He frowned. “What’s wrong?”

She pushed a stack of books she’d put on the floor aside with her foot and dusted off the front of her jeans. “Well, apparently, when I purchased the farmhouse, I also purchased a pair of goats.”

“Goats?”

“Yes, because of course I did,” she said with a welcome-to-my-life sweep of her arms. “And apparently Barry and Beula are escape artists who trashed the neighbor’s vegetable garden. The neighbors chased them away, but now they’re wandering the property and could indulge in more goatish hijinks, and it’s my responsibility to prevent that.”

“They’re just on their own?” Ash asked, irritated on her behalf and the goats’. “Who leaves animals to fend for themselves without telling the new owners? That’s cruel.”

“The owner was senile and apparently forgot she had them. When the house was sold, the guy who took care of the property and goats was let go.” Kincaid tilted her head back, looking at the ceiling, clearly exhausted by it all. “So now I have to go round up goats because I totally know how to do that.”

Ash stepped forward, hooking his thumbs in his pockets. “I can go with you. I also have zero goat experience, but I’m dressed for the farm, like small furry animals, and could possibly help.”

She glanced down at his plaid flannel shirt and jeans. “I don’t think your wardrobe is going to help, but I’ll take an extra set of hands.”

“What do we do when we catch them? Is there a pen or something?”

“Yes.” She huffed. “One that is apparently broken. Damn. I hadn’t thought that far. Maybe we can—” Her face lit up. “Ooh, wait, I know someone who could help with this.”

He lifted his brows. “You have someone skilled at goat wrangling? Your networking skills know no bounds.”

“It’s one of my magical powers.” She grabbed her phone from her pocket. “Wes’s brother is a vet and a really nice guy. If he’s available, he’ll help. Let me give him a call, and maybe he can meet us there.”

“You do that, and I’ll meet you out front. I’ll get everything locked up.”

She gave him a grateful look and then headed toward the back of the store, putting her phone to her ear.

After Ash finished securing the store, he stepped out into the late-morning sunlight, the air scented with coffee from the open-doored café a few yards down. Kincaid was leaning against her car, texting. When she looked up and saw him, she lifted her keys and jangled them. “You mind driving? I need to run into the convenience store on the way. Marco, my vet friend, is going to meet us there, but he said to get some animal crackers. We can use them to lure the goats if they won’t come to us.”

Ash opened his hand for the keys as she tossed them to him. “Animal crackers?” He walked over and she stepped away from the car, letting him open the door for her. “That seems kind of messed up. Do they come goat-shaped?”