Page 44 of Clearly Charmed

Clo gave me a knowing smirk and I said, ‘Bryce, will you excuse us for a minute?’

He graciously stepped aside to check his phone.

‘What are you up to?’ I growled.

Her bony shoulders lifted in a casual shrug. ‘I can do my part too. We need to understand what that man knows. Loosening him up with some wine and a good meal can’t hurt.’

I couldn’t help but laugh. The absolute wrong person to underestimate in this town was my grandmother, and Bryce was about to learn that fact very quickly.

My phone buzzed and I pulled it out of my back pocket. My shoulders tightened as I read the message.

‘What’s wrong?’ Clo said.

‘George Spellner’s been worried about his pregnant cow, and now it looks like she’s having issues. I’d better call Jessa and let her know I have to cancel the rest of today’s appointments.’

‘Why don’t you let me take Flora to the clinic? I can tell Jessa when I get there,’ Clo offered like she was trying to get back into my good graces.

‘Thank you. That’d be helpful. I don’t know how long I’ll be there.’

Clo whistled, called Flora’s name, and the two of them walked back toward the amphitheater.

‘Did I hear something about a pregnant cow?’ Bryce said.

‘Do you ever stop eavesdropping?’ I huffed.

He gave a shy shrug like that’d make me forgive his irritating ways.

‘Yes. I have to head to the Spellners’ farm.’

‘Do you need help?’

‘I’ve got this.’

‘How about another pair of hands? Maybe someone to carry your equipment? Put me to work. I think I did pretty good with Julius.’

‘Something tells me that even if I say no, you’ll still figure out a way to get there.’

‘True. So why not give in now and let me come along?’

There was that charming smirk again. How did he keep figuring out ways to break down my defenses?

‘I guess you did prove with Julius that you could go a while without being squeamish.’

‘You don’t need to worry about me.’

‘Oh, just you wait. Plucking a few quills is much different than a difficult live birth.’

He straightened his shoulders. ‘I’m up for the task.’

I held back a laugh, because he had no idea what he was volunteering for. If he wanted me to put him to work, he was about to get a brutal lesson in rural veterinary medicine.

Chapter Fifteen

A Gift Many People Don’t Get to See

Daisy Sue was corralled inside the century-old, wood-sided barn. She paced around the twelve-by-twelve calving pen, vocalizing every few seconds, which were all indications of active labor.

George stalked around the edges of the pen, his muddy boots crunching through fresh straw. Every few minutes he muttered under his breath like an expectant father. He was a fourth-generation farmer with a soft spot for his small herd of dairy cows.