He grabbed a large metal bowl from under the watering trough. Usually they used it to clear the trough of debris, but it would serve. He set it on the ground and winced with pain as he knelt next to it.

The heifer followed him, out of curiosity or loneliness. Frank pushed her head away as she bent down to lick at the bowl.

He opened the thermos, took a big swig, poured the rest into the bowl, and held the bowl up to the heifer.

She immediately began slurping it down.

“Hell, girl, I guess you’re thirsty.”

Jasper came racing across the empty pasture, barking up a storm. Frank squinted and realized a rabbit was leading the crazy dog on a zigzagging race. He laughed as the rabbit darted down a hole and Jasper came to a skidding halt. The chocolate lab lurched up on his back feet and slammed his front paws on the ground a few times, probably hoping to scare the rabbit.

Frank shook his head. He had to admit, Jasper had grown on him. The dog was undeniably smarter than any dog he’d ever heard of, and he had a personality all his own.

Jasper crouched low and barked at where the rabbit had disappeared, as if waiting for it to reappear.

Frank yelled across the field, “Jasper, give it up! That rabbit is probably halfway to Timbuktu by now.”

The sound of hooves announced the arrival of Buck. The ranch hand was showing the first hints of a beard; it gave his boyish face a more rugged look. Jasper came bounding across the pasture to greet him.

Buck smiled broadly as he dismounted. “My goodness, it’s good to see you on your feet again, Mr. O’Reilly.”

“Not quite six feet under yet.”

“Checking on the heifer?”

“Yup. I figure let’s leave her be for another week. If she’s really sick, we’ll know soon enough. If she’s looking fine, we’ll put her in with the rest.” He looked at the animal, who was now munching on the hay. “She looks pretty big. How long before she’s due?”

Buck removed his baseball cap. His shock of orange-red hair shone brightly in the sun, making it look like it was on fire. He scratched his head and held a pensive expression. “Won’t be long now. I reckon she’s due in three or four weeks.”

Jasper pressed his head against Frank’s right hip. Frank scratched his ear. “Well, let’s keep her fed and happy. We’ll see what happens.”

“Yes, sir.” Buck put his baseball cap back on and asked, “You going to start doing the rounds again with me and the boys?”