Xenia’s Renegade by Agnes Alexander Read Free Book Online

bossy, but she didn’t. “What’s the wet rag for?”
    He set the bucket beside his stool and took out the rag. “For this.” He began to wipe the cow’s udder and teats.
    This puzzled her. “Why are you doing that?”
    “Because we don’t want any trash or whatever she’s been into to fall into the milk. We’ll also let the first spurts go on the ground for the same reason.” He completed this chore, then placed the bucket under the cow. In an instant, milk began to pour into the container.
    Impressed, Xenia watched with interest. “Doesn’t that hurt the cow?”
    He chuckled. “Not at all. It relives the pressure the milk has built up in her udder. She’d be hurting if we left without milking her.”
    “Oh.”
    He glanced up. “Would you like to try doing this?”
    She was hesitant. “Are you sure it’ll be alright?”
    “Sure. It’ll be fine.” He stood. “Have a seat. I’ll squat beside you and talk you through it.”
    Xenia wasn’t sure this was a good idea, but she didn’t want him to think she was afraid to try. She sat and tentatively reached toward the teat. “I’m not sure I can do this.”
    “Sure, you can. Just do what I did.”
    She tugged, but nothing came out. The cow swished her tail. Xenia was surprised and almost tumbled off the stool.
    He laughed out loud.
    She turned her head toward him. “Am I that funny?”
    “Yes, my dear, Xenia, you are.” He reached for her hand. “Let me show you.”
    She felt all kinds of shivers when his large, calloused hand enclosed hers, but she tried not to let him know.
    “Relax and let me guide your hand. First, you take your thumb and you massage down on her sack. Then you gently pull and squeeze at the same time.” A stream of milk shot out and landed in the bucket.
    “Look at that. I did it.” She giggled. “Of course, it was with your help.”
    “Don’t get over confident. Let’s try it again.” He repeated the process, and in a short time they were able to see the milk begin to cover the bottom of the bucket. After showing her several more times he said, “Now, see if you can do it on your own.”
    She nodded and bit her lip as she methodically repeated the steps he’d done with her hand. Each time, a little milk squirted out and awarded her efforts. She was thrilled.
    The bucket soon filled, and she looked over at Ty. “Thank you for letting me do this, but maybe you better check and see if I left any milk in her.”
    “It won’t hurt her if there’s a little left. You did a fine job.” He stood and held his hand to her. “Now, let’s go inside and I’ll show you how to strain it for the baby.”
    “You think I’m awfully stupid, don’t you, Ty?”
    “No, Xenia. I don’t think you’re stupid at all. You were raised in the city and never had to cope with the way life is for people in the country. Especially the west.”
    “It certainly is different.”
    “It is, but look at what you’ve done today.” When she gave him a crooked look, he went on, “You learned to load a rifle and you learned to milk a cow. Why, in a month’s time, with the right teacher, you could turn into the perfect ranch wife.”
    Xenia wasn’t sure how to take this remark, but she was pleased. So she smiled at him, but didn’t say anything.

Chapter 4
     
    Ty was able to round up two of the fresh runaway stagecoach horses to add to the six already hitched up. They knew this would help the tired original horses to keep going. After they were readied to go, the milk cow and the four horses with the outlaws’ bodies were tied to the back of the coach. Because Ray’s wound was on his right side and Ty knew it would be hard for him to control the horses, he elected to help drive the coach. Ray decided he’d ride shotgun when he tired of driving, or his wound hurt him and he had to turn the reins over to Ty.
    Inside the coach Mea Ann cuddled with the baby. She placed the pillowcase full of all the baby things she could find in the way