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Hope took a big sip of her wine. She needed to calm down. “We find out what substance they came into contact with, then we find the best treatment … or antidote … to give them.”
“And? Does it always work?” Deimos’s voice changed slightly, seeming to come from deep within his psyche.
“That … that depends. The early treatments worked if we found the animal right away and we figured out just what was wrong. In other cases …” Hope’s voice trailed off.
“They didn’t make it.”
“No. I’m sorry.”
Deimos shook Hope’s hand. “No. Don’teverbe sorry for what you believe or say. You have a right to that.”
Hope nodded, near tears. “Deimos, I’m just so frustrated. I wish I knew what was wrong with your cows and how to treat them. Now that you know something is wrong, it’s just a matter of finding the best treatment. That’s why I want to discuss this with your vet.”
Deimos looked closely at Hope’s face.
“Hope. Don’t blame yourself. Understand that you didn’t give the cows their condition.”
Hope let out a long sigh of frustration. “I know. I just wish I knew how I could help them now that we know what’s wrong. I’d like to meet with your regular vet just as soon as possible.”
“You will. I know whatever’s in the water is likely to come from here. And, as you said, their condition isn’t changing for the worse. Their condition is just … unchanging. Which makes me feel a little hope that we will be able to figure out what is wrong, find the solution, and get it into them.”
Hope couldn’t help it. She looked at Deimos and smiled. “Are you worried?”
“Hell, yes, I’m worried! But knowing your thoughts are going in the same direction that mine are … oddly, gives me some hope.”
SIXTEEN
DEIMOS
Back at his ranch, Deimos gathered the report he had been given and showed it to Hope. She reviewed, asking various questions about plants, and hadn’t mentioned poisoning until just before she fell silent. He worried that it wasn’t good.
“Now that we know my cows are being poisoned, is there a way we can reduce what’s getting into their system before we know what kind of treatments they may need?” he asked hesitantly.
“Is there a way we can have water … pure water … brought in?”
“Yes, whatever it takes.”
“Good. But we’re going to have to order large quantities. I’m going to look at my research again to see if I can find an antidote.”
He asked, “Can they eat Earth hay and feed from Nova Aurora?”
“They can continue to eat both. Even though their appetites are so puny now. Keep feeding them. Whatever they eat is helping them to stay strong enough to fight this poison. Okay. Pure water. Their feed … continue feeding them, probably their Earth feed. This is what they have been used to from when they were calves on earth. Once we get the right treatment started, we can probably re-introduce them to the feed from here. It’s really important to help them keep what strength they still have.
“In the meantime, will youpleasecall your usual vet? The sooner we get started on a real treatment, the better for the cows.”
Deimos stared at Hope, feeling warmth spreading through his chest.She’s just as invested in the health of the cows as I am.
“Uh, yes. I’ll call him and have him come out. He needs to read the report that Lou gave to me and help us to narrow down that substance and find an antidote.”
“That’s exactly what your cows need, veterinary attention from me and the vet who knows about everything that native cows eat and drink.”
Deimos couldn’t help it. He wrapped his arms around Hope and pulled her to him. Lowering his lips to hers, he kissed her.
“Now that we have a better idea of what’s happening to my cows, I do feel a little better. I feel much better because you’ve been here right beside me. And we’re working together. Like investigators.”
Hope wrapped her arms around Deimos. She smiled, enjoying the feel of his arms around her. “Yes, we are. But we need to get those answers sooner rather than later.”
“Let me call the vet and get him out here. Put that report away someplace safe, please.”
