Page 35 of Bailey

Dear Lord, Georgia sent. Yes, that’s me starting my prayers now.

Bailey giggled and tucked her phone away, refocusing on the job at hand. Restlessness vibrated through her, and she’d had a hard time staying on task today. She wasn’t sure why, as she and Reeves talked every day, and she either saw him in the evenings after work, or he brought something over while she was gone.

She’d found chocolate chunk cookies on her porch on Tuesday morning, and while she hadn’t seen him that evening, he’d come over on Wednesday afternoon and told her that he’d gone camping—“Just a quick overnight trip,” he’d said.

She’d worked off-site yesterday, and they had pizza-making dinner date plans that evening. He apparently had a pizza oven that he’d brought out of winter storage and wanted to get working again. He said he’d make the dough and provide all the toppings, and all Bailey had to do was show up after a long day and week of work.

She wouldn’t be able to leave the kid alone overnight, and she should probably text him and ask about his goat pens and facilities…and if he perhaps wanted to add one to his herd. But if she did that, she’d get to flirting with the man, and this pregnant ewe would never be properly cared for.

“You’re right. She is out here.”

She turned at the sound of Reeves’s voice as she unlooped her stethoscope from around her neck. He held up a brown bag, which surely contained lunch, and Bailey’s whole life got brighter.

“I had to come pick up some feed from IFA,” he said. “And I thought you might like lunch.”

“He brought lunch for everyone,” Marina said, her dark eyes glittering like Reeves had come for her.

Bailey’s eyebrows went up, and she stepped over to the gate and unlatched it. She moved out of the sheep pen, confident that the pregnant ewe wasn’t going to expire in the next several minutes. She glanced over to OJ, a bout of nerves moving through her unexpectedly. She’d told Reeves about OJ already, but now he’d have to meet the boy face-to-face and know the truth.

“You brought lunch for my whole clinic?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Reeves curled one arm around her waist and pulled her against him. “I called Marina first and got everyone’s order, and she told me she’d be able to keep it a surprise from you since you were working out in the livestock shed.” He glanced over to OJ. “Is that OJ?”

“Yes,” Bailey said. “I’ll introduce you in just a second. He’s taking care of an abandoned kid that was brought in this morning.”

Reeves’s eyebrows went up. “Maybe he got your veterinary talents.”

“Maybe,” Bailey hedged, because she didn’t want to talk about that. Her momma, and sometimes even Otis and Georgia, pointed out the similarities between her and OJ often enough, and honestly, it didn’t help anything. “First, tell me where you went for lunch and what you brought me.”

“It’s Chinese,” he said. “From The Darling Dragon. Marina said you love the coconut honey-glazed shrimp there.”

Pure affection streamed through Bailey’s blood. “I do love that shrimp,” she said. “Did you get something for OJ?”

“I got whatever Marina told me to get.” He frowned over to the teenager. “I’m assuming he was probably on the list.”

OJ’s humming paused, and he turned around. “Bay, he’s drinking!”

OJ did everything with a certain level of enthusiasm Bailey often wished she could find in her own life. She stepped out of Reeves’s arm and dropped her hand to his free one.

“Come meet him,” she said. “And then we’ll go find somewhere where we can eat together.”

Reeves moved with her, and Bailey smiled at the teenager holding the baby goat.

“Yeah, look at him.” Bailey peered past the bottle and found the kid drinking noisily. “He’s sucking really good.” She met OJ’s eyes. “Good job, bud.”

“I measured it and recorded the temperature.” He nodded to the open notebook on the counter behind him. “He weighs seven pounds and twelve ounces, and this says he should have twelve ounces in the first twenty-four hours.”

“Then four is a great start,” Bailey said.

“Maybe I can take him home and do another feeding tonight right before bed,” OJ said, wearing such hope on his face. “And I can give him another four in the morning, and then bring him back.”

Bailey smiled widely at the boy. “I already promised your momma I wouldn’t send you home with a baby kid.” She nodded to Reeves. “OJ, this is Reeves Durham. He’s my new boyfriend.” She paused and looked at OJ, trying to find a reaction on his face. “He lives right next door to me, and he has goats.” She looked at Reeves next. “I’ve been meaning to text you, but it’s felt like one thing after another today.”

Reeves wore surprise in his expression, and Bailey hastened to explain further.

“Do you have any pregnant goats who might want to foster one who’s been abandoned by its mother?”

Reeves tore his eyes from OJ and looked at Bailey. “I have four pregnant does this year,” he said. “None of them have given birth yet.”