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  “I’ll find out if Seth is coming here for lunch or supper tomorrow; we’ll all help you with your interview, Riley.” Melissa snickered as she wiggled her eyebrows, and Riley rolled her eyes.

  After Ben and Riley went upstairs to unpack, Riley asked, “Are you sure about this?”

  Ben sat on the bed, and Riley sat next to him. “It’s really the best solution, babe. If you were living an hour or so from the training center, I’d worry about you during the day because you and Toby were alone, and I’d want to rush home at the end of the day to be home to eat supper with you, but that would rarely be possible, from what the guys say. I think you’ll love working with Uncle Seth, and you and Toby are comfortable with Mom and Dad, which takes a huge burden off my mind. What about you?”

  “I’m looking forward to farm visits; I’m not sure I could tolerate not working. If I were somewhere else and was working at a vet clinic, either the staff would be nothing like Doc Julie Rae’s team, which would be horrible, or they would be as good, and I’d be miserable again because I’d have to leave them after four months.”

  “I don’t suppose I could convince you to avoid anyone who might shoot at you.” Ben hugged Riley.

  “You say that like I had a choice.” Riley rolled her eyes.

  On their way downstairs, Ben said, “We can move next weekend; I’ll get on the computer now to sign up for housing and food. Want to watch me?”

  Riley snickered. “As entertaining as that sounds, I’ve put in my computer time for this month, so I’ll see what Mom’s doing.”

  When Riley went into the kitchen, Melissa wore her sunhat. “I’m going to check the garden and maybe weed or pick what’s ready. Want to go along?” Melissa asked. “I have work gloves for both of us.”

  Riley removed her ballcap from her backpack, and the two of them strolled together to the garden.

  “Everything settled?” Melissa asked.

  “Yes, and next week is my last week at Doc Julie Rae’s, so we’ll move out of Helen’s house next Saturday. My goal for today and tomorrow is to practice relaxing because I’m not sure I remember how anymore.”

  “A long, soaking bath will help,” Melissa said as they pulled weeds, “especially after you finish a row or two of weeding.”

  When Ben and Jake roared past them in the farm utility vehicle with Duffy and Finn trotting along behind them, Ben waved.

  “Where are they going?” Riley asked as she returned the wave, and Toby joined them in the garden.

  “They’ll check the trail for any downed trees. A clear trail has become important to Jake now that he has the puppies to go with him; they love it, and so does he.”

  After they finished weeding the bean patch, Melissa rose and picked up her basket. “We have enough green beans for supper tomorrow night. I’d planned a chicken and rice casserole, and a generous serving of fresh green beans makes a perfect side dish.”

  On their way to the house, Melissa said, “We need to get you a sunhat like mine to work in the garden, and you might want to consider wearing it when you go to farms with Seth. Your face is beet red. I’m not sure if you’re overheated, sunburned, or both. You’ll want sunscreen and bug spray too.”

  “Grandma and I always slathered on sunscreen when I visited her because she said we had pale Irish skin that had never seen anything like the Georgia sun, and even if we were just checking her deer stand, we always took water; I’d forgotten about that.”

  “We’ll start a list,” Melissa said as they went inside. “I expect Jake and Ben won’t be coming in until after dark, so I’m going to put up my feet and read.”

  “Sounds like a perfect time for my long, soaking bath.” Riley smiled.

  After her bath, Riley shampooed her hair then dressed in soft pants and a T-shirt under a long-sleeved flannel shirt. When she and Toby went into the living room to join Melissa, Ben and Jake came inside with Duffy and Finn bounding in and dashing straight to the water bowl.

  “Honey, we’re home,” Jake called out.

  Melissa smiled. “He loves saying that. I’m sure they’ll have all kinds of stories. I’ll pull out the snacks, and we can sit at the kitchen table.”

  “I’m glad I hadn’t gotten comfortable on the sofa yet because I’m not sure I could have gotten back up.”

  Melissa chuckled. “It is comfortable, isn’t it?”

  When they went into the kitchen, Jake had already pulled out two beers and handed one to Ben.

  “It’s not that often my son isn’t on duty,” Jake said as he lifted his beer to Ben.

  Ben nodded. “All it took was two large trees across the trail to adjust to an actual weekend off.”

  “We’ve got snacks and more cheesecake, if you want it,” Melissa said as she put a large bowl of tortilla chips and a bowl of salsa on the table. She pulled out small bowls, spoons, and small plates from the cupboard while Riley put a stack of napkins in the middle of the table.

  “I’d like a sliver of that cheesecake too,” Jake said.

  “So would I,” Ben added.

  Melissa winked at Riley as she plated two slices of cheesecake. After she set down the plates, Melissa asked, “What would you like to drink, Riley? Beer, wine, sweet tea, or hot tea?”

  “I’d like a cup of hot tea,” Riley said.

  “I think I will too. What about cheesecake?”

  “Not quite as big as their slivers.” Riley snickered.

  While Jake told Melissa and Riley about the biggest tree he’d ever seen in his life that had fallen across the trail, his phone rang.

  “That’s strange.” Jake rose and stepped away from the table as he answered.

  He listened to the caller then said, “Just a second, and I’ll ask her. Riley, Seth has a new mama cow that is having a tough time with delivering her first calf. He wants to know if you’d like to ride along.”

  Riley glanced at Ben, who grinned. “I sure would. How much time do I have to be ready?” she asked.

  “Ten minutes,” Jake said.

  Riley dashed upstairs, and Ben followed her.

  “Dress in layers, babe,” he said as she put on her jeans.

  “Do I take my concealed piece?”

  “Always,” he growled.

  Riley slipped into her oldest pair of boots then put on a long-sleeved shirt under her flannel shirt.

  “Pull back your hair into a ponytail and wear your ballcap, but you may need to turn it around backwards,” Ben said. “Ask Mom for some exam gloves that are closer to your size; stick a pair in your pocket and add the extras and some water to your backpack in case it’s a long night. I’ll check your flashlight to see if it needs fresh batteries, and my headlamp is around here somewhere; I’ll ask Mom.”

  Riley smiled as he dashed out of their room and down the stairs. Why do I feel like he’s sending me off to my first day of school? I wonder if he’s going to tell me not to eat the crayons.

  After Riley put her hair into a ponytail, she hurried downstairs.

  “Here are several pairs of my gloves, and Ben went to the barn to look for his headlamp after he checked your backpack,” Melissa said. “He is very excited for you.”

  Ben returned. “I found the headlamp, but the mice got to the strap ages ago; we’ll get you one later.”

  When Seth stopped at the end of the driveway, he lowered his window. “Let’s go catch us a calf, Riley.”

  Riley grinned as she hurried to the truck with Ben and Toby alongside her. Ben kissed her before she climbed in.

  As he drove up the driveway, Seth glanced in the rearview mirror. “Your two fellas are still watching. I’ve got a feeling that both of them wish they were going along.”

  Riley smiled. “Toby usually does. The only farm he and I have visited is a horse farm, but he went with me and loved seeing the horses.”

  “We’ll have to take him along on some of our visits to see how he likes the farm animals around here. I very rarely go into the office; I’m on the road from Monday through Friday and make emergency visits only on Saturdays. I don’t see any patients or even answer my phone on Sunday unless it’s Jake or Ben. I’ll add you to my exception list. I made that rule a long time ago, and it’s saved me from burning out. The farm isn’t that far away from here, which made me think of you in the first place.”

  As Seth drove on the dark, country road, Riley glanced at the side mirror. Is that a car following us?

  After Seth turned onto a dirt road, Riley turned to glance at the road, and the car continued past the dirt road.

  Seth said, “This is a first-time mother, so she’s scared, and our farmer is relatively new at farming. He has adjusted to the challenging work and is eager to learn, but this is his first newborn too, so he’s just as scared as the new mama. Not to be too dramatic, but we’ll be walking into a barn with fear dripping from the walls.”

  “So, our first task is to calm everybody down,” Riley said.

  “You got it; I’m letting you take the lead on that.” Seth smiled.

  Riley returned his smile. “It’s my specialty.”

  Seth parked near the barn. “That’s what I hear. Let’s get ‘em settled down, so I can tell what’s what with that reluctant newborn that has probably picked up on his mama’s fear.”

  Seth removed his medical bag and a butcher apron from the backseat of his truck.

  As they strolled toward the anxiously awaiting farmer, Seth said, “I brought a second apron with me for you, but we’ll have to get you some of your own; you’d trip over one of mine if you put it on.”

  The farmer’s eyes were as wide as the heifer’s eyes. I’m not surprised. Riley began humming a tune, and the farmer walked alongside her as she approached the heifer.
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  “She doesn’t look so scared,” he whispered. “You must be Doc Seth’s new assistant; my wife heard you had a talent with animals.”

  “Tell me how she’s been acting,” Doc Seth said.

  “She was pretty restless all day yesterday, and my wife or I checked her every hour including overnight because I was getting nervous. My wife’s napping now; we’re taking turns. Should I wake her?”

  “Let me check this little lady first. How has she been today?” Doc Seth asked.

  “Early this morning, she was arching her back and raising her tail, then not long after lunch, my wife told me she saw a gush of brownish-yellow fluid, just like the document from our class at the ag school described.”

  While the farmer described the heifer’s day in great detail, Riley asked, “How are you doing, sweet girl?”

  The heifer switched her tail and moaned.

  “Let me take a peek.” Riley went into the stall and checked the heifer then calmly interrupted the farmer. “Excuse me, Doc, you may want to check her.”

  Doc Seth had pulled on his exam gloves while the farmer talked. As Doc Seth moved to examine the young cow, the farmer asked, “Is everything okay?”

  “Just a little work to do here; the calf has an anterior presentation, which we like, but one leg is in flexion; I’ll give the calf a little push to bring that leg in line with the other one. Come watch, Riley.”

  “I gotta get my wife.” The farmer ran to his house.

  Riley moved close to Doc Seth.

  “Calf moved when I touched its hoof,” Doc Seth murmured.

  Riley nodded. Calf is alive; good news.

  The farmer and his wife rushed into the barn, and Riley strolled to meet them.

  “Doc Seth will get that one leg in line like it should be.” Riley walked back to her position next to Doc. He glanced at her and smiled.

  “I brought our folder from the ag school; here’s a diagram of the anterior presentation with one leg in flexion.” The wife handed the page to her husband, and he read the page and nodded, then the two of them strolled to the heifer at the same pace that Riley used when she joined Doc Seth.

  After Doc Seth assisted the delivery, Riley checked the calf’s breathing and airway.

  “Breathing rate is normal, and the airway is clear,” Riley said.

  Doc Seth smiled at the farmer. “Can you take it from here?”

  “Oh my goodness, what a sweet calf; we certainly can,” the wife said.

  When they were back on the road, Doc Seth said, “You were a huge help to me; I’m sorry I didn’t believe how useful your skills could be and was shocked at how quickly the farmer and the cow calmed down when you walked into the barn. Did the heifer talk to you when you asked her how she was doing?”

  “She told me something wasn’t right, so that’s why I asked you to check her. Is there something I should have been able to see with an external observation?”

  “Maybe some very subtle changes, which is why I thought it was curious that you checked then asked me to check because I wondered what you saw.” Seth smiled. “You didn’t want to tell me what the cow said in front of the farmer. He might have gotten all huffy and told me that’s why he called: something wasn’t right. What did you think about the farm visit?”

  “I’ve got a lot to learn.”

  “Yes, you do, and so do I. When can we start?”

  “Next week is my last week with Doc Julie, then Ben and I will move to Mom and Dad’s on Saturday.” Riley bit her lip. “Ben will be in Macon in class Monday through Friday and will come home Friday evening then leave again Sunday evening every week. I don’t want to be working weekends when he’s home because that’s the only time I’ll be able to see him.”

  Doc Seth nodded. “Jake mentioned something like that to me; what if I don’t call you on weekends unless I really need help, then you bring Ben and Toby too. Actually, bring Toby on any night calls. I don’t know the new people all that well; I wouldn’t mind having Toby with us to watch our backs.”

  “I’d enjoy having Ben along because he could coach me, but I’ll check first to be sure he agrees, and Toby’s definitely the right dog for the job.” Riley smiled then texted Ben, “Coming home.”

  When they reached Jake’s farm, Ben and Toby were waiting at the driveway; Seth stopped but left the engine running.

  “Aren’t you coming in?” Riley asked.

  “I’ve had my excitement for the weekend; there’s a beer in the fridge with my name on it. I’ll give you a call next Saturday to let you know what time our first appointment on Monday will be, but I may be here tomorrow if my sister-in-law has already planned for me to eat with the family. I’m smart enough to never turn down one of Melissa’s homecooked meals.”

  Seth pulled out a business card from his console. “My cell number’s on this card. Send me a text, and I’ll have your number. I’m excited about what lies ahead because we’ll be a great team.”

  Ben opened the passenger’s door, and Toby yipped.

  “See you tomorrow.” Riley climbed out of the truck, and Seth headed up the driveway.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Ben took her backpack and put his arm around her as they strolled to the house with Toby at Riley’s side. “Mom and Dad can’t wait to hear about your farm visit, and Toby and I are excited to see you back.”

  “Come relax with us in the living room,” Melissa called out when they went into the house.

  “Riley, would you like a glass of wine or a cup of tea? Mom put out a wine glass for you, just in case.” Ben smiled.

  “I’d like to change back into my comfy clothes, then wine sounds good.”

  “I’ll meet you in the living room with your glass.” Ben kissed her before she dashed upstairs.

  After Riley walked into the living room, Ben grinned as she sat next to him on the sofa. “I told Mom it wouldn’t take you long to put on your relaxing pants.” He handed her the glass of wine. “Tell us about your farm visit.”

  “One of the farmer’s young cows was having a hard delivery because the calf had one leg tucked under its body. Doc Seth repositioned the leg, then the calf was born. Doc Seth doesn’t answer his phone on Sundays, except for you all. I sent him a text before I changed clothes, so he’d have my number too. He takes only emergencies on Saturdays, and Ben and Toby can go with us if he needs me. If we have an emergency at night during the week, he wants Toby to go with us.”

  Melissa narrowed her eyes. “Jake, make sure Seth knows I’m planning for him to join us for supper tomorrow night.”

  “Sheriff Murray called and told me he’d heard I’d be attending the GBI training. He’s coming by tomorrow, so we can talk,” Ben said.

  “It’ll be good to see Forrest; we haven’t seen him since we had that young bear roaming in town with her cub, and he asked me to speak to the local community groups about feeding bears and to show them examples of secured garbage cans,” Jake said.

  “I knew the folks in town didn’t realize they were teaching the young mama bear and her baby to mooch for food from people, but it still made my blood boil,” Melissa said.

  “What happened to the bear and her cub?” Riley asked.

  “The Wildlife agents caught her early enough in her career of scrounging and relocated her to a safer place for her and her cub. The City Council passed an ordinance that made it illegal to feed wildlife or to leave garbage in an outdoor can that wasn’t properly secured from wildlife that could knock over the can or remove the lid,” Jake said. “The sheriff advised them to use the raccoons that were knocking over garbage cans at night and waking entire neighborhoods of dogs and babies as their major selling point. It wasn’t long until the raccoons left town for easier pickings.”

  “It was a brilliant marketing campaign, wasn’t it?” Melissa smiled.

  “Do you still have the examples you showed to the groups? I’d love to see them,” Riley said.

  “Do we still have the handouts, hon?” Jake asked.

  “Sure do; I filed them away. I’ll give you a copy in the morning, Riley; I’m off duty.” Melissa sipped the rest of her wine and yawned.

  Riley yawned. “I guess I am too.”