Unexpected Inheritance

28

Meadow ran into the house one afternoon "Daddy, something's wrong with Goldie"

Ben, who had been sitting at the table sorting through paperwork for the clinic as a favor to his wife, didn't even look up. "What do you mean, baby girl?"

Meadow huffed, frustrated that he wasn't moving fast enough. "She's been actin' weird. She don't wanna run much, and her belly looks funny"

That was all Ben needed to hear. He grabbed his hat and boots, calling for Miranda as he followed Meadow outside.

After a quick phone call, the vet arrived shortly, Goldie was standing in the pasture, lazily flicking her tail, looking far too calm for all the fuss. The vet gave her a thorough examination, rubbing her belly before finally looking up with a smirk.

"Well, I got some news," the vet said, giving Goldie a final pat. "Your mare's pregnant."

Ben blinked. "She's what?"

"You've got yourself a little foal coming soon."

Ben stared at Goldie, a mixture of surprise and disbelief crossing his face. His eyes immediately shifted toward his other horses in the pasture. "It's gotta be them. My boys must've gotten to her somehow and got her pregnant."

Meadow gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. "Goldie's gonna be a mama?"

Miranda, who had been watching quietly, turned to him with a slow, knowing smirk. "Your horses are just like you then."

Ben shot her a look. "Don't start."

She crossed her arms. "Oh, I am startin'. Guess your stallions don't know what birth control is either."

Meadow, completely ignoring the adults, was already talking to Goldie, excitedly telling her how she was going to help take care of the baby.

Ben sighed, shaking his head before looking at Miranda. "First you, now the damn horse. I can't catch a break all these unexpected babies."

Miranda patted his cheek, smug. "You did this to yourself, cowboy."

Ben sighed, hands on his hips as he looked at Goldie. "Well, bright side is, now Junebug's got a horse to grow up with."

Meadow gasped, turning to her little brother, who was busy gnawing on his fingers from Miranda's hip. "Junebug. You're gonna have your own horse"

He just babbled, drool dripping onto Miranda's shirt.

Miranda sighed, adjusting him on her hip. "Yeah, well, let's hope he learns to walk a little better before y'all try and throw him on a saddle."

One morning, after everyone got used to the idea of a baby horse on the way, Meadow came stomping into the clinic, hands on her hips, determination written all over her little face. "Mama, you gotta come check on Goldie."

Miranda barely looked up from her paperwork. "Meadow, I don't do animals. That's what the vet is for."

Meadow groaned dramatically. "But you know about babies"

Miranda sighed, finally giving her daughter her full attention. "Sweetheart, I know about human babies."

Meadow wasn't convinced. "But you birth babies in the clinic. And you have three of your own. That means you know all about it."

Ben, who was organizing supplies in the back, let out a quiet chuckle. Miranda shot him a look before turning back to Meadow. "Meadow, just because I've had babies and delivered them doesn't mean I know anything about foals."

Meadow pouted, eyes big and pleading. "But Mama... what if Goldie needs you?"

Miranda let out a long sigh. She should've been immune to this by now, but damn it, Meadow knew how to wear her down.