Bossing the Cowboy (Circle B Ranch #4) - Kennedy Fox Page 0,4
remembers that. It’s something I’d never forget because he was the first person I’d met who was going to school to become a vet.
That man has secrets I want to know. Especially the tattoos I’ve caught a peek or two on his muscular forearms when he’s rolled up his sleeves. I push the thoughts away and remind myself he’s a smart-ass who’s demanding and moodier than I am during PMS.
I can hardly speak to him without worrying that I’ve done something wrong or that I’ll be a big disappointment. At this point, I’m convinced his full name is Dr. Connor Condescending Wallen. It does have a ring to it.
As my cousins talk amongst themselves, I grab my bag and walk toward the barn. “You two are hopeless.”
They follow me, snickering.
“Y’all gonna get me fired,” I finally say, only imagining what was said. With those two, there’s no telling.
When we get closer to the entrance, I see Jeffery Bruce standing by the maternity stall. “Howdy, miss.”
“Mornin’,” I return. “So what’s been going on?”
Jeffery explains how the heifer has been struggling and how his attempts to assist were unsuccessful. Since it’s her first time giving birth, she’s already anxious, and now she’s experiencing dystocia. It’s common in heifers because it cannot be prevented, only corrected.
He’s aware of the risk involved and gives me the go-ahead to move forward with the procedure. Rowan and Maize watch as I pull out my shoulder-length gloves along with the leg straps, then get to work. The last thing I want to do is hurt the calf, so I carefully attach the straps to both legs, and with even pressure, I wiggle the baby past the birth canal.
I take a few breaks, allowing the mama all the time she needs to reposition herself. The goal is to avoid hip lock, which could potentially lead to death for both animals.
Jeffery watches from afar, which makes me nervous, considering Connor already told me they were close friends. The pressure’s on, and I refuse to mess this up. Maize offers positive reinforcements and cheers for me like I’m in a dance competition. “You’re doing good! This is why you’ll have Dr. in front of your name soon.”
“You’ve got this,” Rowan encourages. “Bet you could do this in your sleep.”
All I can do is laugh. My cousins have always been my biggest fans, but I’m not complaining. It’s actually nice to hear for once, considering I don’t get many compliments on the job. Sometimes I wonder what I did to Connor to annoy him so much.
“Imma need your help to pull once we see those hooves. Put on the extra gloves in my bag,” I say over my shoulder, blowing loose strands of hair out of my face. Considering I’m elbow-deep in the placenta, there’s nothing I can do. Next time, I’m wearing a hat.
“You’re doing good, mama,” I softly say to the heifer. It takes about thirty minutes before I can ease the calf through the pelvic opening and make sure to keep the head upward. While I’m paying extra attention to the baby and repositioning the calf puller tool, I think about what Rowan said earlier and smile. I could do this with my eyes closed.
As soon as I see hooves, I speak up. “Come on, I’m gonna need some strength,” I tell my cousins. They don’t hesitate and grab on to each leg as I help assist the baby out. We gently set it on the ground, and I clear the mucus from the nose and mouth, then pat hard to make sure the passageway is open. It’s an emotional moment when the mama turns around and sees her baby looking up at us like we’re aliens.
“It’s a boy,” I say. “Who’s perfectly healthy, just a little stubborn,” I say with amusement. The mama licks and cleans him up, and I feel a burst of happiness. Moments like this are so special and a reminder of why I work so damn hard. I love this job and can’t wait to graduate with my doctorate and be a licensed vet.
Jeffery approaches, wearing a big grin. “Ma’am, you’ve got a knack for delivering. Shoulda called you earlier.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that.” I take off my gloves and glance over to see Rowan and Maize enamored by the sweet new baby. “I’m gonna check the heifer and make sure she’s good to go. Probably want to keep her in the delivery stall until tomorrow.”