Falling Hard for the Billionaire Cowboy

13. HAYLEY

Chapter thirteen

HAYLEY

One evening, about a week into my self-imposed isolation, I'm out on my usual walk when the sky suddenly darkens.

It’s like in a rom-com. Or a horror movie in this case – depending on what is going to happen next.

Before I can react, rain starts pouring down, heavy droplets soaking through my thin t-shirt in seconds.

The phrase soaked to the skin, never seemed truer up until that moment.

I'm about to make a run for the cottage when movement in the distance catches my eye. Squinting through the rain, I spot a familiar figure sprinting towards the old cow shed. Even in the storm, it’s strange how I instantly recognize that it’s Austin.

I think about another old saying: one never learns their lesson.

I should be going back to the cottage, to number one - avoid the rain, number two - avoid the man, and number three: avoid any further embarrassment.

So instead of heading back, of course I find myself following him, my feet seeming to move of their own accord. The rain is coming down in sheets now, and I can barely see where I'm going, but yep – I still keep walking.

Finally, I see him enter one of the barns. It’s been so long since I came to this part of the ranch, that I was instantly in awe of all the new structures.

As I approach the shed, I hear Austin's voice coming from the very end, low and soothing. "Easy there, girl. It's okay. We'll wait out the storm together."

I peek around the door and see him kneeling next to a heavily pregnant cow, stroking her side gently. The scene is so unexpectedly tender that I forget to stay hidden, stepping fully into view.

Austin looks up, surprise flickering across his face. "Hayley? What are you doing out here?" I open my mouth to respond, but no words come out. We stare at each other for a long moment, the only sounds are the pounding rain and the cow's soft lowing.

"I... I was just..." I stammer, suddenly very aware of how my wet clothes are clinging to my body.

Austin stands, concern replacing surprise. "You're soaked. Here." He shrugs off his jacket and drapes it over my shoulders before I can protest.

The warmth of the jacket, still holding his body heat, envelops me. It smells like him. I mean, I just… he smells like a mix of hay, leather, and something that must be uniquely Austin. I pull it closer without thinking.

"Thanks," I murmur, not meeting his eyes.

"You've been avoiding me," he says. It's not a question.

I nod, not seeing the point in denying it. "I was embarrassed. About the garden thing."

Austin chuckles softly. "I figured. You know, you didn't have to hide. I thought it was kind of cute, actually."

My head snaps up at that. "Cute? I was trespassing and stealing vegetables!"

"From what used to be your family's garden," he points out, his voice softening. But before I can respond, a loud, painful moo interrupts us.

We both turn to look at the cow, and I notice her shifting uncomfortably, her sides heaving with each labored breath. Suddenly, it clicks.

"Austin," I say urgently, "Is she in labor? Has the vet been called?"

He runs a hand through his hair, frustration evident on his face. "Yeah, but there's a problem. Small town, with limited vets. Most are out on calls right now, and the one who can come... well, it's going to take a while."

I move closer to the cow, my eyes widening as I see what's happening. It’s a large calf, she already has a prolapse. "We don't have a while . She's crowning!"

Austin curses under his breath, pacing back and forth. "This worries me. I've delivered lots of calves before, but never with the cow having a cervical prolapse."

I watch the cow struggle, her distress growing by the second. A memory flashes through my mind – a similar night years ago, my father's calm voice guiding me through the process.

"If we don't help her now, the calf could suffocate," I explain, my voice rising with urgency. "And the mother... she could bleed out if we don't act fast."

Austin looks at me, "You sound like you know exactly what is going on?"

“I sure darn do.” I inhale deeply, steeling myself. "I might have been gone a while, but I was a ranch girl first, Austin. I've helped birth calves before. I know what to do."

He nods, instantly getting into assistant mode.

Wait, hold up.

Isn’t he supposed to at least have doubts?

But from the expression on his face, this man immediately trusts me.

Is he crazy? I mean…

“Hayley, are you alright?” Austin asks, concern on his face.

“Yes… yes… I’m fine.” I clear my throat, focusing on the mission at hand.

"Okay, then. Tell me what you need."

"First, we need clean towels, warm water, and some iodine if you have it," I instruct, already shedding his jacket and rolling up my sleeves. "And rope – and your hands. I will need you to push the prolapse back in while she pushes out. "

Austin nods, darting to a nearby storage cabinet. As he gathers supplies, I approach the cow, speaking softly to her. "It's okay, girl. We're going to help you through this," I murmur, stroking her flank. She lets out another low moo, her dark eyes wide with fear.

Austin returns with an armful of supplies. "Next?"

"Now," I say, meeting his gaze, "we work together. I need you to stay calm and follow my instructions exactly. Can you do that?"

He nods, a hint of a smile playing at his lips despite the tense situation. "Yes, ma'am."

We position ourselves behind the cow, and I begin to explain the process. "We need to guide the calf out gently. If we see the front hooves and nose, that's good. If not, we might need to reposition it."

Austin listens intently, his brow furrowed in concentration. As we prepare, I can't help but notice how in sync we are, anticipating each other's movements, working together like we had done this a million times.

"Okay," I say, taking a deep breath. "Here we go. On my count, we're going to start guiding the calf out, as you push the prolapse back in. Just be careful to use your palms and not your fingers since you could puncture through her tender flesh. Ready?"

Austin nods, his eyes lock on mine. At this moment, all our past tensions and misunderstandings seem to fade away.

"One... two... three!"

As we begin to work, I'm struck by how unreal everything in this moment feels.

I mean, the rain continues to pour outside, but here, in this new cow shed, time seems to stand still. It's just us, the laboring cow, and the miracle of life unfolding before us.

Austin follows my lead without hesitation, his strong hands gentle as we guide the calf. Sweat beads on his forehead, and I realize I'm holding my breath.

"You're doing great," I encourage, both to the cow and to Austin. "Just a little more..."

As we continue to work, I can't help but wonder how quickly things can change. An hour ago, I was avoiding Austin at all costs. Now, we're shoulder to shoulder, at a cow’s backside.

The cow lets out another loud bellow, and I feel movement beneath my hands. "I think this is it," I say, whispering. I admit to myself that I’m frightened about what could go wrong if the prolapse continues. The tissue could become infected and necrotic. "Austin, are you ready?"

He meets my gaze, and in his eyes, I see something else – something that makes my heart race in a way that has nothing to do with the task at hand.

"Ready as I'll ever be," he replies, a hint of a smile on his lips.

As we brace ourselves for the next step, I’m reminded of the life I had left back in the city. I had come here to open a practice and establish myself as a lawyer.

And here I am. At the back of a cow.

I’m not sure if this is a good thing or a bad one.