The Contract Said No Strings Attached (Charlotte) novel Chapter 177

The maid spoke in a timid whisper. “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Austin. The young masters just like them so much, that’s why we keep these geese.”

Mrs. Austin shot her a fierce glare. “Children don’t know any better, but you ought to! You’re indulging their nonsense? There’s not a shred of discipline in this whole Sunset Villa Estates! If word gets out, we’ll be the laughingstock of the neighborhood!”

The maid lowered her head, stung by the scolding, not daring to utter another word.

No sooner had Mrs. Austin finished berating her than a deafening chorus of honking erupted nearby.

At first, Mrs. Austin didn’t register the danger. She turned around absentmindedly—and nearly leapt out of her skin.

A dozen or more hefty geese had formed a crooked little battalion, marching straight toward her with the swagger of a conquering army. There was more menace in that flock than any group of soldiers she’d ever seen.

Mrs. Austin’s eyes went wide as saucers; for a moment she stood frozen, rooted to the ground as if struck by lightning.

Before she could even move, one of the largest geese launched itself into the air and landed a vicious peck right on her plump backside.

With a shriek that would’ve put a banshee to shame, Mrs. Austin leapt higher than a startled cat, flailing like a firecracker gone off in her hands.

She tried to run, but another goose charged in and latched onto her neck with surprising strength. Mrs. Austin’s eyes rolled; her tongue lolled out as she struggled for breath.

“H-help! Somebody help!” she howled, her voice rising to a desperate squeak.

But the geese showed no mercy. They swarmed, flapping their wings in her face so hard that the powder on her cheeks came off in puffs, drifting down like snow. Others stomped on her feet, making her hop about in agony.

Servants from Sunset Villa Estates heard the commotion and came running. It took a whole team, several frantic minutes, and a lot of shouting before they finally managed to pull Mrs. Austin free from the geese’s relentless assault.

She staggered to her feet and broke into a limping run, but the geese weren’t done with her yet—they came after her again, honking furiously. In her panic, Mrs. Austin slipped and crashed to the ground.

“Ow!” she cried, pain shooting through her as she flailed her arms, swatting at the geese. “Get away from me! Shoo! Get away!”

The servants hurried over and finally managed to herd the geese away, giving Mrs. Austin space to scramble up.

She dragged herself upright, limping toward her car, her face pale and twisted in a mix of terror and rage.