But I Can't Lose Her

some people are worth melting for - 40

- olaf, frozen

"Welcome back, kid," Tilly greets when I walk into the barn. I smile at her and she gives me her classic grin before hobbling over to me.

"Shouldn't you still be using that cane?" I ask her and she just waves a hand at me, walking off and leading me to where I'd be working.

"So, I was gonna punish you and make you scoop the shit, but then I remembered I like you, so I made Wells do it," she claims pointing to one of the barns with stalls for the cows. I can't hold back the small laugh I have at seeing my co-worker Scottie scooping up poop. "So I'm putting you on groom duty today, then you're gonna make sure all of their supplies are stocked. You remember, the tools aren't getting too old, the cleaner isn't running low, you know?" she clarifies as we approach our third barn.

"I remember," I say, not telling her this is my favorite part. Once Tilly knows what you like and don't like, she will use it against you if you wrong her. I wonder what Scottie did.

Besides, we don't get to groom them very often after fair season since they aren't going to be on show. But this sort of grooming was just for health reasons, to keep them all clean and free of disease.

"And then you should milk 'em." She points to the milk bucket and I nod, remembering. "Alright. You get to work, kiddo. I'll call you if I need anything down the hill, but you'll pretty much be by yourself," she informs me, looking around at some of our girls. "A few of 'em got pregnant, so we'll have our calves soon enough. I want you there for that," she warns, tapping me on the arm and I laugh and nod.

"Call me whenever you need me," I reply and she just gives me a smile before going back to her resting face.

"Alright, I'm out." She wobbles away and I roll my eyes. That woman is so stubborn.

"Hi, girls. I missed you," I state, looking at all the beautiful cows. I go back to the shelves and grab the brushes, washing my hands with the sink in the corner before starting the process.

I put my music on and leave my phone in my back pocket, starting to brush the cows. I start with getting all the dirt and mud, but then I focus around their faces. I brush through their whole body, and their coats become nice and silky.

I notice a few of them that are pregnant, so I take extra precaution around them, knowing soon-to-be-mama's are hardcore. I go light on them, making sure I'm always in their eye range.

After I finish Tate, I kiss her forehead. Tate's been my favorite since I started here and she was just a wee ole calf. Now she's turning three and carrying a calf of her own.

They all look brand new when I'm finished, so I move on to cleaning their utters. Only the ones who aren't pregnant, obviously. It actually takes a while for all of them to be clean before I can start the milking.

I take the first cow out, Whistle, and tie her to the fence on the opposite end of the barn. Tilly taught me when I started here that you take the cow away from it's hay where fleas and ticks and dust particles could get in the milk. Since we sell this milk, it is kind of important.

I sit on the crate and start milking her, getting about half a pal before putting her back on her hay and grabbing the next girl. I continue this process for a while, enjoying the calmness it brings me to just be here with the animals.

They moo a few times but I just shush them with some hay or grain and then stay quiet, enjoying themselves.

After all the cows are finished, I have about five pals full of milk and lift them over next to the door for one of the boys to bring the wheel barrel up and bring them down. Putting the last one down, I turn down my music and hear drops outside. Crap.