New Born Calf
Hoss spirits off with the runt of the litter. Little Joe helps him feed him one day.
Hoss watched the new born calf as it struggled to gain it’s feet. It flopped over once again it’s young sides heaving with the effort.
Hoss smoothed its forelock, "Pa, I can feed it and make it better." He tried to help the new calf to his feet.
"Hoss, leave it, we don’t have the time to nurse the runt. He has a nice older brother you can name and care for." Ben smoothed his young nine year old son’s hair. "You need to get back to your chores."
Hoss gave his Pa adesperate look as he tore himself away from the young calf. He went out of the barn, kicking a rock as he tried to shake the sorrow that filled him.
Ben shook his head at the sad little boy. He turned his back and hurried across the yard, before he gave in. They couldn’t tend to every runt born.
Hoss watched Pa walk away in search of someone to put the calf out of it’s misery. He bolted back to the barn, scooped up the baby calf and ran with him to the wash house. Pa would never think to look in there. He lovingly held the calf as he crooned to it. "I’ll be right back lil feller with some dinner. I"ll just get some milk from your mama, and fill your tummy. How would you like that Mikey?" He grinned. "I’m gonna call ya Mikey."
Hoss laid the calf down and went back into the barn slipping a bucket off the wall, then carefully went to the mother cow and milked a bucket half full. He put a funnel in the glass bottle Pa had for feeding baby animals, then he snapped the nipple on.
Hoss felt very proud of himself as he watched the baby gobble down the milk. It got to it’s feet and butted gently for more milk. Hoss grinned, "Ya gotta pace yourself little one. I’ll bring ya more tomorrow."
Later, Ben met Hank coming out of the barn, "I need you to take care of a runt that was born this afternoon."
Hank just nodded, "Will do boss." and he turned and went back into the barn. He noticed the new calf sucking on it’s mama and grinned. "Well little fellow I see you don’t need taken care of do you." He went on to the bunk house, glad he didn’t need to finish that distasteful chore.
Ben tried to prepare himself for Hoss mournful look at the supper table. He was more than a little surprised when Hoss didn’t seem affected at all.
"Son, I’m sorry about earlier today, I’m glad to see you are being grown up about it." Ben ruffled Hoss unruly hair.
Hoss flushed a bit with guilt, "Yeah, that’s okay Pa, I understand." Hoss really hated to lie to his pa. He wouldn’t feel safe until Mikey got stronger.
Supper continued without the subject of Mikey being brought up again. Hoss slipped out after supper to feed Mikey another bottle. Mikey was doing a lot better as he butted the bottle that Hoss held, Hoss laughed at the antics of the young calf. He cleaned up the papers he had scattered under Mikey. He retied Mikey behind the big copper kettle, and went on up to bed.
Adam paused while doing his chores, he noticed Hoss milking the cow that had calved a couple weeks before. Pa had told him how the runt had to be put down. Adam watched as Hoss filled a baby bottle with the milk, tucked it under his arm and headed for the wash house. Adam grinned as he had an idea what Hoss had done. He decided to follow him, keeping out of sight.
"Hey Hoss, what ya doin?" Four year old Little Joe ran after Hoss as fast as his short legs would carry him.
" Shhhh!" Hoss shushed him. "You gotta be really quiet, and I’ll show ya." Hoss grabbed Little Joe and they both disappeared into the wash house. Adam wasn’t far behind.
Hoss untied the baby calf and brought it around to show Little Joe.
"Wow Hoss, dis da one Papa said died?" Little Joe’s eyes went round with excitement.
"Shhh Little Joe, Don’t want Pa to know. He just needed some help. I knew I could nurse him back to health."
"Tan I feed him huh Hoz huh?" Little Joe was dancing.
"Ahh Joe ya stepped in some of his manure. Ya better take off your boots before Hopsing gets mad. Hoss helped him take off his boots and set them outside.
"Now tan I feed him huh Hoz?" Little Joe fairly danced at the chance to feed the baby calf.
Hoss felt very important as he took out the baby bottle. "Now Joe ya gotta hold it still and be careful ya don’t drop it."
Little Joe took the bottle the calf stepped up to take the nipple, treading on Little Joe’s toes with his sharp hooves.
"Owww Hoz, he’s steppin’ on my toes" Little Joe winched in pain.
Hoss dragged his oversized boots off. "Here wear mine. They’re a might too big, but they’ll save yer toes."
Little Joe slipped the boots on and proceeded to feed the calf.
Adam stood in the doorway his arms folded as he watched his two younger brothers feed the stowaway calf. He smiled at the happy boys.
Hoss took down the oversized copper kettle, "Here Joe sit here." Hoss maneuvered his little brother to the edge of the kettle.
Little Joe grinned as he fed Mikey, his oversized boots saving his feet from the hooves.
Little Joe looked up, seeing Adam he giggled, "Lookit me Adam. I’m feedin’ da baby."
Mikey butted the bottle sending Little Joe over into the big kettle. All that was visible was the large boots waving in the air.
Adam rushed to Little Joe’s rescue. The calf noticed the movement of Adam and went to butting Adam in the groin. Adam tried to protect himself and get to Joe. The calf kept butting Adam keeping him from Little Joe.
Hoss was laughing so hard at the boots waving in the air, and at Adam getting butted in the privates he was weak with laughter. He tried to help Little Joe and the calf noticed the broad target and butted Hoss in the butt knocking him into the kettle on top of Joe.
Adam had advanced several paces toward Little Joe before the calf noticed him and went to butting Adam once again.
Hoss was laying on top of Joe, he was trying to not squish Little Joe any more than he already was as he tried to get a hand placed that wasn’t on a squirming Little Joe to lever himself out of the kettle.
Little Joe was squirming and praying "Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy."
"It’s okay Joe, the calf isn’t hurting me." Adam tried to sooth his baby brother’s fear. As he still tried to get past the calf.
Hopsing heard all the noise as he went running to see what creature could be tearing up his wash house.
Ben heard the the commotion in the wash house and went to investigate.
They both bowed with laughter as they seen a baby calf butting Adam in the most sensitive area. They could see huge boots sticking out of the big copper pot waving in the air, and the huge backside of what could only be Hoss as he was off center tipped head first into the pot with whoever was wearing the boots.
Tears filled Ben’s eyes as he laughed.
Adam looked up not a bit amused. "Would someone get this dad gummed calf off me." Adam wanted to wring the calf’s neck, and then both the men standing their laughing their heads off. If he could only get away from the semi dangerous calf.
Ben scooped the calf up and tied it back up where Joe had it.
Adam hauled Hoss out of the kettle by the seat of his britches.
He then scooped Little Joe out wiping his tears. "Hey little buddy, it’s okay. No one got hurt."
"I know." Little Joe sniffed, "Hoz was just squishing me ta deaf."
Adam tried not to grin, as he heard Hoss snickering.
Ben kept his head turned as his body shook with laughter.
"Yeah I bet. So, where did this calf come from?" Pa tried to look severe.
Hoss hung his head. "Ah Pa, I couldn’t let him be killed. So I been feeding him."
Ben smiled at his gentle son. "Yes, I see you have, and a good job you’ve done. I say we get him out of this wash house and back with his mama."
"I gets to lead him" Joe announced looking at Hoss for approval. He was Hoss calf after all.
Hoss just grinned." Sure you can. We can share Mikey."
Ben felt a surge of pride for all his sons. Their compassion for animals and for each other.
By Nicki Beau
nickibeau@yahoo.com