Chapter Five.
Rosie
A woman rushed in carrying a clearly pregnant German Shepherd.
“Eliana, you’ve got a vet?” she cried as she entered.
“Over here, please, bring Maise,” I intervened, appearing. To her credit, Eliana didn’t try to take Maise from her sister but followed. Maise’s eyes were wide, and she was panting heavily.
“Here,” Klutz said as he waved towards the birthing pen. Jana carefully laid Maise down and cracked her back. I instantly crouched and put out a hand for Maise to sniff. Eliana sat beside her, muttering soothing words and stroking Maise’s head.
“She’s in distress. Has she had any hip issues?” I asked as I looked her over. Maise released a yelp of pain.
“None that I know of, but I have been worried.”
Maise grunted and reared up a little, and I saw her trying to push. I watched for a few moments as Eliana continued to stroke her. Maise collapsed back down, and I checked her pulse.
“Her heartbeat’s slightly elevated, but she’s not in the danger zone yet. Klutz, have you prepared the injection?” I asked. It was a simple pain reliever designed to help Maise.
“Yeah. I’ll keep it at hand,” he replied.
Masie made a pained noise, and I felt around her swollen stomach. “Klutz, we’ve got a case of dystocia,” I diagnosed, as I snapped on gloves and pulled a lubricant from my bag.
“What’s that?” Eliana demanded, alarmed.
“A puppy is trapped in the birth canal. I’m loath to perform an operation as I don’t know the status of the equipment.
” I began talking Eliana through my actions.
“The lube is being used to make the vulva and birth canal more slippery. When Maise pushes, I’ll carefully try to pull the stuck pup out.
Now I can’t pull unless she’s pushing, as it can injure both puppy and Maise. ”
Maise pushed, making a frightened, pained whine. I slipped inside and felt the puppy’s head. As gently as possible, I wriggled my hand and clasped the pup’s waist of the pup.
“Good girl, Maise,” I encouraged. “Eliana, keep calming her, reassure her everything’s going to be just fine, and stay calm. Maise will pick up on your emotions, and you’ll worry her,” I warned.
“Okay.” Eliana kept stroking Masie and murmuring loving words to her.
Maise released a high-pitched whine, and her back paws scrabbled in pain.
I felt the push and pulled carefully. Maise bore down hard, and the puppy slipped free.
I immediately broke the sac and checked its breathing.
On seeing it was fine, I placed it in front of Maise to clean.
She started nudging it, and the tiny puppy whimpered as Masie began washing and licking.
“Now that one is out, Masie should be fine. Has she had a scan to see how many pups there are?” I asked.
“No. The mobile vet said she didn’t need one.” Eliana scowled.
“Eliana, my advice is to have her neutered after this litter. Maise has narrow hips for a German Shepherd, and birthing will be difficult for her.”
“I shouldn’t have let her have puppies?” Eliana gasped, guilt-stricken.
“Not at all, but she should have been monitored. The mobile vet hasn’t done his due diligence,” I replied. Maise made a strange whine and bore down again. This time, the puppy slipped out easily.
“You’ve got a boy and a girl,” I said with a smile.
“I have?” Eliana looked ecstatic as she praised Maise for being a clever girl.
Calamity
When we returned several hours later, after checking out the other buildings, we found Eliana, Klutz, and Rosie sitting on the floor watching Maise. I counted seven puppies, and they were all wriggling, fat little bundles.
“Okay?” I asked, moving slowly, so I didn’t startle the new mom. Maise lifted her head and released a warning growl. I crouched down low and gradually extended my hand. Masie sniffed before offering me a lick.
“Yup, all healthy and alive. Maise is a natural,” Rosie beamed. She looked a little tired but happy. This was what she lived for: helping life come into the world.
“Don’t set your heart on one!” I alerted as her eyes moved to the pups.
“But she’s so cute!” Rosie whined and pointed at a black-and-cream one with golden highlights.
“Rosie, Empress will eat her,” I warned, and Rosie laughed.
“Empress?” Eliana asked, looking alarmed.
“She’s a Teacup Persian and rules the roost,” Rosie explained.
“Ah, cats are like that.”
“Hello?” a female voice called. We exchanged glances, and Eliana released a low moan. I went to greet the intruder but was stopped at the door when a round woman appeared, her disapproving look making me think I was in trouble.
“Should you be in here?” she snapped, not seeing the others.
“Yup. Can I help you?”
“Did you break in? I’ll call the sheriff!” the woman warned.
“Mrs Maple, I’m already here.”
Mrs Maple moved around me and gaped when she saw the scene I’d been blocking.
“What’s going on?” she demanded.
“Maise gave birth and got distressed. Rosie here, saved her life and the puppies,” Eliana replied calmly. “Tell me you haven’t called the book club.”
Mrs Maple pursed her lips. “I thought a crime was in motion.”
“And instead of calling the sheriff’s office, you took matters into your own hands?” Eliana said reprovingly.
“How’s Maise?” Mrs Maple asked, ignoring Eliana.
“She’s fine, thanks to Rosie and Klutz. They’re moving here with their motorcycle club. Klutz and Rosie are both veterinarians and are interested in opening a practice here.”
To my surprise, the stern look on Mrs Maple’s face melted into hope and happiness. “Vets? Real ones? Licenced ones?”
“Yeah,” Rosie responded, amused.
“Do you do big animals?”
“Such as horses? Yes, both of us do,” Rosie replied. “We have applied for our state licences to be expedited.”
“Wonderful! We can get rid of the charlatan. So, when are you opening, my dears? Can I make an appointment on Saturday? Mr Tickles needs his yearly injections.”
“We aren’t open yet, and we can’t practise without our licence, but we hope to be operating soon,” Rosie said, sending me a sideways glance.
“Rosie, we don’t even have a house!” I exclaimed.
“I know, but Calamity, they need me.” Rosie pouted.
I rolled my eyes at her. “Guess we’ll be booking permanent rooms at the hotel for the weekend.”
Rosie leapt to her feet and flung her arms around me. “I love you so much! You always understand me!”
“Wonderful, I’ll spread the news,” Mrs Maple said.
“Would you mind waiting until my wife and Klutz are registered, please? I don’t want malpractice suits against them. And the equipment needs checking, and they require insurance and getting their ducks in a row,” I intervened before Rosie got railroaded.
“Plus, we need to buy the building,” Klutz added.
“I’m certain Jana can rush the sale through,” Mrs Maple stated, eyeing Jana.
“Sure thing, Mrs Maple,” Jana replied.
I almost choked at the look on Jana’s face. Clearly, this Mrs Maple was a force to be reckoned with.
“Now, dears, how else can the book club help?” Mrs Maple asked.
“You can call them off because Maise needs quiet,” Eliana warned. “If they all burst in here, they’ll upset her.”
“Of course,” Mrs Maple said, pulling out her phone and sending a text. “We have a group text. Technology is wonderful.” Her cell began beeping with replies, and I wondered what the hell this town ran on because they all seemed too cheery.
Nothing was this good, and I guessed there was an aspect we weren’t seeing yet. There had to be because every coin had a flip side.
Drake – two weeks later
“You don’t want funding?” I asked, amused.
“No, I’ll fund whatever we need. I’d rather the club not start with a negative.”
“That makes sense, and it’s not as if you lack the money,” I replied.
“Exactly.” Calamity grinned.
I was surprised at how effortlessly he’d settled into his role as president.
He made decisions easily and was comfortable bossing people older than him around.
Hell, Calamity even had a handle on Texas and Ghost. A pang hit me.
I couldn’t believe Texas was leaving. It made sense, but he was a huge deal in my life.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, sorry, kid, bit hard watching Texas leave.”
“Not something we saw coming,” Calamity mused.
“No. I kinda thought he was a permanent part of the furniture. Can’t blame him for following his grandchildren.”
“Texas is still making amends for his treatment of me. I know things between him and Rosie aren’t the same despite my encouraging her to forgive him.”
“No. Damage was done, and it was his fault. I’m hoping this proves how much he loves her. How’s it going with the allies?” I asked.
Calamity
Good question. How was the progress with the allied MCs?
“Falcon and I visited Hellfire and spoke to Chance and assured him of our continued relationship. He was welcoming and congratulated us on our new chapter, just as Inglorious and the Unwanted Bastards did. Can’t say I expected any different from them.”
“But?”
“Onyx from Riders of Vengeance is reticent. He embraced the new chapter, but I picked up doubts from him, same as Tiger at Satan’s Warriors and Scythe from the Devil’s Scythe.
Jailbait from the Devil’s Damned Disciples and Lance from Fallen Warriors accepted our hand of friendship.
I’ve also reached out to Hawthorne’s, Delta Force, and the Juno Group.
They’re all accepting of my strengthening ties. ”
“Not too bad. Give Onyx, Tiger, and Scythe some time. They’re dealing with things,” Drake stated.
“I get that, but we’re still Rage. I didn’t like being treated as if we’d gone behind your back. You approached me; this wasn’t a consideration for me,” I replied.
“I understand.”
I hoped Drake did because Ortonville was now mine, and I wouldn’t let anyone shit on us.
“How’s everything else going?”