Flynn Read Free

without some expert help, and they’d
had to call in the vet.
    If
the calf, or at least the vet, didn’t hurry things along, he’d be late collecting
Emily from his mom’s café. He’d promised her they’d then go shopping for groceries
so she could make cupcakes for Shane’s upcoming fundraising event.
    “Here
it comes,” the vet finally announced.
    Flynn
watched the calf exit its mother’s body and fall onto the straw underneath her
hind legs.
    “It’s
a girl,” said Dr. Moore.
    Emily
would be pleased because Flynn had told her she’d be in charge of this one. She’d
already named it Sharon, assuring her father she knew the cow was having a daughter. He guessed she’d been right.
    “She
okay?” asked Flynn.
    “Looks
fine to me, guess she thought she’d stay somewhere safe and warm just a little
longer, and hence didn’t want to leave her mother.”
    Flynn
couldn’t blame her. This morning had been a cold one, and even he’d been
reluctant to get out of bed.
    “I
have to go and collect Emily, and I’m already running late. Can I leave you to
finish up here and then send us the bill?”
    “Sure
thing, and tell her hello.”
    “I
will.”
    Flynn
changed into his clean boots and walked toward his truck. He turned on the
ignition and cranked up the heat. He backed out of the driveway and headed down
the road onto the main country road that would take him into the town of Timber
Creek.   He glanced up at the sky. It had
been brilliant sunshine until about an hour ago, but now it was dark and
dreary. If he was any judge, it was going to snow soon.   He glanced at the clock in the truck,
realizing that his watch had been slow. Damn thing probably needed a new
battery. Now he was really was late collecting Emily. He put his foot down on
the gas pedal hoping Shane or his deputies weren’t around to give him a ticket.
    Flynn
turned onto Main Street wondering if Emily had gotten herself into a panic
thinking something had happened to him. He hoped not because she could work
herself into quite a state, and it usually took hours to calm her down. Right
now he was tired, and after a quick trip to the grocery store, he just wanted
to head home, eat, and then sit in front of the fire and relax. He turned the
corner and then made his way into the café’s parking lot. He rushed inside and
to his delight Emily was simply helping her grandmother bag some cookies for a
customer.
    “Hi
daddy.” She smiled at him. Luckily his mother had kept her occupied so she hadn’t
noticed his tardiness.
    “Hi
honey. The new calf finally arrived.”
    “Sharon’s
here?” said Emily.
    “Sure
is, and you were right about her being a girl.”
    “Well,
that’s a lucky thing for her or he’d be stuck with a girl’s name,” said
his mother. “Okay Emily, you grab your coat and run along with your dad.”
    “I
might not be able to help out tomorrow because I’ll have a calf to look after.”
    “That’s
fine honey. I understand.” She winked at Flynn.
    Emily
grabbed her coat and Flynn held the door open for her. She unlocked the truck
and slid in beside him and then pulled up her coat collar.
    “It’s gonna snow.”
    “Yeah,
I think so too.”
    “Can
we still go to the store?”
    “That’s
where I’m heading.”
    “I
need more period pads.”
    Flynn
felt himself coloring up. He’d forgotten just how grown up she was until a few
weeks after her thirteenth birthday when she’d gotten her first period.  
    “Sure
honey, we can get some of those too.”
    “I
want the ones like on the commercial I saw on the TV.”
“Then you’ll have to show me.”
    He
saw no need to pay attention to those sorts of things, but he guessed Emily did.
    Flynn
pulled into the parking lot of the local grocery store just as the snow began
swirling around. He and Emily got out and rushed inside to get out of the cold
wind. He grabbed a cart and they headed down the first aisle.
    “ Gran said to get sprinkles for the cupcakes. People