Chapter Text
It was that time of year again. The yakmels needed their annual shots. And as long as they were getting corralled for their shots, they might as well get wormed and get a once-over to look for any health issues that had gone unnoticed.
Cooper and Mabel started their morning early with coffee and a quick breakfast of eggs and toast. Some protein and some carbs to keep them going for the hard job ahead of them. They herded all the yakmels into a smaller paddock. Then, one by one, they loaded the yakmels into the chute to hold them still. Cooper held each animal steady while Mabel administered the shots and the de-wormer. A couple of them needed a little extra attention for one reason or another, but overall, the herd was healthy and well tended to.
Of course, the day was still full of mishaps. One yakmel, an ornery old cow that Cooper not-so-affectionately referred to as Hellion, broke through the chute and made a run for the pasture. Cooper and Mabel had to chase after her and Cooper tripped over a rock and landed face-first in what he hoped was a pile of mud, though he doubted it based on the smell. But he got right back on his feet and chased after her, cursing a blue streak as he ran. They managed to corner her and slip a halter on, and Mabel gave her the shots and de-wormer right there in the pasture.
Cooper went to wash his face while Mabel tried to comfort the yakmels who were still in the paddock waiting for their turn in the chute. When Cooper returned, he stood back for a moment to watch his wife be soft and soothing with his beloved livestock. They worked a hard job, but they worked it together, and Cooper had no regrets. He enjoyed working side-by-side with his wife, even when the work itself was frustrating. Made him love her that much more.
“What are ya thinkin’, Cooper?” Mabel asked. She worried she might be asking for a long rant, but his face looked so soft and content that she decided it was worth the risk.
“Just thinkin’ it’s kinda romantic, us workin’ together like this, takin’ care o’ the herd,” Cooper answered as he sidled up next to his wife.
“Romantic? You call this romantic?” she asked. But she turned to kiss him anyway. “You’re a strange, strange man, but I wouldn’t change a thing.”