Page 77 of Bi-Partisan

She grins. “Well, then let’s get moving.”

I nod and gesture for her to lead the way. As we move, Adrian’s hand slips into mine. He doesn’t feel tense, though, and I can’t help but feel a little relieved at that.

The tour starts with the farm’s cheese and soap making facilities, which, according to Peggy, should be running well enough to start going back to farmer’s markets in about a month. They had to shut down that part of their operations when they started having trouble managing taking care of the goats. But thanks to the grant covering animal care and farm maintenance, they’re able to start production again. From my team’s research, it sounds like their story isn’t an uncommon one. The ability for farms to participate in farmer’s markets just keeps getting harder and harder with the lack of government support.

“Are you expecting more rescues soon?” I ask as Peggy brings us to the newly constructed barn, which isn’t currently housing any goats.

“Actually, we are. That’s why my husband wasn’t able to be here for the tour today. We got a call last night from a nearby farm that needed to re-home some of their livestock,” Peggy explains. She goes to slide open the barn door for us to look inside, but is interrupted by a young woman running up, looking a little frazzled.

“Peggy!” She slides to a stop in front of us, panting slightly.

“Ellie, what is it? I’m giving Congressman Montgomery a tour,” Peggy says, giving the girl a pointed look.

“Sorry, Mr. Montgomery, but it’s urgent,” Ellie says to me before focusing her attention back on Peggy. “Freya went into labor, but I think she might have dystocia because she seems really distressed. I tried calling the vet, but they said he’s out at another farm, so—”

“Can you tell what position the kid is in?” Adrian asks, his sudden interjection surprising me.

While he hasn’t seemed too anxious during the first part of our tour, he has been quiet. Although, knowing how seriously he takes his job, it makes sense how he’d immediately push his introverted nature to the side in the wake of a potential animal crisis.

“Sorry, I’m a veterinarian,” he explains with a small grimace when Ellie looks at him startled, like she hadn’t noticed he was there next to me, holding my hand.

“Oh, um, not really. I definitely saw hooves, but I couldn’t tell past that,” Ellie says hesitantly.

“The kid’s head may be tipped back,” Adrian says with a calm seriousness I’ve never heard from him before.

“Dr. Wilks, I know you said you work with small animals, but would you maybe be able to help?” Peggy asks, sounding considerably calmer than Ellie, but still worried. “Mr. Montgomery, would you mind?”

Adrian glances at me out of the corner of his eye, as if searching for approval, and I squeeze his hand once before letting go.

“Not at all. He’s all yours,” I say.

“Lead the way,” Adrian says.

We all take off in the direction of the older barn, with Peggy, Ellie, and Adrian all moving at a significantly faster pace than the rest of us.

“Sorry, this isn’t exactly the story we promised you, Ms. Bailey,” Mina says as we walk.

“Are you kidding? My editor is going to love this. Plus, I’ve never witnessed a goat birth before,” Shauna says with a grin. She speeds up slightly, Mike on her heels, evidently not wanting to miss a moment.

By the time we get to the barn, Adrian has suited up in some sort of spare coveralls and a pair of plastic gloves that go up past his elbows. He catches my eye as he steps into the pen where the mama goat must be, and I give him a quick reassuring smile. Although, it doesn’t seem like he really needs it. For as high-stress as this situation is, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this calm. He exudes confidence as he gets to work, checking out the mama and her incoming baby, calming her down in a way that almost seems like magic. It’s kind of beautiful to watch. It also makes him at least ten times more attractive.

I lean against the railing as he starts to assist the mama in pushing out the kid, clearly having fixed whatever the heck dystocia is. I feel Mina lean on the fence next to me, but I can’t tear my eyes away.

“Well, this isn’t the press I had planned, but I’m not mad about it,” she says in a whisper.

I hum distractedly.

“Sir?”

I blink and turn my head toward her. “What?”

“Oh my God,” she mutters. “He’s covered in goat birth, and you’re making googly eyes at him.”

“I like watching him in his element,” I say defensively.

“Yeah, well, rein it in while there’s a reporter still here,” she warns gently. “I’m happy that you’re so smitten with him, but you look doe-eyed and lovesick.”

And yeah, I am smitten. Completely smitten.

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