Till the Cows Come Home by Judy Clemens Read Free Book Online

crops, and speak in fear about bugs who have been made sterile by ingesting the changed proteins. How they test that exactly, I’m not sure, but not everyone believes these studies, anyway. Since I haven’t planted crops for years, as Marianne so kindly pointed out, I’ve stayed out of the controversy.
    When I had finished cleaning the hutches and the others were done oohing and aahing over Gus, Zach gently put him back in his temporary home. He filled the big bottle with colostrum and gave Gus a final pat through the door. Then he stood up and grinned.
    “Got another surprise. Come on.”
    I tagged along, not knowing what he meant. There couldn’t have been another new calf I didn’t know about—we didn’t have any more cows due to calve for a week or so. Zach led us down to the lower part of the big barn, underneath the parlor, to a corner where a few bales of old straw sat, loose from their twine. He got fairly close, then leaned over to look at something.
    “There,” he said quietly. I waited while the others looked, then got my turn to see the tabby who had been watching the C-section that morning. Her hugely pregnant belly was now flatter, and four little kittens suckled at her nipples.
    “When did these come out?” I asked.
    “Must’ve been this afternoon while we were gone,” Zach said. “I’ve been watching for them every day, and when she wasn’t around when we got back I searched till I found her.”
    He was beaming, the proud daddy of a new calf and a litter of kittens.
    “Now, you gotta admit that’s pretty cute,” I said to Marianne. She looked at me, then spun around and walked outside. Jude threw a frustrated look at her back, then went after her.
    “What’s up her butt?” I asked.
    Jethro and Belle looked uncomfortable, but didn’t answer, so I let it go. None of my business, anyway.
    We walked out to Jethro’s truck, where Jude stood talking to Marianne, already hidden in the back seat.
    “You got room for Zach in there?” I asked.
    “Got room for the entire county in there,” Belle said. “But actually.…”
    “What?”
    She glanced at Zach, and when her lip trembled she stilled it with her teeth. “We thought we’d take you up on your invitation and have him stay the night here. We don’t want him catching Mallory’s…whatever it is.”
    “Aw, Mom—”
    “Don’t you start, Zachary. We’re trying to keep you healthy.”
    “Fine with me,” I said. I tried to sound casual for Zach’s benefit. “I’ve got extra beds. And that way you don’t have to drive him over for the morning milking.”
    “But, Mom—”
    “Here.” She reached into the truck and pulled out a bag. “I brought you extra clothes.”
    “This way you can spend more time with Gus,” I said. “Or give Queenie a good brushing.”
    He lit up. “Hadn’t thought of that. Okay. Bye, Mom. Bye, Dad.” He grabbed the bag from Belle and started for the house.
    “Second upstairs bedroom on the right,” I yelled after him.
    “Thanks, Stella,” Jethro said. His eyes were haunted, and he watched Zach until the screen door slapped shut behind him.
    “You know he’s always welcome here. Especially now.”
    After a few instructions about bedtime, I shooed them into the truck. “I’ll take care of your son. You concentrate on your daughter. Tell her she’d better get well real quick, or I’ll have to come over and read aloud from my Hoard’s Dairyman magazines.”
    “Now there’s something to avoid.” Jethro clasped my hand with unusual fervor and climbed into the truck.
    Queenie yipped her good-byes while I watched them go, and Howie came out from the parlor. He was about to say something, but I cut him off, figuring he wanted to know about Nick.
    “Let’s go get our dead cow,” I said. “Carla’s out of town and won’t be coming tonight.”
    Howie gave me a flat-eyed look, then went to get his truck. Barn painter subject averted. For the moment.
    When Howie pulled up beside me, I