Page 29 of Love, Lies and Sleigh Rides
“Elaine darling,” cooed Agnes as she directed an air kiss at Elaine’s cheek even as Elaine caught Fallon’s eye over Agnes’s shoulder. Elaine smiled stiffly once Agnes held her at arm’s length.
“I’m sorry I’m late. I hope I didn’t miss too much?” She took a seat.
Agnes tapped her pen against the table, not meeting Elaine’s eyes. “No, no. We were just catching up.”
As they dove into another planning session, Fallon’s mind whirled. The air crackled with tension Fallon hadn’t noticed before. Maybe it was the information about Kade that added to her heightened sense of awareness. There wasn’t just bad blood between Agnes and Kade. It seemed to extend to Elaine as well, judging by the body language during her hug with Agnes. Their conversation was clipped too. It was none of Fallon’s business. She’d be back home in the Twin Cities sometime within the week. And in two weeks, her obligations in Hendricks would be over.
ChapterTen
Two days later, Kade and his father stood watch over Lottie. It was her first pregnancy and Fred suspected she was ready to give birth within the hour, judging by her frequent restless trips near the waste pile without any activity. The other alpacas hovered around her, nudging her, as if they were rallying on her behalf.
Fred pulled a couple of stools just outside the stall to watch Lottie study them with wide, anxious eyes. His father had the toolkit at his feet and he dug in there now, retrieving a tube of calcium paste, a remedy he used for the animals when they labored too long.
“In case she’s tiring out,” he said. He rose to open the gate. “It won’t hurt to give her a little.”
“Let me, Pops.”
Kade got up too and held out his hand for the paste. It had been years since he’d been around for a birth, but the process wasn’t one to forget; it was nothing short of spectacular. He was awestruck by the resilience of the mother and cria, and even on the occasion when nature took a turn for the worse, how fast the female bounced back.
“Easy does it, Lottie girl.” He approached her slowly, his hand outstretched. She didn’t balk when he touched her, nor when he ran his fingers through the coarse auburn coat. Even as he loaded the syringe and brought it to her mouth, Lottie stayed calm and accepted the supplement without flinching.
“We’ve got two feet and a nose. Won’t be long now,” his father announced. He had followed Kade inside the stall anyway, draping towels over a post.
That was always good news in the alpaca world.
Kade backed up to stand next to his father. All they could do now was wait unless Lottie took a little too long. Then they might need to step in and give her a hand.
“This will be our eighth one this year,” said Fred. “A new record.”
Kade nodded. “Things are going well around here then.” He already knew business was thriving from what he gathered in conversations with his parents and brothers, but it was an easy segue into the conversation he’d been meaning to have with his father.
“Can’t complain. Not one bit,” Pops said.
“You’re not working yourself too hard, are you? Are Tyler and Tim picking up enough of the slack?”
Pops kept his attention on Lottie, but a weary smile appeared.
“They do more than their share. Can’t help the fact that I’m slowing down a bit though.”
“You should take it easier, Pops.”
Fred looked over at him with a wry smile. “You’re in cahoots with her, aren’t you?” Pops rarely missed a trick.
“She’s worried about you. We all are.” Kade shifted the weight onto his other foot so he could face him. The key to breaking through his wall of stubbornness was to chip away a little at a time, not come on too strong. “When was the last time you had a physical?”
In the stall, Lottie eased her way down into the hay. It wasn’t a concern since alpacas usually gave birth while standing. Sometimes they laid down during the process only to get to their feet again.
Fred winced. “Oh, I don’t know. It’s been years.”
“Pops.”
“I know. I’ve been meaning to get in there. Something always comes up and I have to postpone the appointment.”
“Mom said you’ve had a few episodes with your heart. What’s that about?”
Fred chuckled and hitched a shoulder. “You know how Mason gets me going.”
“Mason gets everyone going.”
