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Brody was Mrs Wester’s son In all her years at the farm, he had never once coifts with nice notes like clockwork for Mrs Wester, Jeb, Sadie, and

John He never missed a birthday Every year Lou opened the UPS boxes full of gaily wrapped packages at Christmas and placed them beneath the tree

“Do you kno to reach hiree and think we need to call him soon,” Lou said as they walked into the library Mrs Wester had not stepped foot in the library in years but her desk remained Lou used it to care for the finances of the farm

Sadie turned a small, black Rolodex until she reached the card she wanted She plucked it from the card holder and held it out to Lou Lou sat down behind the desk and picked up the phone Holding the card in one hand, she dialed with the other

“County Hospital,” the distracted voice said

“May I speak with Mr Brody Wester, please?” Lou asked patiently

“You mean Dr Broden Wester?”

“Um, yes My name is Lou Smith I work for his mother”

“Oh He is in surgery right now May I take a e?”

“Yes Could you please tell him his mother is ill and she needs him?”

The voice paused “I’ll do that,” she said

“Thanks” Lou hung up the phone

A few hours after her phone call, Lou read Sarah a story and tucked her into bed in the roo sure the child was settled for the night, she decided to go out to the barn and check on a new foal that had not looked very sturdy earlier in the day She quietly closed the bedroom door

The air outside was so thick you had to chew it before you could walk through it Her long, brown hair stuck to her face like searaps around your legs at the beach, and her clothes were soaked before she ever reached the barn She peered over the stall door, happy to see that the new baby was on her feet and looked er than she had earlier in the day

“She’s a beaut, ain’t she, Lou?” John said as he stepped beside her and peered over the stall door He took off his hat and wiped his forehead with his forearm