Once Bitten, Twice Shy

"I see Katie has filled you in on everything you'll need to know on this farm. She has an uncanny way of sticking to pertinent details."

Alex tousled her hair as if she were a child. "So give me some pertinent facts." He pushed Katie's chair forward and seated himself at the table. "Like, why you decided to start a goat dairy?"

Carmen passed him the pan of meat and vegetables. "Actually, it was Katie's idea. I agreed because I figured goats would be easier to handle than cattle."

He nodded, forking some of the meat onto his plate. "You seem to have it all in control - both the dairy and the house. A genuine home cooked meal. It looks delicious."

She dished up some vegetables and glanced at Katie, who was attempting to pile more food on Alex's plate. How much had Katie told Alex, and why?

He held up a hand to Katie. "No, thanks. I don't eat the way I used to." He took a bite of food, obviously savoring its flavor before he swallowed. "It is delicious - especially the venison. It's been a while since I had a good deer roast."

Carmen glanced up as Katie handed her the potatoes. "It's not deer. It's chevon."

Alex paused with the fork half way to his mouth and studied the meat uneasily. "Chevon?"

"Goat," Carmen said, barely suppressing a smile as she plunged a spoon into the bowl of mashed potatoes. "One of last year's wethers, to be exact."

He turned his fork over, examining the meat more thoroughly. Finally his attention shifted back to Carmen. "I'm afraid to ask, but what's a wether?"

Katie laughed. "A fixed billy goat. You know, like a steer?"

His attention never wavered and Carmen kept her expression bland as she slapped the potatoes on her plate and then returned the spoon to the bowl.

The dark eyes began to twinkle and the smooth lips slowly twisted into a wry smile. "Are you pulling my leg, Heidi?"

Such a disarming smile. She poured gravy over her mashed potatoes. "You don't have to eat it if you don't want to."

"Oh, no. I like it." He sampled the meat again and shrugged. "It still tastes like venison."

The conversation drifted from farming to the weather. There was work to do in the barn and Katie could use some quality time with her brother, so Carmen left them in the kitchen, doing dishes. With any luck, she would have the chores done before Alex was free.