Honor and Succession

It was six-o-clock on a Sunday morning and her phone had already rung at least four times. Sundays were her only free days and the only person she knows that likes to blow up her phone was her mother. But on the fourth ring, instead of silencing the phone, she answered in a muted voice, “What is it?”

“Sarah, it’s Jenny. Did I wake you? I’m sorry. I sometimes forget other people don’t get up at five like me, but I really need your help. I don’t know what to do.”

Sarah slowly sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes and the bridge of her nose with her free hand. “No worries. Are you okay?” Sarah could practically feel Jenny’s tears splashing her face through the phone.

“Well, you know how I found out Sadie was pregnant after I bought her?” Jenny’s blubbering continued, making it difficult for Sarah to decipher what she was saying. “She’s gone, Sarah! That poor girl. I knew she was too young to be having babies.”

“Jenny, what do you mean she’s gone?”

“I woke up this morning like every day, got myself some coffee and some cereal. I usually go into the barn around half-past and when I did, Sadie was laying on her side. When I got closer to her, I noticed her eyes were starring out and she wasn’t breathing. My poor girl.” It seemed Jenny had never shed so many tears in her entire life.

“Oh, Jenny. I am so sorry. I know how much you loved that sweet thing. She hadn’t even given birth yet.” While Sarah tried to console Jenny, she got out of bed, took some jeans and a tank top out of the drawer to dress in. She would take care of a few things at home and then head over there.

“That’s just the thing. I need your help because I think she passed after delivering her baby. The calf was in the pen with her, already trying to stand on its bony legs. I don’t know what to do!”

“I’m getting dressed and once I take care of Benny, I’ll be right over. You just hang on, okay, and stay with that calf. Get a bucket of warm water and a towel or sponge and wipe him down. It will hopefully comfort him until I get there.”

“Okay, I’ll do that. I’m sorry to bother you, Sarah, I just didn’t know who else to call.”

“Don’t you worry your little tush about that. I’ll be there soon.” Sarah had already dressed before she hung up the phone. She quickly put on some socks and slipped her feet into her boots. She’d put her hair up on the way. First, she needed to take care of Benny.

She turned the coffee pot on before she let her hairy mutt of a dog, the best dog in the world, outside. Once Benny was in and fed and she had filled her thermos to the brim, she grabbed her bag off the counter and followed by Benny, took the truck out to her friend’s farm. Good thing the agricultural store opened at six in the morning, and it was on the way. She needed to get some colostrum into that baby, and quick.

____________________________________________________

She remembered that day like it was yesterday. She couldn’t believe she was standing in front of the massive bull now, considering selling him. Jenny had left her the farm after she had passed so unexpectedly. How was she, a teacher at the local high school, supposed to take care of a farm? She knew how, of course, since she was raised on one, but even though this was more of a homestead instead of a farm, where would she find the time?

“That’s a beautiful boy you got there. What’s his name?” A male voice approached her from behind, boots stepping firmly to a stop in the gravel. Sarah turned with fright, unable to place the voice. She should have heard him approaching, but she had been so lost in her memories it seemed she tuned everything out. “Oh, I’m sorry ma’am. Didn’t mean to scare you. I’m Rick, Jenny’s cousin. We met briefly at the funeral. Sarah, right?”

She remembered now. He was the one who convinced Jenny to get Sadie in the first place since she was interested in getting into the business of making cheese and butter, told her how to go about starting up that business. “Yes, I’m Sarah. This is our bull Drudo, born of Sadie. What brings you out this away?”

Rick stroked his beard with large hands, contemplating the name. “I was still in town when my father asked for me to come out to the farm and check it out. My grandparents started this farm, and we want to make sure it gets taken care of. What are your plans for it?”

“Honestly, I have no idea. I don’t know what I am supposed to do.” Sarah contemplated him. Maybe she could sell him the farm, or someone in the family. “I was actually thinking of selling it, or just signing it over to you guys, her family.”

Rick just stared at her. Selling it would not be an option if he had anything to say about it. And as much as he would love his farm, Jenny left it to Sarah for a reason, whether he knew what that reason was or not. “No.”

“No?”

“No. She left it to you because she wanted you to have it. Don’t dishonor her.”

Sarah hadn’t seen it like that, and it mortified her to think of it as dishonorable, but there were no other options. “Well, you have any better ideas?”

“I can stay on, take care of the farm while you are at work, see if we can get a good system down that you can handle.”

Living with a stranger? That was his better idea? “I don’t know you.”

“Well, then we can get to know each other. But I am not allowing you to let this farm go.”

Sarah turned back to Drudo, scratched behind his jaw and under his chin and tears swelled in her eyes. “I guess I don’t really have an option, do I? Just so you know I will be calling everyone and their parents to let them know you are here so if something happens to me, you will be the first person they come after.”

“Glad that’s settled. Now, where to start first…” Rick walked towards the barn with Benny in tow, stripping off his flannel shirt to expose hard, lean muscles and a broad back and chest. She lowered her head to Drudo’s, closed her eyes, and smiled.

“Maybe this won’t be too bad after all.”

____________________________________________________

“Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?” Rick rubbed his hand over Sarah’s hair, pushing it back out of her sticky, sweaty face. “You have never been more beautiful than you are at this moment.”

The fact that she married this man still eluded her. He was the perfect husband, strong, bold, confident, loving. He was her stability, the rock that kept her grounded. He protector and partner. She looked up at him and smiled, “I thought you never lie.”

“You’re right. I don’t.” He kissed her forehead before she clutched her swollen belly as another contraction hit her. “Breathe baby. Breathe.”

After it passed, she took a few shaky breaths before looking back at him. “If it is a boy, I want to name him Rick Drudo. Rick for you of course, but Drudo because he is going to be as strong and confident as a bull.”

“And if it’s a girl?” Rick held her hand as she traveled the next wave of contractions.

“Jenny.”

He smiled and looked into her eyes as she smiled back. “I think she would like that very much.”

“If it wasn’t for Jenny and Drudo, I don’t know that I’d be here with you now. She made the bold move to leave the farm to someone outside the family, but I think she also knew what to expect from you. She never blamed you for Sadie and rather thanked you for Drudo. He sneaked into her life and became her heart, just as you did for me.” She could feel another contraction coming. It was time to push.

"It’s a girl!”

The doctor placed little Jenny on Sarah’s chest after a good half-hour of pushing. Rick and Sarah shed tears of joy. She smiled up at him. “Looks like she left the farm to the family after all.”