The two of them locked eyes. Nora’s fiery ones matching her tired ones.
“Alright. Fine. Let’s keep busy then.” Nora turned away first. “I’ll go get the stuff set up.”
Anna walked to the milking area, to the equipment that still needed cleaning, starting to wash it down. Working, keeping her hands busy, was the answer. It was calm and peaceful here. So much so that she was able to ignore anything about deals andchips. By the time they got through half the cows, she’d even managed to laugh a little with Nora.
Nora nudged Anna and pointed over to Tilly, who was climbing the fence railings. “Hey, Anna. Mind taking Tilly around the field to check on the water? She’s got endless energy today. Maybe see the new baby cow? I’ll finish here.”
“Sure. That’s a good idea.” It took two tries for Anna to fully stand, needing to first scootch to the edge of the chair. “Maybe all the walking will help get this baby out of the way as well.”
“One can only hope.” Nora chuckled. “I’m going to miss seeing how much you waddle though.”
Anna called Tilly to her to walk the field. Her headache was almost fully gone as she followed the little girl, who jumped in every mud puddle on the walk. She stepped carefully behind her in the rubber boots Nora had worn earlier. This pasture area extended into three different sections, able to be closed off to let the grass recover from grazing. At the far end of one pasture was a lean-to, a smaller shelter only partly enclosed from the elements, but still with fencing around it.
Tilly ran ahead. Anna didn’t bother calling her back. What trouble could she get into here? They were literally alone. The only humans out here on Mars. A lot of the habits about sticking close, keeping your head down—those would have to be let go.
But still . . .
“Not too far, Tilly!” Anna quickened her footsteps, which stuck in the mud, keeping the little girl in her sight. Nothing might be dangerous to Tilly out here, but she could always cause trouble on her own. Humans usually could cause trouble,and that was why she was wearing that chip in her neck in the first place. Her eyes glanced upward.
That drone was above, still observing.
When Anna finally made it across the field, Simon was there. He’d pulled Tilly back by his side and was answering her questions in a hushed tone.
“Oh.” Anna breathed, joining them. In the middle of the lean-to was the baby calf, only a day old, tucked up by its mother. Both were staring warily at them watching, black and white patterned. After a few minutes the mother ignored them, turning to the hay while the baby wobbled on spindly tall legs.
“She’s so tiny!” Tilly stared at the tiny animal, reaching out with her hand. “When can she go out to play?”
“Anytime, really.” Simon smiled down at her. “They usually separate the babies already, but I asked them to leave this one. I figured we could manage it okay.”
Brushes were out, but soon Tilly lost interest in the cow and instead began looking at the horses in the next field over. Simon brought one of the horses out, halter on, and gave her the brush to use on its back.
He stepped back toward Anna. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” Anna said. “Between you, Nora, and Atlas, I answer that question ten times a day. I’m as good as I can be.” She pointed at the newborn calf. “Simon. This place. I love it here so much.”
“I’m glad.” Simon patted her on the shoulder and went back to Tilly.
Anna watched the cow until her mood entirely lifted. Then she walked back to her home by herself, humming nursery rhymes, with the drone still hovering overhead. Nature made sense. The little calf with her mother would soon be her and everything about right now, all the uncertainty, would be behind them.
Chapter forty-four
Atlas
Atlas pulled back his gloved hand. The medical mindset was hard to slip into, but he forced himself to focus.Not much dilation, but the baby is in position.It didn’t help that Anna also had her hand over her mouth, trying to not laugh. He was checking her cervix, after all.
Maybe he should have insisted that Sterling come for this part. Because she was sitting there, spread open to him, laughing her head off with a pillow clutched tight to her chest above her pregnant belly.
“Anna.” Atlas pulled his expression into a mock frown. “I’m trying to be professional.” He resisted the urge to feel around further, instead removing his fingers and patting on her stomach. “This has to be the oddest dilation check I’ve ever done.”
Her face was red as she started laughing again. She hadn’t stopped from the moment he explained the medical procedures done before birth.
“Sorry.” She giggled harder, gripping her belly. “You look so . . . serious . . . this is serious stuff. And then you’re fingering me . . .”
Sighing loudly, Atlas held up a gloved finger. “I’m checking dilation.”
That was enough to set her off again. She laughed harder, her brown hair slipping out of her ponytail and curling around her face. “Okay. Okay.” Then she tried to make a serious expression. And failed.
“You’re so silly,” he said. “Good news is, everything seems on track . . .”
