Chapter 26 #2
Billie had decided to try out her sling, thanks to Georgia, who’d argued that the ground would be boggy from the rain, making it difficult to manoeuvre a pram.
After watching Georgia tuck William into a sling, she’d nervously followed suit.
She had Louisa strapped to her front now, arms in a protective circle around her as she walked so slowly, Zoe could only guess that she was afraid to jog her little girl around too much.
Georgia was far more confident, but then, she’d had a couple of months’ head start.
‘Which direction?’ she asked. ‘Towards Daffodil Farm or the other way?’
‘If we plan to see Victor’s girls, I’d say head towards Daffodil,’ Zoe replied.
‘Or we could do a wider circuit and visit them on the way back?’
Zoe looked Billie’s way. ‘Let’s do the alpaca first and then see how we feel.’
‘Didn’t you say I ought to stay away from livestock?’ Billie asked.
‘When you were pregnant, yes.’
‘What about now? What if Louisa catches something?’
‘You’re not going to rub her face on one of them, are you?’ Georgia asked with a light laugh.
Billie didn’t join in.
‘Just keep your distance,’ Georgia continued, unfazed. ‘We don’t have to get up close and personal. Anyway, they might not even be out. They might be in their stable, so then we won’t see anything.’
‘I’d think they’ll be out,’ Zoe said. ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if Victor isn’t up there with them. In fact, if he is, I could do with having a quick chat about something with him.’
‘Oh?’ Georgia cocked an eyebrow. ‘Something you can share with the group?’
Zoe’s thoughts went to Fern again, hoping she was all right, wondering if she’d changed her mind about leaving the commune, and worried about all sorts of problems that she hadn’t even been able to imagine yet.
‘It’s just about one of my mums. I can’t really talk about it, but I was hoping he might be able to help. Him and Corrine actually.’
‘Which one?’ Billie asked.
‘Oh, you won’t know her.’
‘I might.’
‘All the more reason she can’t tell you.’ Georgia prodded Billie’s arm playfully.
Billie didn’t look impressed, but, once again, Georgia appeared unbothered by the reaction.
‘It’s not Maisie, is it?’ Billie asked.
‘No,’ Zoe said. ‘Why, what makes you think it might be Maisie?’
‘Nothing, I’m just asking.’
‘Have you managed to speak to her yet?’ Zoe asked. ‘You know, to fix up a day she can come and see Louisa?’
‘I’ve been busy,’ Billie replied.
Zoe recognised a dodge when she saw it.
‘And Louisa has been difficult. You’ve seen that for yourself. I don’t think it’s a good idea – it might put Maisie off.’
‘I think the time for being put off might have passed,’ Georgia said. ‘She ought to have thought about being put off before she put out.’
‘George!’ Zoe coughed, but she was trying not to laugh.
‘Someone’s got to say it,’ Georgia said, laughing herself now. ‘You know, sometimes I’m so funny I even entertain myself.’
‘So you haven’t messaged Maisie?’ Zoe asked Billie. ‘Not even a quick text or DM?’
‘She sent me a couple, but I forgot to reply.’
Billie at least had the decency to look shame-faced at this. Zoe suspected she hadn’t forgotten to reply but had simply chosen not to.
‘How’s she doing? What did she have to say?’
‘Not that much. She’s trying to find a housemate so she can move out.’
Zoe whipped around. ‘She wants to leave home?’
‘Her mum’s doing her head in.’
Zoe had clashed with Maisie’s mum before, so that didn’t surprise her.
What surprised her was that Maisie was feeling so bold.
She might have wanted to escape her mother’s influence all along – and Zoe suspected that had been the case – but she’d never shown the courage or the intent to do it before now.
‘I suppose she can’t afford to live on her own? If she needs a housemate, I mean.’
‘She asked if I fancied it.’ Billie gave a vague shrug. ‘It’ll be hard to find someone who doesn’t mind having a crying baby living with them.’
‘Ah,’ Georgia put in. ‘Unless they have a crying baby of their own? Makes sense.’
‘That’s quite useful to know,’ Zoe said, her mind a sudden whirl of possibilities.
Maybe she was on the brink of a solution for Maisie and for Fern.
It would take some jiggery-pokery to get things in order, but if there was one thing she prided herself on, it was her expertise in the jiggery-pokery department.
With a bit of help and the right planning, she could make this work.
Victor was at the enclosure when they got there, and all his girls were gathered around him, including the new arrival, Dandelion. He turned as Zoe shouted to him and gave them a wave, his face becoming one huge smile.
‘Well!’ he said as he closed the gate and strode over. ‘This was a sight I didn’t expect to see! Two for the price of one! Look at the pair of them…’ He peered at William and Louisa in turn. ‘I’d better not get too close – hands are filthy. Shame, I’d have liked a cuddle.’
‘There’s a tap in the stable, isn’t there?’ Zoe asked.
‘Aye, but mud all over my clothes too. I can wait until next time. Have you come to see me, or are you just out and about?’
‘It started out with us just out and about,’ Zoe said. ‘But if you have a minute, I’d like to ask you about something. Actually, thinking about it, maybe it’s better if I see you and Corrine together.’
‘Well, I can’t say I’m not curious, but I suppose it will wait if you think that’s best.’
‘Which is the new one?’ Georgia asked.
‘There she is.’ Victor pointed. ‘She’s lovely, isn’t she?’
‘She is.’ Georgia went to have a closer look.
‘Is it all right to take William that close?’ Billie asked Zoe.
‘Georgia knows what she’s doing.’
Zoe turned to Victor. ‘How’s she settling in?’
‘Good as gold,’ Victor said. ‘No trouble at all from any of them.’
‘She’s the pregnant one?’ Billie asked.
‘She is,’ Victor replied.
‘She doesn’t look very pregnant.’
‘She’s a while to go yet. Remember I told you alpaca are pregnant for nigh on a year?’
Billie’s gaze went back to the enclosure, but she didn’t reply.
‘Corrine had wondered if she might see you at the house,’ he continued.
Billie looked back at him.
‘You can bring Louisa over any time, sit her in a chair while you do some baking. I seem to recall you’re good at it.’
‘I haven’t got time for it now,’ Billie said. ‘I don’t think I’m all that bothered anyway. Besides, Louisa can’t sit up yet.’
‘I don’t think Victor meant literally,’ Zoe said.
‘Doesn’t matter,’ Victor cut in, and Zoe thought he looked a little offended. It made her sad that he might be because he was one of the kindest souls she’d ever met. ‘I’m sure when Louisa is older, you’ll be able to pick it up again, if you fancy it.’
A loud whistle from the field behind them made Zoe spin to find the source, and her heart sank as she saw Lennon in the distance.
‘Here!’ he yelled, and it was then she picked out his dog, haring towards them. ‘Gunner!’
‘What the bloody hell’s he doing?’ Victor growled, any sign of good humour instantly gone. ‘Get that dog under control!’ he roared.
Lennon showed no signs of hurrying to do anything of the sort. He shouted at Gunner again, but the dog ignored him, and Lennon’s pace didn’t change. Zoe watched as the dog made a beeline for the alpaca enclosure.
Georgia turned around and let out a squeal. ‘Stop him!’
Victor ran over and stood in the way, but Gunner dodged around him and went straight for the fence. Leaping up, he barked and snarled, spittle flying from his jaws. This time, Victor went to pull him away, but the dog was too fast. He spun and sank his teeth into Victor’s arm.
As Victor let out a howl, Billie screamed, and Georgia ran to her.
Zoe could see they were both shaking as they moved away from the trouble.
A glance told her that Lennon was still some distance way, so she picked up a branch and began to wave it in Gunner’s direction, hoping the distraction would make him loosen his hold on Victor’s arm.
But the dog remained locked on tight. Zoe smacked him with the branch, but it was rotten and snapped in half as it made contact.
Victor, meanwhile, was keeping as still as he could, and Zoe realised he was doing the smart thing, trying to minimise the damage. It was obvious, though, that he was in pain and the effort was taking everything out of him.
‘Do something!’ Zoe yelled at Lennon.
This time, he picked up some speed and jogged over to help. A few seconds later, he’d managed to prise Gunner’s jaws open and get the muzzle on.
Victor fell to his knees, his skin grey. Zoe was afraid he was going to pass out.
‘You shouldn’t have got in his way,’ Lennon said impassively as he put Gunner’s chain lead on. The dog was straining to have another go – at Victor or anyone else he could reach.
‘What did you expect him to do?’ Georgia shouted as she comforted Billie. ‘One of his girls is pregnant! He couldn’t just let your stupid mutt scare her into a miscarriage, could he? That thing needs putting down!’
‘What did you say?’ Lennon hissed.
‘You heard me! Don’t think we won’t be reporting this!’
‘You’ll do no such thing—’ Lennon stopped, as if suddenly remembering that Zoe was there. Which suggested he was aware that she’d asked Chantal to get him to leave after the Heath incident.
‘Look,’ he said, straining to keep his composure, ‘Gunner didn’t mean any harm; he got excited when he saw them’ – he pointed at the enclosure – ‘things. He only wants to play.’
‘Aye.’ Victor got to his feet, blood pouring from his arm. ‘Plays a bit rough, though, doesn’t he?’
‘Mate,’ Lennon said. ‘I’m sorry about your arm. It doesn’t look too deep. He’s taken worse chunks out of me, messing around.’
‘We’ll let someone qualified be the judge of that,’ Zoe said, going to inspect Victor’s wounds. She let out a sharp breath. ‘We should get you back to the house and get that cleaned up, Victor.’