Chapter Twenty

Hale

I didn't go out in the field all that often, since as the vet tech, I couldn't do a lot of things the others were allowed to. Once, I had considered becoming a veterinarian, and every so often, my friends would nudge me to go back and finish that course of study, but for lots of reasons, I chose the job I had. In another practice, I might not have been as happy, but as things were, I very much enjoyed what my day held.

While the doctors did a lot of this themselves, I was legally allowed to do physical exams and run tests to help the doctors diagnose. Also, administer meds and do all sorts of other things, including give vaccinations. Mainly, I was supposed to provide support for the doctors, which could also mean things like handling anesthesia and assisting in surgery.

As a registered vet tech, my duties were broader than a veterinary assistant who did not have the testing requirements I had faced and passed. This afternoon, my task was visiting a few of our farmer clients to administer vaccines to various animals. I always enjoyed these opportunities to get out of the office and enjoy the beautiful countryside where we lived.

"Hale?" Audrey came out the back door to where I was putting a box of supplies in the trunk. "Where are you going?"

"Here and there. I have some vaccines to give, some medications to drop off. Essentially, I am going to a few farms and the wildlife rescue. Why?"

"Can I come? I'd love to see more of the area."

Could she come? Just the idea of being with her in the car made my heart speed up. "If you want. I'm warning you that it is not glamorous out there. There's a lot of mud in farmyards."

She glanced down at her feet in sneakers. White sneakers. "Ummm…I want to come, but I only brought a few pairs of shoes with me."

I wanted her to come too. "We have extra mucking boots in the back room. Come on and we'll see if there's a pair that will fit you."

In short, there was, and we let the other guys know and off we went. I was excited to show off some of the beautiful countryside and also just spend some time together. In the clinic, we were all so busy that we had not had the opportunity just to talk. But in the car, between stops, we were able to chat about all kinds of things. Getting to know one another better and just enjoying the ride.

Our mate was so intelligent, and she had a great people sense. While I was dealing with the farmers and other staff, she stood aside, watching and finding ways to be helpful. Where a farmer was very nervous about how his favorite cow might handle the big needles, our hopefully mate-to-be distracted him so I could do my job. Another time, she handed me my instruments while I examined a pregnant sheep whose owner had expressed concern about the animal's progress. Overall, it was an ordinary afternoon on the farms, and in between, Audrey asked questions about the next stop or the one we just left… It was nice. So nice, in fact, that I could not resist pulling over in the middle of nowhere and leaning over to plant one on her. At first, she pulled back, and then melted into me, her body soft and sweet and her lips parting under mine. Her kiss was everything I had dreamed of but so much more. The only thing that ended it was a call from the office adding a stop to our agenda. I read the text and sighed.

"Looks like I'm gonna have my hand up inside a cow." He kissed the tip of my nose then straightened in the seat. "Ready to see what that's like?"

"No?" Then she giggled. "Why are you doing that?"

"Owner thinks the cow is about to go into labor and it's her first time."

"And that means sticking your hand up inside her?" Audrey sighed, too. "I appreciate how much care you give all the animals, but is it okay if I prefer kissing you to that?"

I kissed her again then off we went to see to the cow. As it turned out, Bossie was indeed in labor and indeed in trouble. As soon as I examined her, I called the office and told them we needed a vet out here. I'd delivered quite a few animals in the past, but this one was firmly wedged, and I needed another set of experienced hands.

The poor cow was bellowing and stomping, and I was doing my best to keep her and her owner calm when suddenly she settled. I looked over to see Audrey standing on the other side of the cow, whispering in her ear and stroking her head.

"Whatever you're saying, keep saying it." I went to the other end to see if we had any movement, but this was one stuck calf, and it would be at least another fifteen minutes before Idris could get here. Even with Audrey's help, the animal was very close to being true jeopardy, so I continued to try to work the calf free, attempting to rotate it, but I just could not get the purchase I needed.

The cow was straining, and my arm was stuck too, for the moment, when Idris arrived and spotted us. "Looks like quite a party here. How are you, Mr. Smith?"

"Worried," the farmer bit out. "This is a valuable animal and so is her calf."

"Never mind." Idris patted his shoulder before joining me behind the cow. "We've got this."

And, between us, we did. It was touch and go for a bit, but we managed the rotation and once the calf was in position, the new mama delivered with no more trouble.

As we stood over her, watching her lick her new baby, I told Idris, "I kissed her."

"The cow?"

"No, Audrey." I shook my head.

"How was it?"

"Better than I dreamed of."