Mating the Llama

by Oliver, Marina

  'How could you have lost them?' Doc was demanding, almost shouting at her.

  Then he turned abruptly as the two dogs bounced towards him and leapt up.

  'Sit!' he yelled, an automatic response, and belatedly realised his precious darlings had come back to him.

  'Where did you get them?' Alice asked Lucy. 'I bet you found them and hid them to spite me! Just because your boyfriend prefers me!'

  'My sister found them,' she replied. 'They turned up at the cottage, which they know well, and knowing Doc was away she kept them safely until he returned.'

  'Lucy has only just arrived home,' Doc said. 'She couldn't have had anything to do with it, so I hope you will apologise, Alice.'

  'Just – you mean she has been away with you?'

  'And why not? You made it plain you had finished with me.'

  'Doc! How could you? You knew I didn't mean it, I was angry, and hurt. She's stolen you from me!'

  Tears slid down her cheeks, but Doc remained unmoved.

  'Alice, don't be ridiculous. We were finished, you have a new interest, with Lucy's boyfriend as it happens, so who is the thief?'

  Alice lost it, and her face, from being pretty, suddenly became hard and twisted as she hurled abuse at Lucy and Doc. They stood there, refusing to respond until, with a sob, she ran for her car, struggled to open the door, and drove away.

  'Ought she to drive like that?' Lucy asked, worried she would crash.

  'Don't worry about Alice. That sweetness is mostly a pose. She'll stop as soon as she's out of sight, compose herself, make up her face again and go for consolation to whoever will provide it, acting the injured angel. Edward, if he's around, any other man she can find, and if all else fails, her Aunt Flora.'

  Doc sounded bitter. She hadn't realised he felt like this about Alice, but then she'd never seen her other than angelically sweet.

  'How long did Kate have the dogs?' he asked.

  'She won't tell me.'

  'A wise woman. Lucy, we must talk, I'll be down to see you soon, when everything here has been sorted out.'

  *

  Chapter 17

  Kate had cleared away her painting when she got back home. She demanded more details of the show, and Lucy told her of Alice's reaction to the reappearance of the dogs.

  'Yes, I thought she was too good to be true. So you and Doc got it together at last. What happens now?'

  'I wish I knew. But what about you?'

  She smiled. 'There's a new top man at the office, he only came on Thursday, but I've seen that look in a man's eyes before. I think I'm in with a chance.'

  'Tell me more.'

  'He's just over thirty, unmarried, never has been married, spent five years in the City at an investment bank, and made a fortune.'

  'If he's not been married by this age, is he the marrying type?'

  'One of the other trainees knows him, and apparently he was engaged, five years ago, but his fiancée died. He was so devastated he didn't look at another girl until about a year ago, but lately he's been playing the field, nothing serious. So why not me?'

  'Do you like him? Apart from his money?' she asked.

  'I can't tell until I've got to know him better, but so far he's handsome, friendly, and just in the mood to be trapped. Watch this space.'

  She offered to cook supper, while Lucy unpacked, and soon afterwards went to bed. It had been an exhausting few days – and nights.

  Next week it was back to normal. As she was driving to her various appointments Lucy saw Alice in the High Street a couple of times, but either she didn't recognise the van, or was determined to ignore her. Had she given up her Oxford job, or was she, as Edward had suggested, setting up her own business? Lucy told herself it was nothing to do with her, but she couldn't help wanting to know.

  On Tuesday morning Kate phoned to say she was going out to dinner, and not to cook for her. She was very mysterious, and Lucy guessed she had made a move on this new man. Her sister was not slow when she wanted something. She worried about her, chasing a man solely because of his money, but Kate wouldn't listen to her. She would have to make her own mistakes and learn from them.

  She had no appointments that afternoon, so she decided to go and look at the dogs in the rescue kennels. Doc had promised to take her, but although she had mentioned it to him a couple of times he had always put her off, saying he was too busy, or there wouldn't be enough time, or she would not want to have to settle in a dog while her parents were here, or when she was going away to the show.

  When she drew up in the small car park and got out of the van, the noise of several dozen dogs barking made her cringe. Then she told herself that one dog, alone, would be less noisy.

  The girls working there were welcoming, though they warned her she would not be able to take away a dog immediately.

  'We have to check out the homes, make sure they are suitable,' Susan, the one who was showing her round said.

  When she looked surprised, Susan laughed. 'To make sure there is a big enough garden, in some cases,' she explained. 'We couldn't let a Great Dane go to a small flat, could we?'

  'Do you have any Great Danes?'

  'No, but people sometimes do ask for the most unsuitable dogs. Come and have a look round.'

  Trying to bear in mind all the words of wisdom Doc had spoken, Lucy followed her through into a huge barn where rows of cages contained dozens of dogs. They were all sorts, big, small, some breeds she thought she recognised, others clearly of very mixed ancestry. After a long time she picked out three possibles.

  Susan led her back to the slightly less noisy reception area.

  'I'll have to think about it,' Lucy said.

  'If you don't fall for one straight away, it's often a good idea to wait, see any others who come in during the next few weeks, and then decide.'

  As she drove away, feeling rather dismayed that she couldn't even choose a dog for herself, she wondered at the care these people took. She had expected them to want to give away their dogs as soon as possible, for she knew they had problems raising enough funds to keep them. Would she have been more successful with Doc to advise her? But Doc did not seem eager to help. Perhaps, if she mentioned she'd been by herself he would find time to come back with her.

  *

  On the following day Doc and Flick arrived soon after breakfast.

  'Lucy, are you busy?' Flick asked, poking her head into the kitchen.

  'I've no appointments till this afternoon. Why?'

  'We're going to see the Thorpe twins. They aren't in college today, and their father is expecting us. Doc thought you should come too, if possible?'

  'Me? Why?'

  'To overawe them, I think, but if Doc doesn't want to explain anything he won't. Maybe it's because you saw Rosa the first time she was let out, and they may not believe me.'

  It wasn't far to the Thorpe farm, and Mr Thorpe was waiting for them in the farmyard. This was far more like the sort of yard she'd expected than Doc's. Some old machinery was stacked in an untidy heap in one corner, several hens fluttered away as Doc's Range Rover drew into the yard, and she could hear cows mooing in a barn to one side.

  Mr Thorpe, a large, red-faced man dressed in cord breeches and a tartan shirt with most of the buttons undone, came across to greet them.

  'I hope this won't take long,' he said. 'My lads have been harassed enough over that business with Miss Brown.'

  'Can we all go into the kitchen, or your office?' Doc asked, and Mr Thorpe shrugged and led the way into the house. The twins were sitting at the big kitchen table, looking belligerent. They all found chairs and sat down, Doc facing the twins, their father sitting in a chair next to them.

  'We didn't do it!' one of the lads burst out.

  'Didn't do what?' Doc asked.

  'Whatever you're going to accuse us of now.'

  'And that is?'

  'How should we know?'

  'You were at the show, you had tickets to get into the enclosure for exhibitors. All th
e tyres on my horse box were slashed. I've been asking around, and two lads answering your description were seen messing about near it the evening before.'

  'We never! Why should we?' the one who seemed to be the spokesman said.

  'Because you resented being suspected of running Miss Brown down, and letting my llama out of her paddock?'

  'We never saw her!' the other lad said, and his brother gave him a vicious jab in the side.

  'Because you were driving without lights?' Doc asked quietly. 'That's an offence, to start with.'

  'It was the bank we hit!' the other lad said. 'We never hit the old woman!'

  Gradually now, them having admitted so much, the story came out. It had been one of their college mates who had let Rosa out the first time, and they had thought it would be fun to do it again.

  'We knew she couldn't come to any harm,' they protested. 'She wouldn't get far, not as far as the main road. But then we got accused of doing it the first time. It wasn't fair!'

  'My cottage isn't very far from the main road,' Lucy reminded them. 'She came that far.'

  'So, when you were feeling aggrieved at being accused, did you slash my tyres?'

  'You swore you had nothing to do with the llamas!' Mr Thorpe said. 'Doc, I was fool enough to believe them. Right, lads, did you ruin those tyres?'

  They grudgingly admitted it. Their father, forced to accept what they had done, looked so angry Lucy thought he would burst a blood vessel. He stood up so abruptly his chair was flung back against the sink, but he took no notice, and began to stride up and down behind his sons. She thought he was going to physically attack them, and she suspected they did too, since they flinched whenever he was near.

  'Don't you idiots know you could be in dead trouble if Doc here or Miss Brown wanted to prosecute? Do you want to?' he demanded, swinging round to face Doc.

  'I think we can punish them without that,' Doc said.

  Mr Thorpe calmed down after a while, and began to lay down their punishment.

  'You'll not use that car again until you've paid for the tyres. And you're to go and offer to work in Miss Brown's garden on Saturdays for the rest of the summer.'

  Doc tried to smother a grin. 'I'm not sure she'll appreciate their help.'

  'Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on them and make sure they don't cause any damage or get into any more mischief.'

  They left soon afterwards. Flick was chuckling as they drove out of the farmyard.

  'I'm glad that's settled. Will they resent it?'

  'I think they'll behave. They won't dare do anything else, as they'll be suspected right away.'

  *

  Flick dropped in the following morning.

  'I didn't think they'd confess so easily,' she said. 'But that wasn't what I wanted to talk about. How long had Kate had the collies?'

  'She wouldn't tell me, but I suspect quite a while.'

  'Good for Kate. It really cooked Alice's goose, losing my brother's precious dogs.' She paused, and then gave Lucy a shy smile. 'How about you and Cas? I wanted to say I approve, you're by far the nicest girlfriend he's ever had.'

  Lucy was startled, but gratified.

  'Thank you. Has he had that many?'

  She laughed. 'I've lost count. Alice lasted for longer than most, but he's seen through her act at last.'

  'Is it an act? Surely someone can't keep up that sort of act all the time?'

  'Probably not, but she's shown she can be quite different when she's in a temper. I suspect they've had a few similar rows, and Cas was getting tired of the drama. We both like normal people, not those who swing from one extreme to another.'

  'Why did he leave the dogs with her?'

  'He'd tried almost everyone else. Either they were going away, out at work all day, or had their own animals. Alice was taking some time off, and heard we were going away, so she offered, and he was getting desperate. She didn't know you were coming with us, and I suspect she thought Cas might ask you if she didn't offer. That would not have suited her, she was jealous enough of you.'

  Lucy wanted to ask when she'd see him again, but couldn't bring herself to show her concern. Flick got up to go.

  'By the way, he's gone to London for a few days. He said to tell you he'll be back at the weekend.'

  Suddenly she felt light as air, and could swear she heard nightingales out in her garden. Those, or violins. She wasn't forgotten, and if she knew he was coming she could wait in patience until she saw him again.

  *

  Kate went to visit a college friend that weekend, and Lucy had several appointments on Saturday morning, so she went out early too. There was a small truck in the lane, almost blocking her drive, but she managed to squeeze the van past it.

  On her way home at lunchtime she needed to do some shopping, so she parked in the High Street and went to the small supermarket. She had just loaded the shopping into the van when Doc stopped beside her. He had a newspaper in his hand, rolled up, and when he waved it at her she ducked instinctively. She was sure he aimed it at her, but for the life of her couldn't think why.

  She frowned. His expression was thunderous, and he took a couple of steps towards her, waving the paper in his hand. She took a step back, until she collided with the van.

  'What's the matter? Doc, why are you looking so grim? What's happened? Is it Rosa? Has something happened to her?'

  'Why didn't you tell me?' he snarled.

  'Tell you what?'

  'This!' he said, and waved the newspaper at her.

  They were beginning to attract attention. Several shoppers had stopped and were looking at them. Doc took no notice.

  'How long have you been planning it?' he demanded. 'Did you know this when we – when you came to the show with us?'

  'I haven't the slightest idea what you're talking about!' she yelled back, losing her temper as well.

  'You are planning to go to Australia, and you don't think of telling me? Come on, Lucy, you must think I'm a fool.'

  'I'm not!' she said. 'What makes you think that?'

  'Go home. Read the paper, and then try to explain!' He thrust the paper into her hands, turned and marched away.

  She stood looking after him, her mouth open, until she became aware of a few interested spectators. Her face red with fury and embarrassment, she scrambled into the van and somehow managed to get it started, and without too many jerks she steered it back to the cottage. Then, as she turned into the lane, she almost drove into the ditch. In her small front garden was an estate agent's 'For Sale' sign.

  *

  She sat there, the engine stalled, and stared. It was a minute before she realised Jeff was standing by the door of the van. He was carrying the local newspaper and something else, a folder of some sort. She rolled down the window. He thrust the paper towards her, and she saw a photograph of her own cottage.

  'What's this?'

  'Hi Lucy, I've just been on to these daft estate agents. Their photographer took a picture of your cottage instead of mine, and then they put my board in front of your cottage.'

  'When? I didn't see it this morning when I went out.'

  'They did it just after you left. Didn't you see their truck?'

  She nodded. 'They almost blocked me in.'

  'I've just been on the phone to them, kicking up hell, and they are coming to move the sign and take a new picture this afternoon.'

  She tried to take it in and behave normally. 'You're moving?' she asked. 'I'm sorry.'

  'I'm sorry too, I've enjoyed having you as a neighbour, even for just a few months. You see, I need a bigger house. I'm getting married soon.'

  'Married? Oh, congratulations. Do I know her?'

  'No, she lives in Leamington. That's where I go most weekends. As she's still working we'll live there. But perhaps you'll come and see us.'

  'Thanks. Yes.'

  'Oh, and the postman delivered a postcard to me by mistake. It was stuck between two of my letters. I gave it to Doc to bring to you, he said he was coming to s
ee you, but he suddenly changed his mind, said he was in a hurry, and gave it back to me.'

  She took the card, it was a picture of Edinburgh Castle, with just a few words on the other side. Her Mum's writing was big and clear, and she took in the message in one glance. She thanked Jeff, started the engine again, and drove extra carefully into her drive. Mechanically she put the shopping away, then sat down at the kitchen table to read the card again.

  'Having good time. Back Thursday, flights booked for Wednesday after that. It will be so good to have you with us again. Love, Mum and Dad.'

  Doc had seen the estate agent's board, and the photo in the local paper, so she could understand why he might assume she was selling the cottage. He'd probably read the card, too, but what was in that to send him into such a furious temper? Why had he been so angry? Couldn't he just have asked her what was going on?

  *

  She made some coffee, drank it without tasting it, and tried to eat a sandwich, but she could not force the food down. She wanted to howl, but she was too angry with Doc to let herself. She made herself concentrate on planning the afternoon, when she had several clients. Then she went to have a shower and wash her hair.

  All the time she was trying not to think of that scene in the High Street, and Doc's fury, but it kept replaying in her mind. She was getting dressed when she heard a noise in the kitchen, and began to wonder if it was the Thorpe twins. Though why they should target her she hadn't a clue. It was Doc who had forced them to confess.

  There was nothing heavy in the bedroom apart from a big torch, so she grabbed that and crept down the stairs. As she reached the kitchen she breathed a sigh of relief. Jeff was standing, his back to her, staring out of the window.

  'You scared me, creeping in like that,' she said. 'I hadn't remembered I'd left the door open.'

  'I came to let you know the board has been removed,' he said. 'Lucy, what's the matter? You're looking so pale.'

  The sympathy in his voice was too much. She could keep the proverbial stiff upper lip while she was furious, but at his words she gave way and began to weep. Jeff pulled her into his arms, and it was so comforting. She rested her head against his chest and let go.