Page 78 of Red Mountain Burning
* * *
Several hoursafter his tasting with Emilia, as he and Joan moved the sheep to a new patch of grass, Otis noticed he had an extra kick in his step. The wine might have had something to do with it, but his elation was more about the hope he felt for Red Mountain’s future. He’d seen a bit of his younger self in Emilia today, and he felt like the mountain might just be in safe hands after all.
The sheep had once again eaten everything down to the nubs in their current location, so it was time for a move. In order to keep their wooly friends occupied, Joan had dropped a fresh stack of hay down, and the sheep fought over it as she and Otis scrambled to set up the next perimeter.
“You know, Joan, I am a wild dog at heart, so I’m no stranger to the doghouse. But at some point, I would appreciate a proper chance at redemption.”
It had been six days since the bike accident, and Joan was still angry with him despite his daily apologies and even a box of chocolates and a bouquet of long-stemmed yellow roses.
Several feet ahead of him, Joan plucked a section of portable fencing out of the ground and carefully guided the netting and poles to his open arm. “You know, I can’t just turn my emotions off and on. You’re difficult to live with sometimes.”
No one knew that more than he did. “What if we went out to dinner tonight?”
She fed him the next section and broke into a smile. “You mean spend time together doing something other than farm chores? I’d love to. I’d like to go back to that sushi place. What’s it called?”
“Ah, yes, Aki. What a wonderful idea. I’ll even iron my shirt.”
She flashed a smile. “Thisis the Otis I’ve been missing.”
He showed his teeth. “I’m like a bowl of Padrón peppers. Every once in a while, you get a deliciously spicy one. But you must suffer through the others to find it.”
“Well, my little bowl of Padróns, I’d be honored to go on a date with you.”
“The honor would be mine.”
Once they’d collected the fencing, Otis walked up to the corner of his land that backed up to Drink Flamingo. It had been weeks since the chemical drift incident, and he thankfully saw no evidence of spray damage. They’d had two good rains, so he felt confident that the sheep were now safe to mow this part of the property, which was terribly overgrown.
He glanced over to the construction site. How much longer must he endure the awful sound of nail guns and saws, the instruments of his enemy’s growth?
He drew in a big breath and blew it out like he was extinguishing a wildfire.
Let it go, Otis. Let it go.
He went to work setting up the new perimeter while Joan moved the solar energizer and water containers. As she propped up the energizer with a rock to face the sun, she said, “I’m sorry I missed Emilia. How did she do today?”
Otis perked up. “She’s got it, Joan. Not even old enough to drink, but you can see the fire in her eyes. I like how she talks about wine. No matter what happens here, it’s lovely to know that Lacoda is in good hands.”
“You see, Otis? It’s not only you and the mountain.”
“I know. I know. I’m a slow learner, but I get it. There will be others to pick up the flag.”
“Yes, exactly.”
Once everything had been set up, Otis stood by the opening he’d made in the fence, and Joan went to where the sheep were finishing up their hay. “Let’s go, everyone,” she said. “Time for a new piece of land. Lots of goodies up there to eat.”
The sheep looked up as they chewed.
Otis had told Joan she should use a bell to train them to follow her, but she’d insisted they would follow her voice. And she was right.
“Up the hill we go, ladies and gentleman. Let’s go.”
Apparently trusting Joan, one brave sheep left his hay. Another sheep broke away and then they were all trotting after her.
Otis beamed. “Look at you,” he whispered. “My girl.”
Joan ran through the gap in the portable fencing, and the fifteen sheep followed. As the last of the animals entered their new setup, Otis closed off the fence. Once Joan climbed out, he turned on the energizer, electrifying the fence. The barrier wasn’t as much to keep the sheep in as it was to keep the predators out.
If only Otis could fence in the whole mountain. He glanced over to his enemy’s lair again. A man on the far side of Drink Flamingo was inspecting the fence exactly where Otis had cut out his door. The man pulled back the cut fencing. Otis was busted.
