Chapter 26
The day was so sunny and beautiful, Ruthie had felt she had no choice but to take Velvet out to the pen next to the barn.
It was Kyle’s day off. If he’d been around, she would’ve asked him to take their dairy cow to the field on the hill.
There was a nice thicket of trees on one side, which all the animals seemed to enjoy.
Velvet, especially. Whenever Kyle walked her to the field, she could be found contentedly either standing next to the trees or lying on the grass, in the shade.
That meant that she knew the exercise pen wasn’t Velvet’s favorite place to spend an afternoon, but she figured it was better than nothing. Ruthie imagined that even a cow in a blue mood would appreciate a burst of fresh air.
“I know you’d rather be out in the grass, but the arthritis in my knee is acting up a bit today. I’m afraid the walk is more than I’m willing to do right now,” Ruthie explained as she clipped the lead to Velvet’s bridle and slowly led her to the pen.
To her delight, Velvet didn’t seem to mind the pen at all. After Ruthie released the bridle, the cow gave a little shake. It looked a bit like something Lizzie had done when she was a playful pup. Sometimes, she’d get so excited for a walk in the woods, her whole body would wiggle in excitement.
Of course, Velvet was no basset hound puppy. The cow could very well just be shaking off a pesky fly.
“You’ve still got a lot to learn about farm life, Ruth Anne,” she muttered to herself.
After she closed the gate, Ruthie leaned on the top of the wooden fence. Mervin had painted it a fresh white the day after they’d moved in. To her, it was a symbol that dreams often did come true, thanks to hard work and the Lord’s help. Ruthie never got tired of admiring it.
Deciding that the morning sun wasn’t too hot, she rested her elbows on the top of the fence and watched Velvet wander around a bit.
“How are you doing, Velvet?” she called out. “Are you finding this to be to your liking?”
Velvet didn’t respond with a moo, but she did turn her head to gaze at her with those big brown eyes of hers. After a few seconds passed, she blinked.
Well, she didn’t exactly look happy, but the heifer did seem to have a bit of a pep to her step.
That had to be a good thing.
“I found that a good dose of sunlight works wonders for my disposition,” she admitted. “You know, doctors say that one can get some vitamin D from the sun, and that helps bones. It’s never too early to think about osteoporosis, right?”
Velvet yawned.
“Jah, to be sure. Discussing bone health ain’t the most exciting of conversations, but what can you do? Not everything that’s on one’s mind is exciting, right? I mean, sometimes it’s just life. What do you think? Do you agree?”
Velvet seemed to nod. Or maybe she was simply chewing her cud.
Ruthie was beginning to feel sillier by the minute, but for some reason that wasn’t enough to propel her to go inside.
All that was there for her were a dozen small chores to do.
Besides, wasn’t this what retirement was all about?
She’d spent many a moment at Sew and So listening to customers talk about their lives.
Sometimes the stories were amusing and the ladies felt like friends.
Other times? It was nothing like that at all.
Sometimes their stories were ones she’d already heard a dozen times and it took everything she had to appear interested.
And that was when they weren’t so busy cutting fabric, answering phones, unpacking boxes, cleaning, and vacuuming after a busy day.
“Well, I, for one, have found comfort in boring days. Excitement is overrated. Not that I think your company is boring.”
After gazing at her for a moment, Velvet approached. Ruthie stood still as the cow walked right over to the other side of the fence. She was now close enough for Ruthie to reach out a hand and pet her sweet face.
Which she did. Gratefully.
Lowering her voice, Ruthie said, “Well, you showed me. I know, I said I wanted to give you some sunlight, but you are giving me what I needed to get today. A bit of an ear.” Just like those ladies at the shop she’d just been thinking about.
“I guess that saying is true, huh? What goes around, comes around.” She rubbed the soft area just above Velvet’s nose. “Here’s my confession. I think I’m standing out here in the sun talking to you for a far different reason than to absorb some vitamin D.”
She took a deep breath. “I’m here because I want to know what you thought I should do about this farm.”
Velvet yawned. Obviously, it was time to get to the point.
“Okay, brace yourself, because my secret is a doozy.” She lowered her voice. “Believe it or not, Mervin and I have had more than one conversation about maybe selling this farm.”
Velvet tilted her head to one side. Kind of like how Lizzie did when Ruthie tried to take her out for a walk in the pouring rain.
The cow didn’t think she was making a bit of sense, which made her feel even more embarrassed than she already did.
“I know, standing here with you here, beside this old red barn is everything I dreamed of. For years! But the other parts of farming? I’m not enjoying it.
” Lowering her voice to a near whisper, she continued.
“Velvet, the truth of the matter is that Mervin and me aren’t quite the farmers that we thought we’d be.
“What do you think? Has there been a big difference between the way Mervin and me do things and the way that the Burkholders ran things?”
When Velvet looked down at her front hooves and sighed, Ruthie knew she needed to be a bit more clear. “What I’m trying to ask is do you think we’re missing that perfect ‘farmer’ spark?”
“Moo,” Velvet said. Er … mooed.
“What does that mean?”
“Moo!”
“I’m sorry, but I have no idea what you are trying to tell me.”
After giving Ruthie what appeared to be a spiteful glare, Velvet turned around. Why, it was almost as if she was presenting Ruthie with her backside! Which was ridiculous. Cows didn’t do such things.
Did they?
“Velvet, I’m real sorry if I’d offended you, but I have no idea how to make things right in my life.”
The cow didn’t respond.
“Ah, Ruthie, is everything all right?”
She turned to find Daisy approaching. Today, the girl had on a bright orange dress, a smaller blue cast, and just one crutch. But the prettiest part about her was her smile. It was genuine and warm. Like her.
“Daisy, what a surprise! How in the world did you get over here?” she asked.
“Um, I drove the courting buggy.”
“You were able to drive the buggy with a cast on your foot?”
“To be sure.” She crutched over to her side. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but the horse does all the work.”
Ruthie chuckled. “Forgive me. I’m, uh, afraid I’m not at my brightest right now.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m afraid I’ve offended Velvet.”
Daisy made her way to Ruthie’s side, then rested her arms on the top of the white railing next to her. “Why do you think that?” she asked.
There wasn’t a bit of sarcasm in her voice.
“You really aren’t going to make fun of me for imagining that a milk cow is in a snit?”
“Uh, do you want me to?”
“Nee. Of course not.” She pressed a hand to her face as she attempted to pull herself together. “Forgive me. I … I just don’t know what to do.” Of course, she was talking about her life, not just Velvet. But Daisy didn’t need to know that.
Daisy’s expression grew more concerned, but to Ruthie’s relief, instead of pressing her for more information, she whistled at Velvet.
Velvet turned around and looked directly at Daisy.
She held out a hand. “Hiya, Velvet. I came over here to visit with Ruthie for a spell, but I’m happy to see you, too. You’re looking well.”
Velvet approached her, just like an eager pet would.
Ignoring Ruthie’s gasp, Daisy started talking.
“What do you think of my new cast? It’s called a removable brace.
But at least it’s blue, right?” She looked down at it.
“What do you think? Should I have gone white? I don’t know why I chose a color, but the truth is that I was real disappointed to be receiving a new one at all.
” Leaning down on the rail, she added, “You see, I’d been hoping that the doctor would take the old one off, declare me good as new, and then send me on my way. ”
“I’m sorry about that,” Ruthie said.
Daisy darted a glance her way. “Me too. But my bruder was quick to remind me that healing takes time, and if I ignored the doctor’s advice, then I might be able to walk around all right, but I could easily do some damage and make things worse.”
“That is gut advice. Bethany broke her arm when she was playing softball and slid into third base. She fell, got tangled up with the player on third, and broke her arm.”
“Wow. That’s a story.”
Remembering how incredulous some of the hospital staff had been when Bethany had described what had happened, Ruthie chuckled.
“It sure is. Bethany was rather slight and tiny. No one ever imagined that mei petite daughter would have a competitive streak a mile wide.” She took a breath.
“Anyway, my point is that Bethany hated that cast and hated the second one she received—after playing on the playground at recess—even more. My point is that it didn’t matter if she liked wearing a cast or not.
Some things in life just have to be done.
Like healing. Or working. Or waking up in the morning. Gott needs us to be patient.”
“Jah. Everything worthwhile takes time, ain’t so?”
Thinking of how hotheaded she’d been in her own situation, Ruthie nodded. “I fear I’ve been struggling a bit with impatience myself.”
“I guess I’m in good company.”
“Would you like to come in for a coffee and some zucchini bread? I know everyone is making it right now, but this was from a new recipe, and it turned out pretty gut.”
“I happen to love zucchini bread. Danke.” Glancing at Velvet, Daisy added, “Would you mind if I stayed here for a moment and talked to your cow? I’d feel terrible if I walked away without giving Velvet a bit more attention.”
“Not at all. I’ll go make a fresh pot and slice up some bread for us both. Take your time.”
“Thanks.”
As Ruthie walked back to the house, she heard Daisy speaking in soft, sweet tones to Velvet. Just as she opened the front door, Ruthie heard Velvet moo again. But this one sounded far less argumentative and more like a happy reply.
Realizing what she’d just thought, Ruthie chuckled to herself. A happy reply? What in the world! Cows didn’t have different tones of “moos.” Did they?
She hoped Daisy would let her know.