Rocky Mountain Proposal. Pamela Nissen

then, aren’t you a fine-looking cow?” She willed her pulse to even out.

      Nonplussed by her greeting, the creature continued chewing in a slow and lazy way.

      She opened the latch to the wood-plank half door and squeezed inside, quickly closing it behind her. Although this four-legged being seemed docile enough, Hope couldn’t be sure that, given the opportunity, it might not escape. And she definitely didn’t fancy the idea of chasing it about the farm yard.

      “You must be the cow I’m going to milk this morning.”

      The beast sighed, its warm breath hanging like a peaceful mist in the crude stable. Aaron had cautioned her never to stare into the eyes of a bull, but he’d obviously never met this cow.