Thank you. I just got…”
“It’s okay. No worries. Come on, you have grandbabies needing their Curly.”
Curly laughed, following him out, then heading to the back porch. There he could stay out of the rain but get the kids before they came in and tracked dirt on Trace’s floor.
Chapter 17
Trace was so fucking tired of the rain that he could scream.
Rain meant kids stuck inside. It meant mud everywhere. It meant grouchy cowboys and drastic humidity and no sunshine and slick roads and something called “hoof rot.” It meant grumpy septic systems and the smell of mold everywhere. It meant mad wet roosters, kneeling in soft, shit-streaked mud to milk goats and try to keep the mud out.
“Dad-O! We colored. Can we watch a movie now?”
He hated babysitting with the TV, but… “Sure. Y’all pick one.”
“Okay, Dad-O.” The girls seemed happy, but Jakob was pouting.
“I want to go to the barn.”
“Oh, buddy, the guys are crazy out there, and it’s so nasty. I’ll talk to Brent when he comes up before supper, but it’s gross outside.”
“It’s been gross for days!” Jakob sighed. “Can I play a game on the tablet?”
“Yes. You absolutely can. Come sit at the table. I have to run and use the restroom. Can you watch the girls?” Daisy was happy to sleep through storms, thank you.
“Sure, Dad-O.” Thankfully, even pouty Jakob was a good kid. He sat where he could see the girls, waiting for Trace to get back.
“You rock.” He did his business and cleaned up, heading back and walked into his frowning cowboy holding a little sodden ball of filthy fur.
“I found these in a fucking box. A fucking box left to drown!”
The ball resolved itself into four tiny fuzzy puppies.
Oh fuck.
“Puppies!” Jakob could sure squeal.
“Whoa, mister!” Trace grabbed Jakob by the back of the shirt. “Go fill the utility sink with warm water. Caro? Suze? Pause that movie. I need towels from the bathroom.” Once all the kids were scrambling, he looked at Brent. “What are they?”
“Hounds maybe? Not working dogs. They’re damn little.”
“Fuzzballs. Excellent.” He took one, shaking his head. “They’re tiny, cowboy. I need you to get me puppy formula and maybe some kibble for them?”
“I’ll send Hal.”
“Thanks. I’ll make sure they’re cleaned up and dried. Can you have Hal ask about safe flea treatments?” God, these guys were just babies.
“Sure. I have to get back to work, baby. I’m sorry, but the damn septic field is going to explode. Curly can come help, but he’s having to muck out the one end of the medical stalls, so it will be a few. Call Jan. Her sister is a vet tech.”
And Brent was gone.
“Sink is ready, Dad-O. We need to wash them and then sit and rub them with the towels to keep them warm and keep them from going into shock.” Jakob was on the ball.
“Right on.” He grabbed his phone and looked up orphaned puppies, because he could do that. “Girls, you can sit and watch.”
God, could they have regular milk before Hal got back from the feed store? Should he wait? He’d had more cats than dogs, but…
Lightning flashed and he jumped. Dammit.
“Towels.” Caro and Suze each carried a stack. “Are they sick?”
“They’re really young.” He frowned. “Can one of you grab the white flat laundry basket from the laundry room?”
“Yessir.” Caro ran to do that, and Trace moved to zonk the baby pups in the warm water. “Susannah. You know those fleece blankets we put away in the back room last week? I need a bunch for the basket.”
“Yes, Dad-O!” She ran off, and he focused on the puppies.
“Jakob, keep their faces out of the water, okay?”
“On it.” Jakob helped keep all four puppies afloat, and Caro watched anxiously, laundry basket on the floor.
He washed them, grateful he didn’t see any fleas or flea dirt, just mud.
“Caro, help Suzy get the laundry basket covered on the bottom with the blanket, please?”
The girls went to it, making a nest like they would for their dolls, which was perfect. He was so proud of them. Everyone was working together.
“Hey. I hear there are puppies.” Curly looked like a drowned rat, but his boots were off in an instant, his hat and jacket hung up. “Got them cleaned up? We need to get them wrapped in some towels.”
He’d never been so relieved to see Curly.
“Thank God you’re here.” He looked up with wide eyes. “Help?”
“Yep. Jakob, go sit down. Take that basket to the couch with you. Girls, make sure we