“Now, half of this for you and half for me?” Fey clarified as she held up the syringe and the vial of sperm about ten minutes later when they had come down from their mutual orgasms.
Allyssa nodded. Her eyes were all dreamy with love from the orgasms her wife had given her. She’d heard Fey cry out from her own orgasms and was thrilled she had caused that feeling in her. Fey inserted the tiny tube as deep as she dared and plunged the sperm inside her wife. She filled the plunger with the other half of the sperm vial and handed it to Allyssa.
“Well, now what?” Fey asked after her wife had plunged the other half in her, wondering if this would take. She wasn’t so sure but would do anything for this woman.
“We have to wait,” Allyssa reminded her as she scooched up on the bed to put her legs on the wall in the same position she had used last time.
“Oh no, really?” Fey lamented, feeling foolish at the idea the sperm would be more likely to take if she elevated her pelvis.
“Yes, come on,” Allyssa told her encouragingly, making a come-hither gesture with her hand. She did look foolish, lying naked with her legs on the wall over their headboard, but she held out her hand for her wife to join her. “It worked last time,” she reminded her.
“Okay, okay,” she agreed. They lay there a while before the laughter started. It was an incongruous position to be in. “What happens if this actually works?”
“I hope it does. That’s expensive sperm!”
“Was he at nineteen donations like that other guy?” she asked, trying to remember. It had been a while since they did their research.
“You mean, in case we need more?”
Fey nodded, wondering if she could go through this again with Allyssa for the sake of any child they might have.
“I don’t think he was maxed out, but if we aren’t pregnant in two months we should plan on buying more sperm,” she said practically.
“I think if this doesn’t take we should go see our OBGYN and ask for help,” Fey pointed out practically. She was a veterinarian, not a fertility specialist.
“Okay. If this doesn’t work, we’ll go see her,” she agreed. She felt so good though. She was sure this was going to work. “Wouldn’t it be exciting if we both got pregnant tonight?” She sounded very young asking that question.
“Can you imagine the gossip,” Fey laughed and then sobered up because she could see her wife was serious. “I can see us both waddling around through the hot summer months and being miserable,” she teased to keep her smiling.
Remembering being pregnant early last fall, she smiled anyway. She had liked it. She liked knowing she was pregnant. They both knew the minute she thought about their loss as her face fell.
“Hey, that’s not going to happen again,” Fey reassured her, turning slightly.
“Keep your legs up there or those babies won’t take,” Allyssa warned her, wanting to keep the humor in what they were doing. She didn’t want her sad thoughts ruining this moment for them.
“Babies? Did you say babies? I don’t want a litter!” she contended, and they shared a chuckle since she dealt with litters all the time.
“Okay, just one or two,” she answered, patting her own stomach and hoping this had worked.
As they finally lowered their legs half an hour later, they cuddled up in their bed, naked, and enjoyed each other’s company. They were both pleased that the phone didn’t ring that night and Fey didn’t have to leave.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Allyssa got back into the swing of things the next day. She was determined not to let her miserable week away affect her. She was optimistic that last night’s implantations had worked and liked the mental visual of them both pregnant by the same sperm. Their children would be real and true siblings.
Renee came in and showed her everything she had done in the past week, and they got out two blogs announcing the Sweetwater Horse Rescue’s 501(c)3 tax-exempt status. They made up release forms that could be accessed on the websites for people to fill out if they wanted to drop off an animal. But Fey insisted on home visits before they accepted any animals. They also made up a form for those desiring an adoption. Volunteers and those who wanted to provide a foster home would be required to sign a basic release form, so the rescue wouldn’t be liable.
Together they set up the membership program for the rescue, so they could raise funds from animal lovers in their community. They also put up a donation form along with a link to take payments, reminding everyone the donation was tax deductible. They set up an automatic acknowledgement for donations, but Allyssa also set things up, so she could personally send a card of thanks to the donors above a certain amount.
“I want to apply for grants and endowments,” she told Renee to keep her busy. “We can plan a benefit event where people can come to the ranch and view the horses we have available.”
“Do you think we should have a donation jar in here?” Renee asked.
“I don’t know. Don’t you think that would be tacky for people coming to the ranch to see that?”
“How about if we ask the 4-Hers to build a water fountain where people can throw pennies and make wishes?”
“That’s not a bad idea,” she answered, grinning and anticipating telling Fey about it. “We could copy the horses in that famous fountain…what’s it called?” she asked, trying to remember from her studies.
“You mean Fontaine des Quatre Parties du Monde in Paris?” Renee asked, garbling the French words.
“No, not that one,” she mused, scouring her memory. “That’s a good one, but I’m thinking more–”
“How about…” she Googled famous horse statues, “The Mustangs of Las Colinas?”
“Oooh, that’s better,” Allyssa commented, looking at the beautiful pictures on their computer screen. “I think we should put out a call to local artists. Maybe something with wings,” she said, pointing to a statue of one of the Greek gods with a winged horse in a water fountain.
“How about t-shirts or hats?” Renee pointed out, knowing a friend who was a screen printer and could give them a break on the costs.
“We will have to design the rescue’s name and logo,” she mused but gave her the go-ahead to get her friend involved. She also sent out several emails looking for local artists and asking the 4-Hers for their input on what they would like to see them do with the rescue now that they were official.
“What’s going on?” Rhonda came into the cabin, closing the door firmly behind her as she immediately headed to warm up near the fireplace.
“We’re working on the rescue. Fey got the non-profit status from the IRS the other day, and we’re brainstorming,” Allyssa told her, glancing outside to see if it was still snowing.
“I just got done with a particularly nasty session. It’s too cold to work,” Rhonda told them. “Just as I put the horses out the wind gusted and they turned right around and wanted back in. If I were you, I’d write to every horse toy company and food company to solicit discounted or free items.”
“That’s a great idea,” Allyssa said and nodded for Renee to add that to their ‘to do’ list.
“I’ve heard that hotels will sometimes provide old bedding and towels too,” Rhonda contributed further, having been involved in this sort of effort previously.
“What about newspapers?” Allyssa brainstormed.
“For advertising?” Renee asked.
“No…Well, that too, but I was thinking of them donating unsold papers, which can be shredded and used as bedding in the stalls. We can also get commercial and amateur pet photographers to do photos for our website and brochures. The 4-Hers could even use it as one of their projects for the fair.”
“What? I thought you took all the pictures?” Rhonda asked, surprised. She’d heard about the camera Fey had given her wife and had seen her taking pictures of the various horses.
“I’m not greedy,” Allyssa teased, smiling to show she meant no harm.
“We’re going to have to docum
ent everything,” she said, turning back to Renee, who nodded. She was enjoying this job and its diversity. Her three-day week had turned into a five-day week, and she loved it.
“I’ll have to call the insurance company and let them know the non-profit status is official.”
“Make sure you get liability coverage along with your other necessary coverages. I have the name of the insurance company they used at the last place I worked if you want it,” Rhonda offered helpfully.
“You have to have insurance? Against what?” Renee asked naively.
“In the event someone is bitten or injured by an animal or if they fall and injure themselves on our premises.”
“We already have that coverage. Maybe now that we are a non-profit our rates will go down? I will have to check on that.”
“I can put you in contact with half a dozen other rescues and shelters, so you can coordinate your efforts,” Rhonda offered further.
“That would be great. Google searches don’t always cut it.”
They were very busy those next few days, and one thing they hadn’t anticipated was how the humane societies and animal control offices would contribute not only valuable resources but also give them a heads-up on animals that might need their help. Fey was busier than ever, but she didn’t mind. Allyssa was happier than ever with all the excitement over the rescue. She was busy too, but the 4-Hers and the people who came out for therapy with Rhonda and Woody were a tremendous help. Volunteers were carefully monitored. Allyssa didn’t allow just anyone to help. Well-meaning people might have the best intentions, but they could do damage if they weren’t careful.
* * * * *
Allyssa watched as Fiona took a phone call in her truck. She looked animated and was obviously upset with whoever was on the other end of that phone. Slowly, Allyssa wandered up to the car door, surprised to see the window rolled down on this cold, spring day.
“Dad, she can’t talk to my wife that way. I won’t allow it,” Fey was saying. From her tone, it was obvious she’d said it before, repeatedly. Allyssa decided to walk by, not wanting to eavesdrop, so she was surprised when her wife reached out to grab her arm and hold her there.
“I don’t care what excuse you make for her dad. Allyssa’s my wife, and I won’t have that shit heaped on her. Rosemary has always had a stick up her ass about me. It’s one thing if she has a problem with me, but it’s another thing entirely if she heaps her shit on innocent bystanders, and Allyssa doesn’t deserve it. You should have seen how upset she was when she got home.”
Allyssa shook her head, angry with her wife for sharing that little tidbit with her father. She made eye contact with her wife, shaking her head even harder. Holding up a finger, Fey made a facial expression to soothe her.
“She is not welcome here ever, you know that. I won’t have my wife upset by–” she began, but her father obviously interrupted, and whatever he said to her caused her to nod. She said, “Fine, Dad. You do that. Whatever children we have is our business.” She hung up the phone.
“Why did you do that?” Allyssa asked as soon as Fey hung up.
“I wanted to get it off my chest. She had no right treating you like that, and the more I thought about it, the angrier I got. She’s just lucky I didn’t drive down there and give her an ear full, the dried up, old bitch. It’s bad enough she made sure my father wasn’t around me growing up, but to have her snipe at you in that way really pisses me off.”
Allyssa was thrilled that her wife would defend her, but she wasn’t completely happy about what she’d heard.
* * * * *
Two months flew by, and neither of them noticed the passage of time. A local artist agreed to help them with their horse fountain and worked with the volunteers and 4-Hers to determine how they could create such art. He used the horses they had seen on the internet and still managed to make it unique. They’d agreed to pay him, but after seeing all the publicity Allyssa was generating, he offered to greatly reduce his fee if they would promote him and his art on the website.
It would always surprise new visitors to the ranch when they saw Allyssa carrying a gun at all times. She even got into a heated discussion with one man about it.
“There is no law in Oregon against carrying loaded magazines,” Allyssa told him when he objected to the gun. “Hell, I can carry a loaded rifle in my car if I want.”
“That’s illegal. We ain’t in no Western movie, and there ain’t no rednecks here with gun racks in their back windows!”
“Localities may restrict you from carrying firearms if you don’t have a concealed handgun license, which my wife and I both do, but that restriction is only for public places, and my car isn’t a public place,” Allyssa pointed out. She had studied the laws on this issue, and it pissed her off when these people spouted their ignorance. She was going to wear her gun whether he liked it or not.
Still, not all their new people were like that, and they really appreciated the help they received. The generosity of some people astounded them.
* * * * *
“I’ve got to rebreak a bone. Can you help me hold the patient?” Fey requested her wife’s help. She’d passed all her tests with high marks, and her second semester grades were just as good as her first. They hadn’t told Keith or Rosemary she was even in Portland for that second set of tests since they wouldn’t be allowing Sean and Traci to come to the ranch at Easter after Fey had told her father off.
“Gladly, Doctor Herriot,” she answered formally with a little grin.
Startled, Fey laughed at her wife as they gave the dog anesthesia to relax her. “She’s broken this before and it healed incorrectly. Look at that,” she said as she pointed out on the x-ray where it had healed imperfectly. Fortunately, they’d managed to pick up a used x-ray machine from a veterinarian practice that went under earlier that spring.
“Animals compensate so adroitly,” Allyssa commented as she petted the terrier’s forehead and calmed her. The deep breaths the startled dog took soon had it slumping, and between the two women, they carried her up to the stainless-steel table, so Fey could rebreak the leg. Allyssa held the dog tightly as her wife used her strong hands to break the bone, applying pressure with a block to break it in the right spot. Because it had healed incorrectly, it wasn’t fused as well as it could have been, so she soon had the dog’s leg in a plaster cast. She also placed a pillow around the dog’s head while it recovered in a cage.
“Hey, I tried those horse runner clips on one of my patients. I think they’ll work out much better than shoes. I showed them to Jeff,” she said, mentioning one of the few mobile blacksmiths in the area, “and he agrees they’re better for horses’ hooves. They’re like sports shoes for horses. It should prevent more problems with their hooves and legs. Good catch on those.”
Allyssa was pleased. She had received a set of the runner clips in response to one of the many letters she had written to the various horse supply companies. She’d write them and express her wife’s pleasure with the samples and order some if they could afford them. She was also going to blog about it and give the company a bit of a plug since they had so generously contributed the samples.
“Look at that,” Fey said, pointing to a cat in one of the other cages that was waiting for its owner to pick it up. It was sucking on its toe like a baby sucks its thumb. It was the cutest thing.
“Aww,” Allyssa said as she gazed at the sight.
“Doctor Herriot, your next appointment is here,” Renee stuck her head into the addition to remind them.
“Okay, send them in,” she said, quickly finishing the cleaning of their stainless-steel table.
“Hi, Doctor Herriot, Mrs. Herriot,” their client walked in, her dog’s nails clicking on the wooden floor as her tail wagged merrily. “I can see why you insisted on the regular collar,” the owner said, indicating the plastic cone of shame her dog was wearing. “And I’m glad you insisted we not use the soft collar. She loves to rub her ear on the dog beds. We pounce and stop her a
s soon as she gets started, but if she was left alone with the soft collar on, she’d have ripped open the stitches by now.”
“That’s why Evian was given the plastic cone,” she said greeting the pretty husky, who was delighted to see the doctor, howling her greeting. Most people might have been frightened by the howling, but Fiona knew it was just the breed’s greeting. “Hello, Evian. Are you ready to get this thing off?”
The dog looked eager, not only to meet new people but for the collar to come off as well. Fey gently examined the dog’s leg she had operated on weeks ago. Evian had taken a jump incorrectly and required surgery. It had been expensive for the owner, but fortunately, she could afford it, and now, the dog was happy and healthy again. “Keep her as calm as possible,” Fey advised. The exuberant dog’s energy was felt by everyone in the room.
“Yeah, right,” the owner mumbled, knowing how hard it would be to calm the headstrong dog. The dog had been happy to come here because of all the new smells, and the owner was happy because normally, going into a vet clinic had Evian tugging to get away.
“Mind if I give her a treat?” Allyssa asked the owner’s permission as they settled the bill in the outer office.
At the word ‘treat,’ Evian cocked her head. She knew that word. The owner smiled and nodded as Allyssa offered Evian a choice of treats. After she had chosen one, Allyssa gave her the other one too. “That should keep her busy on your way home,” she said since the second treat was a chew.
“Good idea,” the owner said gratefully as she tugged to get Evian out of the vet’s office, happily carrying her treat.
“Let’s take lunch,” Fey said after they had finished cleaning up the examination area and checked on the dog being treated for the rebroken leg once more. “Renee, will you join us today?” she indicated the house across the way from the cabin.
“Nope, today is my half day, and I’m outta here,” she said cheerfully. “I’ll see you all tomorrow,” she said as she grabbed her jacket. It was a warm, early spring day but still cool enough to need it.
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