Page 33 of Milked for the Holidays

“No. She walked on her own accord. I had to carry Jessica.”

He silently mulls over my words, but the relief coming off of him is nearly palpable in the air. The irrational part wants to slug him, but it’s not his fault my cow is having issues and his isn’t. I can only hope my brother has a good plan.

The Ranch House looms off in the distance, and I let out a sigh of relief. Almost home. Instead of heading straight to the house, however, I have to stop and let the other cows out.

I pull up to the barn and tap the horn, alerting the other Ranch Hands we’re home. In the back, the cows shuffle about, their faces pressed against the bars as they look out onto the field. Pride swells in my chest as I look over the bit of land I own, passed down to me from my father and the Ranchers before him.

Beautiful blue waves of Ovibrosia sway back and forth in the breeze, soft and welcoming. It’s not so tall that it needs to be harvested yet, but should be tasty enough for the cows to enjoy. I hop out of the driver's seat and make my way back to the rear.

Squinting, I look up at the two suns hanging congruently with one of our three moons. Luckily, they’re waning, so the ground won’t be too hot for them. If so, they’ll have constant access to the barn just in case they need it.

I open the back and slide a ramp out on the right side, motioning for the cows to come out. Behind me, the Ranch Hands stand guard, waiting to assist as needed. For several moments, no one moves.

Though I don’t want to be rough with this stock, I will if they won’t cooperate. However, after a few moments, one of them takes a tentative step forward. With a smile, I grab onto her lead and help her down, passing her off to one of the workers.

One by one, they exit, leaving just Jessica and Fiona in the back. “You might as well get out too. You’ll need to see where you’ll be when not servicing us or the house.”

Grabbing the ramp, I slide it over, keeping my eyes locked on Jessica. She looks a bit paler than earlier, but seems to move on her own accord. Maybe I was just being overprotective?

But as she moves, I notice the effort, the slight tremor in her body. She’s still not nearly as strong as she needs to be. Off to the side, the other cows wait on all fours, their movements firm, never swaying.

Even Fiona shows no signs of struggle or difficulty. I would rather not have to carry Jessica if I don’t have to. Her body needs to learn to adapt, and it won’t if I coddle her. Still, the need to pull her into my arms beats at me until I worry I’ll go crazy.

Though her movements are small and tentative, she eventually makes it down to the ground. I wind her lead in my hand, keeping the leash taut between us. Antroli grabs onto Fiona’s as we join the others.

The main issue I’m having right now is being a solid, steady force for Jessica as she navigates her new normal, but also having to be the Rancher in charge. Pain lances through my heart as I hand her over to Antroli, trusting him to alert me if there are any difficulties. As much as it hurts to leave her, I make my way to the head of the group.

“The barns are open to free use during the day. On Icora, the days become blistering hot, and the nights are cold. Every morning after being milked, you will be rubbed down with a cream to protect you from the elements. Your bodies will acclimate to many things, but not the suns.”

The cows shuffle behind me, giving each other looks as we head into the structure.

“These stalls are where you sleep. They fit up to four cows. We will not be doing room assignments, so it will be up to you to figure out who is sleeping with whom. If there are any issues such as bullying or cliques, my Ranch Hands will ferret it out and mete out punishments as needed.”

I stop and look at all of them individually, even my own pet. “No cow is above the other. Take that to heart. Though I am a kind Rancher, I will not hesitate to nip signs of aggression at the first instance. Do not test me on this. If you prove to be a difficult cow and not easily curbed, I know of several Ranchers who have no issues providing pain as their motivation. I will sell you to them in a heartbeat.”

A shudder goes through the herd as they all shuffle closer together. Smiling, I take them past the stalls to a row of milking machines.

“You will be milked every twelve hours. Our Ranch Hands are skilled in this department. Sexual gratification by one of them is not a guarantee. There are tasks at this farm that don’t include fucking you. You will, however, find relief by either their hand or a machine. Sexually satisfied cows are happy cows. Happy cows produce sweet, sweet milk for me.”

Again they shift about, but this time it’s more like there’s a sense of discomfort. Pink dots their cheeks as they rub their thighs together. No doubt they’re looking forward to tonight’s milking.

Leading them out into the pasture, I hunch down and run my fingers through the Ovibrosia. I lift my hand and make a come-hither motion with two fingers. In the back, I note the light flush to my cow’s face and smile.

Soon I’ll see to her pleasure, but for now, I have to take on the role as Master Rancher. It’s so difficult to do when the only thing on my brain right now is tucking her away in my room so I can work on stretching her out. Clearing my throat, I pluck a blue stem topped with pale, fluffy bits on the top and hold it in front of the cows.

“As a cow, you will no longer eat any meat.” Their heads whip around as they look at each other.

Soft, distressed moos litter the air as their eyes widen and nostrils flair. It’s to be expected. For most cows, this will be the hardest part for them to come to terms with. You’d think it would be the milking and the constant sexual need, but no.

Granted, as someone who devours meat for nearly every meal, I can relate. Holding up my hand, I wait for them to quiet down before continuing.

“Meat changes the flavor of your milk. For us to have the best quality, strict veganism is to be observed. If your concern is about your nutrient intake, this plant, Ovibrosia, has been created to meet all essential vitamins and minerals your body needs.”

I wave my hand over to the side, showing them the cows who chose to stay with us. “Some of our cows have been here for years, and as you can see, they’re still plump, healthy, and happy. The hardest part will be the yearning for meat, but that will pass.”

Standing, I brush my hands on my pants. “Ovibrosia is also supplemented with other fruits and vegetables grown on the farm. So don’t think this is all you’ll eat. Think of Ovibrosia as more of a snack than anything else. If you get hungry during the day, you can come out here and snack until your heart’s content. For water, there will be a fresh stream in the trough over by the entrance. Any questions?”

Again, they look at each other, uncertainty dancing in their eyes. Eventually, a slim cow with brown hair and green eyes raises her hoof.