running around, jumping off each other, jumping off their mumma.
They are amazing. Doing crazy little leaps where all four hoofs leave the ground at the same time.
Falcon picks one up and hands it to me before picking up the other two to cuddle to his big chest. Oh my, they are so soft. I hold the little baby up to my face and laugh when it tries to eat the collar of my shirt.
Looking over at Falcon we share a smile. It is beautiful to see him really smile. Without the leather jacket, just old jeans and a t-shirt, two baby goats in his arms, Falcon doesn’t look the bad boy so much anymore. Now he just looks like a sexy, mountain man.
“You know, we have the Spring festival in a few days. We could make room for these little babies and their mumma in a pen. The kids in town would love to see baby goats.”
Falcon put his two wriggling goats back in the pen and then takes the one I’m holding to put her back with her siblings. The smile is gone. The friendly moment between us has past.
“I’m not big on town events.”
“But…”
“No.” He cuts me off and walks out towards my truck. I’m guessing this visit is over.
He turns to look at me. Probably wondering why I’m not jumping in the truck and driving away at speed. I cross my arms. “It might be good for you to come to the Spring Festival.”
He shakes his head. “How do you know what’s good for me? You don’t know me at all.”
“We went to school together.” I point out.
“We didn’t exactly hang out.”
“Well…you had kind of a bad reputation back then.”
He steps closer to me. “And what about now? What’s my reputation now?”
I stay silent. He wouldn’t like to know that the whole town’s been talking about him being seen drunk in the pub. It doesn’t take much to get the gossip mills working in such a small town.
“Exactly. I hardly think the town wants me at their Spring festival.” He steps even closer.
So close that I have to tilt my head up to continue looking at him.
His voice drops a notch. Deep and husky.
“You sure it’s safe to be up here alone with me?
I’m such a bad guy after all. I might take advantage of having a beautiful woman show up on my doorstep. ”
It takes everything I have to try and keep the emotion off my face. I beg my cheeks not to turn pink. Keep eye contact, Willow.
“I don’t like what you are implying.” Although the excitement I felt being here started to pump through my veins like a zap of electricity when he lowered his voice like that. “Just what would you do with me?”
A long pause. I hold my breath. That dark stare sends heat through me. I’m very aware of how close we are. How big his body is next to mine. “I’d put you to work of course. You work at the feed store. I assume you know how to clean out a goat pen?”
Hump. I let out a breath. Now my cheeks are burning red.
“What did you think I’d say?” His voice drops again. A mischievous twinkle in his eye. And eyebrow arched.
I stay silent. No idea how to answer him.
“Did you think that I'd tell you how I’d push you up against that wall and kiss you breathless.” He steps even closer.
My breasts tingle. I hold my breath while my heart is about to beat out of my chest. And he’s got more to say.
“Did you think I’d tell you I’d like to get my hands on that body and make it obey my commands.
That it has always been a fantasy of mine to get the good girl and make her bad? ”
He leans in. His face so close to mine. But when I catch the glimpse of a smile I put my hands to his chest and push him away. And with that, I run to my truck, get in and drive away as though I’m fleeing the devil himself.