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“If he doesn’t get back to you, I can try to look up some others who may be able to help you in the area. One second,” Anna seemed to muffle the phone, and I heard her talking to someone in the background.
“If you need to go–”
“No, it’s fine, I’m just waiting for my physical and health check. They just need me to fill out some paperwork.”
“Health check?”
“Yeah, just to make sure I’m vaccinated and in good health, not immunocompromised or pregnant, that sort of thing, since the trial will involve a lot of heavy lifting and coming into contact with animals which could spread disease.”
“Makes sense,” I said, scratching between Goaty’s little ears.
God, I wish Anna was here right now, I thought to myself. I hated waiting, and I trusted her insight into things like this. I trusted her more than a random vet I had found online.
My phone buzzed. “Oh, looks like the vet is getting back to me. I’ll let you go.”
“Yes, but please keep me updated. I worry about the little guy.”
“Will do,” I said, saying goodbye and switching over to the other call.
We said hello, and I launched into everything that was going on. As suspected, the vet said we would need to run some tests. He suggested I bring Goaty in, if possible. He was small enough that I could carry him and transport him in my truck, so I agreed.
The goat was almost limp in my arms. He didn’t even fight too much as I carried him to my truck. I feared the worst as I drove to the vet’s office, glancing back every few seconds to make sure Goaty was still with us.
“Please be okay,” I kept muttering to myself. I’d only known the little guy for a couple weeks, but I loved him so much already. I loved all my animals. The thought of losing him made my eyes sting with tears and I just kept praying he would be okay.
* * *
I came back to the farm empty handed. My heart ached ever since walking out of the vet without Goaty. I hadn’t lost him, thank God, but he was in poor condition. He needed a lot of tests and medicine and to be somewhere they could monitor him. I feared I would get a call later in the day telling me he didn’t make it.
I went back to the pen to check on Barbara, Ginger, and Gilbert. Maybe it was my imagination, but I swore Ginger was searching for her missing baby. She bleated at me more than usual and followed me around as if to say, “Lead me to my baby.” But I couldn’t because he wasn’t there.
Barbara seemed to be a bit confused about her missing brother too, but thankfully she had a lot of energy and seemed to be eating just fine. I worried that whatever Goaty had, he might pass it to his twin sister, but so far, she seemed healthy.
Anna wanted me to update her, so I sent a quick message to tell her that Goaty was hospitalized, and they still weren’t sure what was wrong with him, but they were getting to the bottom of it. I wanted to add, “I wish you were here,” but left that out. I didn’t want to make her feel guilty, nor did I want to weigh her down. She should be enjoying her experience and focused on making her dreams come true, not with our lives back here.
I sat on the ground next to Ginger as she ate some hay. I had often found solitude and peace in the goat pen, as they were some of my favorite animals.
Soon, this could all be history.
A lump formed in my throat.
It was hard enough to not have Goaty with us. The idea of leaving him at the vet killed me. If I kept my word to Anna, it would mean finding homes for all my critters and likely never seeing them again.
The thought of that felt like a lead weight in my stomach.
I loved Anna, and I had to make a choice. I told her I would follow her, and I would. But sitting there with the goats, worried about losing Goaty, the reality of actually doing it me hard. Part of me knew Anna was right - I wouldn’t be the same if I left this behind.
Chapter 27
Anna
I sat on the crinkly examining table, alone in a doctor’s office located on the reserve. I kicked my feet and tapped my fingers, eager to get the ball rolling. I was waiting for some bloodwork to come back, just to make sure everything was normal. It was the last piece of information they needed from me before I could start working.
There was a knock on the door and a nurse entered with a smile.
“We got some interesting results back,” she announced.
“Interesting? As in, I’m part alien or something?” My joke fell flat as the nurse took a seat across from me.
