Labor of Love by Mary Manners

Author:Mary Manners
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Christian fiction
ISBN: 9781522300915
Publisher: Pelican Book Group
Published: 2018-01-18T00:00:00+00:00

7

The rumble of a pick-up truck drew Addy’s attention toward the driveway the next morning. Gravel crunched beneath tires and spat in displeasure as the truck settled in the shade of a huge weeping willow that spread its arms between the garage and the barn.

“Hey, Addy.” Jace dipped his hat as he climbed from the driver’s seat and stuffed the truck’s keys into the front pocket of his jeans. “How are you today?”

“Good.” She nodded, glad the single word constituted an honest answer. For the first time in weeks, she’d awakened to soft rays of sunlight reaching over the horizon and in her own bed instead of sprawled on the couch. The headache that had hung on relentlessly for weeks now had yet to arrive. Perhaps it would decide to forgo its visit today. “I made coffee.”

“Great. I can use a good, strong cup or two. Sam and I were up past midnight filling in the hole that nearly swallowed the calf, in case the rains come again. It should be good now, though. No more accidents or lost calves.”

“What about Charlie?”

“Charlie?”

“Yes…Good Luck Charlie, the calf you and Garrett rescued?”

“Wow…” Jace laughed softly as he removed his hat and raked a hand through his hair. “You named him, huh?’

“Not me—Garrett and Lindy did the honors.”

“I see. Well, doesn’t that beat all? I suppose we’ll have to find a special place for her, other than the dinner table.”

“Other than the dinner table?” The full meaning of the words took root. Addy blanched. “Oh, Jace, you wouldn’t…”

“Let’s see…” He pushed back the cuff of his over-shirt to check his watch. “Barely six-thirty and the guilt wagon has already arrived. Go figure.”

“Really, come on, Jace.”

“Well, I do own a ranch and that means…” He shook his head. “Never mind. My plan is to use her for calves.”

“Calves?”

“Good grief, we have a long way to go here.” Jace took the coffee mug she offered, sipped, swallowed, and sighed with satisfaction. “Some cows make good mothers and are used for breeding. Perhaps Charlie will make a good breeder…time will tell.”

“Whew…that’s a relief.”

“Depends on whether you’re the cow…or the hungry diner waiting for a meal.”

“I’ll pass on the meal if I’ve looked the poor creature in the eyes. Maybe I’ll even become a vegetarian if it comes to that. I think I have a vegetarian cookbook in one of those moving boxes somewhere inside…”

“Speaking of boxes…don’t you think it’s about time you unpack them?”

“Probably…yes.” The unpacking had stalled when Mack died. Each day Addy meant to tackle the half-dozen or so cartons that still lined the spare room off the kitchen meant to become an office, but the task had seemed insurmountable…until now. Addy sipped her coffee, her gaze connecting with Jace’s over the rim of the mug. His eyes were large, observant, and carried the intense blue-green shade of his T-shirt. “But Charlie…you’ll save the cute little…um…calf, right?”

“Cute little…” His laughter tumbled. “I don’t know, Addy, I grill a pretty mean steak. What do you think is the purpose of owning a ranch?”

“I never gave it a whole lot of thought.

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