Page 19

The lane soon joined the village green, the scene of last night’s intrigue with Daniel. There was no sign of Dora on the dewy grass, so Kitty continued onto High Street.Almost halfway up, something large and tan jostled around on the grass outside the village store. Ithadto be Dora.

With Kitty’s heart thumping hard and fast, she picked up the pace, attempting to run in her dew-coated flip-flops. Her feet were smothered in grass clippings, and she slipped and slid against the rubber. As she got closer, Kitty could tell itwasDora. What other goats were likely to be out picking up a weekend paper? She was in front of the shop, attempting to devour the advertising board outside, yellow teeth grinding against the wood.

She approached slowly, but her heart sank. In her haste, she’d forgotten to bring anything to lead the goat back to Rose Cottage with. Her only option was to grab her pointed little horns and wrestle her home. The chances of doing it on her own were slim to none. She’d have to call Jonty. Kitty ran her hands over her pockets, finding them empty. She’d left her phone on the side.

“Shit, damn, and bollocks!”

Kitty’s exasperated cry rang out in the still of the sleepy village, and hot tears stung her eyes.

12

JOSH

Josh was pickingup a bag of croissants from the Bakery when he heard a cry. Curious, he stepped out the door to see a frantic woman hanging onto the horns of a wriggling goat. She was trying to wrestle it from the wooden board it was chewing on.He couldn’t help but chuckle; it wasn't the sort of thing you normally saw on a Sunday morning in Tottenbridge.

The woman was all arms and legs. The long hair tied on the top of her head threatened to escape, and her shirt was filthy. Barefoot, she’d abandoned a pair of flip-flops on the side and was hanging on for dear life, swearing like a sailor. Taking in her sweaty face, pink from exertion, Josh spotted a purple bruise on her forehead, and his stomach lurched.

Kitty!

A smile grew on his lips as he watched her battle with the goat. She looked adorable, with her face like thunder and her long hair medusa-like in its dishevelled bun. Bent over to hold onto the animal’s horns, the filthy shirt she wore rode up, revealing the creamy skin at her waist. Josh took a breath. He was tempted to pull up a chair. He could sit and watch her all day, but that would be cruel. She needed help. He dropped his bag of croissants on the ground and moved towards her.

“Whoa, back up,” he said, his voice fighting with a loud grunt of frustration from Kitty.

She didn’t hear him, and the tussle between her and the goat escalated.The beast was infuriated by any attempt to hold her horns and head. Kitty tried in vain to pull her away, but as the animal gave one final, violent shake, she lost her grip and flew backwards onto the grass, landing with a thump on her bottom.

“Fuck!” she yelled.

The object of Kitty’s efforts immediately reattached herself to the board, and Josh ran towards his old friend, crouching next to her.She was fine. Up close, her bruise looked angry and tender. She’d tried to cover it up, but its purple mass shone through. Her cheeks were shiny and flushed, and she had a huge smudge of mud across her right cheek.

Josh struggled hard to suppress a smile, and Kitty’s eyes flashed a million swear words at him. It was his final undoing, and unable to contain it any longer, his chuckle became a full-on belly laugh.The resulting look of fury on Kitty’s face made it even worse, and when he offered her his hand, she ignored it.

“Stop laughing,” she said. “It’s not funny!”

Her request had no effect, and Kitty’s face took on a vicious look.

“Isn’t there a chihuahua waiting for you to give them an enema or something?” she growled.

Josh doubled over, holding his aching sides while Kitty slumped down, defeated, in the grass. But as his amusement subsided, so did the fury on her face.The corners of her own mouth twitched, and she covered her face with her hands, shoulders shaking. For a terrible moment, Josh thought she might be crying, but her giggles confirmed it was tears of laughter.

After Kitty collected herself, Josh offered her his hand. Again. She took it this time, and he hauled her up.

“Bloody goats,” she mumbled, wiping her eyes. “I hate them.”

Josh smiled. “Listen, you aren't the only one who’s fallen out with a goat.”

He lifted his white T-shirt to reveal a livid pink scar just above the waistband of his jeans.

“Must have been painful,” Kitty mumbled, looking away quickly.

“It was. Goat horns are bloody sharp. And…” he turned to where her goat was still chomping into the sandwich board, “It’s time to return you back to Rose Cottage, young lady.”

“Me or the goat?” asked Kitty.

13

KITTY

Kitty brushedoff the front of her jeans and turned round to do the same with her bum. She caught Josh watching her, and the smile on his face had her heart skipping a beat. He looked as if he’d like to help. Instead, he handed her his croissants and sprinted into the village store. She followed his broad back with her eyes, savouring the way the muscles underneath his T-shirt jostled for supremacy. Her teeth gripped her bottom lip.