Secretly Submissive

Chapter Thirteen

As Philip and Evangeline drove into the yard, they noticed a couple of the hands waving at them by the barn. The two pulled up. "Hey can you guys unload them in the corral connected to the round pen. Let's see what these two are like before we put them in with anyone else." the boys said. "Not a problem." Philip said. He backed the trailer up to the pen and got ready to open the trailer door. "How were they for loading?" Lucas asked. "Pretty good. Just opened the slider and ran them in." Philip replied. "Open the door and let's see them." Lucas said as Philip opened the trailer door. Lucas had been at the ranch for four years. He was a kid that ran away at eighteen years old and never looked back and he stumbled upon John's ranch while doing a midnight run. John didn't turn him in to the police but he did give him a job and a place to call home. He was young and smart.

As the group watched the two horses run in the corral, Philip gave them a few forks full of hay and some fresh cold water. One of the main rules on the ranch was that new animals never got worked with on the first three days unless the animal needed to be handled. John had put this rule in many years ago. He always said it took three days to start decompressing and eventually six months to call a place home. It was a way for any animal to know they were going to be ok on the ranch. As Evangeline and Philip got the horses settled in with the other ranch hands at the barn, John had been keeping his crew going steady on the nursery. It was almost finished and the boys just needed to put the furniture and other baby supplies away. "Hey boys I gotta head into town quick. I'll be back in an hour." John said as he walked out of the room. John had been facing a lot with the ranch lately and the effects caused issues with his health. He felt more sluggish lately and a bit tired. More than usual. He decided that he would go and have the doctor take a look.

As John walked into the doctor's office, he started to worry about what was going on. It was very rare that John ever had health issues. "Follow me to the room John." the nurse said as she ushered him into the back. John sat and waited patiently for the doctor to come in. As he waited, he got a call from Evangeline. "Hey John, we got those horses settled in. The boys said you had to run to town quick. We will be at our place when you get back. Everyone else has been sent to bring the cattle back into the corrals from the south pasture." she said as she quickly hung up the phone. John knew that Evangeline and Philip could take care of the ranch when needed but he also knew it would be difficult with the baby once it had arrived.

KNOCK! KNOCK! The doctor walked into the room and sat down. "I see you have a few concerns with your health." she said as she pulled her stethoscope out to listen to his breathing and heart rate. "Yes I've been having a few issues and I just want to make sure everything is going to be okay. I have a lot of people that rely on me." John replied back. "I'll send you for blood work and then I will email you the results. I'll also put in the notes if there's anything I'm concerned about as well." the doctor informed John as the lab tech came in to take his blood. "After the lab tech has the blood they need, you are free to go home. I'll let you know if anything further is needed." the doctor said as she left the room. His blood work had been taken and John headed for the ranch. Well all I can do now is wait to hear from the doctor. Whatever the doctor says may decide the fate and the future of this ranch.

While John returned home to the ranch, Evangeline and Philip made sure the cattle got into the corrals. They pushed them in one smaller corner and sort them by whether or not they were steers or heifers. "Hey Evangeline, when we're done here, we're free and clear for the day. I got a few ideas for tonight." Philip shouted to her as she continued to help sort the cattle. "That doesn't sound like a bad idea. What ya got in mind?" Evangeline replied. "Let's go for dinner and a movie tonight." Philip shouted. Evangeline nodded in agreement as they continued their task at hand. John pulled into the yard to see everyone at the corrals sorting cattle and getting them ready to ship out. He was surprised to see they were getting it done. He hadn't put a lot of faith in the ranch hands up until now. He was the type to always have control and keep everyone in line but John quickly saw that he would no longer need to do that.

John's phone rang as he pulled into his spot in front of his house. "Hello?" John said as he answered his phone. "Hey I just got your test results back. Everything is looking really good. I recommend that you come back every three to six months for a regular check up and blood work to ensure better health in the future. For now, please track your symptoms the best you can and bring your notes with to each appointment. I will call you if anything else comes in." the doctor said as she hung up the phone. John knew he couldn't do this on his own. What was a symptom tracker? What was he supposed to write down? Where does he get this? John had many questions and he knew only one person could answer those questions and help him. Evangeline.