I’m surprised Connor trusts me to help his close friends, considering I often feel like he tests me. It’s as if he’s waiting for me to fuck something up so he has a reason to get rid of me. His compliments are few and far between, and if I could learn under another vet in Eldorado, I would. However, Dr. Wallen is the only one in a fifty-mile radius, and his clients know it. That’s why he stays so busy.
I turn into the B&B and park. As soon as Rowan hops in the passenger seat, she speaks up. “You nervous or something? You’re sweating.”
“It’s hot,” I reply. It’s August and doesn’t start cooling down until early October.
“Mm-hmm.” She chuckles. “Maize coming?”
Before I can say a word, Maize walks out of the B&B, slowly taking the steps one at a time. She looks like she made a visit to hell and back as she climbs in the back seat of my truck.
“Oh my God.” Rowan laughs and turns to get a good look at her. “What the hell happened to you?”
I back out of the driveway and head to the Bruces’ ranch. Maize groans at every bump I hit, and I smirk when I look at her in my rearview mirror. She looks hungover and miserable.
“I went to the bar last night to keep Kenzie company, and well…” She sighs. “Do either of you know a Gavin?”
“No, doesn’t ring a bell,” Rowan replies. She works at the bar too and knows all the regulars.
“Thank God. I hope he was just passing through.”
“Maize…” The corner of Rowan’s lips tilts up. “What’d you do?”
“I think the question is who did you do?” I mock, making a turn onto an old country road.
We continue to pick on Maize about her sexcapades and chat the whole way to the Bruces’. She’s obviously embarrassed, but it’s okay to have a little fun every once in a while, especially when you’re young and single. In fact, I envy her. I’m far too busy and committed to school to even have a one-night stand.
Once the barn comes into view, I roll to a stop and put my truck in park. “Alright, we’re here. Think you two can manage to help me so I don’t fuck this up?”
We’ve all grown up on the ranch riding horses and raising cattle, so this comes as second nature to us. Though it’s different when I’m representing Dr. Wallen. If I hurt this calf or the heifer, or don’t do a satisfactory job, my ass and my future will be on the line. No one wants a vet who can’t do basic tasks like a complicated delivery.
“You’ve done this dozens of times. Why are you so nervous now?” Rowan asks.
“Connor made it very clear these were very close friends of his and to treat them well.”
I shrug when she pops a brow at me.
“I don’t want to disappoint him, okay?” I finally say.
“Because you love him,” Maize teases. “I wouldn’t mind having one night with him.”
“Alright, drunky, you stay in the truck,” I say.
“Oh c’mon, I’m fine! I just know you have a thing for your boss, and you’re too chicken to tell him,” she continues.
“How could you not, though? He’s ridiculously sexy!” Rowan fans her face, and I shoot her a death glare. Just because he’s good-looking doesn’t mean I haven’t thought about shoving my size eight shoe up his ass a few times.
Truthfully, good-looking is an understatement. He’s pure sex on legs with dark hair I’d like to thread my fingers through and deep blue eyes I love gazing into. When we first met, I was fourteen, and he had just graduated college, though I’m not sure he even 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.