Tag: prairie-life

Water in the Wilderness

On By vequinoxIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Excerpt

Rachael eyed her suspiciously and did not respond to Tyne’s greeting. Tyne followed the doctor into the kitchen which reeked of decaying food and sour milk.
She saw a small sandy-haired boy sitting at a littered table, barely able to see over the dirty dishes and pots. Bare feet with curled up toes stuck straight out from his chair. He had his chin propped in one hand, while the other clutched a glass half full of milk. He wore pajamas that looked as if they were overdue for a good wash.
Tyne walked across the kitchen, being careful to sidestep the litter on the floor. “Hello,” she said, “you must be Bobby.”
He nodded briefly, but did not reply.
“Have you had your breakfast, Bobby?” Tyne asked gently.
He shook his head from side to side. She glanced at his sister, but before she could speak, Rachael blurted defensively, “He’s had a piece of bread; that’s all there was. He wants some corn flakes but there ain’t any.”
Tyne shot Dr. Dunston a helpless glance, and noticed his normally placid features take on a look of disgust. He peered down at the little girl.
“Where’s your dad, Rachael?”
She pointed to a closed door at the far end of the kitchen. “He ain’t up yet.”
Dr. Dunston strode to the door Rachael indicated and rapped loudly. “Corky! Get up, you lazy son-of … you lazy lout. Your kids are hungry.”
Muffled grunts could be heard through the door, accompanied by the creak of bed springs. “Whatdaya want? It’s still night.”
“It’s nine o’clock, Corky. Come out here, I want to talk to you.”
Whether or not the object of Dr. Dunston’s ire knew who stood on the other side of the door, Tyne had no idea, but she raised her eyebrows when, in only a few minutes, the door opened and a disheveled Corky Conrad emerged.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/192676319X

Water in the Wilderness

On By vequinoxIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Excerpt

Morley’s face relaxed and he chuckled. “I guess not. But seriously, Tyne, it’s not just because that particular cow has a mean streak. Even the most docile animal can suddenly become possessive if she thinks her baby is being threatened.”
Tyne nodded as she picked up her fork. Then she remembered why she had gone out to the barn in the first place – before being caught up in all the drama. “Morley, I’ve done something I should not have done before consulting you.”
His eyes twinkled. “You mean besides going into a pen where you had no business going?”
Tyne kicked him gently under the table. Then, without compromising patient confidentiality, she told him about Lydia and about the promise to take the children until their mother had convalesced. “I’m sorry I didn’t consult you first. I had no business doing that either.”
But Morley reacted exactly as she knew he would. “Of course we’ll take the kids. How old are they?”
“Rachel’s seven and Bobby’s four. But you’ll have them alone at night for the next two days. What if you have to go out to the barn to see to a calving cow, or something?”
“It’s not likely to happen this week, but if it does I’ll call my mother. She’ll be happy to help, and she’ll be here in five minutes.”
Tyne smiled. Yes, of course, both of Morley’s parents who lived on the next farm not more than a mile away, would be more than happy to help. They were that kind of people.
Although Morley had wanted to drive her to work that night, Tyne assured him she had rested well and would be fine on the four mile trip to Emblem. She had spoken to Dr. Dunston earlier in the evening about the Conrad children, and he said he would accompany her to their home when she got off duty in the morning just in case Corky appeared less than hospitable when she arrived. She had also called her mother to enlist her help in looking after the little ones when Tyne was working the day shift. Emily Milligan eagerly agreed.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/192676319X

Water in the Wilderness

On By vequinoxIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Excerpt

At first she could see only the tossing head of the Holstein cow that Morley had long ago named Jezebel for her nasty disposition. Sparky sat in the straw close to the pen, tail wagging, ears forward, almost begging to be let in to the pen to help. As Tyne walked closer to the rails she saw Morley, bare from the waist up, standing behind the cow with his right arm almost hidden inside of her.
Tyne gasped and Morley glanced up. His face crimson from the effort of the struggle, he said haltingly, “Tyne … you’re up. I … I didn’t get a chance to … check on you.”
Jezebel, tied by a rope to a post, tossed her head, bellowed and tried to land a kick on her perceived tormentor who deftly sidestepped to avoid the flinging hoof.
Tyne raised her voice to be heard above the cow’s deafening bawl. “What on earth are you doing?”
“I’m trying to … turn the calf. It … it was coming backend first.”
“Oh yeah,” Tyne said, “breach delivery. I didn’t know cows did that.” She raised her voice as the big animal lashed out with its right hind leg, missing Morley’s knee by inches. “Morley, can I help? What can I do?”
She started to open the pen gate, but he stopped her with a warning glance. “No, Tyne, don’t come in here, it’s too dangerous. She … she’s not the gentlest cow we have.”
An understatement, Tyne thought as she stepped back. But she felt helpless. She wished Morley had someone to help him because she feared for his safety. But what could she do? She knew of only one veterinarian in the area; most of the farmers were well practiced in taking care of emergencies. But when it came to animals like Jezebel, they needed all the help they could get. Morley had talked of selling the unruly beast, but she was one of his best milk cows and produced excellent offspring.
From her vantage point beside the gate, Tyne saw Morley’s face turn crimson and heard him grunt with one last effort. Then he stepped back and away from Jezebel who interpreted her sudden freedom as a signal to lie down.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/192676319X