Chapter Twenty
The following morning, Hawkeye came to get Margo just as the sun was casting a golden glow upon the fields.
“You better have a good reason for waking me up so early.” She yawned, mainly kidding. He didn’t spend the night with her, so she’d had a tough time getting to sleep in the empty bed.
“Let’s get in the truck. There’s something I want to show you.”
“You want to show me something on the ranch?” She didn’t bother to hide her excitement.
“Yeah, I do.” He laughed.
She felt a burst of pride in her chest that he wanted to include her in his daily activity. She liked spending time with him.
The morning was cool, and although she dressed in warm clothes, she shivered on the way out to the truck. He opened the door to the passenger side, and she climbed in grateful that he had the heat blasting from the vents. She reached for the seatbelt, and she caught his smile. “What?” she asked.
“You won’t need that. We’re staying at the ranch. There won’t be anywhere we’ll be going where you’ll be unsafe.”
Once he was settled into the driver’s seat, he asked. “Are you warm?”
“Feels so good. I got cold last night sleeping alone.” She hoped he would catch her meaning.
“Sorry. I stayed with the cow all night hoping she’d finally birth.”
“She didn’t yet?”
He pulled the truck onto the lane. “She’s getting ready to. Ever see an animal being born?”
“No. I once watched a documentary where a human mother was giving birth, and I shut the TV off. Too much blood.”
“I thought you might want to get your first experience at bringing a new life into the world.”
Excitement surfaced in her. “I get to witness a cow giving birth? Seriously?” She gave a little jump in the seat.
He chuckled. “Yep, you do. Well worth getting up this early I hope?”
“Yes. Definitely.”
They stopped and hopped out. She followed him inside the warm barn. The lights were low, and she assumed it was to keep the mama cow comfortable. Echo was there, scattering fresh straw on the floor. He looked up and offered Margo a toothy smile. “Morning,” he said to her.
“Good morning,” she said in a soft voice. She didn’t know a lot about cattle, but she could tell the mama cow was a bit uneasy. Her stomach was huge and looked like it was moving.
“How are we coming along?” Hawkeye asked as he looked at the cow’s eyes.
Margo kept her focus on the poor cow who swished her tail in agitation.
“Close,” Echo said. “This is her last shot to do this on her own.”
Hawkeye pulled gloves on. She watched with curiosity as he ran his hand down Mama’s heaving side, pausing about midway, and then patting her gently. “Good, girl,” he said in a soothing tone. The cow lowered her ears as if responding to his kindness.
“I think she’s going to pull through for us. See for yourself.” Echo stepped out of the area to give Margo space to see too.
“Want to come closer?” Hawkeye motioned for her to stand next to him. “Approach slow so you don’t spook her.”
Margo came around and looked. Her mouth fell open. She could see hooves.
“That means the baby’s coming. Next the body will slide out, at least we hope.”
“What if it doesn’t?” she asked.
He shrugged. “Echo has the most training. He’ll have to stick his arm inside and help her deliver. Possibly even use a calf puller but we hope it doesn’t come to that. The less we intrude the better.”
“How did you learn so much?” She was fully interested.
“Echo has been a great teacher. He lets me lend a hand on any of the assisted births.”
“Is she in pain?” The cow made moaning noises which made Margo’s instincts rise.
“I’d say it’s no walk in the park. We thought she was going to give birth days ago, but she had an infection. The vet treated it and now she’s in much better shape to have her baby.”
“How long will it take?” She kept her eyes glued to what was unfolding in front of her.
“There it comes now.”
The upper half of the calf was showing. The membrane was shiny and still intact, growing from the mama, reminding Margo of someone blowing a bubble. It grew larger and larger.
Margo stayed riveted. The mama huffed and shifted, but Hawkeye calmed her with a pat on the backside. “Relax, mama,” he said in a soothing voice.
Her stomach muscles spasmed as the calf slipped the rest of the way out in a gush of slimy water onto the straw.
The membrane broke and there was a teeny tiny baby covered in wetness and whitish goop.
Although it wasn’t moving, she could see its chest gently rising and falling.
Margo thought it was the cutest thing she’d ever seen.
Hawkeye bent down and wiped the baby with a soft towel, more of an examination than cleaning. He stood. “Let’s step back now and let mama do what she does best.”
Margo stepped out of the stall with Hawkeye, and they watched as she sniffed at her newborn then licked its damp fur. The baby twitched as if sending a silent message that she knew her mother already.
“Mama will clean the baby and let her feed once she gets up on her legs. She’ll do that fast because babies want to eat soon after birth. Instinct tells them they need to replenish the energy they used during the birthing process.”
Margo was smiling so hard that her cheeks hurt. “This is all…amazing.”
“This tends to make a man realize how precious life is,” Hawkeye said then asked Echo, “Got the rest of this covered?”
“Yeah, I got it.”
Hawkeye tossed the dirty towel in a basket, dragged off his bloody gloves and dropped them into a trash bin, then scrubbed his hands at the utility sink. He shook the extra wetness off his hands.
“Does the mama, or baby, need a vet?” Margo asked as they stepped out of the barn. It was completely light outside now. The hustle and bustle on the land had already begun as the hands started their chores.
“Only if we see either of them in distress or not recovering.”
“Do you have birthing cattle a lot?” She felt invested now that she saw a birth.
“Pretty often but usually they deliver them without any event,” he said when they were both inside the truck.
“How many cows are here on the ranch?”
“We have about five hundred head right now. Another forty bulls. They stay separate until we introduce them to breed. There are also horses, goats, chickens, and a handful of barn cats, as I’m sure you already know.
The cats reproduce a lot more often and that’s why we spay and neuter them.
Doc comes out weekly and manages all the medical care for the animals. ”
“I’ve already had the pleasure of meeting the goats. CaDee calls them her babies and has names for all of them. She adores them.”
Hawkeye laughed. “I guess when she first moved here one of her first chores was milking them for cheese. Sharp said she took right to the routine, and she’s loved it ever since.”
“She told me a little of their story. It’s sweet. They make such a great couple.”
He pulled the truck over in front of the building that housed the ranch office. “I need to run inside and make a call. Will you be okay for a few minutes?” he asked.
She found his concern charming. “I’ll be fine. Go on and do what you need to do.”
He slipped out and she watched him until he was inside the office.
She climbed out and walked to the fence, watching the beautiful horses graze at the pasture.
There was so much peace here. Even the horses knew they were loved and well taken care of.
She grew to love everything about the ranch, and the hard work of everyone.
Her mind wandered to Hawkeye. She’d missed him being in her bed last night.
She didn’t know what they were doing. It wasn’t a relationship, but it sure felt like one.
Margo envied the unity of family and friends here, not just at the ranch but also at Fin’s Creek.
Everyone had been so welcoming. Back in the city, Margo had few people she could rely upon.
She didn’t want to be ungrateful to Mario because she adored him, but there was something missing in her life… until she came here.
One of the horses had spotted her and trotted over to get her attention. She reached out to scratch his head. “I don’t have any treats, buddy.”
“Hello there, Nancy!”
She gave a jump because she didn’t realize she wasn’t alone. It was Bradley. He’d snuck up on her. She didn’t bother correcting him on her name. “Morning.”
“Oh, you’re not Nancy.” Disappointment filled his weathered face. “I thought you were someone else. You’re Margo.”
She smiled. “Yes, I’m Margo.”
“You looked so at peace standing there. The land will get you, won’t it?” He braced his elbows on the fence.
“Yes, it most definitely will.”
“The horses like the grass when it starts getting cooler at night. Changes the flavor. You ever ride?”
“I haven’t for a long time. Last time was back in sixth grade camp.”
“You should ride. Therapeutic.” He took out his handkerchief and wiped the sweat off his brow. “I can let you borrow my mare, Glimmer. She’s the best.”
“Which one is Glimmer?”
He searched the pack of horses looking for Glimmer, his grey gaze narrowing as confusion marred his features. “Don’t see her.” Then abruptly, he said, “I’ve got to get going. I’m running late for work.” He touched the brim of his hat and hurried off.
She didn’t have long to ponder the interesting meeting because she spotted Hawkeye waving her over.
“I just had a conversation with Bradley,” she said to Hawkeye. He thinks I should ride because it’s therapeutic.”
“I happen to agree.”
“Very generous of him to want to loan me his horse, Glimmer.”
“Glimmer? She died years ago. He loved her so much he had a plaque made with her picture. It’s hangs at the farmhouse.”
“Do you think Bradley is okay? He’s having trouble remembering things.” Concern raised in her.
“He’s had some health issues, but I haven’t noticed anything major except for age catching up to him. He doesn’t get out on the land as much as he used to,” Hawkeye said.
“Well, he looks like he’s moving good today.” She saw him hurrying on the path toward the stables.