He studied her for several seconds before inclining his head toward a shelf.
“Grab gloves.This is going to get messy.”
She moved to get gloves with hands already starting to shake from the cold.
“Is this okay?”she asked.She lifted her hands a fraction.It was more confirmation than hesitation.
“Yes,” he said.He ignored how the gloves dwarfed her.They were meant for arms his size.“Come here so I can show you what I need you to do.”
She moved closer, her knees sinking into the straw.She set her free hand against the cow’s flank and felt the rise and fall of the animal’s skin.
“Tell me where,” she said.
He adjusted and gave her space without pulling back.“Follow my arm.You will feel the jaw.”
She did so, inching forward.Her movements were slow and careful at first.When her wrist brushed his, the contact registered.It was brief but sharp enough to notice, though neither of them acknowledged it.
“I think—” she started.She stopped and corrected herself.“Is this it?”
“That is it,” he said.“The head is turned back.We need it forward.”
Another contraction hit.The cow’s body tightened around both of them.Kyla sucked in a breath but did not let it turn into a sound.Her shoulders squared and she adjusted her angle.Her fingers searched again, this time with more certainty.
“Okay,” she said.She was quieter now and focused.“Okay.”
Titus shifted his grip on the legs.He gave her what room he could without losing the progress he had fought for.He could feel the difference already.It was not just her help, but the fact that he was no longer working alone.
“Easy,” he said.He spoke more to the movement than to her.“Do not rush it.”
“I am not,” she answered.He believed her.
Her breathing changed and became steadier.She matched the rhythm of the cow’s contractions as she worked her hand along the line he had shown her.When she found the jaw again, she made small, controlled movements to test what would give.
“Tell me when,” she said.
He watched her hands and the way she adapted.He nodded once.“When it shifts.”
It took longer than he wanted.He had little patience left, but she did not force it.She did not panic when the first attempt failed.She reset and adjusted again.When the next contraction came, she moved with it.
“Now,” she said.
He followed her lead.He lifted and pulled at the same time she guided the head forward.Resistance fought them and then gave just enough to matter.
“There,” he said.The word was sharp with relief.“You have it.Keep that.”
She held the position with her shoulders braced.“What next?”
“The chain,” he said.“We pull with her.”
She glanced down, spotted the metal near his knee, and grabbed it without ceremony.Her movements were quick.“Like this?”
“Yes.Ankles.Tight.”
Her fingers worked faster now.Confidence built from repetition in the moment.When she finished, she looked up at him again and waited.
“On the next push,” he said.
They did not speak after that.The cow’s body drove the timing and they followed.They pulled together when the contraction hit and released just enough between to keep from losing ground.The strain worked through his arms and into his shoulders.
