“Skye.”
“That’s pretty.”
“She’s named after the Isle of Skye.”
Lena hummed. “There are more islands, aren’t there? Around Scotland?”
I nodded. “Orkney, Lewis, Mull, Arran?—”
“That’s it!” Lena called. “That’s the one.”
“What?”
She cradled the calf’s head. “Meet little Arran.” She turned to me, looking hopeful. “What do you think?”
“Definitely an improvement on Snuggle Muffin.”
Lena shot me a wicked grin as the calf started snuffling around in the straw. “That can be her middle name.”
“Hiya!” Callum called, coming down the aisle toward us with a large bottle in his hand. He was still wearing the clothes from last night, and I wondered if he’d stopped at all to rest. “I see you’ve met our most recent addition,” he said to Lena.
She beamed in response. “I’m never leaving this pen. The cuteness is off the charts. I’m just going to set up here with my laptop and do my calls while getting a constant serotonin boost.”
Callum laughed, smiling at her, and I couldn’t help thinking about how easily Lena charmed people.
“I was gonna give her a bottle,” Callum said. “Skye’s not much interested in the whole nursing thing yet, but this little one needs her colostrum for the next couple o’days. Since she’s taken so well to the two of you, want to do me a favor and give it to her?”
I nodded, reaching for the calf bottle.
“I’m gonna head off for a kip,” Callum said, clapping me on the shoulder. “You think of name yet?”
“Arran!” Lena announced proudly.
“Carrying on tradition, I see.” He nodded his approval. “Well, you two have fun. I’m off.” He turned and strode away.
I could practically feel Lena’s excitement as I carried the bottle into the pen to her. As I extended my hand, there was suddenly another very excited presence and a pair of gnashing teeth trying to take hold of the bottle.
“Bonnie!” Lena complained as the pony darted in to take the colostrum. “I told you she was a demon pony.”
I grabbed hold of her the best I could, passing Lena the bottle as I wrestled Bonnie out of the pen. “You don’t belong in here,” I told her.
She made a disgruntled snort, stomping her tiny hooves.
“Aye, that’s right. You take yourself back to the pasture you came from.”
I managed to haul her halfway across the shed, then Milo appeared, racing down the aisle to sniff and bark at the pony.
Bonnie broke from my hold and darted after him, straight out the door.
“Well, that works,” I said, waving them both off. I dusted my hands on my pants, slightly out of breath. By the time I returned to the pen, the calf had finished the bottle and was curled up asleep. Lena had locked the gate and made her way down the building to where some of the working horses were stabled.
I walked up to see her giving Clover a rub on the forelock.
“You’re good with her,” Lena told me.
“I’m not sure anyone is good with Bonnie,” I said. “She does as she likes.”
“Oh, please,” Lena scoffed. “Last time I went head-to-head with her, I ended up face first in the mud.”
