Page 21 of Single All the Way

As I approached, Esmerelda hummed at me, or rather, at the treats I bore.

“Hey, ladies,” I said. “Yes, it’s cookie time.”

I realized Emerson and Skyler hadn’t moved any closer. I gestured for them to join me. Emerson ushered her daughter forward about three steps, and they stopped again.

“Come here, Sky. They won’t hurt you,” I promised. “I’d never put you in any kind of danger. You know that, right?”

She nodded silently.

“You want to help Dr. Ben?” Emerson asked.

As Ruby chattered to both the llamas, I bent down and coaxed Skyler to come to me. She finally let go of her mom’s hand and dashed over. I picked her up and handed her one of the cookies.

“This one’s for Esmerelda,” I said.

Skyler shook her head and ducked it into my neck.

“You want me to give it to her?”

She nodded.

“She won’t hurt us,” I repeated as I stepped to the stall.

Skyler hid her face against me.

“I’m about to hold it out to her. She’ll take it fast, so you have to watch if you don’t want to miss it.”

As soon as Skyler turned her head toward Esmerelda, I stretched my arm out to the white, long-haired princess. The llama took the cookie with her big teeth, then Skyler ducked into me again.

“Can I do Betty, Daddy?” Ruby asked.

“Here you go.” I handed her the second cookie, concerned about Skyler’s reaction and ongoing fear. I was confident Ruby knew what to do since she’d done it countless times. Betty was always gentle with my girls.

I turned to look at Emerson and realized she hadn’t moved since urging Skyler toward me. Like mother, like daughter?

I motioned with my head for her to come closer.

“I’m good,” Emerson said. “Don’t want to get my work clothes dirty.”

“You girls know llamas are really gentle and friendly, right?” I asked as I took Skyler back to her.

“Yes,” Emerson said. “They’re just…”

“Scary looking,” Skyler said.

“They’re not scary; they’re funny-looking and beautiful at the same time,” my daughter proclaimed as she pranced up to my side.

The llamas had downed their treats in no time.

“I wanna go to Mommy,” Skyler said, so I set her down. She rushed to her mom’s side.

Emerson bent down. “You okay, Sky?”

Her daughter nodded but looked about to cry. Emerson hugged her.

“Horses are next,” Ruby explained. “You want to see the horses, don’t you, Skyler?”

Skyler looked toward the horse side of the barn and nodded, looking somewhat relieved. Ruby again took her hand, and they marched toward Smoky’s stall. Skyler glanced over her shoulder one more time at the llamas, as if to ensure they weren’t coming after her.

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