Page 23 of The Mistletoe Wish

“I guess it’s time to go.” Darim raised his eyebrows.

“I’ll get my hat.”

He caught Sara by the hand as she went to brush past. “Is this what you meant about starting again? Your new business with the llamas, I mean.”

She waited a beat. The tip of her tongue darted out and ran over her lower lip.

Clenching his jaw, he battled the need to drag her into his arms and kiss her until she divulged what was eating away at her.

The expression in her eyes however cooled his heated blood in an instant. They were hollowed out, as if the laughter of a few moments ago had never been.

“When my parents died not that long ago, there was nothing left but debts. I had to sell the little that we owned to cover all the costs. I’d already lost my job, so I was left with nothing but a few clothes and a couple of momentoes. About two to three years ago, I came to Bindarra Creek hoping for a fresh start. Unfortunately, full-time work has been impossible to find. I worked for Dodge for a while, but he could only give me a few hours here and there. My job at the hospital is only casual and the bank has so far refused to approve my loan application. That’s why this place is important to me. Setting up my own business is everything. I won’t fail. Not again.”

The way she chose her words with care warned there was more behind her reasons of why she had to start over. He had no idea what haunted her, but whatever it was, it was serious. Deep in thought, he closed the door behind Sara and Skye.

If anyone deserved a chance to start over, it was Sara.

* * *

Knees still tremblingafterthatconversation, Sara slipped a rope halter over the biggest llama and tightened the slip knot. They had driven to Grady Ferguson’s farm in Darim’s Land Rover after he insisted it was far too hot to consider walking back with the animals. When they had arrived, Grady had offered the use of his horse float to ferry the llamas home. An offer, Sara had gratefully accepted.

Clicking softly with her tongue, she began to lead the male towards the gate. The two young females ambled forward along with a couple of donkeys. A goat with a long straggling beard blinked with curious eyes then went back to munching on grass. Under the shade of three small trees, reposed another donkey, four sheep and a very old and gaunt horse.

Grady and Opal, bless them, were obviously still agisting Maki’s rescue animals. Her acquaintance with that young couple was sufficient for her to suspect they didn’t charge him either. As it was, she had had difficulty in forcing them to accept a meagre payment for the use of this paddock for her llamas. In the end, she had told them her situation was different from Maki’s – hers was business. Whilst his was a charity.

As she approached the gate, Darim opened it. One hand holding back the contraption of barbed wire and steel posts, he looked around her at the following animals. “Hold on. You’ve snagged a couple of hanger-ons.”

“Dad, I’d love a donkey,” Skye pleaded from where she waited beside the horse float. Dancing from one foot to the other, she almost vibrated with excitement.

Darim grinned. “I thought you wanted a pony?”

“I want a donkeyanda pony.Anda llama.”

“The list is growing.” Sara laughed as she urged the male cria to take a few more steps. He baulked at the bottom of the ramp leading into the horse float, flinging his head up and showing the whites of his eyes.

She crooned, “It’s okay, boy. You’re safe. No one is going to hurt you.”

Ears twitching madly, the two females crowded behind him, jostling. Their soft leather pads stamping softly over twigs and fallen leaves.

“What’s that noise?” Skye’s eyes rounded as she backed away from the animals.

“It’s the llamas. They’re humming. It’s one of the ways they communicate.” Sara gently slid her hand over the male llama’s nose. The action seemed to calm him. With one last snorting hum, he lowered his head and regarded the open horse float then looked at her. She ran her hand along his neck and over the curves of his back, then applied a little pressure on his rear end. With cautious steps, he minced into the float where she tied the end of his halter rope to the bar.

The two females trotted up with no problems. It only took a few more minutes and Sara had their halters on as well and then they were also secured. She emerged from the float to find Darim had fixed the gate into place as well as shooed the donkeys back into the paddock. She went to the Land Rover and rummaged inside her backpack returning with bunches of carrots in her hands. “I brought these especially to give to the other animals. Would you like to feed them, Skye?”

“Oh, yes please.” The young girl took a handful and skipped to the fence where she waved a carrot in front of one of the donkeys. “Come on. Here’s your dinner.”

After they had fed the animals, they climbed into the Land Rover and Darim drove back to the property. There Sara asked Skye if she’d like to help, much to her delight. It wasn’t long before all three llamas were out of the float and in the small corral Darim had erected in the paddock closest to the house.

“This is the best fun,” Skye said as she carefully ran a brush down the dark brown female’s leg. “How about we call this one Cher?”

Sara grinned as she removed the halter from the male. “I like it. Then this has to be Sonny. What about the other cria?”

Skye stopped brushing and frowned as she looked at the cream-coloured llama. “I’m not sure.”

“I reckon Frankie is a good name.” Resting his arms along the top rail, Darim smiled.

“Frankie it is,” said Sara.

---