‘Well done, Danny.’ Jonathan Godfrey moved forward as if to help, but as he did so the cow jerked her rump and knocked against Danny, causing him to lose his precarious footing on the box. He let out a gasp of pain as his arm, trapped deep within the cow, was twisted into an awkward position.

‘Get back, Dad,’ Kate hissed and darted forward to set the box straight and help Danny back on to it. ‘You okay?’ she said softly. Anxiously, she looked up into Danny’s brown eyes, full of pain. He bit his lip but nodded resolutely.

Again he was moving his hand deep inside the cow, trying to release the unborn calf’s other back leg. Danny took a deep breath and grunted with the effort. Slowly Kate moved closer to the cow. She began to murmur soothingly to the animal as she had heard her mother do so often. At the same time she ran her hands gently up and down the cow’s back. ‘There, there, old girl. We’re trying to help you. Soon be over.’

‘Aaah,’ Danny gave a gasp of pleasure and relief as the second tiny back leg appeared. Thankfully, the boy eased his arm out of the cow. As he did so, he grabbed the tiny, protruding legs.

‘Quick, Kate. Give us the line.’

Kate handed it to him and swiftly he tied one end round the calf’s legs and passed the other end to Kate.

‘Hold it taut, Kate, we don’t want him tucking ’em back in.’

Danny stepped down from the box. There were red pressure bruises all the way down his arm and he winced as he bent over the bucket of soapy water to wash away the blood and slime.

‘Have you hurt your arm, Danny?’ Jonathan Godfrey asked in concern.

‘It’ll be right, mester. Just twisted it a bit when I fell off the box.’

‘That was my fault,’ the man said with contrition.

Danny stood up and Kate could tell that the grin he gave was a little forced. ‘Right then, let’s have a go.’

All three of them grasped the line and, with one accord, pulled on it. As if sensing that they were trying to help her, Samphire appeared to pull in the opposite direction, though her lowing sounds became more frantic and high-pitched.

‘It’s no good,’ Jonathan Godfrey gasped as they paused for breath. ‘You’ll have to fetch the vet.’

The two youngsters looked up at him askance. ‘The vet?’ They both spoke at once, and Kate added, ‘Me mam’d have a double-duck fit if we was to waste money on a vet.’

The man gestured helplessly towards the cow, now looking round at them reproachfully. ‘But we can’t manage. We’ll lose calf and cow if we don’t get some expert help soon.’