Page 86 of Wishing Hearts

When Roy and I reach his family barn, he drives a 4-wheeler out from inside. We take the vehicle over the bumpy land to his dairy operation about five minutes away, where the cow in question is in a straw-lined stall. Gerald, Roy’s oldest son, is inside with her.

“Heya, Doc,” Gerald greets, rubbing his forehead with the sleeve of his shirt.

“Hi, Gerald,” I return, setting my bag down and stepping into the stall. “I hear we’re having an issue with delivery?”

The younger man nods. “Seems so. She keeps pushin’, but nothin’ much has been happenin’.”

He gestures toward the cow, who’s lying down in the straw, and I step closer. The calf’s hooves are clearly visible, but if they’ve been that way for over two hours without progress, the cow might need assistance.

“Okay, let me get cleaned up real quick, and I’ll take a look,” I tell him, heading back out of the stall.

Roy is waiting outside. “Thanks, Doc. Glad you’re here today. Life has a funny way of workin’ out like that, don’tcha think?”

I hum. “Where can I wash up?”

Roy leads me over to a bathroom, and I wash my hands and arms before pulling on gloves that nearly reach my shoulders. Back in the stall, I kneel near the cow’s rear end and check her progress.

It’s been a while since I’ve had my arm up a cow’s vagina.

“Well,” I say, removing my hands and peeling off the gloves. “The calf’s breech, but the mama’s cervix isn’t fully dilated yet. So, at this point, we need to give her some time. Is this her first calving?”

Gerald shakes his head. “No, her second.”

“Okay, that’s good,” I say. Although it doesn’t explain the lengthy delivery. “I’ll keep checking her progress. Once her cervix is open, I can assist the calf out. But until then, we wait.”

And wait we do. I keep checking the cow’s progress, but another two hours in, we’re no closer to a birth. And, at this point, I’m starting to get worried for the mama. She’s been pushing steadily for hours now, and the exertion is starting to show.

“I’ll be right back,” I tell the two men, exiting the stall and grabbing my water. I guzzle some down, and when my phone pings from inside my bag, I fish it out. Cringing, I see three missed texts and a missed call. Two of the texts and the call are from Sam, and the other text is from my mom.

Sammy: Everything all right, stud?

Sammy: Seriously, Harrison, are you okay? It’s not like you not to respond.

And…

Mom: Hey, dear. Just a reminder that your dad and I have tickets to a show tonight. We’ll need to leave by 5.

Shit. Shit.

I check the time. I would need to leave here within the next thirty minutes to make it to my parents’ in time to pick up Winnie before they have to go.

“Doc?” Gerald calls out. “Somethin’s happenin’.”

I drop my phone and water and head back into the stall. More of the calf’s legs are now visible, so I pull on my gloves and check the cow’s progress.

“She’s fully dilated,” I say, to which Roy breathes out in relief. “I’ll give her a little time to see if she can pass the calf herself, but if not, I’ll help it out.”

Gerald nods, wiping his forehead again. The poor guy looks sweatier than the cow.

When my phone starts to ring, I excuse myself, stripping off my gloves once more and stepping out of the stall.

“Yeah?” I say, answering the call.

“Harrison?” Sam asks in concern.

“Hey,” I breathe out. “I’m sorry I didn’t get back to you, but today has been a shitshow, and I haven’t had a moment to slow down.”

I step in front of the stall door, watching as the mama pushes the calf out another few inches. Sam is saying something, and I realize I missed the first part of it.

---