Page 31 of Need Me
Chapter 8
“Idon’t believe it.”
A little over an hour later, Sally stood munching on some fresh hay while all four of her babies either nursed or bounced around playing. It seemed unreal that a little goat who’d given birth three times and then had undergone a C-section to bring the last kid into the world could possibly act like nothing unusual hadhappened.
She’d been shocked when Kate had performed the surgery in the barn with only local anesthetic, but had been assured that these procedures were routine with goats. Robert had kept Sally calm as she’d lain on her rightside.
Kate had worked efficiently and had kept the incision as small as possible. Brooke had winced when Kate had reached through the opening and then pulled the big kid out. Just as Robert had thought, it was abuck.
Catching Robert’s half-smile, she folded her arms. “Don’t act so smug, Superman. How was I supposed to know that goats bounce back like that? I was scared todeath.”
He put an arm around her. “I’m sorry. I’m really not making fun of you. You’re just so cute aboutit.”
The warm twinkle in his eyes made it impossible for Brooke to be mad at him. “You knowsomething?”
“Hmm?”
“Both our dates have been interrupted, but those half dates have added up to the strangest, best date I’ve had in years,” Brookesaid.
Robert caught Kate’s smile as she finished putting away her surgical equipment and blushed as he grinned at Brooke’s remark. “Is thatso?”
Brooke slid an arm around his waist. “Yeah. I mean, I got to dress up, had an exciting car ride, ate a delicious meal, and helped birth adorable baby goats. What other woman can say all that about adate?”
Kate patted Robert’s chest as she walked by. “Robbie’s one in a million. He’s quiet at first, but just wait until you really get to knowhim.”
Robert frowned. “That only sounds like half a ringingendorsement.”
A loud snore erupted from Kate’s husband, Ric, who sat in a corner of the goat pen. He’d insisted on coming with Kate since it was so late. His head rested against the wall, his mouth hangingopen.
The sound drew the attention of one of the kids and it wandered over to him. It stumbled onto his lap and let out a loud, high-pitched bleat. Ric jerked awake and blinked his blue eyes in confusion while the others crackedup.
He glowered at them for a moment before picking up the kid and settling it against his broad chest. “Everything okay,then?”
Brooke snorted. “Yeah. No thanks to you, BuzzSaw.”
Still holding the kid, Ric got to his feet. “That’s Sexy Pants to you, and I figured that I’d leave things up to the experts.” He handed the goat to Brooke. “There you go. Ready to go,babe?”
“All set,” Kate said, giving Brooke and Robert a hug in turn. “Let me know if there’s any problem, but they should all befine.”
“Thanks, Kate,” Robert said. “I really appreciateit.”
“You’re welcome. Good night,guys.”
Ric yawned and gave them a wave before taking Kate’s vet bag from her. He smiled down at Kate, lacing his fingers with hers as they walked out of thebarn.
Brooke wanted those kinds of easy, loving moments with someone. Shifting her eyes to Robert, she saw him smile while he watched Kate and Ric leave. His expression was slightly wistful and she wondered if he was thinking the samething.
The kid struggled in her arms and she put it down. “Go back to your mama,Spring.”
“Spring?”
Brooke felt a little shy and bit her bottom lip, giving a littlenod.
Taking off his glasses, Robert cleaned them with the bottom of his shirt. “You named them already, didn’tyou?”
“Just that one,” shesaid.
“Uh huh.Sure.”
