Page 23 of Spindrift

“You’reprobably right.”

Lambswere supposed to enter the birth canal nose and front toes first. The keywordswere “supposed to,” as several things could go wrong during the process. Onefront leg—or both—could remain behind, which jammed the shoulder blade againstthe ewe’s cervix. Lambs could enter the canal backward, tail first or back feetfirst, or with their heads turned to the side. Multiple lambs could present aconfusing array of body parts, requiring the shepherd to trace each one back tothe unborn owner. This case, however, looked simple enough, and would be a goodlearning experience for Joanna.

“Seeif you can gently feel around the head and get your hand in there.”

“Iwon’t hurt her?”

“Begentle, but she’s already uncomfortable. This will help her.”

Joanna’stongue pressed between her lips in concentration—rather like the poor lamb’s—asshe worked her small hand into the ewe. The sheep groaned and pushed as acontraction wracked her, and Morgan felt sympathy for Joanna, whose hand hadjust received a painful squeeze.

“Whoa,”said the girl.

“They’restrong, right? Okay. Do you feel anything?”

“I. . . I can’t tell.”

“That’sfine. You’re looking for any bony parts that could be a shoulder.”

Joanna’sforehead wrinkled as she put all her concentration into her fingers. Morganremembered the first time she’d assisted in a birth. She’d been much youngerthan Joanna, and she’d had the benefit of watching her mother do it countlesstimes, but it still felt alien to be inside another living thing.

“Ithink I found something?”

“Rememberto breathe,” she told her.

Joannatook a breath. “I didn’t realize I was holding my breath.”

“That’snormal. What do you feel?”

“Ithink . . . I think it’s a tiny hoof!”

Morganvisualized the possible orientation of the lamb’s body. Both shoulders stuck,but one leg almost in the right position if Joanna could already feel the hoof.

“Good.Pull it through slowly.”

“Iwon’t break it?”

“Ipromise you won’t break it.”

Joannadid as Morgan had instructed, and a yellow hoof, followed by a slick leg,emerged. The ewe strained, and the lamb slid out into the straw with a rush offluids.

“Reallynice job. Okay, let her up.”

Theymoved out of the sheep’s way. Baaing, the new mother struggled to her feet andset about cleaning the lamb.

“Thatwas so cool!”

“Right?If it’s a really big lamb, you might have to find both legs, but we got lucky.Do you think she has another one?”

Joannabumped the ewe’s abdomen and nodded. “Definitely. Do I reach in?”

“Let’sgive her a chance first, but you did a really good job. She’s lucky to have youas her shepherd.”

Thirtyminutes, two healthy lambs, and one very excited teenage girl later, Morganemerged from the barn and back to the truck where Stevie waited.

“Goodnews or baaaad?”

“Nosheep puns.”

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