Change of Heart by T.A. Williams

Author:T.A. Williams
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Canelo Digital Publishing Ltd
Published: 2023-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

On Tuesday morning she had a visit in her office from Alfonso who brought interesting news.

‘I’ve spoken to some of my farmer friends and apparently there’s a man just on the other side of Salsomaggiore who keeps alpacas. His names’s Silvestri and here’s his phone number if you want to get in touch. He might have some animals to sell or, if not, he might know somebody else who has. If you’re lucky, you might even be able to get some tips from him about keeping them.’

Alice thanked him and immediately gave the man a call. It rang a few times but then a voice answered. From the sound of it, he was an elderly man. ‘Pronto.’

Alice explained who she was and where she was calling from and that she was planning to set up a herd of alpacas and he expressed interest. In response to her request to visit, he sounded willing and she decided to strike while the iron was hot and go that same afternoon. Once the call had ended, she asked Alfonso if he would like to go with her and he nodded eagerly.

‘Pietro can carry on repairing the fences without me. What time should we go?’

‘How long’s it likely to take us to get there?’

‘If we go down the valley and take the main road, probably forty minutes or so. If we go through the hills, it’s a few kilometres shorter, but it’ll probably take us a little bit longer on the winding roads.’

The idea of driving through the foothills of the Apennines had considerable appeal to Alice so they decided to leave at two so as to be at the alpaca farm before three. It proved to be a most informative afternoon – and not just because of what Alice learned about alpacas.

On the increasingly narrow, tortuous road through the hills, she and Alfonso chatted and he proved once again to be a mine of information. For her part, as Luca Montorso would be seen and no doubt recognised by everybody when he came arrived next morning, she told Alfonso about him and the fact that he would be responsible for upgrading the castle into a tourist attraction. There was amazement, but also maybe a touch of something more, in Alfonso’s voice when he responded.

‘Well, well, well, who would’ve believed it? A Montorso working for the Varaldo family. I never thought I’d see the day. This has to be your doing, Alice, and if you don’t mind me saying so, I’m very pleased and very impressed. I’m quite sure that without you this would never have happened. It’s ridiculous that the feud’s been running for so long. Here’s hoping this marks the beginning of the end of it.’ He paused for a few seconds. ‘Although it all depends on how our illustrious mayor, Cesare Montorso, reacts to it, and I fear he won’t approve one bit.’

Altogether, they spent almost an hour with the alpaca farmer who was very helpful, particularly when Alfonso

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