This is the thirty-second part in a series, so if you have not already done so, you might want to read Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, Part IX, Part X, Part XI, Part XII, Part XIII, Part XIV, Part XV, Part XVI, Part XVII, Part XVIII, Part XIX, Part XX, Part XXI, Part XXII, Part XXIII, Part XXIV, Part XXV, Part XXVI, Part XXVII, Part XXVIII, Part XXIX, Part XXX, Part XXXI, and Part XXXII before continuing.
We were passing the barn on the way to the house when we heard the racket the cows were making inside. Charlie swore before saying, “We have to take care of the cattle, don’t we?”
“Yeah, but they don’t need much. They’ve only been in the south pasture for a few days. They should be fine if we just open up the barn and let them out.”
“I think I can manage that.”
“It’s no problem.”
“I think you’ve dealt with cattle enough for one day.”
I laughed. “Honey, I’m a farmer. There’s no such thing as dealing with cattle enough.”
I hadn’t meant to call her “honey.” It just slipped out. I saw her cheeks turn pink at the endearment and I didn’t know what to do. Should I take it back? Did I want to take it back?
Charlie saved me from making a decision by attaching one end of the leash to Cordy and handing me the other end. “I still think we’d all feel better if I take this one. Do any of the cows need medicine or anything?”
“Yeah, they’re kept separate in the back barn. You will need help for that.”
“OK. I’ll take care of letting out the cows that can go to pasture and then call Jen.”
“What am I supposed to do? Sit around with my thumb up my butt all day?”
She laughed. “Keep Cordy company. And keep your phone charged in case the hospital calls.”
She headed for the barn, leaving me without any option but to head back to the house. Cordy and I watched her go, then we looked at each other. “Think you can keep me company while she plays at being a farm girl?”
Cordy huffed a half-hearted bark as she turned to look back at her retreating human.
“My thoughts exactly,” I said.
We had just turned back to the house when I saw Jen’s car coming, kicking up dust as it made its way down the gravel road. She pulled over when she saw me and rolled down her window. “What happened to Phil?”
“It’s kind of a long story. What are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be over at the Gibbs farm today?”
“Phil called me from the hospital saying you were going to need help with the cattle today. Then I get here to find Charlie headed to the barn and you with her dog. Is this some sort of role swap or something?”
I looked down at the leash in my hand as though unsure how it had gotten there.
Cordy barked as though offended at the suggestion her human would let her trade humans.
“It’s a long story. We just got back from the hospital and took Cordy for a walk. Charlie insisted on being the one to let the cows out of the barn. She said she’d call you for help with the cattle that need medicine.”
“I know Phil’s in the hospital, but what’s wrong with you that you can’t handle the cattle today?”
I had never felt so emasculated. What’s worse, is I couldn’t even answer the question. How had I let Charlie take control?
I looked helplessly down at Cordy who looked back at me with a look that I swear said, You poor, stupid human.
To be continued…