I take a few more minutes to ensure both pairs are settled properly, checking their water and bedding one final time. The sight of new lives reminds me of why I love this life despite its demands and irregular hours.
But exhaustion pulls at every muscle as I finally force myself to leave, each step toward the cabin feeling heavier than the last.
My shower calls like a siren song, promising relief from the night’s work. As the water pounds against my shoulders, I think of Taylen and his strange mood shift last night.
Maybe he picked up a bug or something, but my gut tells me there’s more to his sudden headache.
Pre-dawn air bites through my jacket as I make way to the farmhouse, the sky showing the first hints of the approaching sunrise. Lights already glow from my mom’s kitchen windows because she exists in a time zone that operates independently of normal human schedules.
When I open the door, I’m welcomed by warmth and the smell of coffee.
“You look terrible,” Mom says by way of greeting, already moving toward the coffee pot. Her own cup sits half-empty onthe counter, suggesting she’s been up for a while already. “What happened?”
“Two new calves,” I tell her, accepting the mug she presses into my hands with a grateful smile. “Miss Maple and Poppy decided to go into labor simultaneously. Hunter had to help with Miss Maple’s. Her calf was positioned wrong.”
Her face lights up at the news. “Both healthy?” she asks, moving to pull fresh bread from the oven. The familiar scent fills the kitchen, reminding me that the last time I ate was more than a few hours ago.
“Perfect,” I assure her. “Bull from Miss Maple, heifer from Poppy. Both already on their feet.” The pride in my voice draws a smile to her face.
“But something else is bothering you,” she observes, sliding the bread she just wrapped across the counter toward me.
“Taylen left the festival early,” I admit finally. “Said he had a headache, but something felt off.”
“Did something happen?”
“No,” I tell her, even though I’m not entirely sure. “Everything seemed fine until after the performance. Then he just…left.”
Her hand finds mine across the table. “You’re exhausted. Maybe wait until you’ve both had some sleep before assuming the worst?”
The suggestion carries wisdom I know I should listen to, but anxiety continues to churn beneath the surface of my bone-deep fatigue. “What if I’ve messed everything up?” The question comes out smaller than intended. “What if he’s realized this is too complicated or?—”
“Sebastian James Hall,” Mom interrupts, using my full name, making me feel about five years old. “That boy has been in love with you since he grew his first chin hair. Whatever’s bothering him, running away isn’t his style. Now,” she continuespractically, pushing the wrapped bread closer to me. “Take this home, get some real sleep, then go talk to him.”
I manage a tired smile as I stand. “Thanks, Mom,” I tell her quietly.
“That’s what mothers are for.”
Despite her advice, my feet carry me across the path toward next door.
The sight of Taylen heading toward his barn stops me in my tracks. His steps falter slightly when he spots me, surprise flickering across his face.
“What happened?” he asks as I approach, his eyes taking in my tired look.
“Two calves,” I explain. “Miss Maple and Poppy decided synchronized birthing was the way to go. Hunter had to help with Miss Maple’s.”
His expression softens slightly as he processes this information. “Both okay?”
“Perfect,” I assure him, managing a tired smile. “Boy and girl. I’ve already told the other cows they need to schedule future births during daylight hours so we can all sleep like regular people.”
The joke draws a reluctant laugh that makes something ease in my chest. For a moment, the tension between us feels less acute. My hands still clutch Mom’s wrapped bread, a reminder of the purpose that brought me here.
“Mom sent fresh bread,” I tell him, holding up the bundle like a peace offering. “Thought you might want some if you haven’t had breakfast yet.”
“Just had coffee,” he admits. “But I will never say no to real breakfast.”
When we get inside, Taylen goes straight to the coffee maker.
We fall into a comfortable silence as he slices the bread and cooks some eggs and bacon.
