Joanna’s forehead wrinkled as she put all her concentration into her fingers. Morgan remembered the first time she’d assisted in a birth. She’d been much younger than Joanna, and she’d had the benefit of watching her mother do it countless times, but it still felt alien to be inside another living thing.

“I think I found something?”

“Remember to breathe,” she told her.

Joanna took a breath. “I didn’t realize I was holding my breath.”

“That’s normal. What do you feel?”

“I think . . . I think it’s a tiny hoof!”

Morgan visualized the possible orientation of the lamb’s body. Both shoulders stuck, but one leg almost in the right position if Joanna could already feel the hoof.

“Good. Pull it through slowly.”

“I won’t break it?”

“I promise you won’t break it.”

Joanna did as Morgan had instructed, and a yellow hoof, followed by a slick leg, emerged. The ewe strained, and the lamb slid out into the straw with a rush of fluids.

“Really nice job. Okay, let her up.”

They moved out of the sheep’s way. Baaing, the new mother struggled to her feet and set about cleaning the lamb.

“That was so cool!”

“Right? If it’s a really big lamb, you might have to find both legs, but we got lucky. Do you think she has another one?”

Joanna bumped the ewe’s abdomen and nodded. “Definitely. Do I reach in?”

“Let’s give her a chance first, but you did a really good job. She’s lucky to have you as her shepherd.”

Thirty minutes, two healthy lambs, and one very excited teenage girl later, Morgan emerged from the barn and back to the truck where Stevie waited.

“Good news or baaaad?”

“No sheep puns.”

“Fine. You’ve got a recheck on that evil paint mare next, and the clinic called in a melting ulcer we’ll need to fit in this afternoon. How did it go?”

“Showed Jo how to lamb.”

“She do okay?”

“Kid’s a natural.” Her cell phone buzzed before she could add more. She glanced down, expecting a text from the clinic, and saw an unknown number instead.

Sorry to bother you. It’s Emilia. Any chance you have a shop vac lying around that I could borrow?

“What’s up?” Stevie asked.

“Emilia wants to borrow a shop vac.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“Emilia wants—”

“I heard you. Why does she have your number?”

“We grabbed a drink the other night.”

Stevie stared at her. “Uh huh.”

“Jesus, Stevie. She’s nice. We’re friends.”

“Okay, Morgan.” Stevie imitated Morgan’s tone. “Why does your friend need a shop vac, and what makes her think you’re willing to loan her ours? Wasn’t her dad in construction? He should have one.”

“I don’t know the details. She’s doing some renovation on her dad’s house. Maybe his is broken.”

“She’s hot and she can use power tools?”

“The two are not mutually exclusive.”

Stevie opened the passenger sunshade mirror and flashed herself a smile. “Believe me, I know.”

“Guess we can stop by the house and grab it. She’s on the way to the Murphy place anyway.”