Page 28 of A Cowboy Holiday
Yeah, I was very curious about that particular missing link in Axel’s story. Where was Phoebe’s mother? Was there a messy divorce? Was she an unfit parent or did they have a complicated joint custody arrangement? He hadn’t given the slightest hint about her.
It was none of my business, but I wanted to know what made Axel tick. He was quite possibly the most intense and contradictory person I’d ever met. Aloof yet present, gruff one moment and tender the next.
I watched him examine Hazel, modulating a clinical delivery to Vic to something sweeter for the struggling cow.
“Don’t you worry, girl. We’ll get you feelin’ right as rain,” Axel cooed, snapping at Vic to grab a vial from his bag.
Josh moved to my side, slipping his cell into his pocket. “Ang is getting the bed ready. It’ll be easier to carry her to my house than fuss with a car seat. Think the big scary bear will mind?”
My lips curled in a lopsided half grin. “Yep, but he can’t be in two places at once, and she’s just a kid. She needs sleep.”
Phee stirred in my arms, blinking to consciousness with a confused frown. “Where’s my daddy?”
“He’s with Hazel.” I gestured to the stall. “She’s sick, but your dad is going to make her feel better.”
“It might be a while yet. We made a bed for you at our house. You can have a sleepover with Abby, and in the morning, we’ll make pancakes. What do you say?” Josh whispered.
Phoebe’s eyes widened. “A sleepover? Did Daddy say yes?”
“He did,” I confirmed. “Say good-bye real quick. Josh will take you, and Abby’s mom will you show you her room.”
“Okay, yes.” Phoebe wiggled out of my arms and ran to the stall, stopping at the entrance like someone who’d learned a few rules about large animal care.
“Thanks, Josh. This is really nice of you. Tell Angie thanks, too,” I said.
“It’s no problem at all. The kids will be excited to have a surprise guest over.” He zipped his jacket and yawned. “I’ll be back as soon I can.”
“That might not be necessary. Shoot me a text, and I’ll let you know where we’re at.”
“Sounds good.”
I saw Phoebe and Josh off before joining Axel and Vic. “How’s Hazel? Do you think it’s milk fever again?”
“No.” Axel tapped a syringe. “It’s early-stage toxemia.”
“Oh, shit.”
“It’s more common in beef cattle than dairy, but it happens. Dennis’s herd was hit harder by illness than he wanted you to know,” he grumbled, meeting my gaze. “Hazel suffered from dehydration after her last pregnancy and she shouldn’t have been bred again so soon. I’m giving her a glucose, calcium bicarbonate, and magnesium solution. This will have to be administered daily until we can safely induce labor. She’ll be all right, though. I’ll see to it.”
I inclined my chin. “I know you will. What can I do?”
Axel closed the distance and spoke in a low tone, for my ears only. “Just stand there and look pretty for me, cowboy.”
I smacked his arm and scowled, grateful the dim lighting hid my certain blush.
“You can head on home, Vic. Get some rest. I’ll hang out with Axel. The early shift will be here within the hour anyway.”
The older man didn’t have to be told twice. “If you’re sure, I don’t mind if I do. Thanks, Boss.”
Once we were alone, I tried again. “All right, smartass. I’m helping. I’ll clean the stall while you handle medication and fluids. Sound good?”
Grunt.
All right. I’d take it.
We worked in companionable silence for a while. I brought in new hay, fresh blankets, and feed, turned on the heating lamp and triple checked the temperature. Axel dealt with food, water, medicine, and wrote up a detailed treatment plan for Hazel.
“You’ll want Lou’s recommendation too, but this is somewhat standard procedure,” Axel reported, washing his hands in the basin outside her stall.