One Hundred Humbugs (Aspen Cove #25)

Chapter 24

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Three months later

Becket paused his work with the tiller, straightening to stretch his back and wipe the sweat from his brow. The warm spring sun beat down on him, a welcome change from the harsh winter they’d just endured. As he looked out over the field, memories of the past few months flooded his mind.

The winter had passed in a whirlwind of cozy moments and careful planning. He and Ruby had huddled together in the old house, now their shared home, dreaming up their future. With Ruby’s business acumen and his farming experience, they’d crafted a plan to transform the home-based goat farm into a thriving artisanal cheese business.

Nights were spent poring over books on cheese-making and animal husbandry, while days were filled with caring for their growing herd and preparing for the spring. Through it all, their love had deepened, rooted in shared dreams and the simple joys of building a life together.

Now, as the first real days of spring had arrived, they stood ready to embark on their new adventure, armed with determination, a solid plan, and a herd of goats eager to play their part.

Becket’s gaze drifted across the yard to where Ruby was marking out plots for their herb garden. The sight of her, so at home here, never failed to make his heart swell with affection.

“How’s it coming, darlin’?” he called out.

Ruby straightened, pushing a stray lock of hair from her face, leaving a smudge of dirt on her cheek. “Almost done! This is going to be perfect for the chevre seasonings.”

Becket grinned, still amazed at how Ruby had taken to this life. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and her creativity seemed boundless. Just last week, she’d come up with the perfect name for their new venture: “Goat Town Creamery: Where Mischief Meets Flavor.”

Their improvements had come courtesy of an unexpected discovery in Uncle Peter’s attic where she found an entire collection of vintage action figures—G.I. Joes, Transformers, even a few rare Star Wars toys—all still in their original packaging.

Ruby had nearly doubled over with laughter when they realized how much the toys were worth. “I guess Uncle Peter was onto something after all,” she’d said with a grin. The auction had brought in more than enough to build the new goat barn and fund their expansions.

Becket’s eyes crinkled with amusement as he shook his head. “Are you up for a milking lesson?”

Ruby’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Absolutely! Let me just finish this last row.”

A few minutes later, they were in the barn, the sweet smell of hay and the soft sounds of the goats creating a peaceful atmosphere. Becket led Ruby to Daisy’s stall, the gentle girl watching them with curious eyes.

“Alright,” Becket said, positioning the stool. “The key is to be gentle but firm. You want to create a seal with your thumb and forefinger, then squeeze with the rest of your hand.”

Ruby nodded, her face a mask of concentration as she began to milk Daisy. Her first attempts were a bit clumsy, but soon she found her rhythm, streams of milk hitting the pail with a satisfying ping.

“I’m doing it!” she exclaimed, looking up at Becket with a proud grin.

Becket’s heart swelled with affection. “You’re a natural,” he said, leaning down to press a kiss to the top of her head.

As Ruby finished milking Daisy, Becket heard a commotion from the other end of the barn. He turned to see Houdini, true to his name, attempting to squeeze through a gap between the stall boards.

“Oh no, you don’t,” Becket said, rushing over to guide the goat back into his stall. “I swear, Houdini, you’re more trouble than all the others combined.”

Ruby laughed, coming over to scratch behind Houdini’s ears. “But he’s so adorable, aren’t you, you little escape artist?” The goat bleated, leaning into her touch.

Becket shook his head, amused. “Don’t encourage him. Next thing you know, we’ll find him in the kitchen, eating our cheese supplies.”

As if understanding the conversation, Sir Chomps-a-Lot let out a loud sound from his stall. Ruby giggled. “I think someone’s feeling left out.”

They made their rounds, checking on each goat. Daisy’s kids were growing rapidly; Sir Chomps-a-Lot was, as always, on the lookout for food; gentle Buttercup grazed calmly; and, of course, there was Houdini, the troublemaker. Then there were Butterscotch, Pickles, Biscuit, and Nugget—less trouble but full of personality. Becket loved watching Ruby with them, her initial city-girl hesitation long gone.

After ensuring all the goats were fed and comfortable, they headed to the cheese-making room. Becket watched as Ruby added culture to the fresh milk, her movements precise and confident.

“You know,” he said, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind, “I never thought I’d find someone who’d be excited about making goat cheese with me.”

Ruby leaned back into his embrace. “And I never thought I’d fall in love with a goat farmer and leave city life behind. Funny how things work out, isn’t it?”

As they worked side by side, stirring curds and checking temperatures, a knock at the barn door surprised them.

“Hello? Anybody home?” called a familiar voice.

Becket opened the door to find Maisey, holding a basket.

“Maisey! What brings you out here?”

The older woman stepped forward. “Just thought I’d bring you two some lunch. Figured you’d be too busy to cook with all this exciting new business starting up.”

Ruby wiped her hands on her apron, coming to greet Maisey. “That’s so thoughtful of you! Please, come in and see what we’ve been working on.”

As Maisey entered, her eyes widened, taking in the setup. “Well, would you look at that! You two have been busy little bees, haven’t you?”

“We’re trying our best,” Becket said. Maisey, we were hoping to talk to you about featuring some of our cheeses at the diner once we’re up and running.”

Maisey’s face lit up. “Oh, I’d love that! Nothing better than locally sourced products. And coming from you two? It’s bound to be delicious.”

As they chatted, sharing Maisey’s homemade sandwiches and discussing potential cheese flavors for the diner, a sense of belonging settled over Becket that had nothing to do with the spring sunshine. This was community; this was home.

Their lunch was interrupted by a car pulling up. Through the barn door, Becket saw Doc’s old pickup truck coming to a stop.

“Looks like news travels fast in Aspen Cove,” Ruby said.

Doc entered the barn, his eyes twinkling with curiosity. “Well, well, what do we have here? Maisey said you two were starting up a cheese business, but I had to see it for myself.”

Becket led the older man to a converted shed just off the barn, their small but efficient cheese-making setup. Shelves lined the walls, stocked with supplies, and a stainless-steel workbench occupied the center. As they walked through, Becket explained their plans, detailing each part of the process. Doc nodded approvingly, asking insightful questions about the equipment, the cheese-making process, and the care of the goats.

“You know,” Doc said, stroking his beard thoughtfully, “my arthritis has been acting up something fierce lately. I’ve heard goat milk soap can be good for that. Any plans to branch out into that area?”

Ruby and Becket exchanged looks. “We’ve talked about that,” Ruby said. “It’s definitely on our list.”

Becket nodded, his mind already spinning with possibilities. “We’ll need to do some research, maybe take a workshop or two, but I think we can pull it off.”

As the afternoon wore on, more townspeople dropped by, each bringing well-wishes, advice, and often, offers of help. Mrs. Brown promised to knit some cozy sweaters for the baby goats. Katie suggested featuring Goat Town Creamery products in her shop’s spring menu. Even Sheriff Cooper stopped by, jokingly asking if they needed any security measures to keep Houdini in check.

By the time the last visitor left, the sun was starting to set. Becket and Ruby stood in the doorway of the barn, looking out over their property, now bathed in the golden light of dusk.

“I can’t believe how supportive everyone is,” Ruby said, leaning into Becket’s side.

Becket wrapped an arm around her shoulders, a note of wonder in his voice. “Yeah, I didn’t expect this, either. But I guess that’s Aspen Cove for you. They know how to make you feel like family.”

They were about to head inside when a soft bleat caught their attention. Turning, they saw Houdini had managed to open his stall door and was trotting towards them.

“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” Becket groaned, amusement evident in his voice. “Come on, you troublemaker. Back to bed.”

As they herded Houdini back to his stall, making sure to secure the latch this time, a deep sense of satisfaction washed over Becket. This was his life now—caring for goats, making cheese, and building a future with the woman he loved, all while surrounded by the support of a close-knit community .

Later that evening, as they sat on the porch watching the stars come out, Ruby pulled out her sketchpad. “I’ve been working on some logo designs,” she said, flipping to a page filled with sketches. “What do you think about this one?”

Becket leaned in, examining the playful design of a grinning goat wearing a chef’s hat. “It’s perfect,” he said, his voice filled with admiration. “Captures the spirit of the place, that’s for sure.”

Ruby beamed, already reaching for her laptop. “Great! I’ll finalize it and start working on the website and some ad concepts.”

As Ruby dove into her design work, Becket marveled at how seamlessly their skills complemented each other. His practical farming knowledge and her business and creative expertise were proving to be a powerful combination.

“You know,” he said, taking her hand in his, “I think we might just make this crazy dream work.”

Ruby squeezed his hand, her eyes shining with love and determination. “I know we will. Together, we can handle anything—even a herd of goats and a town full of eager taste-testers.”

As if in agreement, a chorus of bleats rose from the barn. Their journey was just beginning, but with love, hard work, and a touch of goat-inspired mischief, Becket knew that Goat Town Creamery was bound for success.

He thought back to that first day he met Ruby. She was determined to sell the place and leave it all behind. She hadn’t planned to stay, just wanted to clean up the yard, put it on the market, and be done with it. But a storm, and a bunch of goats, had other plans. Now, she was as much a part of this land as the goats or the pine trees. And as for himself, Becket had found a home and a purpose he’d never dreamed possible.

Spring had brought new life to the yard, but more than that, it had brought the promise of a future filled with love, laughter, plenty of goat cheese, and a community that was like family. And Becket wouldn’t have it any other way.