Page 31 of Herds and Hooves

“Farm work is no joke. But it’s also amazing. You and Asa know exactly how to do everything. I still have so much to learn.”

“But you’re learning, and you haven’t shied away from anything yet.”

“How about you take my turn of mucking out the stalls?” I asked knowing he would never agree.

“Only if you agree to clean up the milking station by yourself,” he said with a grin.

“Guess we’ll have to agree to work together again.”

“Yep, it’s always the best way. Then you can spend some time with Annie.”

“I knew you thought she was amazing.”

“Hey, I never said that. I just know what it’s like to have a new pet.”

“She’s not a pet she’s—I don’t know what she is.”

“When she’s an eight-hundred-pound heifer you might feel a little different.”

“Nope, she’ll always be my girl. The first newborn calf I ever saw.”

“You still haven’t seen one of them give birth, have you?”

“Not yet, but I know a few more are ready to pop any day so I guess I will eventually.”

It turned out it was a lot sooner than I thought and a whole lot more gross. I knew about the process. But I’d never seen anything born right in front of me. When Marilyn went into labor, Asa decided it was time for me to learn about it.

Luckily for us she stayed close to the barn after we milked her and as soon as Asa recognized the signs, he had us lead her into a pen inside. “Now, I don’t want you to panic over what you’re about to see, but if you feel like you’re gonna pass out just aim for a patch of hay that has no shit,” he said before clapping me on the back, then rolling up his sleeves and walking over to check on her.

She was making a noise similar to what Georgia had done once she knew Annie was okay. Until I came here, I thought cows had one noise. Now I knew they had many and if you paid attention, you could tell exactly what they were trying to tell you. I wasn’t sure but I would guess Marilyn was saying her calf was on its way. “Is she okay?”

“She’s almost ready to go,” Asa said. Just then a gush of red tinged liquid shot out of her.

“Oh shit,” I said and Noah laughed.

“Not shit this time.”

Just then a hoof emerged, and then another. Asa moved behind her but didn’t do anything. Marilyn was doing all the hard work. A nose appeared and Asa took a suction bulb and sucked out some of the mucus. He’d just finished when Marilyn pushed and most of the calf was out along with a big gush of liquid that I had no desire to think about. The calf tumbled out of her to the ground, and she immediately started licking it clean. It was disgusting and also amazing all at once.

“Wow,” I said because there were no other words.

“Well, you survived without puking. That’s pretty impressive,” Asa said.

“I’m not sure I’m ready to be up close and personal but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.” He smiled, but not his usual smile. There was some sadness there, and I knew then that not all births would end the way this one did, and that thought alone scared me.

Twenty-Six

Keith

Work was busy, and I was never so thankful for it. Bart was constantly on my mind, but I hadn’t heard from him for a couple of days. He was still adjusting to life on the farm and once one cow had given birth a few more would be right behind, so they’d all be busy. I told myself that, but I didn’t believe it. And I wouldn’t be going to Asa’s for a few months. Just then my phone rang.

“Hello?” I answered through my truck’s Bluetooth without even looking.

“Hey, what are you doing for dinner?” Bart asked.

“I don’t think I have anything planned,” I said, surprised by not just his call but his question.

“No hot date?” he asked.