Page 71 of When We Were Us
“Sure thing, boss,” Beau says and starts for my truck.
I hitch my chin up in Wrenley’s direction, then indicate the end of the halter with my gaze. “Do you feel comfortable guiding her through, or should I have Beau help?”
“No, I think I got it,” she says, looking down at me.
Normally, I wouldn't ask someone who isn’t experienced with this sort of thing to help, but Wren handles horses on a daily basis and I know a spooked horse is just as dangerous as an injured cow. Probably more so. I have no doubt about her abilities.
Beau comes back with the crowbar, and after just a few seconds, I’ve got one side of the fencing pulled back with plenty of room for Wren to guide her through. But the calf is stubborn and just keeps pushing toward her mama, rubbing against the barbed wire side.
Wren keeps up with trying to guide her through for several minutes. I want to ask if she’d like help, but the look of determination on her face has me keeping my mouth firmly shut. So, I keep my booted foot on the wood, trying to give the calf more room to step over and out.
“Here,” she says to Beau, holding out the end of the halter to him. “Hold this a second.”
He takes it from her, and we watch as she swings one leg up and over the wood fencing.
“Careful, Wren,” I say, my gut clenching as I keep watch on the mama cow just a few feet away.
The whole time she’s moving closer, she’s talking in hushed tones to the calf and cutting glances toward the mother. Once in position, pressing the bottom of her shoe to the side of the calf, she pushes as Beau pulls on the halter. It's like the calf knows exactly what she’s trying to do because, within seconds, she’s squeezed through the gap and Wren is dropping to her feet next to me.
The calf’s a bit wobbly on her feet, but doesn’t try to run, probably from exhaustion.
Wren slides her makeshift medical case toward her as she crouches in the dirt, and I wipe the sweat from my forehead with the back of my wrist. I loop the end of the rope around the T post twice and fashion a quick release knot.
Gingerly, so as not to startle the calf, Wren begins running her hands over the tired animal, checking her neck, eyes, and ears. Then, she moves down her body to inspect each of the legs.
“Nothing feels broken,” she murmurs to herself. She talks quietly to the animal as she works, pressing and flexing her limbs carefully. “You’re doing great, baby girl.”
She works quietly as she runs her hand gently down the calf’s back to her flank, assessing the damage. From here, I can see a few small scrapes on the flank and hock of her right side, but they don’t look deep.
“She seems ok.”
I nod as she moves around the animal, checking her wounds. I watch her in her element. Her gloved, expert hands never waver, moving of their own volition.She isn’t good, she’s great. Especially after what she did for Apollo.
And with the way she jumped in just now to help, I feel a tug of something like pride in my chest. Hopping up on that fence wasn't the smartest idea, but it was the quickest and fastest way to get that calf loose. To be honest, it's exactly what I would have done.
“These are superficial enough that they won't require stitching, thankfully. They should heal up on their own.” Pulling off her gloves, Wren stands and wads them up, shoving them into the pocket of her flannel.
“Beau, you wanna take her down and put her back in?”
“Yep. I got ‘er.” He pulls the tired calf along until he reaches his horse. Once, he’s seated, they head back down the fence line toward a panel gate that will allow him to reunite calf and mama, who is already ambling that way.
Wren watches them go and then turns to me with a wide grin. “Well, that was satisfying.”
“Yeah?”
She nods with a laugh, then holds up a hand for a high five, her eyes shining with happiness. I pull off one glove and clap my palm against hers.
I’m awkward as fuck, but I can’t deny how good it feels to touch her again, and I didn’t even have to interrupt a dance to do it this time. My gut gives a clench.
“Hell, yes. Teamwork, baby.” She laughs lightly, a brilliant smile playing across her face, and I can’t help but chuckle.
I clear my throat and look away, unable to hold her gaze. I didn’t expect working with Wren would feel as good as it does.
We watch as Beau guides the calf back to its rightful side of the fence and then heads back our way. The calf lopes over and its mother starts tending to its wounds with a wide tongue.
“You still ok to hang out for a few minutes while we fix this? We need to close this gap so that doesn’t happen again,” I ask. “Or I can run you home now and come back.”
I immediately wish I hadn’t offered because I really like spending time with her like this. Us not fighting, and me having an excuse to just be near her.
