Kate strolled over. “I’d shake your hand, but I’ve just been checking calf tails for signs of scours, so I’d better pass. What can I do for you?”
The pastor gave her a look of friendly concern, the sort of expression he used while delivering sermons. “We’ve wanted to drop by since we heard about your foreman to see how you’re doing.”
Brenda’s expression matched her husband’s, gracious and worried. “I still can’t believe that man stole from you—your father’s friend. It’s so horrible, so low.”
The pastor and his wife were both waiting for Kate’s response, but she couldn’t just lay out the wreckage of her life during a social visit. “It’s been very upsetting,” she managed. She should say something else for politeness sake, assure them she would be all right, but the words weren’t there.
“And then to stick you with so many calves…” Brenda shook her head. “When Landon told us you needed people to take care of them, we came right away. The girls raised a calf last year and had a great time. We told them they could pick one for each of us.”
Kate blinked at her. What had Landon told them? Her eyes went to him for explanation.
He scratched the back of his neck, a gesture that was meant to look casual. “I forgot to tell you that I called a few folks about your predicament. I figured you wouldn’t mind if people helped out. You’ll still pay for the food, and people will just take care of the calves at their places until they’re weaned.”
“We want to do it,” the pastor insisted. “The calves will be a lot of fun for our girls.” He placed his hand on his youngest daughter’s shoulder. “Isn’t that right?”
Kate realized why Landon hadn’t told her what he’d done until now. He’d worried she’d be too proud to accept help from anyone in the community, so he waited until two eager girls had shown up. Kate wasn’t too proud to accept help, though. The family’s offer was touching, a very pastor-y thing to do.
The youngest girl craned her head around the barn. “Do you have any Brown Swiss or Holstein?”
Kate gestured to the stalls. “I’ve got lots of Holstein bull calves.”
The girl took her father’s hand, nearly jumping up and down. “Can I pick mine now?”
The pastor looked to Kate for that answer. “Of course,” she said. “Take whichever ones you’d like.”
No doubt any calves they brought home would be spoiled. “I’ve got sacks of milk replacer in the back room.”
The pastor and his family moved past Kate and went to peer into the stalls. Kate nudged Landon. “That was a sweet thing to do. How many people did you call?”
“Just a few.”
The barn door opened again. This time Mrs. Reynolds and Mrs. Bassencherry swept inside. Kate’s mouth nearly dropped open. The woman who’d been rude to her in the feed store and the gossipy church lady had come. They were the last people Kate would expect to help her, and even as they traipsed toward her, she wondered if they were here for some other reason.
“We heard what Gary Williams did to you,” Mrs. Reynolds said as though all of them were old friends. “I always knew he was trouble. He graffitied the high school back when I worked there, and they let him off with a hand slap. If they’d given him a proper consequence back then, maybe he wouldn’t have kept breaking the law.” She paused for Kate to comment.
“I didn’t know about the graffiti,” Kate said. Or the fact that Mrs. Reynolds had once been a teacher.
“Well, now he’s done worse,” Mrs. Bassencherry said. “I hope they give him a long sentence.”
Mrs. Reynolds nodded, a motion that made her double chin jiggle. “They ought to make him work off the money he stole.Thatwould be justice.”
And the day just got even more surreal. Kate found herself nodding in agreement with Mrs. Reynolds.
Mrs. Reynolds tucked her purse under her arm and peered around the barn with an inspector’s eye. “I can take six calves. I brought my trailer.”
“I really appreciate it.” Kate gestured to the stalls. “Choose whichever ones you’d like, and I’ll help you load them.”
As Mrs. Reynolds made her way to the first stall, Kate called, “Bags of milk replacer are in the storage room.”
Mrs. Reynolds paused and turned back. “I don’t use just anything off the shelf. I’m particular about nutrition. I’ll buy my own and send you the bill.”
Well, some things about this day were still normal. Without even checking the brands in the back, Mrs. Reynolds had assumed Kate had gotten the wrong kind.
Mrs. Bassencherry laid her hand on Kate’s arm to draw her attention. “I’ll take three: the ones that are faring the worst. I don’t like to brag, but I have a way with cattle. Scours, bloat. I’ve brought calves through it all. I’m not promising anything, mind you. Sometimes there’s nothing that can be done, but at least with me, the calves will have a chance.”
Meaning, they didn’t have a chance here at all. Kate was too grateful to be offended. “The ones against the back wall have been listless.”
For the next few minutes, the barn was noisy with sounds of people examining calves. Kate felt some of the stress of the day leave. She would be left with twenty-six. It was still a huge number, a run-yourself-ragged-number, but at least she knew that thirteen of the calves would be in good hands.