Page 14 of Falling for Provence

She dropped what appeared to be the last piece of broken glass into the container. Then she curled her fingers around a clump of grass and broke it free. She went back to the fence and held it out.

‘Are you hungry?’

It was the donkey that she hadn’t patted that stretched out its neck. This one had more pale hair around its eyes, as if someone had used a thicker brush to outline them. Its lips were pale as well and they wobbled as the donkey carefully explored and then accepted the few blades of grass. Ellie watched them disappear into its mouth, feeling the gentle tickle of the lips barely touching her fingers, and then she offered a handful to the other donkey. A minute later, she was picking more grass, trying to avoid the stems of the poppies and daisies sprinkled through it in case they were poisonous.

‘Do you need something else?’ she asked. ‘Like hay?’

Four dark eyes looked back at her. She was the one who was supposed to know, but she didn’t. She knew absolutely nothing about what these animals might need.

Ellie found her phone in the pocket of her dress. She sent a text message because her sister, Fiona, didn’t often answer her phone, but she was the person that Ellie needed advice from. Horse mad from her early teens, Fiona’s first job had been in a stables and she now worked as a farrier. Donkeys were just small horses, weren’t they?

To her surprise, her phone rang moments after she’d sent the text.

‘You’ve got what? Twodonkeys? What were you thinking?’

‘I didn’t buy them. They were just here. Abandoned, maybe. The neighbour’s been looking after them.’

‘What are you going to do with them?’

‘I have no idea. But, in the meantime, I need to take care of them. They don’t seem to have much grass. Do I need to give them hay or something?’

‘They don’t need much grass. They can founder easily if they get too much. You could give them some straw.’

‘Isn’t that the same thing?’

‘No. Straw is just stalks. Fun to eat but no nutritional value. Have they got water?’

Ellie looked along the fence line and then walked a short distance. ‘Yes… there’s a concrete tub thing.’

‘Is the water clean?’

‘I can’t tell. It’s getting darker and it’s in the shade of an olive tree.’

‘It’s probably full of leaves and old fruit, then. You’ll need to clean it out. What sort of condition are their feet in?’

‘What?’

‘Donkeys need their feet trimmed regularly, same as horses. If it doesn’t get done, they keep growing until they get crippled. Like… you know, how Turkish slippers curl up at the ends?’

Ellie walked back and peered over the fence. ‘I can’t tell. They look kind of like they’ve got their toes splayed a wee bit.’

‘They probably need trimming, then. You’ll need to find a farrier. And a vet. They’ll need worming as well.’

Ellie sighed. ‘I’ll add a vet to the list, then. Along with the glazier and handyman and everyone else I have to find and talk to in a language I don’t even speak.’

There was a moment’s silence.

‘You okay, El? Did Laura get too bossy and push you into staying to clean that place up when you didn’t actually want to?’

‘No… no, it was my idea. She’s helping by paying for it all. She said she can wait till the house sells to get her money back. And it’s okay. Really. It’s… it’s a nice place to be. It’s just… well, I’m having to sort weird stuff out. Like what to do with these donkeys.’

‘There must be a donkey sanctuary in France, or at least an animal rescue society. I could have a look online for you, if you like.’

It sounded like a good plan. But the donkeys were staring at Ellie again. They didn’t look threatening any longer. They looked kind of sad. As if they knew she was planning to abandon them just like at least one other person already had. They weren’t really a big problem, were they? Not right now, anyway.

‘What do they like to eat?’ Ellie asked. ‘For treats?’

The silence felt surprised this time. ‘Carrots would be good.’ Fi’s voice had softened a little. ‘And I’ve heard that they really like ginger biscuits. You’re not getting attached to them, are you?’

---