Love and Honor: The Coltrane Saga, Book 7 Read Free Page B

veterinario loaned to her is foaling…having mucho difficulty. Dr. Frazier could not be found, and Señorita Kit must deliver the colt herself, or the mare will die.”
    Jade fumed. “Oh, for heaven’s sake! I told her she had to take that horse back, that she had no business having it here.”
    Carasia’s chin lifted in loyalty to her mistress and friend. “ Señorita Kit loves horses. She wants one badly for herself.”
    Jade regarded the girl coldly, not about to discuss personal matters with a servant. She brushed by her and hurried out of the house and down the path leading through a grove of lemon trees to the rustic barns. She recognized Julio, the young son of one of the servants, standing outside the open doors. His eyes were large with fear as he stepped out of her way.
    Jade started into the barn but turned at the sound of her name. It was the chauffeur, Muego, coming down the path toward her. He was supposed to be waiting in the front courtyard to drive them to the station in Colt’s new pride and joy, a sleek gold and black Alfonso. Built by Hispano Suiza in Barcelona, it was considered one of the finest and fastest cars on the road. But she cared nothing about the fancy car now, only the fact that Muego looked as agitated as she felt.
    “I heard about the mare foaling,” he said. “I doubt there will be time to make the train, but I’ll keep the car ready just the same.”
    “Do that,” Jade snapped, then hurried into the barn. She found Kit in one of the stalls at the rear. Her daughter was kneeling in the hay beside her borrowed mare, Belle. Wearing the denim trousers Jade detested and a worn flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled to the elbows, Kit looked as if Madrid festivities were the furthest thing from her mind.
    Jade’s hand flew to her mouth at the sight of blood on Kit’s hands and shirt. She gasped, her stomach rolling.
    Kit turned to look at her, aware of her presence for the first time. “She’s foaling,” she said quietly, worry apparent on her fine-boned face. “And it’s early. She wasn’t due for a few weeks yet. I came out to check on her and saw she was acting strangely. Then I saw that her udder had started to swell, and I knew she was going into labor.”
    With angry resignation, Jade said, “What can you do about it? This is something for Dr. Frazier to tend to, not you. Besides, it’s his horse,” she added icily.
    Kit shook her head stubbornly. “I sent Julio to get him, but nobody knows where he is. I won’t leave her. He told me once that when a mare is foaling, and she starts acting nervous and sweating and straining, everything moves fast, and it’s usually over in a half hour or so.
    “I waited,” Kit hurried to explain, “but when nothing happened, I reached up inside her and found that the colt is turned wrong. It’s supposed to come out with its nose lying on its forelegs, but this one is lying on its side. I’ve got to turn it. Maybe you should wait outside,” she suggested with an apologetic smile before dipping her hands into the bucket of lard Julio had brought earlier.
    By now, Julio and Muego had come inside the stall and were also kneeling beside Kit and the mare, ready to assist if needed. Jade, feeling sick to her stomach, backed away into the shadows. She turned aside, unable to watch.
    Several moments passed, then suddenly everyone cried out with delight. Jade forced herself to look, watching in awe, as a tiny, fuzzy, wet newborn colt made his way into the world, struggling to stand on wobbly legs.
    “He’s beautiful.” Kit was crying happily. “He’s beautiful, and healthy. I can’t believe we did it, Belle…” She threw her arms around the mare as Belle got to her feet to inspect her new son.
    Jade could not deny that she was proud of her daughter, but she found herself suddenly fired with renewed determination to leave the ranch…and Spain. Kit needed the cultural and educational advantages of New York if she were to blossom,