Harrison
Ahead of him, a mama cow and her baby trotted down the side of Meetinghouse toward Knowlton Road.
The cows were a danger to themselves and to drivers as well. He’d called in the situation to the local police and prayed that officers were on the way to block traffic as needed to keep everyone safe.
Meetinghouse Lane had plenty of houses among the farms, meaning there were cars, but thankfully not as many as there were closer to town.
But the way they were headed was right to Knowlton, which eventually led out to Route One. He was desperate to get the mama and baby turned back toward the farm before they got that far.
The big cow stopped to munch on a bit of grass poking out from the snow in front of one of the houses, and the baby waited for her.
Harrison tried to move a little faster. Cows were easy to spook, and surprisingly fast runners when they wanted to be.
They were also stubborn as all get-out, and he’d been here such a short time, that they hadn’t really learned to trust him yet.
His idea was to get around behind the mama in her blind spot and then coax her to head back toward the farm.
Once he got her close though, he’d have to get out in front of her again to open up the gate, and then slip back behind her to get her in without her bolting.
He’d managed to round up all the others that had escaped with her, but this mama cow was really enjoying her freedom. And after re-capturing a dozen animals, Harrison’s energy and patience were flagging.
He tried not to think about what he was missing right now. This was a dangerous situation and it was his responsibility. He could try to mend fences with Mallory once he got things under control.
He had just about caught up with the pair when a car turned onto the street up ahead.
Harrison jumped into the middle of the road, waving his arms for all he was worth to get them to slow down. Visions of the spooked cow running into the road in front of them had his heart in his mouth.
But the car wasn’t just slowing, it was actually pulling over.
Mama kept munching away as Harrison looked to the car, hoping it was another farmer who might lend a hand.
But the car was too nice for that. Which meant it was probably a regular neighbor, annoyed with him for having loose animals and pulling over to give him an earful about it, which was the last thing he needed right now.
He knew this was his fault. He’d checked and double-checked every inch of fence and every gate, but either these cows were smarter than he expected, or he’d missed something.
The driver put their flashers on and got out of the car.
Harrison stared for a moment, amazed. It looked an awful lot like Mallory’s fashionable friend. She had a sleek bob and was dressed to the nines, just like Valerie always was.
Before he could turn his attention back to the task at hand, the passenger door opened and Mallory herself got out of the car.
She looked incredible in a pretty skirt with her long, flame-colored hair flowing down around her shoulders.
He opened his mouth to say something, but he was too mesmerized to speak.
“We’re here to help,” Valerie said in her no-nonsense way, snapping him out of it. “Mal, go down to the farm and get ready to open the gate when they come.”
“On it,” Mallory said, giving Harrison a friendly smile.
“I appreciate it,” he told her, giving her a look that he hoped would tell her that he was talking about a whole lot more than help with the cows.
She turned and took off like a shot for the farm.
When he turned back, Valerie had already approached the mama from her blind spot. She was talking to the cow quietly and making a funny clucking sound with her mouth.
The mama pricked her ears back and began trotting off toward the farm with Valerie at her heels, making that same ch-ch-ch sound. The baby galloped to join them, sticking close to his mama’s side.
“What in the world,” Harrison muttered to himself, jogging after them.
Valerie moved along behind the big animal without the slightest indication of fear, like she did this kind of thing every day.
In a matter of minutes, they were approaching the fence.
Valerie waved her hand and Mallory opened the gate with a smile.
Mama and baby trotted back in like it was their idea all along, joining the other cows like nothing had happened.
“Thank you,” Harrison said to Valerie once he had secured the gate again. “Have you worked with livestock before?”
“I grew up on a farm,” Valerie said, shrugging.
“What was that noise you were making?” Harrison asked her.
“Just something I came up with when I was a kid,” she said with a funny smile. “It’s the closest sound I can make to oats spilling into a pail. They like oats.”
It had been a long, terrible evening, but his relief was so intense that Harrison found himself grinning at Valerie and wondering why he had ever thought she was a snob. This woman had wasted no time coming out here to help someone she barely knew. Mallory was lucky to have a friend like that.
“How many more are out?” Valerie asked in a businesslike way.
“Those were the last two,” he told her. “I got all others back in before you two got here. I’m just gonna call my cousin and let him know the roads are clear again.”
He pulled out his phone and placed a call to Sheriff Cal, who promised to get word out to everyone.
Turning back to his guests, Harrison had a sinking feeling as he realized how Mallory must have felt when he didn’t show up. He’d known all along that he was letting her down, but with the cows on the loose, he hadn’t really had any time to think about it until now.
“Listen, Mallory,” he said. “I’m so sorry about tonight.”
“I mean, you can’t make something like this up,” she said, her eyes dancing. “Unless you only released your cows as an excuse not to take me out?”
“I did not,” he confirmed with a grim half-smile.
“Anyway, it’s fine,” she said. “We can reschedule.”
“Or I can cook for you here,” he offered. “Unfortunately, I found they were loose when I went for the evening feeding, so I’ll need to take care of my girls first, and then a shower.”
“Why don’t I cook?” Mallory asked, giving him a smile that did him more good than any food ever could.
“Anyone ever tell you you’re one in a million?” he asked her.
She laughed, and it made him want to pull her close and nuzzle her mane of beautiful hair.
“Okay,” Valerie said. “I think that’s my cue to exit. Unless you need a ride home, Mal?”
Mallory looked to him.
“We’re all good,” Harrison said. “I have to run and pick up Katie from my aunt’s house later anyway, so I can run her home then.”
Valerie looked to her friend, who nodded in approval.
“See you later then,” Valerie said as she headed off toward her car.
“Hey, thank you,” Harrison called after her. “For your help with the cows, and for bringing Mallory here.”
“We’re all good,” Valerie echoed over her shoulder, giving a wave. “Come see me when you need a ring.”
He looked to Mallory, but she must have discovered something very interesting about her shoes, because she was studying them intensely.