Kelly went off to town, and I did outdoor chores, twice untangling Whiskers when he wrapped his lead rope around a small tree. I harvested the last of the Jerusalem artichokes and put the garden to bed for the winter. I spread manure from the females’ field on the garden. The gate latch into their field was a little awkward, and I was careful to make sure it caught.

I went back for more manure. After latching the gate I rubbed Lil Bit’s neck. “You’re so approachable,” I told her, “so easy to catch. Don’t you like it when I scratch your neck hard?” She stretched her neck out luxuriously.

I looked up and saw that Posey was browsing just outside the gate. Somehow it had swung open. I heard myself say, “Oh, no.”

I tied Lil Bit up, and sat down, hoping–but not really expecting–that Posey might just wander back in. My heart was pounding. I was mad at myself for not being more careful. I took several deep breaths and thought about what I could do. I tried not to think about the story I had read about two llamas that were lost for a couple of weeks. That was from a pack trip, not their own home–and they had eventually turned up.

Soon Posey wandered away from the gate. I could imagine her walking back into the field after exploring the big world for a while, so I put a bucket with some grain just inside the gate, where it might arouse her curiosity.

Posey was having a good time browsing and wandering among the three tied-up males. I decided I would break it up if they tried to breed, but it didn’t advance beyond flirtation. After the first couple of minutes, I decided that Posey wasn’t about to take off into the rapidly approaching sunset.

After following her around for half an hour, never getting close, I had to admit that I had no idea how to catch her. My pockets were stuffed with grain, and I had a lead rope around my waist, but Posey wasn’t letting me anywhere near her. I had never lassoed anything in my life.

It was time for some help. Maybe I could find a neighbor at home, but I preferred Kelly. Darkness was only a couple of hours away, and I didn’t like the idea of Posey loose in the dark. I ran into the trailer, and phoned the place where Kelly was planning to jam with the High Street Boogie Band. He wasn’t expected there for a while yet, but the guitarist promised to send him home if I hadn’t called back.

I grabbed a camera and a roll of film before running back out. Posey was grazing midway between the trailer and the other llamas, and she watched me while I sat on the ground and loaded the camera.

We were each keeping an eye on the other. “Hey Posey, am I part of your herd?” I asked.

She began roaming further afield, gradually making her way up toward the ridge, occasionally checking to make sure I was nearby. I stayed back; I didn’t want my presence encouraging her to go farther.

For the first time she moved out of sight of the other llamas, following a deer trail that led out to a rocky point. She seemed to be enjoying her outing. Now that I had the camera in my hand, I was enjoying myself a little more too. I photographed her just as she was silhouetted against a bend in the path. She disappeared from my sight, and I felt nervous again.