Once Upon a Family

by Margaret Daley

  “Yeah, we just read about that in class. A normal birth is front legs and head first.” Sean moved his hand along the restless ewe’s haunches.

  “I don’t think we have time to call the vet. We’ll have to fix the problem and deliver the lamb here.” Peter turned to Chad. “Go into the storeroom in the barn. On the left side on the third shelf I have what I need. A lubricant. A plastic sleeve and gloves. The disinfectant.” While Chad leaped to his feet and raced for the barn, Peter shifted around to Sean. “I need a bucket of clean, warm water, soap and some towels. They’re in the storeroom, too.”

  Before Peter had finished his sentence Sean shot up and followed Chad. Bessie tried to rise. Peter stilled her movements with his hands. He’d done some reading, too, and he knew that if the sheep got up and began running around with the lamb’s head sticking out, there would be a bigger problem than going in to grab the feet.

  Sweat broke out on Peter’s forehead and rolled down into his eyes. “Bessie, it’ll be all right. We’re here to help.”

  Lord, I’ve delivered several foals before, but this is my first lamb. Surely it’s similar. Please guide me.

  “I’ve got it.” Chad rushed up with his items cradled in his arms.

  Peter threw a glance over his shoulder and saw Sean walking toward them at a slower pace to keep the water from sloshing out of the bucket. Laura’s son placed it next to Peter then squatted, holding the soap and towels.

  “Here goes. I’m going in to find the front legs. Your job is to keep Bessie as calm and still as possible. I don’t want her getting up.”

  “Got it. We can do that.” Sean’s gaze captured Chad’s across from him, and the other teen nodded, a grim expression on his face.

  Peter washed his hands and arm thoroughly then did the same to the opening where the lamb’s head was peeking out. After donning the sleeve and gloves and applying a lubricant, he took a deep breath and whispered, “Lord, be with me.”

  “Amen.” Chad slid his gaze from Peter to Sean.

  Several seconds later Laura’s son replied the same.

  Peter gently pushed the lamb’s head back into the birth canal, then went in search of the front legs. “I feel something. A hoof. And another one.”

  Chad leaned close as if he could see what was going on inside. “Are the heels up or down?”

  “Down. That’s the front legs.” Peter grabbed hold of both of them and began pulling them toward him.

  “It’s coming!”

  The fervor in Sean’s voice sent a responsive chord through Peter. He felt the teen’s excitement as the lamb’s shoulders appeared. When they had cleared, it shook its head. The membrane covering its nose ruptured. Soon it lay on the grass, sopping wet. Bessie struggled to her feet and began licking the lamb.

  Peter watched for a few minutes while the sheep cleaned her baby, amazed at what had just happened, stunned that he had actually successfully delivered the lamb.

  Sean jumped up, keeping a hand on the sheep’s back, and shouted, “We did it!” He gave Chad a high five.

  Peter examined Bessie. “I think another one is coming. I see the legs. Sean, use the towels and dry this lamb off. We need to keep it warm. Mama is gonna be busy for a while.”

  “Yes, sir.” Sean snatched up a towel and began working on the baby.

  Laura parked near the barn and climbed from her car. As she walked toward the entrance, Peter came out, appearing as though he had fought a grizzly bear and lost. She hurried her steps. She should have stayed this morning instead of just dropping Sean off, especially with the sullen mood her son had been in. Had Sean and Chad gotten into another fight with Peter in the middle? “What happened?”

  “One of my animals went into labor a little early. I was heading to the house to clean up. You aren’t supposed to be here for another hour.”

  “I thought I would help you referee, but it looks like—” she peered around him into the barn “—you have everything under control.”

  Sean and Chad stood in the middle of a pen with an ewe and her two babies. Sean pointed at himself, blood from the birthing on his clothes, too, his hair plastered to his head with sweat. Then her son grinned from ear to ear at Chad, who said something to Sean. He laughed. A wonderful sound she hadn’t heard much lately.

  Laura turned back to Peter. “What have you done to my son? He’s laughing.”

  He shrugged. “We just delivered two lambs a little while ago.”

  “That’s all! Is this an everyday occurrence?”

  Peter combed his fingers through his messy hair. “I’m hoping not. I’m glad Chad and Sean were here. Bessie had a few problems.”

  Her gaze traveled down his length. “A few?”

  “Okay, we nearly lost both lambs. I might have if Sean hadn’t found Bessie in time.”

  Again Laura looked at her son who was kneeling next to one of the babies. Awe graced his features as though he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. For a minute, she couldn’t believe her eyes, either. Her son happy, at peace.

  “I’m going up to the house to get some sodas for them. Can you come with me and take the sodas back to the boys while I clean up? They don’t seem to mind being dirty and smelly—” Peter wrinkled his nose “—but I do.”

  Chad left the pen and crossed to a faucet. After turning the water on, he hosed himself down, then passed it to Sean who had joined him.

  “Nor do they particularly care how they clean up.” Laura started toward Peter’s house. “I almost didn’t leave Sean this morning. I was sure you didn’t know what you were doing when you insisted on both boys working together today.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  She stopped halfway across the yard, shielding her eyes from the sun with her hand while staring into the laughter in his gaze. “It’s not every day, thankfully, that a student pulls the fire alarm to get out of working at his principal’s ranch for the FFA because he’s sure he’ll get Saturday school service instead.”

  Peter chuckled. “Don’t tell Sean, but I did that once in middle school, and your son will get Saturday school service. He’ll just have to do it the next two weekends.”

  She began walking again. “You know why he did it. So you see why I was worried. I would have been here even earlier, but I had to take Alexa to Mindy’s to spend the night and the twins to soccer practice.”

  At the back door Peter opened it for her and waited until she entered his house first. “When do you have to pick Joshua and Matthew up from practice?”

  “That’s the beauty. I don’t. Sadie Knight is bringing them home after they go out to Fast Eddie’s for hamburgers.”

  “So you had a little time to kill and decided to come rescue me. Well, ma’am, I’m mighty appreciative, but I don’t need saving.” He opened the refrigerator and removed a six-pack of sodas.

  “But you do need a shower.” She plucked the drinks from his hand and headed for the door, his laughter following her outside.

  The memory of that sound stayed with her all the way back to the barn. Nearing the entrance another noise replaced it in her mind, and she quickened her pace.

  “That’s my lamb. Yours is that one over there.”

  Sean’s shouts echoed through the cavernous barn, making her clutch the cold sodas against her front so she wouldn’t drop them as she jogged inside to find her son and Chad squaring off in the middle of the pen where only moments before there had been a tranquil bonding scene. What had happened?

  “Sean?” Laura rushed toward the two teens.

  He swung around, his arms rigid at his sides, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he sucked air into his lungs. “Mr. Stone said I could look after a lamb and I want to take care of that one.” He gestured to the bigger of the two, sucking milk from its mother.

  Laura opened her mouth to say something but couldn’t think of anything to say so she snapped it closed, hoping that Peter took quick showers. “Sodas, anyone?” Thankfully they were all the same. No fight there.

/>   Chad left the pen and approached her. “Thanks, Mrs. Williams.” He took one, popped it open and nearly drained it in a couple of gulps. Then he grabbed another one.

  Sean charged over and snatched two sodas, a mutinous expression on his face. Everything was a big deal to her son lately, even drinking a Dr Pepper was becoming a competition. He started back toward the pen when Chad did. They bumped shoulders as they both tried to go through the opening at the same time. Whirling around, they glared at each other.

  Laura placed the two cans she held on the ground, ready to throw herself in between the two teens if they began fighting. She remembered a teacher at school advising her last week never to break up a fight in the hall by stepping into the middle of it. But what else could she do? Watch her son get beaten up? Chad was several inches taller, not to mention forty pounds heavier than Sean. And those forty pounds had to be all muscle. Chad was a tackle on the football team. What was Sean thinking?

  Her son inched closer to the other teen, a soft drink in each hand. Chad leaned in, meeting him glare for glare. Laura frantically scanned the barn for something to stop a fight before it started. She saw the hose. She rushed to it and turned the faucet on.

  Just as Sean threw down both sodas, she whipped the arc of water in their direction. Dousing the two teens sent them flying backward and toward her. Both pairs of eyes grew round. Soaking wet, her son shoved hair out of his face while Chad started laughing. For a few seconds Sean remained stunned, then suddenly he laughed, too.

  Peter came up behind her and took the hose from her hands. “Remind me never to antagonize you. You’re lethal with a hose.”

  She glanced down at her “weapon,” now turned off and limp in Peter’s grasp. “I can’t believe it worked.”

  “It’s called shock therapy,” Peter whispered then strode forward. “What’s the problem?”

  Laura tensed, waiting for the two teens to remember why they’d almost gotten into a fight a few minutes before.

  “Nothing Sean and I can’t handle, Mr. Stone.”

  “Yeah, just a friendly disagreement. You can have that one.” Sean waved his hand toward the lamb they had been arguing over. “I kinda like runts.”

  Laura stuck her finger in her ear and wiggled it. Had she heard right? Maybe her son had finally gotten a good look at Chad and how big the teen was.

  “I appreciate you all keeping an eye on them. They need to stay warm and nurse. I’m gonna feed the other animals. You two play nice while Laura and I are gone.” Peter peered at her. “Do you mind helping?”

  “No, what do you want me to do?”

  He went into a supply room near the front of the barn and came out with four bags a few minutes later. “This is ferret, cat, rabbit and dog food.” He held up each one, then passed the cat and rabbit food to her. “I feed the cats on the back patio. You know where the rabbit cages are. I’ll take care of the dogs and ferret.”

  “Any new animals since the last time I was here?”

  “Other than one kitten and the ewe that just gave birth to two lambs, no.”

  “A sheep and a kitten in a few weeks. Have you given any away?”

  “Lady was the last one.” He tossed her a cocky grin. “We’ve got to have animals if we are going to use them with at-risk children.”

  Laura exited the barn with Peter, glancing over her shoulder at her son who stared down at his lamb as if it were the most fascinating creature he had ever seen. “It seems to be working.” A couple of steps toward the backyard and she asked, “Did Sean do everything you wanted him to do today?”

  “Other than we didn’t get a chance to fix the fence in the back pasture, yes he did. Bessie interrupted the work flow.”

  “How are the plans coming for the animal center?”

  “Okay, but something just doesn’t seem right. I’m missing something.”

  She paused and tilted her head. “What?”

  “As soon as I figure it out, I’ll let you know. God’s got something special planned, but He isn’t ready to reveal it to me yet.”

  “He might never reveal it.”

  For a fleeting moment surprise flickered into his expression, but it quickly left. “Why do you say that?”

  “How do you know what God really wants? It’s not like He shouts it for the whole world to hear.”

  “Sometimes I think he does. Occasionally I’m not listening, and He smacks me upside my head to get my attention.”

  Laura opened the first rabbit cage and scooped the food pellets into the bowl. “Have you ever prayed and not been answered?”

  “I’ve gotten an answer, but it just might not be the one I want to hear. God works in His time, not ours.”

  Frustration churned her stomach as she closed the rabbit cage. “What happens when He abandons you?”

  “He doesn’t.”

  She rounded on him, clutching the two bags against her chest. “How do you know that?” After the past year she felt abandoned.

  His intense gaze drilled into her. He splayed his hand over his heart. “I know in here. There was a time I didn’t listen to Him, and I nearly ended up in jail and on a path of self-destruction that could have led to prison. He took me by the shoulders and shook some sense into me.”

  “He did?” The mockery leaked through her words.

  “Well, not Him actually but his instrument, Paul Henderson.”

  “Your foster father?”

  “Yes, that man and his wife saved me and at the time I didn’t even know I wanted to be saved. He wouldn’t let me pull any of my usual tricks when I went to a new foster home.”

  She approached the next rabbit cage and put the food inside. “Like what?”

  “I would sneak out at night. Guess who was waiting for me each time I tried? But Paul never got angry at me. He would just talk to me. At first I wouldn’t say anything, but before long I began pouring out my feelings, my anger to him. That was the best therapy. Keeping all that anger inside eats away at a person.”

  “Why were you so angry?” She remembered her e-mails to Cara and the talks they used to have in St. Louis when they lived next door to each other. She missed that and wished she had someone closer to confide in, but it wasn’t easy for her to tell anyone her problems. If Cara hadn’t lived so close and been aware of what went on in her house, she would never had opened up to her in the first place.

  Peter moved to the large ferret cage under the awning on the patio. Digger inspected what he put into his bowl, trying to eat the food before Peter finished. “My father left my mom when I was born so I never knew him, but she was always wonderful with me. We didn’t have much. Some days I didn’t get enough to eat. My mom worked two jobs to put a roof over our heads and food on the table. I think it wore her out. She died when I was ten, and I went into the foster care system because I had no relatives the state could find to take me in.”

  “Did you move around a lot?”

  “Not at first, but as I got older and angrier, I started doing things to get me kicked out of a house. From twelve to fifteen I was in eight different homes.” He started to bend over to pour the dry food into one of the large dog bowls, stopped and straightened, looking into her eyes with all the pain from his past blazing in their depths. “There aren’t enough good foster homes around. Paul and Alice Henderson’s was my last chance.”

  “Have you ever thought about taking a child in?”

  Peter filled the metal container with a day’s worth of dog food for Bosco and Shaggy. “Yes. I’ve even thought about adoption.” He walked to the hose and picked it up.

  “What’s stopping you?”

  His eyes widened as though her question had taken him by surprise. “You know, nothing really. But…” His voice faded into the silence.

  Transfixed by the thoughtful look that took over Peter’s expression, she waited for him to finish what he was about to say. His silence lengthened. A bird chirped in a nearby tree. Bosco came bounding around the side of the house and up to his bowl
, eating with a slurping sound. Molly ambled over to Laura and meowed, peering up at the food container as if she could read the word cat on it. Another loud meow jarred Laura into action, and she quickly fed Molly.

  When she turned back to Peter, a huge grin was plastered on his face. She arched an eyebrow.

  “I’ve got it! I don’t want to take care of just one child when there are so many who need it. Paul and Alice taught me that. They didn’t adopt the kids who came through their house because they wanted to be available for whomever needed a home. They wanted to touch as many children as possible and they did. What if I use the land I have to open a home for foster children?”

  “Build another house?”

  He began to pace. “Yes. I’d have to raise money, probably start some kind of foundation.”

  Laura exhaled a deep breath. “Wow. That’s ambitious.”

  “Think what we could do with the animals and the kids.”

  When she heard him say we, she should have panicked. But for some reason it felt right to be included in his plans. The thought of helping others appealed to her, too.

  “Are you willing to meet again with Noah and Jacob? I’d like to brainstorm this idea and see what needs to be done first.”

  His excitement charged the air, sparking her own desire to help. She knew the need was there, and she was tired of standing on the sidelines. Maybe that was what she needed, to get involved with a worthy cause. For too long she had been focused on her own problems. “Yes, I can. I don’t know how much I can contribute. I have done some fund-raising for my kids’ school while in St. Louis. I was on the board of its foundation that raised money for teacher projects.”

  “That’s great!” Peter quickly turned on the faucet and began filling the water bowls for the various pets. “Maybe we can involve some kids in this, too.”

  “It would be good for Sean, but getting him to think that may be a problem.”

  After quickly finishing up feeding the rest of the animals, Peter headed toward the barn. “Leave that to me.”

  How easy would it be to leave everything to Peter? I can’t do that. He has enough on his plate. I need to take care of my family. “I appreciate your offer, but Sean’s my problem.”