Page 23 of The Talk Around Town

Emma gasped aloud before she could stop it. “But why? It’s only a baby.”

Gabe shrugged a shoulder. “I don’t know.”

From the look she gave her brother, Darby was clearly surprised. “Jezebel has never done that before. She’s usually such a good mother. I wonder what set her off?”

Gabe reached out and patted the caramel-coloured head of his cow, scratching her behind the ears. Unlatching the door, he stepped out to join them.

“Where’s the baby? How can it be without the mother?” Emma asked, unsure how all this worked.

Crooking his finger at her, Gabe motioned to his right. The other quarantine room was quiet. A heat lamp hanging low beamed out at them. Emma peered through the clear window and gasped. It was so small.

Sitting in the middle of the hay-strewn floor was the tiniest cow she’d ever seen. Its delicate little legs were tucked up beneath it. Its head was lying curled around on its knees, eyes closed tight.

“Oh!” She moved closer to the door, unaware that the other two were watching her intently. “That’s it? And Jezebel doesn’t like her?”

She couldn’t fathom it. It was a horrible, scary cow, but such a sweet little one. Well, maybe not so scary, considering how tiny it was.

How could a mother reject something like that?

“Do you want to go in?” Gabe’s deep voice sounded close behind her.

Emma jumped, startled at how close he was. She could smell the scent of his aftershave, faint beneath the overlaying odours of hay and the outdoors.

He smelled good. Too good.

She shook her head at him. “Oh no. She’s sleeping. I wouldn’t want to wake her.”

Gabe pointed a finger over her shoulder. Emma peered into the room, surprised to see enormous jet-black eyes staring at her. The tiny creature struggled a moment and heaved to its feet, staggering a little until it gained balance. The slight wobble as it made its way to the door belied its young age.

“Go on. You’re safe. I’m right here.” Gabe pushed against her back,urging her into the room.

Emma bit her lip hard, curiosity overcoming her caution where this animal was concerned.

What could it do?It was tiny. It couldn’t hurt her. She’d never actually seen a baby cow before, not in real life. Gabe wouldn’t send her into a room with a wild animal. She glanced at Darby, relieved to see her nod of encouragement.

Very slowly, she opened the door and stepped through, her heart pounding so loudly she worried it would startle the calf.

It wobbled some more, its head lifting to stretch out toward her. Emma stopped dead, fear once again overtaking her.

What was she doing in there? She wasn’t an animal person. Nothing above a puppy anyway. Heck, the thing could bite her or do something much worse.

Did calves have teeth? Did they carry diseases?

Emma’s mind whirled, panic rising sharply. A sudden movement caught her eye, and the calf bounced right at her. She squealed and flew backward, the pitch making her ears ring. The calf seemed to twist in mid-jump and bounce around toward the back of the small room.

A soft bawling stopped her hand on the latch of the door. Heaving in a calming breath, Emma dared to look around.

The calf’s legs wobbled again. It dropped to its knees, falling to the floor beneath the light.

“No! Oh heck, Gabe! Help her, there’s something wrong.” Emma flew to kneel before the little animal, all fear forgotten with the thought it was injured. What if it was her fault?

Unthinking, she reached out a trembling hand toward it. A small, velvet-soft nose touched her hand, seeking warmth.

*

Gabe watched carefully,not realising he was holding his breath until he let it go. Stomping hard on the minute tendril of awareness threatening to snake through his veins at the sight, he stared at the gorgeous woman on her knees in the hay, her hand shaking but still reaching out to what she believed was a hurt animal.

Concern overrode her fear—to the extent that she seemed to haveforgotten about it.

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