Page 109 of Blue Jean Summer

“Hi,” I said, walking into the kitchen as Hayes followed. “What can I do for you?”

If he was shocked by my appearance, he didn’t show it. “You still lookin’ for another cow?”

I blinked. “Yes?”

“I’ll leave her up by your little one.”

My hand shot out as if I could stop him with some kind of mystical power. “Wait—you’re…you’re giving me a cow?”

“No, ma’am,” he said rather succinctly. “I’m giving you to a cow. Treat her better than the last guy or she’ll disappear from your land too.”

And with that, he turned and walked away.

“I have so many questions,” I muttered as I stared at the open kitchen door. “Did he steal a cow?”

“With Warren, you never know,” Hallie said. “He’s a good man…I think.”

Hayes shrugged. “Granddad wouldn’t have leased him the west side if he wasn’t.” He plucked the cowboy hat I had given him from the coat stand and dropped it on his head. “Let’s go take a look.”

—

Sure enough, there were fresh trailer marks in the grass where Warren had backed up to the gate. A cow much, much larger than Dorothy stood in the Learning Cottage pasture.

Dorothy and her new friend had plenty of room and a brand-new shelter to sleep in if the weather got bad. I would miss our long walks from the stables to the cottage, but she would be happier now.

The new cow studied Hayes and me with obvious mistrust as we leaned against the fence.

“Got a name for this one yet?” Hayes asked as he smoothed his hand up and down my back.

“She and I will figure it out,” I said as I rested against his shoulder.

Hayes lifted an eyebrow. “Should I be worried you’re talking to the cows?”

“Nah. Animals are great to talk to. It’s when they start talking back that you should get worried.”

He laughed. “Fair enough.”

We watched as Dorothy nosed around the newcomer, much more eager to have a friend than the older cow was to have a pasture mate.

The cow turned, and my eyes widened. Deep scars slashed her hind legs. Some were still red and angry.

“Poor thing…”

“No wonder Warren, uh, secretly rehomed her.” He tipped his head, making the brim of his cowboy hat point toward the cow’s udders. “Looks like she calved not too long ago.”

I may not have understood what she had gone through, but Dorothy did. The little one nuzzled up to her and latched on to one of the udders.

“Look at that,” I whispered.

Hayes was tense. “I hope the momma doesn’t reject her.”

The cow seemed to relax in the new space. She peeled her big, baleful eyes away from Hayes and me and hung her head in contentment.

“Hayes?” I said as we watched Dorothy nurse for a moment.

“Yeah, sweetheart?”

“You were watching the news with Hallie.”