Chapter Eighteen
Jackie
Mitch insisted on walking Jackie back to her room after dinner, and the ready-made excuse she’d held on to for the entire night escaped her the moment he looked at her the same way he used to when something wasn’t up for discussion.
Rea came rushing toward them the moment they entered the lobby. “Miss van Moetlier—I mean, Jackie! I’ve been looking for you, so glad you’re here.”
“What’s wrong, Rea?”
Rea gasped for breath. “It’s Lina. She’s foaling, but it’s been half an hour already and her water hasn’t broken yet. I honestly didn’t understand much of what my dad was saying, but Mom wants you to come. She says you might know what to do.”
Mitch frowned. “Lina’s a horse?”
Rea’s eyes widened like she hadn’t seen him standing there before.
Jackie glanced at him. “She’s a mare. Rea’s parents run the horseback-riding excursions I mentioned earlier.” She swallowed, worry lines creasing her forehead. “Is there another vet who could come help?”
Rea shook her head. “Mom tried calling the practice, but they’re closed now. We didn’t think she was going into labor until our vet was back. No idea what to do.”
Mitch squared his shoulders. “I can help. How far is it?”
Rea shot him a skeptical look. “No offence, Mr. Craigton but—”
Jackie put up her hand, cutting her off. “He’s an equine vet. He knows what he’s doing.”
Rea looked at him for a split second, then nodded. “Oh, okay, that’s perfect. Thank you, thank you so much! Can you go with him, Jackie? I know nothing about birthing horses.”
“Of course.” Jackie gave her a weak smile. “Call your mom and tell her I’m bringing a vet round to help.”
The fifteen-minute drive to Estrella and Bruno’s seemed to last for hours. Jackie worried the Jeep’s steering wheel might get crushed under her death grip. Half an hour might not sound like a lot of time when it comes to labor, but she’d seen it go wrong twice at the ranch.
“How much further is it?” Mitch’s sharp eyes focused on the road ahead.
“We’re almost there.” She blew out a shaky breath. “They’re good people. They love their horses. Why did this happen to them?”
“Hey, we don’t know yet what’s going on. It might be totally fine.”
Jackie shot him a quick dubious glance. “How often do you see complications during foaling?”
He chewed on his bottom lip. “Most of the time everything goes smoothly. Half of the time I’m not even needed, but the ranchers like to be overly cautious rather than risk not having a vet on hand if there are any problems.”
“When I was younger, one of the foals wasn’t in the correct position. He didn’t survive and the vet was barely able to save the mare.” She swallowed. “Do you think that’s going to happen here?”
“I have no idea; I haven’t seen the mare yet.
But I can promise you I’ll do my best to make sure they both come through.
” Mitch paused, hesitating. “By the time we get there, the foal might be born, and everything might be totally fine. Half an hour from contractions starting to water breaking is the standard time, but it can take up to an hour, or a little bit longer. Sometimes it can take up to three or even four. I’m glad they asked Rea to get you, though.
That’s what I always tell my clients: if there’s no movement after half an hour of initial contractions, they should call me. ”
His voice tugged on a bundle of her heartstrings.
Whenever she was nervous before an exam, he’d talk through every single possible outcome with her, applying annoying logic and reason.
He knew it helped her, every time, his voice soothing the anxiety flaring in her chest. She didn’t flatter herself by thinking he remembered that.
Perhaps, it was part of who he was now: the logical guy who kept a cool head in difficult situations. She appreciated it all the same.
Jackie exhaled, her knuckles bone-white as she took the corner into Rea’s parents’ driveway. “I couldn’t do what you do.”
Mitch gave her a small smile as she parked the car. “You wanted to be a doctor.”
She switched the engine off. “It’s different.”
He arched an eyebrow like he wanted to ask her what the difference was, aside from the obvious, but Estrella ran out of the barn, waving her hands above her head. “Chula, you came!” she wailed.
Jackie slammed the car door behind her and thundered toward her. “How’s Lina doing?”
Estrella threw herself into Jackie’s arms with a force that almost knocked them both to the ground.
“I don’t know, I don’t think it’s good. I’ve had horses my entire life, and every time labor comes around, I’m scared.
But this time I thought everything would be fine.
” She sniffed, pulling away and looking over Jackie’s shoulder at Mich. “You’re a vet?”
He nodded. “Mitch Craigton, nice to meet you Mrs.—”
“Estrella. Thank you for coming. How fortunate you were at the hotel and my Rea could find you. This way, please.”
The three of them entered the barn, illuminated by muted overhead lights.
“Do you know when she went into labor?” Mitch stepped into the stall that Estrella opened.
Jackie walked in behind them, her heart squeezing when she looked at Lina, pawing the ground in the corner. The mare walked in a circle, snorting.
Mitch went straight to her and put his hand on her neck, moving his gaze over her body.
“Bruno, my husband, came to check on her just over an hour ago. He’s back at the house and I’ve been with her ever since.
She’s restless, keeps lying down and getting up, like she can’t find a good spot.
We thought it was the normal start of labor.
We’ve had foals in the past, so foaling isn’t new to us,” Estrella replied, pressing her trembling hand to her chest.
Mitch looked on the ground, touching the damp sand. “I think her water broke.” He came closer to Lina, who didn’t pay him any attention, her head turned to the corner. Kneeling, he waved to Jackie. “Can you turn your phone’s light on and shine it up here? I want to check how she’s looking.”
Jackie strode to him and dove on her knees. She stifled a gasp as she lifted her phone. Something was very red and very wrong. She’d never seen something like this. “What is that?”
“It’s a layer of tissue that surrounds the amnion and fetus. It comes in direct contact with the uterus.” His jaw hardened. He turned to Estrella. “Can you bring me some towels, a bucket of warm soapy water … Do you have any gloves?”
Estrella chewed on her thumbnail but nodded eagerly, running out of the barn before he could finish.
“And a sharp, clean knife!” Mitch shouted after her.
Jackie’s eyes widened. “What do you need the knife for?”
His head swung to the side, a host of emotions crisscrossing his features. “I need to manually rupture the membrane and help the foal out. This is called red bag delivery—you might’ve heard of it.”
Her face crumpled. “I’ve heard about it at the ranch, but I’ve never seen one.” She stood, moving to Lina’s head. She dropped on her heels and scratched behind Lina’s ear. “It isn’t good, is it?”
“No.” Mitch inhaled sharply, pushing both his hands into his thighs, his gaze focused on the barn entrance as he watched out for Estrella. “If the membrane doesn’t rupture, and the foal comes out encased in it, it loses placental blood and oxygen, and dies.”
The weight of that sentence sucked out the air from the barn.
Jackie looked at Lina, tilting her head. “Attagirl, you have a great vet helping you now. Just relax.” Feeling Mitch’s eyes on her, she swallowed, not looking up. “What?”
“Nothing,” he said softly. “I almost forgot how much you love horses.”
Her lips rolled to contain a smile. “I didn’t tell you, but Ricochet died last year. I miss her so much. Even though over the last ten years I didn’t get to see or ride her often, knowing she’s really gone hurts like hell.”
“What happened?”
Her eyes brimmed with tears. “She caught a virus—equine infectious anemia the vet said. I was visiting Mimi and she went downhill so fast. Two other horses at the ranch caught it. They recovered but we were told it was better to put them down, because they could spread it to all the other horses …” She trailed off, the memory bringing bile up her throat.
“Chronic infectious anemia is highly contagious. The only other alternative is quarantining the infected horses away from any other animals, in a separate screened enclosure. Euthanasia is often kinder for them.”
She nodded, drawing a deep breath. Her hand shook against Lina’s mane. “Mimi was devastated. So was Dustin.”
“I can imagine. It’s a very difficult decision. I’m so sorry about Ricochet.” He paused. “Was Diamond—”
Jackie lifted her head, giving him a small smile. “Diamond’s perfect. Rose, Ali and Kit’s daughter, is eyeing him up for herself.”
Mitch crinkled his nose at her. “Of course, she’d be ten years old now. Time flies …” He caught himself and cleared his throat. “They’re all right?”
“They are.” Jackie whipped her head toward the gate as Estrella barreled through it, clutching a pile of fluffy towels with a box of sterile gloves and a knife balanced on top, a bucket hanging off her wrist.
“Here, Mr. Craigton.” Estrella lowered her arms.
“Mitch is fine. Thank you, this will do well.” He took the knife and dumped it in the bucket with soapy water, pulling out gloves from the packet. “Are you squeamish?” he asked Estrella.
She winced, her face paling. “A bit. Chula, could you help him? I need to go tell Bruno what’s happening. He’s been struggling with walking today, otherwise he’d be strolling up and down here, keeping an eye on her. Lina’s his favorite, you see.”
Jackie moved to Mitch’s side, reaching for the gloves. “Of course. I’ll come get you when there’s an update.”
Estrella nodded before she turned on her heel and jogged outside, again.
With her gloves on, Jackie turned to Mitch. “Tell me what to do.”
“I’m going to cut the sac. Once I do, put your hands in and pull the membrane away, as hard as you can. I’ll pull the other side. Then, we need to put our hands inside and, hopefully, feel the foal’s legs. We need to help them get out.”
Her chest rose in pursuit of air. “And you can use a kitchen knife for that?”
Mitch grimaced, lifting the knife from the bucket with boiling water. “Normally, I’d use sterile surgical scissors. I’d also use a sedative beforehand, but I didn’t think to bring veterinary equipment to a honeymoon. Didn’t think I’d be delivering any horses.”
Jackie’s ears pinked up. “Of course you didn’t. Sorry, that was a stupid question.”
“It wasn’t. But if we don’t do anything, the foal will die. Lina might die, too. At least if we try, there’s a chance they might both be fine.”
She nodded, willing her hands to be still. “All right.”
“You’re ready?” He put the tip of the knife right on the surface of the red sac.
Jackie positioned her hands so that she was on the left of the cut he was about to make. “Ready.”
Slowly, Mitch moved the blade across the sac. He paused, and Jackie craned her neck to look inside, where another white membrane glistened.
Taking the knife in his left hand, he palpated the contents of the sac with his right hand. His eyes briefly locked with Jackie’s. “I can feel two legs and the nose.”
“Is that good?”
“Yes, that’s what you want.” The knife was in his right hand again. “I’m going to open the bag now.”
Jackie nodded, even though she wasn’t sure why, as he wasn’t looking at her, his attention completely focused on the job at hand.
There was a soft “pop” as he cut into the second sac. Mitch threw the knife on the ground, straightening his back and putting both of his hands inside, pulling the membrane out of the way. “Get the other side,” he told Jackie.
Holding her breath, she stuck her hands into the opening, pulling the sacs away, just like Mitch was doing on the other side.
Everything got a bit fuzzy after that; time disconnected, as if someone pushed up the playback speed.
The moment her fingers wrapped around what she realized was a leg, her brain went haywire.
Before she knew what was happening, amid them both pulling and Lina’s contractions kicking in, Jackie took a deep breath and when she exhaled, the foal was out.
Mitch cleared the remnants of membrane from the foal’s nose. It opened its mouth, drawing in a shallow breath. Its eyes fluttered open, and Mitch brushed away some of the sticky fluid off its flank. “Welcome to the world, little one.”
Jackie held up a towel to mop up some of Lina’s blood. “Is the foal okay?”
Mitch smiled at her. “He seems to be. We still need to watch him for any signs of low oxygen. Whether he stands on his own and begins nursing … Time will tell. But it’s a good sign he’s breathing on his own.”
Jackie let out a relieved sigh, tension bleeding from her posture. “He?”
Mitch nodded. “Lina must also deliver the placenta. That’s normally up to three hours but all should hopefully be good.” He sat back, legs crossed, and closed his eyes, exhaling a shuddering breath.
Jackie watched him for a moment, mesmerized by the sight.
This wasn’t the same young Mitch who had never been on a horse before she taught him how to ride.
It wasn’t the same shy boy who didn’t know if he could hold her hand as they walked through campus.
This older Mitch was so much better. He was still the same person, she realized, but the years had only helped him grow into himself.
It wasn’t just his confidence or life experience; he’d had a chance to become the person he dreamed of being.
And who didn’t find competence hot? Not her.
“Do you want to go get Estrella?” Mitch asked, tearing her away from her musings.
Jackie scrambled up to her feet, brushing off the dust from the front of her dress. There was a splotch of blood at the front, which she wasn’t sure would come out. But it didn’t matter. Adrenaline pumping in her veins rendered her memory porous. Now, all she craved was a warm shower and … well.
Her gaze flicked to Mitch, and she swallowed a ball of desire lodged in her throat.
Damn it.
“Jackie?” Amusement tinged his voice as he caught her staring.
She coughed. “All good. I’ll tell her now.”