Page 27 of A Cowboy Holiday

I sat up quickly. “Now? It’s too soon. What’s going on?”

“Her breathing is off, and she’s got the shakes. I rang the emergency number at Lou’s office and tried his cell, but?—”

I jumped out of bed, almost tripping over Lila as I scrounged for my clothes. “I’ll be right there.”

I lived in one of the bungalows meant for ranch employees. The two or three-bedroom houses were strategically located near the barns and stables without being too close. No one wanted the aroma of cow dung to compete with the scent of baked chocolate chip cookies. They also didn’t want to live too close to the main lodge, either.

Oak Ridge Lodge was where our dude ranch guests resided while they soaked in the cowboy experience—riding horses, checking on the herd, petting piglets, and feeding goat kids—in between massages and gourmet meals under the stars. It wasa grand, beautiful place with a lush green lawn, a wraparound porch, tall ceilings, fancy chandeliers, and even a view of the ocean from the second story for a few lucky guests.

Nice place, but too noisy and too posh for my taste.

I hurried along an illuminated pathway lined with white roses and lavender and jumped the fence leading to the south barn. I could see my breath and was glad I’d grabbed a thicker jacket. The temperature shift between day and night could be dramatic at this time of year.

But of course, it was warm in the barn. I unzipped my leather jacket and nodded a greeting to the ranch hands on duty, Josh and Vic.

“How’s she doin’?” I asked, though I could see for myself that the poor cow was in distress.

She was trembling and panting. However, I didn’t think she was in the early stages of labor. That was a gut feeling based on years of experience, but I wasn’t a vet.

“Her food and water haven’t been touched since this morning, so we can add loss of appetite to her symptoms,” Josh reported, stroking Hazel’s neck. “I tried Lou again…still no reply, but Axel should be here soon.”

“Good.”

“I didn’t realize he lived twenty minutes away.”

“He won’t mind. This is an emergency.” I set a hand on Hazel’s flank and rubbed gently.

Vic removed his baseball cap and scratched his bald head. “We’ve tried everything to make her comfortable, but?—”

“What’s going on?” Axel burst into the barn, carrying his sleepy daughter on one hip and holding a supply bag.

Vic and Josh spoke over each other in their haste to explain Hazel’s symptoms while I admired the view.

Let me just say…no one did middle-of-the-night emergency chic quite like our new vet. He’d obviously dressed in a hurryand rushed out of the house, bringing only the essentials with him—his unsupervised kid and his vet bag.

Axel’s hair stood on end, his beard had grown significantly overnight, his plaid shirt was buttoned unevenly under his leather bomber jacket, and he’d forgotten his hat. I’d never seen him so unkempt, and yet somehow, he’d never looked better.

“It’s got to be early labor, but she’s not due for a month,” Vic said. “Will the calf make it if?—”

“She’s not in labor.” Axel set his veterinarian bag on a bench and adjusted Phoebe in his arms before turning to me. “Sorry. I had to bring her.”

“No need for apologies. Of course, it’s fine,” I assured him. “But she’d probably more comfortable in a cozy bed. Can Phee stay at your house for a few hours, Josh?”

“That’s not necessary. If I can get a couple of blankets for her, Phee’ll be okay on that bale of hay in the corner while I see to Hazel.”

I frowned, but Josh shook his head and stepped forward.

“Tanner’s right. She’ll be comfortable at our house. I know she just met us, but we’re up the lane from here. It’s a five minute walk…less if you’re in a hurry. We can put a blow-up bed in the girls’ room where it’s nice and warm…and clean. Angie’s awake. She was just texting me to see how Hazel was doing. I’ll call her now and have her get ready for a pint-sized guest.”

Axel froze. A myriad of emotions crossed his handsome face—irritation, annoyance, gratitude, and maybe…acceptance.

“That’s generous of you,” he grunted in his usual crusty manner.

I motioned for him to pass Phoebe to me. “In the meantime, let me take her, so you can examine Hazel.”

Another frown, and maybe a hint of a growl, like a wolf, protective and territorial. But Axel gently set her in my arms, waiting a beat to be sure she didn’t wake. With a brusque nod,he pulled off his jacket, donned a vet’s heavy-duty apron, and marched into the stall.

Phoebe’s golden hair cascaded over my shoulder. I brushed a stray strand from her eyes, noting the contrast of her delicate long lashes and chubby cheeks. She literally looked like an angel. I thought she had her dad’s eyes, but everything else about her was so petite that I had to bet she was the spitting image of her mom.