Zandra brushed her favorite horse. A beautiful black Arabian mare by the name of Pixie. She was the only horse Zandra owned that wasn't named after a Peter Pan character. Pixie nudged Zandra softly. Zandra smiled and patted her nose. Pixie always seemed to be able to cheer Zandra up.
"She's a beautiful horse." Dog said walking up behind her. Zandra smiled but didn't turn around. "Whatsoever her name?"
"Pixie." Zandra said and the horse nudged her again hearing her name. Zandra then introduced him to her other horses. "This one is Peter Pan. He's a pain. That's Tinkerbell. She's trained to jump. Then Slightly, Hook, and Wendy. They are my rodeo horses. Then those six are my moms and dads. John Deere, Dodge, Corona, Blue Bell, Baby, and Rodeo."
"That sure is a lot of horses." Dog said and Zandra smiled.
"I used to raise them. Then Jessica would train them." Zandra said happily. She patted Pixie. "Pixie is the only one not broken. She won't take a saddle. But she's fine for bare back."
"Zandra there is something I have to ask." Dog said looking at her concerned. Zandra sighed.
"You want to know why I said what I did to Leland." Zandra said then smiled at Dogs confusion. "I heard you walking down the stairs."
"So why did you tell him you could never be with him?" Dog asked and Zandra turned away from him. "Is it because your going to have Duane Lee's child?"
Zandra froze but didn't turn around. "How did you know?"
"Zandra just remember how many kids I have." Dog said with a smile. "I can tell when a woman is expecting."
Zandra turned towards him with a worried look. "Please don't tell him!" Zandra begged. "Or Leland! Oh god please don't tell Leland."
"Zandra is that the reason you don't want to come back to Hawaii with us?" Dog asked. "You don't want Duane Lee to know your pregnant or Leland?"
"No I'd never try to hide a child from him or the rest of your family." Zandra protested. "I would never want that for my child.... Its just that I haven't found the right time to tell Duane Lee. And what would Leland think?"
"Leland would be more than happy for you." Dog said with a smile. "He knows more than any of us how badly you want a family."
"So you see how I can't be with him other than the fact that I'm still in love with his brother." Zandra said sadly.
"Why couldn't you be with Leland?" Dog asked with a shrug. "Its clear to me that you two are in love."
"for one thing its more that we lust for each other rather than love each other." Zandra replied. "And think of the kid as it grows up. Who would it call daddy and who would he call uncle?"
Dog had to admit she had a very good point. "I'm sure that you'll find the right time to tell him. And I promise I won't tell the boys. But I think you should talk to Baby Lyssa or Beth. They are way better in this area."
Zandra smiled and gave Dog a hug. "Thanks Papa D! But you need your sleep ol man. I got roped into talking at the school tomorrow and you all are coming with me."
Dog kissed her forehead. "Welcome into our family Baby ZayZay. Take good care of that baby. I'll be watching you."
"You mean now I will really never have a life." Zandra teased as Dog walked back into the house. Zandra put a hand on her stomach and smiled. She was four months pregnant but it was hard to tell at all. She had gone to the doctors back in Hawaii and they were very concerned about her lack of weight gain or slow growth of the baby. Zandra knew that she hardly showed with the last baby as well and was very worried about losing this baby as well. That was the other reason she didn't want to tell Duane Lee. She didn't want to get his hopes up then lose the child.
Back in the house Dog laid down next to Beth and she wrapped her arms around him. "Every thing ok Big Daddy?"
Dog sighed heavily and turned to Beth. "Zay is pregnant. But she can't make herself tell Duane Lee cause she lusts for Leland or something like that."
"So you want me to talk to her tomorrow?" Beth asked but Dog shook his head.
"Let her come to you." Dog said with a smile. "She's still a little freaked that I had figured it out before any one else did."
"How far along is she?" Beth asked.
"I'm guessing a lot longer than she looks." Dog replied. "She looks like she is one of those kinds of girls that don't gain a pound when pregnant."
Beth held Dog close to her and smiled. "So she's really part of the family now and she's not with either boy."
XOXOXOXO
The next morning Duane Lee got up before the rest of his family and was surprised to find Zandra wasn't in her room. He walked down to the kitchen to find Stewart and Martha already dressed and ready for the day.
"Morning." Duane Lee greeted with a yawn.
"That is an I need coffee now yawn." Martha said with a smile. "Would you like very strong, strong or medium strength?"
"Strong." Duane Lee replied and Martha poured him a cup from one out of there coffee pots sitting on the counter. Duane Lee had already been told about the coffee issue. All three Porters liked their coffee different strengths.
"So where's Zay? Is any one else up?" Duane Lee asked taking a sip of coffee.
"Your the only one up at the moment." Stewart said with a smile. "Ali took Pixie out in the back 40 to check cows. She should be back any time."
Stewart looked out the kitchen window and at that moment he saw Zandra riding very fast towards the old wooden fence. Stewart stood up quickly causing both Duane Lee and Martha to look out the window.
"Oh my god she isn't going to..." Martha said then covered her eyes as Pixie jumped the fence. She landed perfectly with Zandra on her back. Zandra pullled on her main and Pixie took a hard left then stopped in front of the small machine shed where the four wheelers and lawnmower. Zandra jumped off Pixie and opened the shed doors. Pixie took off towards the house and just stood there as if waiting for Zandra to come and get her. Zandra came out of the shed on a large farm four wheeler and sped off. She stopped only to open the gate then sped out of sight.
"Martha get the basement ready." Stewart said as he started to put his work cloths on. "If she took that four wheeler out then she'll be bringing in a calf."
Martha nodded and headed down to the basement. Duane Lee watched dumb founded. He had no clue what to do or say. Stewart rushed out the door and headed for the barn. Just as he reached it Zandra was herding a big black and white faced cow and had a pure black calf laying in front of her as she stood up on the four wheeler. Stewart herded the cow into the barn as Zandra drove the calf up to the back door of the house. She jumped off the four wheeler and picked up the calf. She carried it to the door just as Dog and Beth walked downstairs followed by Leland. Duane Lee quickly opened the door for her as Zandra quickly took the calf down stairs. She didn't even say a word to any of them. They heard her talking to her mother then she raced back up the stairs holding a chain and rope.
"What the hell is all the noise about?" Beth asked and Zandra smiled.
"Got a cow having trouble giving birth." Zandra said heading out the door. "I'm going to have to pull it. You all can come if you'd like."
Zandra rushed out the door and jumped back on the four wheeler and drove to the barn. Martha called up from the stairs.
"Duane Lee, be an angel and get me some blankets from the closet right next to the basement door." Martha said trying her best to sound calm. Duane Lee did as he was told as Dog, Beth and Leland headed for the barn.
"I know what I'm doing dad!" Zandra was almost screaming when they walked up to the barn. "Now listen your stronger than I am and I'm faster than you are and this is my cow! And the bull was mine so this calf is mine as well. You are going to hold her and I'm going to pull!"
"Ali you could get kicked!" Stewart said annoyed.
"Now listen old man I'm young so I'll heal faster than you would if you got kicked so shut up and hold her steady!" Zandra demanded then laughed. "I've dad three years to come up with better excuses than the ones you used to have so grin and bear it cause you ain't winning any more."
"Can we help in any way?" Dog asked. Zandra smiled at him.
"Can you guys handle blood and ickiness?" Zandra asked and Leland and Dog nodded. "Good Leland help my dad hold the rope. Dog grab the other rope and hold her from the other side."
The guys obeyed as Zandra put the chains around the two hooves of the calf.
"Hold her steady now boys." Zandra said as she pulled getting no response. She cussed under her breath and looked up at her dad. "The calf must be backwards or twisted. Do we have those long glove things?"
Stewart shook his head. Zandra sighed then started to take off her shirt.
"What the hell are you doing?" Beth asked as Zandra took her shirt off and was only in a white wifebeater shirt with a red sports bra clearly showing through it. Stewart felt the rope behind him loosen then quickly tighten again. He glanced back at Leland and noticed his cheeks were red and he was struggling not to look at Zandra.
"Did I miss any thing?" Duane Lee asked walking into the barn.
"Yeah take over Leland's spot and Leland you go help Papa D." Zandra said with a smile when she saw how Duane Lee looked at her when he walked in. "That way we have about the same guy power on either side."
When they guys were situated Zandra tossed her shirt to Beth. She sighed then out her hand up in the cow she held back a gag as she felt around the calf. That's when she how big the calf really was. She took her hand out with a discusted look on her face.
"Call the vet. We won't be able to pull..." Zandra started and the cow kicked nailing Zandra in the stomach. Zandra Ignored the pain and jumped up onto the stall wall. The Cow kicked again but missed her. "God damn bitch. Ya kick at me one more time an I'm wrippin dat calf right outa ya! Den I'm sellin ya ta Burger King!"
The cow took one last kick. Zandra jumped down off the stall wall and grabbed the chains.
"Hold her tight boys!" Zandra said her eyes flaired with rage. Zandra pulled as hard as she could and the calf came out to almost its head. She pulled again and the calf came out just past the head. The Cow pushed the calf out the rest of the way. The calf hit the ground motionless. Zandra quickly moved the calf out of the way as the cow went down. Zandra cleaned the calf's face off and it took its first breath. Zandra smiled at it sweetly.
"Welcome to the world." she said as she lovingly patted the calf's head. It opened its eyes and Zandra gasped. "My God your an albino! What bull was with her?"
"Not sure she got out with Cena and Punk and you know how your bulls are." Stewart said with a smile as he lead the Cow into a bigger stall so she could have more room. "Almost killed Earnheart and Bond to get to her. Then they almost flipped my tractor as I tried to herd her out."
"Thats my boys." Zandra said with a smile. Stewart shook his head and moved the calf into the stall with its mother. "Lets get back to the house. We still have to go talk at the school."