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“When you were trying to turn the calf inside the coas there anythe rest of the calf’s body to stimulate circulation

“I don’t re to recall if the calf had done any kicking

“It’s dead, isn’t it?” she concluded matter-of-factly and ceased her efforts

He ground his teeth together, not wanting to admit the calf was stillborn He felt he was to blame If he’d known more, maybe the calf could have been saved Dejected, he lowered his head

“Here” Jessy pushed a rag at him “You’d better wipe that slime off your arm”

Her pro made hiealing the wetness on his skin Soon it would freeze Taking the rag, Ty scrubbed his arled in protest; then he pushed down his sleeves and reached for the heavy coat to co itself felt

“At least the heifer is going to be all right,” the young girl offered consolingly

Ty’s eyes were dark and troubled with guilt when he aze He looked at the rusty-red-coated calf with its spanking white face and legs, motionless in death It was small comfort to know he could have lost its mother, too

A bitter laugh welled in his throat as he realized he didn’t even knohat the hell to do with a dead calf The ground was too frozen to bury it Maybe he was supposed to throw it outside for the coyotes to feast on

“You look cold” Jessy observed the whiteness where the skin was stretched tautly over the high bones of his cheeks and jawline, and the wildness in his eyes “Maybe you’d better get some coffee from the thermos by the door It’ll probably be a while before the afterbirth is passed If you want to go get a cup, I’ll stay here”

“No” His teeth were starting to chatter, but Ty was determined not to leave until the job was finished Stu to earn a blackthe job before it was done But it sure as hell was obvious the girl could handle it better than he could

“Hey, kid!” a voice called out in advance of the approaching tread of boots scuffling through the straw Ty pushed to his feet, his shoulders and back stiffening when he recognized Sid Rarief “Stumpy said you needed some help”

“Not anymore,” replied Ty

The cowboy grinned, the breath coid air, yet he seemed oblivious to the cold as he sauntered over “Did you finally figure out which hole the calf comes out of?”

“The calf’s dead,” he replied tersely “It was strangled”