I saw it almost a mile off, as we were headed down the rutted county road to the cattleguard that would pass us out of the former sheep ranch, where poisons are still set out for coyotes, and into the land being chopped up and sold on eBay for remote desert ranchettes.

Knew right off it wasn't a horse. Or an elk, or cow, or goat, or anything else we normally have on our ranges.

This was something new.

A llama.

Or, more accurately, two llamas. Who came a running when they saw the truck, clearly expecting some sort of handout or greeting.

But were more than confused by the two unexpected canids that came popping out the window.

Who also had no idea what the heck we had found.