Rough Ride CV4 by Carol Lynne Read Free Book Online Page A

time?
    “Do you know if your dad has any colostrum in the freezer?” Richard asked.
    “Uh…” Wyn shook his head and tried to clear his mind. “I think so, maybe. Hell, to be honest, I don’t know.”
    “When we get back to the house, see if you can find some. If he doesn’t have the real thing, he might have some supplements in the barn, I’ll look for that.”
    “Is the calf going to make it?”
    “I don’t know. It’s weak. We’ve got to get some food and colostrum inside it fast though.”
    “And the dam?”
    Richard shook his head. “The damage had been done before we got there. She was pretty torn up inside.” Richard shrugged. “It’s sad, but it can happen with first time dams.” They pulled up to the barn and both hopped out. Wyn went to the back of the truck to help Ezra with the calf, but Richard was already there.
    “I’ve got this. Why don’t you see if you can find that colustrum. If you find some, put it in the microwave at sixty-percent power and stir every minute or so.”
    “If I find some, how much do I thaw?”
    “Two quarts if you’ve got it. Put another two quarts out on the counter to thaw. If you don’t have any and I can’t find any out here, I’ll go to Beahm’s and see if they have any.” Richard picked the calf up and carried it inside the dry barn.
    Wyn was left alone with Ezra. “I’m sorry,” he said, taking a step forward.
    Ezra held up his hands, in a warning not to get too close. Wyn wasn’t sure if it was because they were messy, or because Ezra was still angry with him.

    ROUGH RIDE
    Carol Lynne
    40

    “We’ll talk later. Go on up to the house. If we don’t get some nutrients into the calf, she won’t make it through the night.”
    Wyn looked at Ezra for a few more moments, before turning to do as he was told. He no longer noticed the rain as it battered against his face, soaking the bandages.

    * * * *

    “I can’t thank you enough for all your help,” Ezra said shaking Richard’s hand.
    Richard shrugged. “That’s what neighbours are for.” Richard reached down to pet the wobbly calf. He looked towards the house and back at Ezra. “Why don’t you go on inside. I’ll get the next bottle into her and take off.”
    He wasn’t sure if he was ready to face Wyn. “That’s okay. I can feed him.” Richard took off his battered black hat and ran his fingers through his short brown hair.
    “I’m not sure what happened, but it won’t get any better by putting off the inevitable.” Ezra shook his head. “Naw. I need a little more time to think things through. Why don’t you come back for dinner and that beer I promised you the other day.” Richard set his hat back on his head. “Okay. I appreciate the invitation.” He watched Richard get into his pickup and pull down the drive. After giving the house one last glance, he shut the barn door.
    He’d thought about Wyn’s reaction to his anger a million times and it still hadn’t gotten easier. He’d been trying to shield his lover from the gruesome task set before him, and he ended up yelling. That was bad enough, but to see the look of genuine fear on Wyn’s face had pierced his heart like nothing else could.
    When he was young, he didn’t have many friends. For years he thought it was something inside of him that caused people to avoid him. Then one brave kid told him the truth. No one wanted to get close to ‘the giant’, and he was too. He’d always been a lot bigger than the other kids, but at the age of twelve he started growing even more.
    Remembering the days of lying in his bed in agony as his body continued to grow, almost brought tears to his eyes. By the time Ezra started high school, he was six-foot-eight inches, and too uncoordinated to play sports. Instead, he’d spent his time in the gym lifting weights.

    ROUGH RIDE
    Carol Lynne
    41

    As he became an adult, life got a little easier. Even though he topped out at six-foot-ten-inches. He moved away from home and went to