Read Icecapade for Free Online

them.
    “Now what?”
    “For the middle of nowhere, you get a lot of visitors,” Robert observed, and Noel didn’t think it was his imagination that Robert’s voice echoed his own exasperation.
    “Not usually. This is one of my neighbors.
    Francis Rich.”
    Noel carried the two boxes he held to the edge of the porch, setting them down as Francis pulled into the front yard in a great semi-circle, spraying snow.
    The truck was still rolling to its stop as he jumped out and came running toward the porch.
    He was a plump young man with shoulder-length curly brown hair. He wore a brown and white poncho and square spectacles.
    “Noel!”
    Noel was conscious of Robert right behind him, and for the first time his presence at Noel’s Josh Lanyon
    47
    shoulder felt supportive rather than custodial. Or maybe that was simply Noel believing what he wanted to believe.
    “What’s wrong, Francis?”
    Francis’s round face worked. “A newborn cria is stuck in a crevice on your property.”
    Noel’s heart plummeted too. “Is it still alive?”
    “It was ten minutes ago. But I can’t get it out on my own.”
    “What in God’s name is a crias?” Robert asked, looking from one of them to the other.
    “Cria. It’s a baby llama,” Noel explained.
    “Francis breeds them.” He’d have liked to ask Francis what the hell a cria was doing getting stuck in crevices on his property, especially today of all days, but a couple of years worth of living next door to a llama farm had taught him that llamas were very good at finding the weak spot in any fence and wandering on through.
    “Can’t you call the fire department or something?”
    Noel laughed at the innocence of city slickers.
    To Francis he said, “I’ve got rope and canvas in the stable. We should be able to make some kind of a sling and get it out.”
    “Yes. Please. Hurry,” Francis urged. “I’m afraid his mother will get stuck, too, trying to get him out.”
    48
    Icecapade
    “You’re breeding llamas?” Robert’s tone was skeptical, as though he suspected the llamas might be a cover for a more sinister animal.
    “Llama’s are exceptionally smart and resourceful animals,” Francis informed him, trailing them up the stairs as Noel snatched up the stacked boxes of ornaments and carried them into the house.
    “Getting stuck in a crevice doesn’t sound exceptionally smart to me.”
    Noel ignored the exchange behind him as he grabbed an LL Bean field coat and gloves from the closet beneath the stairs. What a day. He still hadn’t showered or shaved. No wonder Robert was keeping him at arm’s distance—and he hadn’t even started fooling around with llamas yet.
    Behind him Francis was still extolling the virtues of llamas to Robert, who was making polite but unconvinced noises.
    “Will you be here when I get back?” Noel asked, zipping his coat.
    “Sure I will. Because I’m going with you.”
    “Good! The more hands the better,” Francis said.
    “I’ll be right back,” Noel told him, and he set off for the barn followed by Robert.
    “You know, you really don’t have to go,” Noel said as they slipped and slid their way down the Josh Lanyon
    49
    now much-traveled hillside. “This won’t take long.”
    “I disagree. How do I know you won’t take this opportunity to try and make a break for it?”
    Noel stopped walking. Robert couldn’t be serious. And yet…he looked totally dead pan.
    “You can’t— Why would I? I live here. I’ve been living here for nearly a decade. I’m not running from you or anyone else.”
    “That’s easy to say.”
    “I call you every year.”
    Robert stared at him.
    “I’m not hiding from you, Robert. Far from it.”
    Robert’s mouth gave a curious twist. His gaze faltered. It was the strangest expression. Noel couldn’t tell if it was the face of a man about to laugh or cry, but just as quickly the look was gone and Robert had his usual mask in place.
    Noel knew it was a mask because he
    remembered, had