“So what do we do?” She bent next to him, anxious to help.
Jazzie lifted her head and looked at them in curiosity.
“Relax, girl. This won’t be long,” Creed comforted her.
“Poor thing.” Mindy loved the goats. They were so sweet.
“I’m going to help ease the kid out. You reach inside my bag, grab one of the towels and a pair of gloves.” He took the gloves and pulled them on. “You keep the towel and be ready.”
Mindy watched him gently take the hooves of the kid and slowly pull. Mindy found it hard to believe that someone as large and gruff as Creed could be so gentle. The kid came out in one messy, wet plop and was covered in a mucus like lining. Creed grabbed the teeny animal up into his arms and laid it in the center of towel that Mindy held.
“Firmly wipe off the placenta sac.”
“Okay.” She did as Creed advised.
“Be sure to clean around the eyes, nose and mouth to help the little fellow breathe. Look at him, he’s coming around. Looks like he’ll survive.”
Mindy felt her chest expand. “He’s so tiny.”
“You should name him.”
“I want to call him Hope. I think he’s clean.” She held up the baby wrapped in the stained towel.
Creed shook his head. “Now you rock Hope.”
“Rock him?” Was he kidding? “What?”
“Swaddle him like you would a human baby, then rock back and forth. That helps get the remaining liquid out of the lungs.”
Quickly swaddling the wet bundle up in the towel, she cuddled Hope while rocking. Tears came to her eyes. She wasn’t sure how much time passed, but Creed touched her hand and she looked up at him. “Yes?”
“Let’s try giving him to Jazzie so they can bond. She needs to feed him.”
Relinquishing the kid, she smiled as Creed laid Hope next to Jazzie and she instantly took to her baby against her. The teeny boy snuggled closed and fed.
Mindy felt like she’d done something amazing.
And later when she and Creed were washing their hands under the water hose, she couldn’t stop smiling. She hadn’t felt so alive in a while.
“That was so incredible. I’ve never witnessed anything like it outside of my own child being born, but it’s different. I could do this every day.”
“No, you don’t want to do this every day. This is a problem when we must intervene during delivery. We have to have controlled breeding, otherwise we’re going to lose livestock.”
“Has that been a problem?”
“Some carelessness on the part of some hands,” he muttered, holding the stream of the water above his head and allowing it to pour over him. His shirt was stained from the birthing process.
She fought the urge to stare at his torso. “On Bo’s part?”
He dropped the hose, wiped the water from his eyes and looked at her. “As foreman it’s his responsibility. He’s a great guy but he’s dropped the ball a few times lately.”
Mindy hesitated then said, “Are you pushing him to retire?” She knew what Bo had said but she was curious.
“No, I’m not pushing him, or anyone, to retire. He made that choice on his own decision.”
“Bo’s been here for a lot of years. He’s more like family than a hand,” she pointed out, swiping her palms down her thighs.
“I’m glad you’re concerned for him, truly, I am. I realize how long he’s worked this land. I’m all for keeping Bo on, and your father for that matter, but sometimes a man has to make a difficult choice, Mindy. This is hard work for even the younger hands.”
“You mean once we reach our expiration date we should just give up?”
“Mindy, you know that’s not what I meant. No one says they must give up. May wants to spend more time with Bo. Rusty wants to enjoy life a little. He’s worked from sunrise to sunset for how many years? And let’s face it, neither man is getting any younger.”
“I’ve noticed that Daddy is tired.” She heard the pounding of hammers and looked out into the distance where the new bigger barn was being built. “What happened to the old barn. It wasn’t that old.”
“Didn’t Rusty tell you why we’re building a new barn?” Creed’s tan faded.
What? Something else he forgot to tell her?
“No.”
“One night he went out to check on a foal down. I’m not sure of the details, but he somehow broke a lantern and the place went up like a bale of hay. We tore it down, or what was left of it.”
“Were any of the horses hurt? Was my father hurt? Had he been drinking?” She felt her stomach turn.
“He managed to get the horses to safety, but the barn couldn’t be salvaged. After that night he decided it was time he took a backseat.” He blew out a long breath and stared out into the distance. “Mindy, I’m not one to stir up trouble, but Rusty’s not been himself for some time. Hell, he’s still as feisty as a wasp, but since the heart attack he’s slowed down. I don’t think he wants anyone to know just how much.”
“Thank you for telling me. I suspected he’s been hiding something for some time.” Mindy never could tell her daddy a thing. “I need a shower”.
“So do I.”
“We can take one…I mean, at the same time…not in the same bathroom. You’re free to use the shower up at the house.” She felt her face flush.
“I understood what you meant.” One corner of his mouth played with a smile. “Do you need some help scrubbing your back?”
“I can handle it.” A trickle of warmth spread into her inner thighs.
“As much as I like the thought of us showering “together” I need to go home. Can we talk later?”
“Sure.
