“Nellie’s havin’ her . . . her baby, Hannah. Berto said . . . he said . . . to tell you the hooves are sticking out!” The breathless child didn’t wait to see if Hannah had even heard, but turned to race back to the barn. Hannah had been helping Juanita make tortillas and quickly wiped the corn flour concoction from her hands. She smiled at Juanita. “Hopefully I’ll be back soon.” She had known only one previous delivery, and it took more than an hour even at this stage of the labor. Hannah looked up at the dull gray skies. The temperature had dropped again. She was grateful for her warm coat and pulled it close. Inside the barn was only marginally warmer, but the dim lighting made it harder to see. “She’s over here,” Andy announced. “She’s not lying down yet.” Hannah walked to the small birthing pen. Nellie, a black-and-white Holstein, had been purchased along with two other milk cows when the Dandridges had moved to the ranch. The cows had been bred to deliver at different times in order to ensure a good supply of milk, and Nellie was the second of the three to calve.
