Chapter 1 - The Sick Goat“Elias! Come back here!”
Eight-year-old Elias Carter lifted his head.
A moment earlier, everything had been peaceful.
Cool afternoon air moved across the pasture.
A dozen goats grazed lazily around him.
One nibbled weeds beside the wooden fence while another stood on a low rock, chewing as if it had nowhere else to be.
Elias had been sitting in the grass making roads in the dirt with a stick.
Now his stepfather stood in the distance near the goat barn.
Garrett’s posture looked stiff.
“Elias!”
The boy scrambled to his feet.
Something in Garrett’s voice was wrong.
Elias ran toward the barn.
By the time he reached the entrance, his breathing had quickened.
Then he saw the goat.
Clover.
She lay on clean straw several feet inside the barn.
Usually Clover hurried toward anyone carrying feed.
Now she barely raised her head.
Elias’s eyes widened.
“What happened?”
Garrett did not answer.
He stared at Clover for one long second.
Then turned toward Elias.
His jaw tightened.
“How did you let it get this sick without noticing?”
Elias froze.
“What?”
“You were watching the goats.”
“I was in the pasture.”
“That’s what I just said.”
“I didn’t know she was sick.”
Garrett’s eyes narrowed.
Elias looked desperately toward Clover.
“She was walking this morning.”
Garrett pointed once toward the barn.
“Tonight, you’re bringing your blanket out here.”
Elias slowly looked at him.
“You’re sleeping beside it.”
Fear moved across the boy’s face.
His shoulders curled inward.
He stared at the dark barn beyond Clover’s stall.
“Please…”
Garrett’s expression did not change.
Elias lowered his head.
“Yes, sir…”
He looked toward Clover again.
Her chest moved slowly.
Elias swallowed.
He wanted his mother.
Sarah was in town delivering goat cheese and soaps to two stores.
She would not return until evening.
Garrett knew that.
“Can I call Mom?”
“No.”
Elias looked up.
“Why?”
“Because you need to learn responsibility.”
“I didn’t make Clover sick.”
Garrett took one step toward him.
Elias stopped speaking.
“Go get your blanket.”
The boy turned toward the farmhouse.
He walked slowly.
Not because he wanted to disobey.
Because every step made the punishment more real.
Behind him, Clover breathed quietly in the straw.
Two hours later, early evening settled over Hollow Creek Goat Farm.
Elias sat on his bedroom floor.
His old blue blanket lay folded beside him.
He stared through the window toward the barn.
He had cared for goats since he was old enough to carry a feed scoop.
He knew when they looked tired.
He knew when they refused food.
He knew when a hoof bothered them.
Clover had looked normal that morning.
He was sure.
Almost sure.
That uncertainty was what Garrett depended on.
Maybe Elias had missed something.
Maybe it really was his fault.
He wrapped the blanket around himself.
Then heard Garrett moving downstairs.
Elias stepped into the hallway.
The living room light was on.
Garrett sat alone on the couch with one boot resting on the low coffee table.
He did not see Elias standing behind the railing.
Something small was in Garrett’s hand.
A bottle.
Dark glass.
No brand Elias recognized.
A white label.
One black symbol.
A skull.
Elias’s breath caught.
Garrett studied the bottle.
Then his eyes moved toward the window facing the goat barn.
He exhaled slowly.
One corner of his mouth rose.
Not a laugh.
Not even a full smile.
Something smaller.
Something Elias did not understand.
The boy stepped backward.
A floorboard creaked.
Garrett turned.
Elias disappeared behind the wall.
His heart pounded.
Downstairs, Garrett became silent.
Elias stood frozen.
Then Garrett called:
“You getting that blanket?”
Elias squeezed his eyes shut.
“Yes, sir.”
He returned to his room.
But he did not understand one thing.
May you like
If Clover’s sickness was his fault—
why did Garrett look pleased?
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