Page 27 of A Steadfast Heart
Next, Kaitlyn eyed Jo, and Drew’s throat tightened. His daughter deserved the tongue-lashing Kaitlyn probably had planned, but he was the parent.
But Kaitlyn didn’t waver. “That wasn’t very kind to the little calf. I’m afraid I spilled the poor baby’s dinner.”
Jo’s eyes widened, and her laughter disappeared.
Drew knew his expression must be showing the surprise he felt. How had Kaitlyn known Jo’s soft spot for animals would mean more than any anger she could show about her soiled dress?
Still, it wasn’t enough. Especially with David and Tillie watching. The last thing he needed was all three of them thinking it was okay to treat Kaitlyn this way. He glared at his daughter. “Josephine McGraw, I’m disappointed in you. You apologize to Kaitlyn.”
Jo’s shoulders slumped. “Sorry,” she mumbled.
“Get the dirty bucket.” Drew pointed into the pen. “You’ll have to scour it before we can feed the calf. And you will scrub every stain out of Kaitlyn’s dress before you go to bed tonight. Plus take extra chores tomorrow.”
Jo’s shoulders slumped farther at the thought of more work. Her mouth pressed into a thin line. “They won’t go to bed hungry, will they?” She gestured to the calves.
He made a show of examining the amount of milk in the remaining buckets, buying time to consider what the best answer would be. Jo had reacted to the idea of extra chores, but Kaitlyn’s comment about the calves had driven the point home. He didn’t want to waste this moment. “I think we’ll have enough if we don’t spill any more. But the longer it takes you to scrub that bucket, the longer the baby will wait for her dinner. And don’t cut through the pen. The cow I put in there is crazy.”
Jo grabbed the bucket and ran for the house.
“David, go get the rest of the milk and bring it here. Take Tillie with you.” Best if the kids weren’t here when Kaitlyn put away that fake smile. The kids trooped outside.
He turned to his wife. “I’m sorry.”
Kaitlyn shook her skirt. Bits of straw and manure fell off. Her smile disappeared. She blinked a few times, but no tears fell. At least, not yet. Would she save them for him tonight?
David came back carrying two buckets. Tillie trailed behind him. Jo trudged in with the bucket she had scrubbed. Drew divided the milk between the buckets, and David carried one bucket into the stall with Curly’s baby. The calf butted him, but he stood his ground.
“He’s better at it than I am.” Kaitlyn gave her skirt another shake, her knuckles white from her grip.
“He’s had practice.” Drew tried to keep his voice steady. Wasn’t sure he succeeded. He wished he was surprised that Jo could do something so mean, but he wasn’t.
Kaitlyn bit her lip, then released a long breath. She leaned against the pen. “What are their names?”
“Tillie named the first four. Freckles, Boo, Buddy, and Chip.” Drew pointed to the calves one after the other.
Tillie looked up to Kaitlyn. “I pick-ed good names for them.”
Kaitlyn nodded. “That you did.” Then she looked to David. “But the baby doesn’t have a name yet?”
David shook his head, eyes tight. The calf bumped the bucket again, and David pulled it back. “Don’t do that, little one, or you won’t have enough supper.”
Kaitlyn’s hand flexed. “Names take a while. You’ll have to tell me what you choose.”
Drew stepped into the pen beside David and laid a hand on his shoulder. Drew hadn’t named an animal for a long time after he’d lost Calico. David pulled away.
Kaitlyn leaned against the wall and watched as David patiently convinced the calf to drink when she wanted to suck. “How long will it take her to learn?”
David kept his head down. “Some take longer than others. You just keep working at it.”
“Who taught you how to feed them?”
Tillie looked up from the pebbles she was playing with, her tears gone but a streak of dirt across her cheek. “Pa did. He’s the smartest man in the world.”
Drew winced. The words hit hard. If he was so smart, why was the ranch failing? They’d go under if he didn’t hold on to the grazing from the other three homesteads. And Kaitlyn knew at least some of the problems he faced. She knew he needed to sell the bull. He stiffened. What would she answer?
Kaitlyn met his gaze for a long moment, then knelt down to face Tillie. “I think you’re right, Tillie.”
Drew shook his head. She couldn’t really think that.
