Page 72 of The Lucky Heart (Jamison Valley 3)
“What?” he whispered. “Is that not okay?”
I shook my head. “No! No, they’re wonderful. Thank you.”
“The least I could do is get you some boots so your fancy shoes don’t get wrecked. I’m grateful that you offered to help me out here. It means a lot.”
“Really?” I whispered. “You don’t think I’m just some silly city girl who’s going to get in your way?”
He tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “Really.”
I smiled and took my boots so I wouldn’t be tempted to kiss him. “They’re perfect. Just my size even.”
“Do you want some socks?”
“No, they’ll be fine just like this. Let me grab my gloves.” I dug through my purse and pulled out the gloves that Silas had gotten me for Christmas. They didn’t go with any of my coats but I still carried them everywhere.
Silas stepped into his own muck boots and grabbed a worn flannel coat from the closet by the door. He trapped his hair under a baseball hat and pulled on the gloves that I’d gotten for him. The cold air blasted me in the face as we walked outside and around to the front of the barn.
“So when we get in there, just hang back a bit while I check her out. Just like with horses, the key is to go slow and easy.”
I nodded. “Okay.”
He slid open one of the large wooden doors to the barn and closed it behind me. The smell of straw and leather filled my nose. The barn was wide, long and surprisingly clean. It was hard to believe that just beyond the stack of hay at the far wall was Silas’s apartment.
On the left side was a row of wooden stalls. The right side was lined with tool shelves and hooks full of ropes, chains and leather straps. Saddles rested on wooden posts bolted to the wall.
I followed Silas to the second stall where a huge, black cow was standing. About three stalls down, Courage poked his head out. “Where are your other horses?”
He chuckled. “You don’t have to whisper. And they’re all outside. We only bring them in if we’re going to ride. I’ve been taking Courage out to check cows, so he gets to stay inside where it’s warm. He likes it because he gets spoiled with grain and I think Mom’s been sneaking him apples.”
Silas slowly opened the stall’s gate and eased in next to the cow. He started feeling her side, then moved to her rear where some gross stuff was happening. While he did his inspection, I went back to inspecting the barn.
Each time my gaze landed on Courage, he was staring at me with disapproval. It was like he was calling me a chicken. I’d finally had enough so I made a face and stuck my tongue out at him. So there, horse. He snorted a loud breath, which made me jump. Damn it. One-upped by a beast.
When the stall gate squeaked, I looked back to Silas. His eyebrows were creased together. “This calf is backward. I’m going to have to pull it.”
“Pull it? Like pull it out of her?” I asked with wide eyes.
“Yeah.” He walked to the wall and collected a set of chains. “I could use some help with these. Think you can stomach it? It’s fine if you can’t. I’ll just run inside and get Mom or Dad to help.”
“I-I can help,” I stuttered.
“That’s my Lis.” His sentiment and sexy grin did a lot to calm my nerves.
I had no idea what to expect but I wouldn’t let him down. Besides, I wasn’t really a queasy person. I’d spent way too much time in the hospital with my mom to be scared by the sight of blood and bodily fluids anymore.
Silas led me into the stall and handed me a set of small silver chains. “Stand right there at her side and hand those over when I tell you. I’m also going to have you hold her tail out of the way. Okay?” I nodded and my jaw dropped as he pulled on a pair of plastic gloves that went all the way to his shoulders.
Holy hell. What had I gotten myself into?
Fifteen minutes and a lot of slimy goo later, an adorable, little, black calf was lying on a bed of straw beneath his mother’s feet.
“He’s so cute! I love him. Can he come live with me at my house? I’ll name him Pete.” I was leaning over the st
all’s gate, completely enamored by the baby animal.
Silas chuckled as he finished washing up at a sink in the corner. He joined me at the railing and nudged me playfully with his shoulder. “Thanks for your help.”
“Uh, sure. I didn’t really do anything.” All I’d done was hand him the chains when he’d asked. He had looped them around the calf’s tiny hooves so he could help it out. “How’s the mama cow doing? I can’t believe she didn’t make a sound or anything.” I had expected to hear something as she birthed her baby but she’d just stood there quietly and let it happen.
