“A couple of hours ago. There’s been some bleeding. More so than would be usual,” Fred said.
Emma nodded, taking out tools. “We’ll need to turn her over. First I need to clean the uterus, then figure out where this bleeding is coming from.” She looked up at both Luke and Fred. “I’m going to need both of you to help, unless you need to leave?”
That she asked of Luke. “I’m off duty in thirty minutes. Unless I get a call, I can stay.”
It took a few hours for Emma to repair the tear in the cow’s uterus and fix it back in place. Cattle weren’t the easiest animals to hold, especially when you couldn’t knock them out. It required Luke and Fred to keep her in place. By the time she was finished, they were all covered in gunk that Luke didn’t even want to think about. He’d likely just toss this uniform.
Emma gave the cow antibiotics and vitamins, then checked out the calf.
“Mom and calf are going to be fine,” Emma said, removing her large-animal gloves. She went to the barn sink to wash up.
So did Luke.
Both Abigail and Fred shook Emma’s hand.
“Thank you,” Fred said. “We really didn’t want to lose this one.”
“Well, it doesn’t look like you’re going to, but call me if anything changes. Keep an eye on her tonight, though I’m sure she’s tired and she’ll rest.”
They walked out to the house. “Thanks, Dr. Emma. You, too, Luke. We appreciate you lending a helping hand,” Abigail said. “Since both the other clinic docs were unavailable, we didn’t know what to do.”
“It’s no problem. Call me anytime.”
Fred and Abigail went back to the barn. Luke turned to her with a satisfied grin.
She was obviously as pleased as he was with how well everything had turned out. “Thanks for staying. You were a big help.” Emma looked like she wanted to hug him, but they were both a mess, covered in mud and other animal grime.
“It’s no problem.”
She put her supplies back in her truck, then turned to him and offered a smile. “I promise to drive the speed limit all the way home, officer.”
“Yeah, about that. I know you get called out on emergencies sometimes, but if it hadn’t been me today, you might have been facing one hell of a speeding ticket.”
Her smile faded. “You’re right. In the future I’ll be more mindful of that. I was only thinking about the cow.”
He tipped her nose with his fingertip. “Think about your safety first.”
“Oooh, I get all tingly when you talk cop stuff and the law.”
He stepped closer. “Don’t tease me, Emma. I have handcuffs.”
Her eyes went dark. “Yeah? And you know what to do with them?”
In an instant, he’d jerked her against him. “If we weren’t standing in front of the Miller’s house right now, both of us covered in cow—whatever—I’d show you exactly what I could do with handcuffs.”
She swallowed. “Right. And I smell really bad, so don’t you think I should take a shower first?”
He laughed. “You’re right about that. We both need a shower.”
“And I owe you at least dinner for helping me out. And for not giving me a ticket.”
“I’ll take you up on that.”
“Meet me at my place in about an hour?”
“Sure.” He let go of her and climbed back in his cruiser. She followed behind him until they got on the main highway, where he noticed she drove the speed limit. He smiled at that. She turned off on the road leading to her house, and he went home and took a quick shower. After dumping his uniform in the trash, he changed into jeans and a T-shirt, then grabbed Boomer and headed out to Emma’s place.
On the way, he stopped at the liquor store for a bottle of wine.
She met him at the door wearing jeans and a button-down shirt. Her hair was still damp.
“Oh. Wine? You didn’t have to do that.”
“I figured after the whole cow crisis, you might need it.”
“You might be right about that. Come on in.” She let him inside, and he followed her into the kitchen.
“Something smells good.”
“Yeah, about that. It’s Italian food from the restaurant down the road. Sorry. No home-cooked meal for you tonight.”
“Any food tonight sounds good to me, even takeout.”
“I’m so glad you think so, since my plan tonight was going to be something microwaved from the freezer. This is a much better option.”
She handed him the corkscrew while she pulled plates from the cabinet. He opened the wine, then helped her set the table.
“Come on, Boomer,” she said. “You can run out back with the other dogs.”
“Thanks for inviting me over. Though I’m not sure if it was gratitude, or if you’re interested in my prowess with handcuffs.”
She laughed as they sat at the table. “Well, I guess we’ll see, won’t we?”
The food was good, and Luke was starving. The wine was decent, too, and he was glad he’d picked up the bottle. Emma seemed relaxed, especially after the first glass.
“Rough day?” he asked.
“Busy day. Though they all seem to be busy lately.”
“That’s a good thing, right?”
“Yes, it is. I’m not complaining at all. Though I hadn’t expected the cow thing. That’s not really my area of expertise, since my focus is on small animals. But I was happy to be able to help out.”
“There are large-animal vets in the area.”
She took a sip of wine and nodded. “True, but they’re not always available. And I can deal with it in an emergency.”
“Kind of like a cop delivering a baby? Not exactly what we’re trained for, but if it comes up . . .”
She lifted her gaze to his. “Have you ever had to do that?”
“What? Deliver a baby?”
“Yes.”
He shook his head. “It hasn’t come up. Yet.”
She laughed. “I’m guessing you hope it doesn’t.”
“No. I’m hoping every set of expectant parents on my stretch of road gets to the hospital to have their babies.”
“It’s a good wish. But as we know, emergencies happen and sometimes events occur that you can’t foresee.”
“That’s true.”
She took another long swallow of wine, her gaze distant as she spoke. “Sometimes, life doesn’t turn out as you plan it at all.”
Somehow, he got the idea she was talking about more than just cattle emergencies and babies being born in the car.
“Emma?”
She jerked her attention back on him. “Yes?”
“Is there something on your mind?”
“No. Not at all. Why do you ask?”
“Because I don’t think you were referring to cattle or babies.”
“Oh. Sure I was.”
“You know, you really haven’t told me about your past. Or the guy who left you heartbroken and wary of relationships.”
“Did I say there was a guy?”
“You mentioned it in passing.”
“Oh. Well. Not much to tell.”
“Yeah, you keep saying that, but I think there’s a lot more to the story. And sometimes it helps to talk. I told you about Rebecca and the disaster that was my first marriage.”
“You did, didn’t you?”
“So . . .”
Emma took a deep breath, and another long swallow of wine. He could tell she was pondering whether or not to tell him something. Obviously it was a big thing to her, so he waited patiently.
“It’s an ugly story, Luke. And it makes me look bad.”
He reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. “I find that hard to believe. But it obviously bothers you. I think you should tell me about it.”
She nodded. “I met Vaughn my freshman year of college. He was one of my professors. I was enamored of him. He was so smart, and sharp and funny, and oh, I had such a crush on him. It was like our eyes met in the classroom, and that was it for me. He encouraged it, would meet with me in his office to go over my papers and my lab notes. One thing led to another, and we got involved in this very heavy relationship, which of course could have cost him his job.