Page 67 of Fierce Protector

“Dr. Demi.”

“Hi, Doc. It’s Robin Peterson. I hate to call at this hour, but we’ve got a cow that’s been laboring for hours. She’s not making progress.”

Oh, no. She’d promised not to leave.

She had to. It was her job. It was who she was.

When she learned about the baby, she’d been so determined to go it alone. Now that she and Ledger admitted to deeper feelings, Demi’s goal was to figure out how to let him into her life. Everything was changing, and it frightened her.

But a crisis with an animal she knew how to handle. She was a veterinarian. She couldn’t forget that. She’d built her practice from the ground up, solo, and this job would support her family.

It’s showtime.

“What cow is it?” She jumped off the mattress and hurried to find her boots. She knew the Petersons’ stock very well. All of their cows had calved at least once before.

“It’s Nellie.”

“I pulled her last calf, didn’t I? It was breech.”

“Yes. Jeff thinks this one might be breech as well.”

“I’ll be there as soon as possible.” She yanked her boots on and fetched her jacket too.

As she ended the call, she walked out of the shed. In long strides, she hastened toward her SUV, but then she realized she needed to tell someone where she was going. Just in case.

She took a detour to the big house. When she knocked on the door, Meadow answered, fully dressed with an expression of worry pinching her brows.

“Demi. Are you okay?”

Through the side window, she saw Opal and her daughter sitting in the living room with Ivy. They must have all been sitting up, talking and offering comfort to each other.

“Yes. I just got a call about a breech birth. I need to go help.”

“Is it wise to go out alone again?” Meadow asked.

“Have you seen Jeff Peterson? No one is going to mess with me on his ranch.”

Meadow eyed her, then glanced over her shoulder at Opal. The woman was curled on her side, crying.

“Maybe you’re right. Do you want me to come with you?”

““Opal needs you,” Demi said softly. “I’ll be fine. I’ll drive straight there without any stops, pull the calf, then come straight back.”

Meadow stepped onto the porch and gave her an unexpected hug. Stunned, Demi embraced her in return, feeling safe and protected with her new sister in a way she never experienced before.

“The guys will be back as soon as they get the animals safe. Webb stayed behind to watch over things here. Do you want me to ask him to drive you?”

“No, I’ll be fine.”

“Be safe, Demi.”

She threw her a wave and quickly descended the porch steps to stride across the yard.

The drive to the Petersons’ only took minutes. Jeff and Robin greeted her in the driveway.

“Is the cow in the barn?” Demi asked.

Jeff shook his head. “I found her in the field about four hours ago.” He waved to the ATV sitting there. “I’ll drive you out there.”

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