Mrs. Reynolds decided on six calves that had been in the same stall. “Might as well keep them together,” she pronounced. “They’ve already been sharing germs.”
Landon carried a little black one out of the pen. “We’ll load them for you.”
Kate went with him, guiding a mottled red one who seemed to be considering making a break for freedom. She had to keep one hand on him. The sun had set, and the last thing she wanted was for the calf to disappear on the ranch in the dark.
When she got outside, she followed Landon to a nearby white trailer. Landon carried the black calf inside and came back for the red one. Kate was still in a bit of shock from these unexpected visitors, from this gesture of kindness, and her mind was stuck on that instead of paying attention to her surroundings. So it wasn’t until she turned back toward the barn that she caught sight of the road leading to her property.
Three sets of headlights headed her way. Three. All of them had trailers.
She stood staring at them stupidly like they were a vision that might disappear. “How many people did you ask?”
Landon joined her. “Just a few.”
While they watched, another set of headlights turned onto the road behind the other three. They made a trail of light coming toward her.
Landon brushed his fingers against hers. “I told you ranchers help each other. You just needed to give them a chance.”
Kate had kept tears at bay all day, but now they came. She broke down and cried in front of Mrs. Reynolds’s trailer, big sobbing tears. She’d hoped Landon would help her but hadn’t even been sure of that. This parade of good Samaritans was a gift she’d never expected and couldn’t repay. Everyone was going to see her crying and maybe that was okay. Maybe they should know that hers wasn’t just polite gratitude.
“Kitty,” Landon said soothingly and gathered her into his arms. A comfortable place to be. She was getting used to it. “I told you everything would be all right.”
She finally felt that at least in some ways it would be.
Two of thetrucks belonged to people in the church congregation. The other two were men who’d been her grandfather’s friends. All of them asked her, since they were already here, if she had any eggs for sale. She gave them away, practically emptying her fridge.
As the last of her visitors were leaving with their animals, Jaxon pulled into the ranch with a trailer. He and Preston sauntered into the barn, dusty from their day’s work. By then only eight of the calves remained. Jaxon surveyed the group. “So, we’re loading the rest up?”
“You want to take eight?” Kate asked. No one else had taken more than six. “I can’t burden you with that many. You’re all busy.”
“No trouble.” Jaxon said. Preston strode over to the closest stall and picked up a black calf.
“You don’t need to take all eight,” Kate insisted. “They’re my responsibility. I ought to at least take care of some of them.” She couldn’t ask people to do work for her that she herself wasn’t doing.
“You’ve got the rest of the ranch to run,” Jaxon said, but he looked at Landon for direction.
“Leave a couple,” Landon told him. “You know how Kitty likes to mother cute furry things.”
Jaxon nodded, and he, Preston, and Landon went about putting the rest in their trailer. Kate carried a bag of milk replacer to their truck and returned the milk bar. They’d be needing that next feeding.
She was afraid Landon would get in his truck and leave with his brothers. Instead he strolled back toward the barn with her.
That was good news. He was staying longer than kindness required.
He joined her at the barn’s sink and washed his hands. She needed to clean the horse stalls so she could bring them back in, but she didn’t want to do that right now. Not while Landon was here.
“Can I interest you in some fresh air?” She wandered toward the door.
Landon followed her. “Only if it comes with a sky full of stars.”
Kate stepped outside and waited for him near the door. “Thanks for all this. It’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.” She wanted to reach out and take his hands in hers. She hesitated. Perhaps that was too forward. She didn’t want to ruin the moment by making him uncomfortable.
Landon looped his thumbs in his pockets. “I didn’t do much. Everyone chipped in.”
“They came because you asked them to.”
“They came because they knew you ended up with a raw deal. They want to help.”
A couple of moths were determined to throw themselves at the light by the door and kept swooping near Kate’s face. She moved a few feet away and leaned against the side of the building. Her shoulders ached, and she hadn’t even been lifting much. The pain was from the tension of the day. “I’m surprised people are willing to help me. Aren’t they worried that helping me might cost you the ranch?”