“Don’t try and change the subject. From the looks of you, it was a good night.”
If only you knew nothing actually happened. At least not last night. “I need to get the row roped off, so none of the public disturbs her.” That was his biggest worry right now.
“That good, hey.” Dan winked.
Ben didn’t quite like referring to Raven so casually even though that was exactly what it was meant to be between them.I need to talk to her. It wasn’t like he knew the best way to do that.How did things change?I haven’t even seen many people. “Not now, Dan. I’ve got to make sure Evie is settled and stays calm.”
“I’ll get it out of you.” He nodded over his left shoulder. “Over there in my storage pen, there should be a rope or two in a bucket you can use.”
“Thanks.”
“I’ll be wanting details later, good way to unwind tonight over a beer or two,” Dan called out as Ben walked around to the other side of the row.
“Yeah, yeah,” he muttered. No way he was about to kiss and tell about Raven. Not now, not when he wanted it to be more. He couldn’t help trying to think of the best way he could approach the subject with her. What he needed was to spend more time with her, and time when they weren’t having sex.Like last night. Things were naturally changing between them.Maybe I don’t have to do anything.
He opened the gate to the storage pen and looked in the closest bucket. There were two ropes inside.Great. He took them out.
“Hey, can I have some of your bales of straw?” He yelled out to Dan.
“Help yourself,” Dan replied. “Though I’ll need payment. Details, mate, details.”
Ben knew Dan was teasing him. But it was starting to get on his nerves.
“No details,” he mumbled.
“Must be serious, then.”
Ben rolled his eyes. Not that he needed confirmation that things were starting to feel serious between him and Raven. It was probably getting to the point of not being able to ignore how he felt. And how she felt. He was partly surprised that she was still there in the morning. She hadn’t snuck out.That had to count for something, didn’t it?
He put the ropes on top of a bale of straw, picked it up holding it by the baling twine and hobbled back with the heavy load to Evie’s pen. It kept his mind off the agonizing wait until the baby would be birthed. Out of habit, he kept glancing at Evie making sure that there were no signs of distress. It always amazed him how the animals just knew what to do. With the row sectioned off with ropes, he decided to move the other alpacas away from her so that she had more privacy, and so he could remove one of the dividers giving her double the pen size. Dan and Jason came and helped him. They just managed to get it all done before the doors were opened to the public.
“Now to wait,” said Ben. He suppressed a yawn. This had been a hell of a start to the day, and it was long from over.
“I’ll go grab you a coffee?” asked Jason.
Ben’s stomach rumbled. He hated the food at the show, it was ordinary at best. Certainly, nothing that was suitable for breakfast on the fly. Or while waiting for a baby alpaca to be born. A hearty beef pie would keep him going until he had a moment to leave. That could be hours away and well after lunch. “Thanks, and do you mind getting me a pie?”
“No time for breakfast this morning?” Jason raised an eyebrow.
“Because you called me.” Ben rolled his eyes. “Give it up, mate.”
Jason laughed. “Okay, okay. I’ll get you coffee and a pie.” He patted Ben on the back as he left.
Trying not to fuss too much, Ben took a little time to quietly take out some of the dirty straw from Evie’s pen and add a lot more in there to make it as cozy as possible for her. Her ears flicked a little with agitation, so he moved quickly, then stepped away.
The other owners had moved their alpacas a few pens down, so it was only her and no other alpacas to bother her. If he were on the farm, he’d potter around in the shed doing a few jobs, fixing a tire, or the door on the old meat shed that wasn’t closing easily. But here at the show, he had all the time and no jobs. He hated having nothing to do. A quick look at his phone didn’t offer him any distractions either. With nothing else to do, he decided to sit down and try and chill while he waited. Jason would be back soon enough, and at least his mate would stay and chat for a bit, though there was an alpaca breeders’ meeting later on. Ben figured he’d be missing it. His dad had been heavily involved, and he planned to offer his services, maybe as treasurer since he was good with numbers.Next year. Considering there weren’t many alpaca breeders in South Australia, he could well be nominated and elected without even being there. Merino sheep were still the number one wool producers in the country.
Ben rearranged some extra bales of straw in the pen opposite Evie, so he could sit and easily keep an eye on her. He sat down. Straight away he thought of Raven. He had a big urge to text her, except he didn’t have her cell number.I should get it.
His stomach churned tightly with a mix of nerves.Would she give it to me?It was going to be a long enough day watching out for Evie, let alone waiting until tonight to see Raven. If it happens. In his rush to get to the showgrounds, he’d not sorted out the details of meeting up with her.Oh well, what will be, will be. They’d managed to keep meeting up in the past, and despite her being late last night, they still saw each other. The reminder of the night sleeping next to her eased his nerves. After all, there wasn’t much he could do. He didn’t have her number or address, only had a vague idea that she worked in the city somewhere as a graphic designer. That wasn’t enough to search her out.
“Here you go, mate.” Jason strolled up to him, coffee and pie in hand.
“Thanks.” Ben took the coffee and pie. Usually, it would be a beer and pie, but it was too early to drink, and he needed the caffeine to keep his wits about him.
Jason moved inside the pen and sat down on the bale of hay. “I’ll keep you company.”
“Thanks. What about the AGM?”
