“Personalities?”
Caleb climbed back into the cab. He pinned her with a look. “Personalities.”
He put the truck in drive, and they began bouncing through the field to where the herd gathered at the other end near the tree line. The fence went into the trees, and she guessed that the forest was part of their pasture land.
Natasha grabbed the bar over the door and held on. “I saw a few of them at reindeer tryouts.”
Faith held on tighter to Caleb. He laughed like bouncing her into him was all part of the plan.
“You’re about to see a whole lot more,” Faith called over the sound of the tires crunching over the snow. “They’ll want to get to know you. They startle easily. They’re gentle giants.”
“Do I need to carry a stick or something?” The closer they got to the reindeer, the bigger the animals looked. Sparkle seemed so tame and sweet, and she was about half the size of the massive animals who were aware of their approach and trotted this way as if the truck’s bed was full of oats.
“Not at all. Just move slowly and be kind.” Caleb slowed to a stop. “They can read people pretty well, so they’ll know you’re on the Good List.”
Natasha bust out a laugh. “Like Santa’s List?”
“The very same one,” Caleb winked and climbed out. A large bull, without antlers, charged at him. He threw his arms out to the sides and called, “Dale!” as if he’d just gotten home for Christmas. The reindeer stopped right in front of him. Caleb stepped forward, putting his arms around the behemoth’s neck and hugging him. “How’s my best bud?”
Dale rested his head on Caleb’s shoulder and released a low, pitiful moan.
“I know, buddy. But all we have is hay and hay cubes right now.” He kicked the ground. “Nothing is growing until spring.”
Dale blew a raspberry and stepped back several feet.
Caleb motioned to the ladies in the cab. “I brought some friends. Think you can behave for a minute?”
He nodded his head.
Natasha watched the exchange in utter amazement.
And her heart was lighter for it. She decided not to ask the dozens of questions she’d written and just enjoyed this experience. When would she ever get to play reindeer games again in her life?
Faith climbed out, and Natasha slid across the seat to follow her out the driver’s side. She wasn’t at all sure about the group of animals quickly gathering around the truck and blocking them in. Their eyes were curious, and she didn’t want to be bitten in case one of them wondered what she tasted like. She was saddling a horse once, and when she tightened the cinch, it turned its head and nipped her side. She’d bruised badly and cried right there.
“How big is his rack before he sheds?” she asked Caleb as he rubbed the reindeer’s forehead.
The reindeer narrowed his eyes and glared at her:We don’t speak of my antlers.She thought she heard him say.
Caleb put his hands over the reindeer’s ears. “He’s touchy about the subject.”
“Tell ya later,” Faith whispered out of the side of her mouth.
“They’re like pets,” Natasha observed as another one approached Faith, rubbing her face around Faith’s midsection like a cat.
Faith shook her head. “They arenotpets. They’re friendly and amazing and a dream to work with, but they are a herd to themselves in many ways. We’re just privileged enough to be included in their circle.”
“What am I doing standing here talking when I should be filming?” She framed the shot and asked, “Can you say all that again?”
Faith laughed, which made Caleb look at her like she’d hung the moon and stars. “I’ll try.”
They walked among the animals as Faith talked about the herd and their troubles. “Because of the limited gene pool, we’re seeing birth defects.”
“Like what?” prompted Natasha.
Faith exchanged a look with Caleb before answering. “For example, Rudy was born with a condition that blinded him. I was able to reverse that with surgery, but he’s kept separate from the herd, so the problem doesn’t spread to other babies.”
“Can we get some video of him?”
