Page 30 of Love, Lies and Sleigh Rides
“We got to talking about those new neighbors last week. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but they came around within a month of moving here. Introduced themselves, brought a strawberry pie. Then they casually slip in that they want to buy some extra land near the river.”
“Yeah, Uncle Mason told me. Fifty acres?”
“Something like that. And about five hundred feet of frontage along the Citrine, right down to High Road.”
He nodded thoughtfully. That was practically all of the farm’s access to the river running through the property. Prime trout fishing. He hadn’t fished it in years, but he knew his brothers did regularly.
““Sounds like I have a lot of catching up to do. You’re not considering it, are you?”
“Not on your life! That hasn’t stopped them from coming up here for chats though.” He shook his head. “Friendly folk. I hope it’s not just because they want something. I may have to put my foot down.”
Kade huffed. “That’s like expecting Maggie to keep the cats off the front porch. She’d just as soon share her dog bed with them.” His father prided himself on accommodating people. He’d give the shirt off his back for his enemy. That was, if he had an enemy. Fred certainly didn’t pass down those genes to him.
“Not this time.” Fred’s jaw clenched. “One ask was enough. But they’re persistent. Like termites.”
Lottie rose to stand again. The cria’s head was almost fully visible now. Fluid drained from its mouth when it shook.
“It’s almost time,” Fred said.
“I don’t want you dealing with them alone anymore. Let me know when they come around again. They may need a little reminder from someone other than you that we’re not interested in selling one square foot of this place.”
Fred laughed. “Will do.”
Most of the cria’s long neck appeared exposed now. It continued to shake away the extra fluid.
His father looked at him again and pushed Kade’s shoulder. “It sure is nice having you around again.”
Kade had never considered himself a sentimental person. But his throat tightened hearing his father’s words. He knew his youth had been fraught with trouble of his own doing. Despite the anguish he undoubtedly brought them, Kade never once doubted his parents’ love. He just didn’t want to acknowledge it at the time. But coming home to start a new chapter allowed him the time to reflect on what he’d done wrong, and make it right again. That’s what he wanted most—to be present this time.
He tried to hold back the laughter. “Did you ever imagine twenty-one years ago that you’d utter those words?”
Pops blew the air from his cheeks. “Don’t get me wrong, you were responsible for both your mother and me going gray earlier than we should have,” he said. “But we never were anxious for you to leave.”
Lottie made another unhurried lap around the stall while the other alpacas followed, sniffing and rubbing noses with the soon-to-be-born new member of the herd. Inch by inch, its shoulders emerged until the rest of its body slipped out in one slow, unhurried motion onto the hay-strewn floor.
Pops was on the move in an instant to move the other animals away to keep them from stepping on the cria. Kade grabbed the towels and knelt beside his father. Lottie stood still, looking down as they worked over the baby, then she too eased herself down again with a heavy sigh as if to say,Finally!
His phone vibrated against his hip. He fished it out and balanced it against his shoulder as he helped hold the cria’s head while Pops toweled it off.
It was Bart at the garage.
“I’m calling like you asked,” Bart said. “Your girlfriend’s car is finished.”
Kade cringed at Bart’s use of the “G” word, but he left it alone, especially considering present company.
“Fantastic. Thanks much.”
Kade tucked it back into his pocket, waiting for his father to finish. Then Kade eased the cria near her mother.
He could feel Pops eyeing him. “What?”
“Oh, nothing.”
Kade brushed his hands on his jeans and stood. “Bart owes me a favor.”
“I may be slowing down, but there’s nothing wrong with my hearing,” Pops said. He used a clean towel to give the baby one final wipe down. “Anybody I know?”
“Fallon’s car is finished at the shop. I was going to pick it up and deliver it to her. And Bart misspoke. She’s not my girlfriend, not even close. Bart is just being Bart.”
