Chapter 3

Chapter Three

B ailey and Seth had driven around the property with Jenny to check everything else and keep an eye out for the missing goats. There'd been no sign of them. Bailey had encouraged Seth, saying they might turn up on their own when they weren't as scared. It was certainly a possibility. But with coyotes and other animals out there, Bailey worried they wouldn't see Pansy and Petunia again. She kept those thoughts to herself, though.

Now, she was helping Seth haul piece after piece of broken wood and stack them in a pile. He'd been determined to get them all out of the goat pen so it would be easier for them to repair it later. After all, they would need a place for Poppy to stay once she was all better.

He dusted his hands off and sighed heavily. "I hope we find them soon."

"Me, too, kiddo." She gave him a hug and a kiss on the top of his head. "We'll keep praying they turn up."

Seth nodded and wandered over to the stack of wood, where he started to climb on some of the lower pieces .

Jenny, who had been walking through the trees and brush in case the person responsible had ditched the saw they used, came up to stand beside Bailey empty handed. She nudged her friend's shoulder. "You've got a good kid there."

"Sure do. Sometimes, I worry he has too much responsibility."

"Are you kidding?" Jennie brushed some dust off her uniform pants. "You make sure those boys have so much fun. Not to mention, they get to live out here with all this space, interesting pets, and daily adventures. Trust me, he's fine, and you're a great mom."

Bailey prayed that was true.

She and Jenny had been friends since they'd worked together at a local restaurant right after high school, and it was through Jenny that she'd met both Nate and Joe. Bailey remembered the day Jenny had told her she'd decided to become a police officer. Bailey thought she'd been kidding. At first, she couldn't imagine her friend going through the Police Academy and wearing a uniform.

It didn't take long to realize that Jenny had a giving, caring attitude that, in combination with her determination, made her so good at being a cop. It was no wonder Jenny thrived at her job.

Today, Bailey was thankful to have her there not only as an officer but also as a trusted friend.

The rumble of an engine brought their attention to Nate's truck as he guided it down the road to the barn. He caught her gaze and gave her an encouraging smile as he helped Jordan out of the back. The little boy practically jumped from Nate's arms and raced to Bailey.

"Poppy is all fixed!" he announced proudly.

"I'm so glad." Bailey swung him into her arms and gave him a big hug. He barely hugged her back before he was squirming to get down again.

Seth's bright eyes took in Nate, then swung to his truck. "So Poppy's going to be okay?"

"She'll be fine. The vet had to stitch up her leg and bandage it. She'll be taking some medication to keep away infection. But in ten to fifteen days, she should be as good as new."

"Yay! Thanks, Nate!" With that, Seth ran to the back of the truck and hopped onto the bumper so he could visit with the goat.

Jordan tried to follow suit, but his shorter legs weren't cooperating.

Bailey grinned and shook her head. What was she going to do with the pair of them? Her heart swelled when Seth reached down and pulled his little brother up alongside him.

She was so thankful for their close relationship and prayed it would continue to be that way as they grew up.

Nate gave the boys an approving look before turning his attention to Bailey. "The vet gave us antibiotics. There shouldn't be any permanent damage, although there'll always be a scar. It's best to keep her in the barn until it heals, though. It'll be easier to keep an eye on it." He tilted his head toward the goat pen. "I'll help you rebuild the gate and fence in the next few days."

"I appreciate that. Thank you."

"Of course." His gaze lingered on her for a heartbeat before he addressed Jenny. "Did you guys find anything else?"

"Not a thing." Jenny frowned. "No evidence left behind. No damage was done anywhere else. The whole thing is odd, that's for sure. If it weren't for the saw or ax used, I'd think it was random. When I get back to the station, I'll check the reports for the last couple of weeks and see if anyone else called in something similar."

The temperature was well into the 80s, yet goose bumps rose along Bailey's arms. She scanned the area around them. She'd much rather assume the damage was random and a one-time thing. Just knowing that someone was prowling about her property last night made her incredibly uneasy as well as angry. Seriously, what was wrong with people?

"Let me know if you find anything." Maybe it was a set of restless teens acting on dares. Whoever did this, Bailey hoped Jenny or someone else in the department caught them soon.

"I will. I'd better be getting back. If you have any other trouble, let me know. Okay?" Jenny glanced at the boys. "I'll be praying you find the other two goats."

"Thanks, Jenny." Bailey gave her friend a hug.

"Yep, appreciate it, Durant." Nate gave her a quick hug as well. "Try to stay out of trouble."

"Oh, you know it always has a way of finding me." Jenny grinned. "See you guys later."

Jenny's squad car drove away, leaving a cloud of dust in its wake.

Nate nodded toward his truck. "Let's get Poppy set up, and then I'll take another drive to see if I can spot Pansy and Petunia."

Seth made sure there was plenty of hay in Poppy's new temporary residence. Jordan helped Bailey fill up the water trough while Nate retrieved the goat and carried her into the stable.

The poor thing looked drowsy, and the white bandage on her leg reminded Bailey how lucky the little goat was to be safe and taken care of.

Regular visitors would miss the chance to pet the goat trio when the farm opened to the public tomorrow and Saturday. She made a mental note to print out flyers asking visitors to keep an eye out for the other two. It certainly couldn't hurt.

Seth was petting Poppy through the slats in the pen. He half-turned. "Mom? Can I help you give her the medicine tomorrow?"

"Of course." Bailey ruffled his hair. "I would really appreciate that."

He nodded and turned his attention back to the goat.

"You boys keep an eye on Poppy. I'll be right back." Bailey motioned for Nate to follow her outside. Once they were out of earshot, she leaned against the edge of the barn. "I really hope we find the other goats. I can't help but worry that, if they wandered far, they may not have survived the night." The thought of the little animals suffering at the teeth of a predator had tears stinging the back of her eyes.

"The possibility occurred to me, too." Nate started to say something else and stopped.

Bailey's eyes narrowed. "What is it?"

"Whoever destroyed the gate might have stolen them, and Poppy was the only one who managed to get away. The goats are small enough. It wouldn't be difficult to lead them to the fence and lift them over."

She wasn't sure which possibility bothered her more. "But if the purpose was to steal the goats, then why destroy the gate in the first place?"

Nate crossed his arms in front of him and shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "We may never know." He studied her face. "Are you going to be okay here today? Or tonight?"

"I have to be. This is our home. I'm not going to let someone make me feel like I can't stay here." Bailey shrugged, hoping the motion came off as casual.

Nate clearly saw right through her. His arms lowered, and he took a step closer. "Don't hesitate to call me if something else happens."

"We'll be fine."

"I'm serious, Bailey. If you don't call me, then call Jenny."

"Yeah. I will." She was suddenly aware of how close he stood. She looked down at the ground where the toes of their shoes were mere inches apart.

Warmth seeped into her chest and spread straight to her heart. She immediately squelched the response and mentally chided herself.

Ridiculous. Between the stress of the day and wishing that Joe was there with them, it was no wonder her emotions were all over the place.

Nate was an amazing friend who didn't have to step in and help his best friend's wife, but he did it anyway. She and the boys were lucky to have him in their corner.