When they arrived at the paddock, he jumped down and directed the driver to reverse up to the ramp. Adam guided it back and held his hand up when it was close enough. “That’ll do it.” The beat of small hooves on the floor boards tapped out the nervousness of his new herd of deer. They needed to be off loaded with calm so he could head them down to the quarantine paddock he’d set aside for them. Deer could be the scattiest animals on the planet given half a chance. He’d seen them race through electric fences with no care for what lay ahead. Once they got their tiny little minds set on something, there was no changing it. Not these babies, just keep them calm, Adam. Easy does it.
Ever since he’d brought the stock over the internet, Adam had been on tenterhooks waiting for their arrival. This was an expensive load of stock, and their progeny would be the backbone of his new venture. He’d studied bloodlines, watched the auctions, and decided what animals he wanted before bidding online for his new deer. Let’s hope I’ve got it right too.
The stock he already had was good enough to start with, but if he wanted to be taken seriously in the industry, he knew he had to step it up and buy the best he could. Next year’s fawns would be eagerly awaited. Like waiting for the birth of my own child, I’ll be pacing the fence line.
The driver jumped out of the cab of the truck and sauntered toward him. “Here’s your paperwork.” He thrust an envelope into Adam’s hands. “Want to help me get this lot off? I have another job to do today before I head for home.”
Adam stuffed the envelope into the back pocket of his jeans and grabbed the door, helping slide it open to let his animals out. The driver walked over to the cab end of the truck and climbed up on the rails, clapping his hands to make the deer move to the back door. Tentatively a young buck stuck his head out and looked around. He poked his nose up and sniffed the air before putting a hoof on the concrete path from the truck down into the yards.
“Come on, boy. That’s the way.” What a stunner. Adam stood back and let the animals find their way out of the truck, careful not to spook them. As soon as the buck’s hooves touched the ground he pranced into the small holding yard attached to the race. The six does followed nervously, quick to huddle against the leader of their herd. “Good looking animals.” The truck driver slid the gate home, dropping in the locking bolt before he leaned on the gate with Adam to watch the small herd sniff out their new home. After a couple of minutes they started to nibble at the rich green grass in the yard, forever on alert for danger. I’ve done it. I chose well.
One of the greatest points in buying the old dairy farm for Adam was the state of the paddocks. The paddocks were lush with ripe feed for the animals he wanted to breed. He’d been thrilled when he signed off on the farm. The previous owner was keen to let him have it at the right price minus the herd of milking cows which he’d sold separately with the milking license.
The farm had been in the same family for three generations and with nobody to take over, the farmer had no option but to sell off when it became too much for him and his frail wife to look after. The locals were generous in their help but even then, old Mr. Helkins had told Adam, it was only a matter of time before he bit the bullet and sold. He’d given in gracefully to his wife’s suggestion they move to a retirement village and an easier way of life to see out their remaining years.
“Glad to see you haven’t changed the old place too much.” The truckie pushed back his sweat-soaked cap and scratched his whiskered chin. “Old man put a lot of love in this farm, always kept it looking good. Nice to see it still looks pretty much the same.” He glanced up the drive where the old milking shed stood proudly, bathed in mid-morning sun, the trees waving softly in the breeze leaving shadows dancing on the old bricks which gave it a haunting look. “What are you going to use the dairy for?”
Who knows, who cares? Look at my deer, that’s more important don’t you think? “No idea. There’re plenty of other buildings for me to use without worrying about that just yet.”
“Righto, then. Best I get a move on.” He spat a glob of phlegm into the long grass and walked over to the door of his truck, wiping his mouth with the back of his sleeve. “See you next time.”
Gross. Adam screwed his face up, resisting the urge to gag as he watched the driver crank his truck to life and amble out of his yard. He stood at the fence for a moment savoring the pleasure of watching the deer settle in before he headed for the feed shed. He grabbed a bucket of deer nuts and walked back to the pen. Adam opened the gate and shook the bucket hoping they would follow. After a couple of false starts, the buck bounded past him down the laneway with the does closely behind him. That is one awesome looking animal. He’s going to produce the best offspring.
Adam followed at a slower pace. The gates were open all the way down to the back paddock where the deer would stay for the next four weeks to make sure they were clean and healthy before he mixed them in
