Chapter Five
Posey
Once we load up the baby goats in the crates on the trailer, Silas drives us to the Branch Haven. The class is outside and has already started, so we back up to the gate of the fenced-in area and wait for the instructor to give us the go-ahead to take out the goats.
The first forty-five minutes are a structured class and then the remaining fifteen are when the goats roam free. The instructor usually demonstrates so they know how to pose to get the goats to jump on their backs.
Today, Silas gets to demonstrate.
“So what’s the point of this?” Silas asks while we watch.
“Yoga improves flexibility and balance, it also helps reduce stress and anxiety. It’s known to boost immunity along with strengthenin’ your core and posture. Plus—”
“I meant the goat part, Posey. How do they help?”
“It’s a form of animal therapy but it’s mostly to add in a fun element, which reduces stress and leads to a relaxed and mindful experience. When a goat climbs your body, it helps increase balance and improve mood.”
He snorts. “You read that off a pamphlet?”
“I helped with the marketin’,” I admit. “And I’ll have you know addin’ goat yoga twice a week has increased membership by 150%. Anyone can sign up for it, not just the guests at the resort. So people from the surroundin’ towns come each week.”
“For fifteen minutes?”
I grin, shrugging. “People love baby goats.”
When it’s time, I open the fence and we usher them in.
Everyone sits in butterfly pose, smiling and laughing as the goats hop around.
Once the gate’s closed, I bring Silas up to the front and roll out one of the extra mats.
“He’s gonna demonstrate for you today,” I tell Mila, smirking while I tie on my apron that’s filled with treats.
“I’m what?” Silas whisper-hisses.
I nod toward the mat. “Downward dog.”
“What is that?”
“Kneel on the mat with your palms flat and lift your knees up. Then straighten your legs and stretch back,” I tell him in the easiest way he’ll understand. “Although you can bend your knees a little if you need to.”
His gaze pingpongs between Mila and me. “Why?”
“So I can have the goat climb on your back,” I explain, then point at the mat. “Now do it.”
Everyone’s staring at us, so I give him an encouraging nod.
Reluctantly, he steps on the mat, gets to his knees, and looks at me. His stare is lethal, and I bite my lip to stop myself from laughing.
I motion for him to keep going and when he finally gets on all fours, Mila stands behind him and grabs his hips to align them.
“What the—”
“There, that’s better.” Mila pats his butt. “Now stretch back slightly and hold.”
I walk around and find Silas glaring.
“Lookin’ good, city boy.”
Grabbing a handful of treats, I get one of the goats’ attention and direct them to climb on top of Silas’s back. His eyes widen at the added weight.
“Push on your tiptoes if you need to steady your balance,” I tell him.
His posture isn’t perfect but it’s doing the trick. Mila instructs everyone to get into the same pose while I keep the goat in place with treats.
Once the goat jumps down, I give Silas’s ass a little love tap. “You can rest now.”
He collapses. “That wasn’t any of the things your little marketin’ bit said it’d do.”
I scoff. “You didn’t relax. You were too tense.”
Walking through the class, I help with getting the goats to climb on their backs and bribe them with more treats. Mila directs the class into child’s pose, lotus pose and then a plank—all ones that make it easy for the goats to climb them while they balance and stretch.
Giggles echo through the air as the goats hop from person to person, getting more treats and lots of pets.
Once the time is up, Silas helps me get them loaded back into the crates. Mila closes out the class and thanks them for coming.
“Well, that was…interestin’.” Silas glances at me from the driver’s side, taking us back to the barn.
“In a couple weeks, you’ll easily hit that pose. Probably a few other ones too.”
“Please tell me you’re not gonna keep makin’ me do that twice a week?”
“The women loved you! Pretty sure a few of ’em were throwin’ heart-eyes your way. Now they’re gonna expect you each time, so you gotta keep doin’ it.”
“I didn’t agree to that…am I gettin’ paid for this?”
“You’re livin’ in my house rent-free,” I remind him.
He snorts. “Do you pay rent?”
“That’s none of your business.”
Dad wouldn’t take my money even if I did offer to pay. He said he’ll only take it when I buy land to build a house and since I’m nowhere near ready to do that, I’ll take the free cabin.
“Fine,” he agrees. “But then you’re buyin’ all the groceries. And I want flavored creamer. None of that half-and-half crap.”
“What? No way. You probably eat twice as much as me.” I scoff. “And what’s wrong with half-and-half?”
“If I’m lettin’ goats stand on my ass twice a week, that seems fair.” He lifts a shoulder. “And it’s borin’. I like a little caramel in my coffee. Or vanilla even. Pumpkin Spice when it’s available this time of year.”
I roll my eyes at his basic-ass tastes. “We’ll go shoppin’ tonight after work. But I’m only payin’ for one creamer.”
“Deal.” He grins, backing up his truck in front of the fence. “Look at us compromisin’ as roommates already.”
“Mm-hmm,” I mutter. “I wouldn’t get used to it.”
He winks before jumping out of the truck.
Following him, we get the baby goats back inside the fence, I put the crates away, and then he unhooks the trailer before climbing back into his truck.
“I gotta change and grab my boots,” he tells me. “Can you let Ian know?”
“Yep.” I wave him off, then go and find Amaya after telling Ian to give Silas a hard time for being tardy.
“Pumpkin Spice Latte or Pumpkin Pie Spice?” Silas holds up two creamer flavor options, glancing between both as if he’s making the hardest decision of his life. “Which one?”
“They sound the exact same, so just pick one,” I deadpan.
“No, the pictures on the labels are different. Look!”
He shoves them closer to my face, and I quickly grab one and throw it in the buggy. “There, let’s go.”
“Good choice.” He smirks, while I move to the yogurt section.
“You like smoothies?” I ask, deciding if I should buy one or two containers.
“Yeah, sure. What kind are you gonna make me?”
I side-eye him. “Strawberry-banana with a pinch of rat poison.”
“Oh, in that case, I’ll pass.”
Grabbing one of the tubs, I toss it in. “Anythin’ else you need?”
“Beer?”
“Alcohol is on your tab, not mine.” I walk toward the front of the store. “I’ll meet you at the checkout.”
“Hello, Miss Posey,” Margarita greets while I load groceries on the belt. “How’ve ya been?”
“Good, and you? How’s Millie?”
“Recoverin’ well, though she hates wearin’ the cone, it’s stopped her from lickin’ the wound.”
I smile wide at that. “I’m so happy to hear that.”
Margarita’s pug got hit by a car last week and had to get emergency surgery. Her daughter set up a GoFundMe to help pay for it and it was funded in less than two hours by everyone in Willow Branch Mountain chipping in.
Mom and Aunt JoJo baked goodies, then Bellamy and I brought them over shortly after Millie came home.
“She enjoyed the treats your mama and aunt made her.”
“Oh good! I’m sure they’d love any excuse to bake her some more.”
“Mr. Mathiesen.” Margarita’s eyes widen as she glances between him and me. “You two shoppin’ together?”
“No,” I respond at the same time Silas answers, “Yep.”
Margarita’s knowing grin has me shaking my head.
“I’m lettin’ him stay in my spare bedroom temporarily,” I tell her.
“You keep sayin’ it like that, I’m gonna start thinkin’ you don’t want me there,” Silas quips, nudging me with his elbow.
Shooting him a glare, I walk away to bag our items.
Just because I’m taking the high road and letting him stay doesn’t mean I want to be on friendly terms. Keeping him at a distance is what’s going to help me get through this until he finds a place.
“Have you looked for any available apartments?” I ask him when he comes to help me.
“Between goat yoga and being haunted by your ghost, I haven’t had time.”
I snort. “You’re so dramatic. If you want, I can help you look.”
“You sound like you’re tryin’ to get rid of me only after two days…” He puts all the bags in the buggy, glancing at me over his shoulder with a shit-eating smirk. “But that can’t be, right?”
“Perhaps I’m not being obvious enough,” I mutter under my breath.
Margarita’s smile stays planted in place when she tells me the total. I grab my wallet and scan my card, then take the receipt.
“Give Millie kisses for me,” I tell her, then follow Silas with the buggy out of the store.
“I didn’t want Margarita thinkin’ we were together,” I blurt, loading the bags in the back of Silas’s truck.
“What?”
I swallow hard. “If I don’t specify that you’re livin’ with me temporarily, she’ll assume we’re together.
And if she thinks that, it’ll get ’round town that we’re datin’.
Considerin’ you were engaged four days ago, I don’t wanna be known as the other woman.
Or worse, the reason y’all broke up. So yes, I have to clarify or they’ll call me a homewrecker. ”
“Okay, that’s fair.” He nods. “So you don’t mind that I’m there?”
“Well…” I hand him the last bag. “Undecided. It’s only been two days.”
The corner of his lips tilts up. “I know you said being friends would complicate things, but if I promise to keep my hands to myself, we could be, right?”
It’s not his hands I’m worried about.
It’s my heart.
Closing the door, I inhale a deep breath. “If you don’t make me wanna kill you in your sleep by the end of the week, then I’ll think about it.”
“Okay, deal.”
Silas drives us downtown so he can get rubber boots in his size and some new jeans.
“Whaddya think of these?” He turns, lifts his shirt, and shows me his ass.
“Um…” I lick my lips at the tight globes in my direct view. “Why’re you showin’ me?”
He faces me, shrugging. “I dunno. Aundrea always wanted to see.”