Lauren glanced through the window at her outdoor thermometer. Minus twenty-three and she could barely see the house next door. It would be hell driving through forty kilometers of blowing snow, but worth it to be able to help Callie. “I understand. I should go get ready. The weather’s bad so expect me in about forty or fifty minutes.”
Lauren washed her face, brushed her teeth, and took a moment to pet Elsa. The little cat was waiting patiently for attention.
Lauren dressed in thermal layers with loose jeans over long johns. She slipped on a fleece vest followed by a parka, wool hat, and boots. On her way out, she snatched a protein bar. Outside, she collided with a blast of frigid air and blowing snow that pushed her back a step. “Just another day in balmy Saskatchewan.” She grinned and pushed on. There were bigger struggles in life than a little snow. Snow she could handle.
Lauren waded through the snow to her garage. She unplugged her truck from the wall where the interior cab heater and engine block heaters plugged into receptacles. It was difficult to start a vehicle at this temperature if she left it parked for three hours without plugging it in. She’d never heard of block heaters until she moved to Saskatchewan, but the province was full of surprises.
Lauren rubbed her hands together, pleased her interior heater worked. The cab was cold but not freezing. She resisted the urge to crank the heat. The last time she had done that the temperature difference between the outside and inside caused a small windshield chip to become a large crack. The crack had inched across her windshield as if somebody slowly sliced along the glass. It never got that cold in Toronto.
Lauren applied several thorough swipes of moisturizing lip balm and winked at herself in the rearview mirror. Then she headed out into the storm, pleased that the plows had been through once already and the roads were partly plowed.
It had been three days since Callie and Becky had visited PVS, and she’d missed seeing them. But then, that also meant she and Callie weren’t spending too much time together, and Lauren wasn’t tempted to do something rash, like ask her to lunch. Distance was a good thing when attraction was involved.
Lauren arrived at Poplarcreek an hour later. Late was better than stuck. A local dairy farmer still teased her about the time she’d gotten stuck. He said, “I had to rescue the vet from the snowdrift and drive her to my farm so she could rescue my calf.” When she got stuck in Toronto, cars would squeeze past her on the road, but eventually someone would stop to help out. Here, people wouldn’t drive by. You could count on someone stopping for you. It was a nice difference.
Lauren parked at the cattle barn, angling her truck to block the wind. As she jumped to the ground, she crossed her fingers and prayed. Please, be a calving, not another C-section. She collected her equipment and arrived at the barn door as Callie opened it. “Morning, Callie.”
“Hi, Lauren. She’s this way.”
Lauren followed Callie inside. Callie looked exhausted and there were dark circles under her eyes. Her back was bent, and she shuffled along, the picture of despair. Lauren frowned, determined to do what she could to help put the sparkle back in Callie’s eyes
She set her gear on top of a bale of straw and entered the calving pen. It was another generous twelve foot by twelve foot pen, bedded with a foot of fresh straw. Callie had everything ready. There was lots of light, but Lauren wished for a warmer barn. The heifer stood in the corner with her head tied and one foot of the calf protruding. Callie stood against the wall holding Becky by the shoulders as the little girl leaned toward the animal for a better view. Becky’s brow was creased with worry, identical to her mother’s. Lauren prayed for a simple calving. Callie deserved a break.
Becky wrung her hands. “Is Daisy’s baby all right?”
“We’ll do our best.” Lauren injected as much perkiness into her voice as possible on a freezing morning. Please, be a calving, not another C-section. “See, Becky, there should be two legs sticking out by now. Calves are most often born as if they’re diving out with two front legs first, followed by their head and the rest of the body. I’ll check and see what’s happening.”
Lauren stripped off her winter parka and hung it on a nail in the calving pen. Lauren groaned. She had forgotten her rubber calving suit. She could picture it in the basement where she’d hung it after she’d washed it. All she had on over her clothes were cloth coveralls. So be it. She’d be a soaking mess when the calf was out. She slid on a glove and reached in.
“Ah, here we go, Becky. I have the left leg and the head and now I’m touching the right leg. The right leg is bent and caught on the pelvis. That’s why the calf’s stuck.” Lauren looked at Callie and gave her a reassuring smile. “Calf’s small enough. He only needs organizing before we pull him out.”
Callie sighed, her breath expelling in a loud whoosh. Her shoulders dropped and she gave Lauren a grateful smile. “Thanks.”
Stunned by her smile, Lauren aimed to do everything possible to make it appear again. “When I pull the right leg out the calf will come. I’ll put one calving chain on its right ankle. Next, I’ll push its head farther inside to create space. Callie, please, move behind me and hold the chain. Pull when I tell you. I’ll guide the leg and you’ll be the power that pulls it out. Here we go.” Lauren twisted her head to the side and gritted her teeth.
“Are you all right?” Callie asked.
Lauren grunted. “Yup, it was only a contraction, and she squashed me.” Lauren would have a collection of bruises on her arm when she finished. With the chain in place, Lauren handed it over her shoulder to Callie’s waiting hands. “Grab the metal handle and hook it to the chain. Pull slow and steady. Slower.” When the right foot appeared, Lauren removed the calving chain and dropped it in the bucket. She peeled off her OB glove and watched the heifer.
When Lauren glanced at Callie, her relief was unmistakable, and the sparkle was back. She’s as happy as I am that there’s no C-section.
But it wasn’t long before it was clear the heifer still needed help. “We have to pull the calf out. She can’t push it out. She’s too tired. Callie, you take one leg and I’ll take the other. Pull when I tell you. Grab a handful of straw to help your grip.” With a layer of straw in each hand, they each latched on to a leg and heaved. “Come closer. Beside me,” Lauren said.
Becky edged closer until she almost stood on Lauren’s feet. Lauren tipped her head to the side of the pen. “Hey, Becky, you should probably stay over there, please. We don’t want to drop the calf on top of you or for you to get slimed.” Lauren made a wacky grimace as she said the word slimed to take any sting out of her words. Becky giggled and stepped back. Lauren glanced at Callie and her reward was another bright smile.
They pulled for twenty seconds. Then stopped for five seconds. Then they pulled for another twenty seconds, but the calf didn’t budge. This could be a problem after all. Lauren hoped for Callie’s sake they could work it out.
An instant later, a woman ran into the barn. “Hey, Becky, you missed the school bus.”
Lauren looked Becky over when Callie groaned. Becky was wearing pajamas under a dirty barn coat, and boots covered in manure. And there was a brown smear on her forehead. Lauren coughed to disguise her smile and returned to the calving.
“Ah, darn. Mar, can you please clean Becky up and drive her to school? Um, there might be odder places for introductions, but, Lauren, meet my sister, Martha.”
Martha nodded. “Hello. Nice to meet you, finally.”
“Hi, yes.” Lauren glanced at Martha and looked away quickly. She had caught Martha waggling her eyebrows at Callie and making a blowing motion with her lips as she fanned her face with her hand. Lauren suppressed the urge to giggle when Callie mouthed, “Go away.”
Lauren observed the small family. Becky jumped up and down and swung her fists. “No, no, Mommy, Mommy, please. I want to see Daisy’s calf born.”
Callie sighed. “Go inside and dress for school. Grab toast and your lunch, and then before you go, you may return
to the barn to see the new calf. It should be out by then.” One eyebrow raised, Callie frowned at Becky, and she scampered away, followed by Martha who winked at Callie and smiled at Lauren.
“It’ll come soon, right?” Callie directed a pleading expression at Lauren.
“I’ve shifted it. Let’s try again.” They scooped up handfuls of fresh straw, gripped the calf’s legs, and pulled. The calf didn’t come. They tried again, but no calf. Lauren pulled on a glove and checked inside. “That’s got it.” She slipped off the sleeve. They grabbed handfuls of straw, braced their feet, and hauled hard on the legs. With a whoosh, the calf slid out. Lauren and Callie lost their balance and flopped in the straw on their butts.
“Sorry. Forgot to warn you to look away while we pulled the calf out.”
Callie groped under the front of her coat and gripped her T-shirt. She wrenched the bottom of her shirt up to wipe fluid off her face. The shirt stretched and Lauren glimpsed a flat stomach and the bottom edge of an incongruous, lacy pink bra. She pretended to study the calf as Callie lowered her shirt.
“You forgot to share that little gem of useful advice.” Callie squinted at her. “Go ahead and laugh. I don’t want you to injure yourself.” Callie’s words emerged as a good-natured grumble.
Lauren laughed, but stopped when Callie plucked a piece of straw from Lauren’s hair. Startled by the gentle intimacy of Callie’s action, Lauren blushed. Their eyes locked, and the air vibrated between them. Callie tilted her head and leaned toward Lauren.
“Yahoo, the baby’s here.” Becky bounded into the barn and yelled into the stillness.
Callie jumped up from the straw and didn’t meet Lauren’s eyes. Butterflies swarmed in Lauren’s stomach at the almost-moment, and she tried to shake off the disappointment. Lauren and Callie dried the calf off and lifted it to its feet.
“Off to school, please,” Callie said after Becky had stroked the calf’s nose for a moment.
“Do we have time for one picture?” Becky asked.
“Aunt Martha’s waiting for you.”
“One, please.”
Callie sighed. “Yes, one. You’re already late, so what’s another ten minutes. I’ll call your teacher. She’s used to us by now.”
Becky pulled out her camera. “Mommy, you and Dr. Cornish and the baby.”
Lauren blushed and stood awkwardly beside Callie with the calf in front of them. “How about you, your mom, and the calf?”
“Yes, please.”
“Let me.” Lauren accepted the simple digital camera. “You two stand beside the baby. Kneeling is better for you, Callie. Perfect.” Lauren took several shots of mother and daughter with the calf and several sneaky shots of Callie giving Becky a final kiss and pushing her out the door. Becky made Callie’s eyes sparkle more than ten new calves. Lauren missed being a parent. Missed her children.
Lauren stepped out of the way and took several more shots as Callie guided the newborn to its mother’s udder. The heifer mom stretched her neck to lick her calf, but her aim was poor. Callie squeaked and jumped as the heifer mom’s long tongue swiped once between Callie’s legs. Lauren whirled around and kneeled in the straw to clean her gear. She struggled to remain silent, but suppressing laughter caused her body to shake.
“Mocking me again, Dr. Cornish?” On her way out of the barn, Callie ran her hand in one sweep from Lauren’s left shoulder, across her neck to her right shoulder. “Come to the house and have breakfast when you’re ready. You’re welcome to shower and change.”
Lauren, electrified by the touch, lost the ability to speak and nodded as Callie sashayed away. The swing of Callie’s hips showed she knew exactly where Lauren’s eyes were.
Lauren stowed her gear in her truck and grabbed the bag of clean clothes she always carried. She shook her head as she walked to Callie’s house for a shower and breakfast. Was this a good idea or not? It was a little daring. She scanned the road to see if there were people who might see her. Then she nipped into Callie’s house.
Chapter Thirteen
Callie jogged to the house. She felt like skipping or dancing or both. There would be no C-section. No extra risk to calf or heifer and no giant veterinary bill. By the time she was standing in her kitchen, she was stressing. What have I done? First, I tried to kiss her. Then I invited her to the house to get naked. What was I thinking? Callie pressed on her temples. She hoped the pressure would help clear her brain.
Lauren stomped her feet in the mudroom, then removed her coat and boots and entered the kitchen. She set Becky’s camera on the table and held a knapsack up in question.
Callie pointed. “The downstairs shower and bathroom are there. I’ll run upstairs and shower and then make breakfast.”
Lauren nodded and darted into the bathroom.
Callie grinned and bounded upstairs. She wasn’t the only one who was nervous. When she returned Lauren was waiting for her in the kitchen. She wore loose jeans, with a tight green turtleneck that hugged her curves and made her green eyes pop. How was she supposed to concentrate when Lauren was this alluring? “What’s your preference for breakfast? I have eggs, bacon, sausage, ham, yogurt, cereal, fruit, and instant porridge, or I can make pancakes or French toast.” Callie groaned inwardly. Next, she’d be offering Lauren an omelet or eggs Benedict. Try hard much?
“A mixture of the cereal, fruit, and yogurt sounds perfect.”
Callie fetched the ingredients and placed them on the breakfast bar. They climbed onto barstools facing each other and mixed their breakfasts. “Thanks for helping with the calving. Sorry I bothered you so early in the morning, but at least the storm’s done.” Callie took a mouthful of breakfast, chewed, and swallowed.
“I’m happy to help and to see you in better spirits. You seemed very down this morning. I’m not prying, just an observation.”
Callie pushed her bowl aside. “It’s Heinz and Kyle Kruger. They keep hassling us.”
“Hassling you?”
“Heinz sends letters and dropped by once. He even approached Becky at school and gave her a paper to bring home.”
“No way. He talked to Becky without your permission?” Lauren looked horrified.
“Yes, I called the principal and he called Heinz. Heinz played all innocent and promised not to do it again.”
“What’s his game?”
“His personal mission is to get me to sell him Poplarcreek.”
“You should go to the police.” Lauren stood. “Come on. I’ll take you now.”
“Whoa there.” Callie frowned, then sighed and shook her head. She liked Lauren, but she was one of those friends who couldn’t listen to a problem without trying to solve it. Callie would solve it her own way; it was her responsibility. “Don’t worry. I’ve got a plan.” She had no plan, but it sounded strong and competent to say so.
Lauren sat again. “Okay.”
“Heinz says I’m going to lose Poplarcreek to the bank. He had Kyle deliver an article on raising cattle and a list of all the mistakes I’ve made.” Callie chuckled. “And the list is long.” It was a relief to confide in Lauren, and she should tell her about the cattle smuggled to the USA, but that would be a mood killer and she couldn’t deal with that right now.
“I bet it’s not that long a list, and look at how much you’re learning about calving. Most people would be grossed out, but nothing stops you. You’re amazing.”
“Thanks.” Callie grinned and sat straighter. Maybe she could take care of her farm. “Becky enjoyed the explanations you gave at each step today, but I suspect they were for me. Would it be crazy for me to try those steps on my own the next time a calf’s stuck?”
Lauren grinned. “Hmm, yes.”
Callie frowned. Lauren was looking at her but wasn’t paying attention to the conversation. “Yes? You mean it would be crazy for me to try that? I’m sure you’re right. I don’t know what I’m doing.”
Lauren blushed. “No, I meant yes, try. You can do it. Dive in next time. I’ll leave a few OB gloves fo
r you. We sell them by the box at the clinic.”
Warmth spread through Callie’s body and she beamed at the honest praise. “As long as you’re sure I can do it.”
“I am. Five years from now I’ll be calling you for help with calvings.”
Callie laughed. “I doubt that very much. Do you still plan to be here in five years?”
“What about you?”
“I hope so.” Callie grimaced. “Unless Heinz Kruger is right in which case, I won’t last a year.”
“Forget Heinz. Do you want to be here in five years?”
“Some days no, but most days I want to live here forever, or until Becky has a family and I retire.”
“I didn’t think farmers retired, or not really. Don’t you just switch from sixty hours a week to thirty?”
“Maybe.” Callie laughed. “What’s your plan?”
“To survive this winter with all my fingers and toes and no frostbite. Long term, I don’t know.”
“What about your own practice?”
Lauren shrugged. “Ian will retire one day, but I don’t know. I haven’t thought about it.”
“People like you here. Everyone says how great you are, and I agree. You’re nice.”
Lauren blushed while Callie studied her. “You’re very nice too.”
After the exchange of simple compliments, Callie couldn’t think of anything else to say, and she had much to think about. They bent their heads to their breakfasts in an awkward silence. After the bowls were empty, Lauren handed hers to Callie and their fingers brushed as she accepted it. An instant later, Lauren leaped to her feet and backed away as if the breakfast bar had caught fire. “Um, thanks, Callie. I should go now.”
“Are you in a hurry?” Callie searched Lauren’s expression for an explanation.
Lauren’s head drooped, and she scrutinized the floor tile. “I guess not.”
Callie reached across the breakfast bar and touched Lauren’s arm. “Stay. The coffee’s ready. Please?”
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