Page 80 of Singled Out

“You’ll need the van.”

“I’ll come get it. I’ll have to take Danny with me.”

“I’d offer to keep him here, but you don’t want him anywhere near this crud.”

“No, I don’t. Toss the keys by the back door, and I’ll take it from there.”

He sighed and swore again. “Thanks, Max. I owe you one.”

“Just keep your phone on you in case I need llama-catching tips.”

“You got it.”

Harper

I’d seen Dr. Holloway’s llama from a distance before, but I’d never expected to be the one responsible for deterring her from downtown.

Max had called on his way to get the llamamobile from Dr. Holloway’s and told me our plan. Esmerelda was undoubtedly heading toward Sugar, the bakery on Main Street, for one of her favorite cookies, but the goal was to not let her get that far. If she got to the square, she’d draw attention, which made it harder to capture her. Not to mention, Max and I didn’t want attention. The llama’s safety and return to her pen took priority, of course, but it would suck to get outed by a llama on the loose.

I didn’t know much about llamas, but this one was no dummy.

The sky was starting to lighten in the east. We were about three blocks west of downtown, and I was between Esmerelda and the bakery, trying to get her to turn back. When I approached her from the east, holding my arms out like Max told me to, she indeed stopped her forward progression. Instead of doing a U-turn and heading home, however, she meandered to the north a yard or two and aimed for the bakery again.

There were enough trees and sheds and fences and garages that I couldn’t tell where she’d pop up next. I was fully entrenched in a game of hide and seek with a llama.

Even though it was serious business, I couldn’t help but laugh every time I found her. She eyed me with that expressive, judgmental gaze as if to say, Get out of my way, damn hussy!

We were a few blocks from where I’d originally spotted her, so I hurriedly texted Max an update, keeping an eye out for the white-furred fugitive. I was trespassing like a criminal to cut her off at the pass, dodging fences, setting off security lights, and arousing a dog or two.

As I made my way around some overgrown bushes in a blessedly unfenced yard, I looked up to find the llama mere feet away. I let out a short yelp of surprise, then slapped my hand over my mouth. Maybe I startled Esmerelda too, because she hoofed it away from me, then cut into another yard. I was blocked by a tall privacy fence, so with tears of mostly suppressed laughter half blinding me, I went in the opposite direction, looking for the next unfenced yard so I could cut her off yet again.

When I found a path through, I ran, thankful I was a runner, because this hairy beast was pushing me. I got to the front of this particular house in time to see a white blur across the street, ducking into yet another backyard.

I texted Max that we were crossing Walnut Street and wondered how long it could possibly take to load up Danny, drive a few miles to the vet’s house, transfer Danny to the van, and get his ass back here to help me. It was a small miracle I hadn’t been spotted by anyone yet.

On the other side of Walnut, I found an unfenced yard and ran through it, my eyes peeled for white. A dog started barking, but it was far enough away I wasn’t worried about immediate discovery. Esmerelda, however, was more concerned, as I found her about twenty feet from me, in a narrow alley, her head craned toward the dog. This might be the break I was looking for. Were llamas afraid of dogs? I could only hope.

Max had told me not to rush up to her no matter what because she’d take off, so I froze and tried to figure out what to do. Just then, my phone vibrated with a message.

It was Max, asking for my location. I replied, explaining about the alley and the barking dog, who still hadn’t shut up. Hopefully his people would assume there was a squirrel or a bunny.

When Max jogged up behind me, I was so relieved I wanted to tackle hug him, but I merely pointed at Esmerelda, who hadn’t moved.

“You stay here and extend both your arms so she won’t try to dart past. I’m going to approach her from the side, slowly. This could take a while, but slow is key.”

I nodded, still catching my breath. “Where’s Danny?”

“The van’s parked right over there.” He pointed at the street perpendicular to the alley. “I locked it, but we need to hurry. He’s engrossed in a video on my iPad for now.” Max handed me the keys for when he got the harness on Esmerelda.

I stood with my arms out as instructed, watching Max, keeping an eye on the llama, silently pleading with the animal not to take off again. Nearly ten minutes later, Max, the llama whisperer, had reached her side and was talking in a low, soothing voice.

Apparently she was as spellbound by Max Dawson as I was, because she merely stared at him, letting him touch her side. Eventually he was able to get her harness on, and from that point, he basically had control. He slipped a lead through the harness and told me to unlock the back of the van.

By the time he hit the street with Esmerelda, I had the back doors wide open, llama ready. I’d opened the driver’s door so I could keep Danny company. He was strapped in his car seat on the passenger side, still in his pj’s, engrossed in a kids’ show with talking animals.

Everything went smoothly until Max and his llama friend reached the back of the van. The animal refused to step inside.

“Come on, Esmerelda,” Max said patiently. “Ben’s been training you for this. You like the van.”