“Right, so, Bessie here,” he continued, refocusing on Murphy, “has a lot of hard work to do. It’s not going to be easy to get her kid out of her.”
Murphy stilled immediately and plonked himself down on his backside in the fresh hay. “Is that what Laney did?”
Before Nick could answer, Bessie shifted, drawing my attention to her. The goat’s stomach was contracting, her whole body moving with the effort.
Surprisingly, she was quiet, another sure sign that it was finally time. Picking up the towel and suction nozzle, I shifted closer and knelt in the hay, relieved Alan and I had time to clean up properly.
Bessie’s attention was on me for a moment before she looked away and strained. Low murmurs were coming from Nick, and I caught enough to hear he was explaining what was happening.
“Ooh, I’m just in time,” Hazel said softly, entering the space but keeping her distance.
“Yeah. Looks like the kid’s breeching.”
“Is it just the one?” she asked.
I shrugged. “Not sure.”
We sat back and watched quietly until a tiny black baby goat came into the world a few moments later. I edged closer, towel in hand, and cleaned its face, going for the mouth and nostrils when Bessie seemed content to let me take over.
Once I was sure the airways were clear of gunk, I waited a beat, excitement unfurling in my stomach when the baby lifted its head and opened its mouth.
With Bessie still making no effort to encourage the newborn over, I rubbed the kid down a little, then backed off, watching as it already made an attempt to stand. This got Bessie’s attention, and she sniffed at it, giving a firm lick, encouraging the gorgeous black bundle of cuteness closer to her head.
Bessie cleaned her baby off for a few minutes, and I glanced over at Nick and Murphy. Nick wore a soft smile while Murphy’s nose was scrunched.
“You okay, Murphy?”
“It was all yucky.”
A chuckle escaped the three of us.
“Yeah, it was, but look at what a good job Bessie’s doing at cleaning it.” I smiled wide.
“I think she’s contracting again,” Nick said, and I whipped my head around to see he was right.
“Daddy, was I licked clean?”
I held back my burst of laughter, not wanting to startle Bessie.
“Uhm, that’d be a big no, Murphy. You were cleaned in a bath.” Amusement laced Nick’s reply, and I grinned, casting them a quick glance and wondering at how peculiar this thing called life could be.
It took twenty minutes for Bessie to be the proud mum of three kids, a boy and two girls. She was chilled enough to allow us all to have a little pet too.
We were heading to the house to wash up when Alan approached. “Everything all good?”
“Yeah, three new goats to cause chaos and mayhem,” I answered.
“Sounds like you have at least two decent names there,” Nick said at my side.
I snickered and glanced over at him. “If they’re anything like their parents, then they’re highly suitable, for sure.”
“You mind if I borrow your car to take a look at how the creek’s doing heading to my place?” Alan wiped his oily hands on a rag as he spoke.
“Sure, as long as there’s no plans for a mad dash across any flooded roads.” My brow quirked high at Alan.
“To be sure, I’ll go with you,” Hazel said, stepping towards her husband. “Make sure you don’t wreck another car.”
“George here thinks it might be salvageable,” Alan grumbled, glancing back at the man whose head was under the bonnet of the waterlogged car.
