Idiots.
“Definitely a foot problem.”
The words brought Zach back to the present.
“Outer wall.” Doc Miller pulled a hoof pick from his back pocket, poking around a bit before straightening again. “Pretty sure it’s just a bruise. Should feel better tomorrow or the next day.”
“He’s supposed to race this weekend.”
“He should be good enough for that. It’s legal to give bute, so I’d do that and then let him run.”
Mariah would have shot herself in the big toe before ever saying something like that. To be honest, he didn’t exactly like the idea of letting an animal that was hurt run, either.
Doc Miller pulled out a paper tablet. “If it’s an abscess, you’ll know soon enough. I’m just going to write down some instructions in case that happens. You know the drill. They get worse before they get better.”
“I do know. Thanks, Doc.” He held out his hand for the instructions. “And thanks for the heads-up about Mariah.”
Doc Miller frowned. “Not a problem, but I hope you don’t mind me saying this. Watch out. You know how political things can get. All it takes is for one of your jocks to do something one of the other trainers doesn’t like and they’ll pounce. You don’t want to get in a situation where your livelihood is in jeopardy because of who you’re dating.”
Was that a threat? Or just a warning? “Point taken.”
“Good.”
But as Doc Miller walked back to his track-side office, it was hard for Zach to battle back his irritation. The doctor knew everyone, and if people were talking, it must be pretty serious if he was bringing it to Zach’s attention.
He debated whether or not to tell Mariah, but he didn’t want to tell her about Doc Miller’s visit. Worse, he wasn’t entirely certain he bought the good doctor’s diagnosis. He’d never second-guessed the man before, but telling him to race a hurting horse just didn’t sit well.
“Hey,” Mariah said when she saw him later that day, and the way she looked up at him and smiled, the way her eyes lit up, it caused his heart to soften and his whole damn body to tingle.
He’d caught her standing behind the reception area, one of her coworkers eyeing him up and down.
“Hey,” he replied. But there was something else in her eyes, too. Fear? Anxiety? Uncertainty?
“You’re early, not that it matters. I know I said we could work on Dasher, but we just had a client haul a horse in. She’s in foal and she thinks something’s wrong.”
“I can come back later.”
She appeared to consider, but then she shook her head. “Why don’t you come on back with me? As many mares as you’ve helped foal out, you might come in handy.”
She motioned him toward the back of the clinic, and Zach smiled at the dark-haired receptionist who’d been eyeing him earlier. The place was so cavernous his footsteps echoed through the room. Behind the granite-topped front desk was a mural of horses running. Doors were set on either side of it. He’d learned the other day the one to the left led to exam rooms for small animals and the one to the right led to the equine surgery center, followed by the stalls. The mare stood in the surgery center, her sides bloated from foal, head hanging low. She was a bay, but her brown coat looked nearly as black as her mane in spots thanks to her sweat. He could tell she was in labor by her rapid breathing.
“When is she due?” Mariah asked the owner, a frightened-looking woman with short blond hair.
“Not for two weeks.”
Mariah had pulled her hair back, and Zach noted she appeared very doctorlike in her white lab coat. “Well, she’s definitely in labor. Has her water broken?”
“I don’t think so. She’s in a stall and I didn’t see anything.”
The owner glanced at the mare in concern. Clearly she had run her hands through her hair more than a few times. Her T-shirt looked as though she’d slept in it and if he didn’t miss his guess, those were manure stains on her pant legs.
“What’s her name?” Mariah walked up to the mare, pulling a stethoscope from her pocket and placing it against the mare’s sides.
“Belle.”
“She is bella,” Mariah said with an easy smile. “Is this her first foal?”
“First for us both.” The woman patted the horse’s neck, her eyes growing soft as she gazed into her eyes.
“That’s probably part of the problem. Maiden mares can be tricky. Let’s see what we’ve got going on. Cami, can you get me a glove?”
A woman Zach hadn’t even noticed came forward. Judging by her smock, she was clearly the vet tech. She moved to a cabinet, removing a box and some jelly. Zach always hated to watch this part, but he knew it was necessary, and to be honest, he was kind of fascinated by Dr. Mariah. She was all business as she snapped the latex over her arm and he found himself thinking she was a really good vet. She kept giving the owner reassuring smiles, and she spoke kindly to the mare as she began her investigation.
“Oh, yeah,” she said. “She’s foaling, and she’s breech. You’re lucky her water hasn’t broken yet. We’ll have to turn it before she can give birth, but I’ll need everyone’s help.
“Mary,” she said to the owner, “the foaling stall is the last stall on the left. Go ahead and take her in. Cami, can you get me the pullers? Zach, let’s get some gloves on you. I may need your manly strength to help me turn the foal.”
“My manly strength,” he said with a smile. “I like the sound of that.”
She smiled, and he kind of liked the way her eyes lit up when he made her grin, but then she put on her professional face and she oozed confidence as she helped him scrub up. Her can-do attitude completely mesmerized him. Who was this woman? And why did he find himself wanting to kiss her?
“Let’s go.”
The mare was so distressed that she seemed oblivious to her surroundings. Even Dasher’s soft nicker from a few stalls down didn’t faze her. She barely lifted her head when they entered the stall. Mariah went up to her and patted her neck, and Zach heard her murmur something soothing before turning to the group at large.
“Cami, I’ll need you to hold her tail. Zach, you have done this before, haven’t you?”
“More times than I can count.”
“Perfect. I’m going to reach in and move the foal’s head. Hopefully, that will help nature take its course, but if I don’t have the strength to do it, Zach, I may need you to jump in.”
“No problem,” he said.
She went right back to business. Zach stood by as she went about lubing up her gloves. It wasn’t as easy as it might look to simply reach inside and move a foal’s head. Sometimes it took a great deal of strength to push the foal back into the uterus so it could present the correct way—front legs first. Within minutes he knew the foal wasn’t cooperating, because he could see Mariah’s frown of impatience. She tried one angle, then the next, then another still. He was right on the verge of offering to help her out when her eyes lit up and she said, “There. Geez.” She withdrew her hand. “Stubborn little bugger.”
“Will she be okay?” Zach asked.
“I think so.” She tossed her gloves in the garbage outside the stall. “If she was full term I’d offer to break her water now, but let’s see what happens.”
“Oh! Thank goodness,” Mary gushed. “I was so afraid the foal would be stillborn.”
“Not even close. Little guy was kicking around in there. That’s what made it so hard. Kept jerking his head. Plus, she’s contracting pretty hard. I’m thinking she’s going to definitely deliver tonight, but let’s just leave her alone and see what happens. You can kick back in the reception area if you want, or your vehicle. We’ll keep an eye on her through the foaling camera. If her contractions become more intense, we’ll let you know.”
“I’d rather wait outside
her stall.”
“How about in the exam area instead? Sometimes mares get shy when they know a human’s around.”
Mary’s smile was pure relief. “Sounds good to me.”
“Foal’s a good size,” Mariah said as they walked back to the exam area. “If she does deliver tonight, I have no doubt it’ll do just fine.”
Mary had tears in her eyes. “I can’t thank you enough, Dr. Stewart.” She gave Mariah a hug. “I was so worried.”
Mariah hugged Mary back. “My pleasure. Welcoming a new foal into the world is part of what I love about my job.”
The two women laughed and it was then, right then, as he watched kindness fill Mariah’s eyes, that Zach began to fall in love.
Chapter Seventeen
Something was up.
As they watched the Cool Jet go to work on Dasher’s leg, Zach kept sneaking glances at her. It got to the point that she started to grow self-conscious until she just couldn’t take it anymore.
“What is it?”
“What?” He stared at her in question, blinked. “Oh, nothing.”
“Bull.” She crossed her arms in front of her. “Something’s bothering you.”
His eyes skated over Dasher’s black coat, down to his legs, up to his head. “All right, fine.” He swiped a hand over his face. “I have a confession to make.”
She tensed. She had no idea what he was about to say, but she was pretty certain it was tied in to her work with Belle earlier. He’d been staring at her strangely ever since she’d repositioned the foal.
“What?”
He opened his mouth, closed it, then blurted, “I had Dr. Miller look at one of the horses I’m training today.”
For some reason she didn’t think that was what he’d been about to say. “So?”
“So? I thought you might be offended.”
She let him see her amusement. “What? Like you’re cheating on me or something?”
She could tell he tried not to smile. “Something like that.” But then he lost it, laughing.
She shook her head. “Zach, you can call whatever vet you want.”
He appeared so relieved it made her smile again. “He did mention something that concerned me, though. It seems a bunch of the guys have been talking. They think you’re some kind of spy or something and that you have an ulterior motive for dating me. Something to do with videotaping racehorses being abused.”
All trace of a smile vanished. “So they already know about us.”
“They do.”
Thanks, Wes.
“And they think I’m using you to expose the dark side of racing.”
“Something like that.”
“You have got to be kidding me.”
“Wish I was.”
“You don’t believe that, do you?”
“After watching you with that mare’s owner, I don’t think there’s a malicious bone in your body.”
She relaxed. “There’s not.”
“I know.” And there it was again, that look he kept giving her, the one that made her think there was more to his words than he was letting on. “You’re one of the most amazing women I’ve ever met.”
And now she was the one having to look away lest he read too much into her own eyes. She loved that he saw her that way. It made her feel...special. She cleared her throat. “What was wrong with your horse?”
“Stone bruise? He thinks. Not sure.”
“Did he take X-rays? Block him? Hoof testers?”
“Hoof testers, but that’s it.”
“Then how does he know it’s a stone bruise?”
“He doesn’t. It’s his best guess.”
“Guess? Are you kidding?”
“I know, I know.” Zach held up his hands. “But Dr. Miller has seen a lot of stone bruises over the years, so it’s probably a good guess.”
She examined his face. “But you’re not convinced.”
He shook his head. “Not really.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know. Just the way he’s moving.”
She glanced down at the Cool Jet, watching as it deflated only to have ice-cold water pump into the boot a second later. Dasher looked superbly unfazed by it all.
“Do you need me to look at him?”
“I don’t want to impose.”
“Zach, you wouldn’t be imposing.”
“Dr. Stewart! Belle just went down.”
Mary peeked her head around the edge of the barn aisle. “Should I go check on her?”
“Hold on.” Mariah smiled in Mary’s direction, then glanced down at Dasher’s leg. “Why don’t you unhook him? I’ll go look at the mare through the foal cam.”
It took only one glance and Mariah could tell the time had come. “Her water just broke. See?” She pointed to the monitor where a wet spot could be seen in the shavings. “Looks like we’re going to have a baby tonight.”
“Really?” the owner said. “I thought she was just going to the bathroom. Oh, my gosh. I’ve got to call my husband.”
“Better tell him to get here soon.” She headed back for Zach and Dasher. He was just pulling off the boot. “Put him away. We’ve got a foal coming.”
“Hey, that’s great.”
“I’m going to go take a peek and make sure the foal didn’t twist again.”
She ran to get gloves. Mary was at her mare’s head when she entered the stall.
“She’s breathing heavily.” Mary’s eyes were filled with fear. “And I think that’s the amniotic sac back there?”
“Yup. That’s it. The start of it, at least.”
The mare groaned. Mariah quickly moved to the horse’s rear, relieved to see two front feet encased in the gossamer-white sac. “I see legs now.”
Mary looked panic-stricken. “Already?”
“It’s okay. Sometimes it happens quickly, sometimes not.”
“Can I watch?”
“Of course.”
“I won’t be in the way?”
“Not at all,” Mariah said with a laugh. “Come on.”
Zach came into the stall, his face lighting up when he spotted the legs. “Looks like you fixed the breech.”
“Looks like it.”
“Should we help pull or something?” the owner asked.
“No. Not unless she needs help, but she’s doing just fine on her own.”
“Sorry,” Mary said. “I’ve been doing some reading, but I thought I’d have another two weeks to bone up. I feel so stupid.”
“It’s okay.” Mariah rested a hand on the woman’s shoulder. “That’s what we’re here for.” She included Zach in her smile. “Zach breeds racehorses. He’s probably seen more foals born than anyone at the clinic.”
“Really? Wow.”
Just then the mare groaned again, her sides seeming to spasm as she gave another huge push. More of the foal’s legs emerged, up to its knees, as did the tip of a tiny muzzle.
“Oh, my goodness,” she heard Mary squeak.
“It’s a sorrel,” Zach observed.
“Two white socks,” Mariah added.
“I wish my husband was here,” Mary murmured.
Mariah felt something brush her hand. A moment later Zach’s fingers entwined with her own. She glanced at him in surprise, and the warmth in his smile made her breath catch and her heart stop beating for a moment. He felt it, too, that sense of wonder and magic that seemed to fill the air whenever an animal gave birth. She could see it in his eyes. She squeezed his hand back. He didn’t let go and that was okay because she wanted him to hold on to her.
Another push and this time the whole head emerged. The shoulders came next, the three of them rooting the mare on. At some point
Mary’s husband arrived, and the woman burst into tears.
“I thought you were going to miss it,” she cried.
“I drove like a maniac to get here in time,” said a dark-haired man with the look of someone who made his living out of doors. Big, burly, but with kind eyes. “If you hear sirens outside, it’s just the cop that was chasing me.”
“Simon!” The woman swatted him, but she was laughing.
A half hour later they all watched, breathless, Mariah still holding Zach’s hand, as the tiny foal broke free of the amniotic sac. Mariah moved forward to clear the foal’s tiny nose of mucus, relieved to see that he or she was already breathing. The foal shifted, tearing the sac more, and Mariah smiled up at Mary.
“It’s a boy.”
“Is it!” Mary gave a little squeal. “We were hoping for a boy.”
The tiny horse lifted its head. In the next moment it tried to stand, failed and tried again. Everyone held their breath, the mare sitting up, too, and nickering at her baby as if encouraging it to try one more time.
“She knows,” Mary said. “She knows that’s her baby.”
They always knew. Mariah’s eyes heated with unshed tears. She was such a sap. She couldn’t watch a foal being born without getting all choked up, especially when the mare stood up a moment later, the new mom nuzzling her baby and nickering again. When Mariah glanced at Zach, she spotted the same look of tender joy as she no doubt sported. This man, someone who’d seen perhaps hundreds of births in his lifetime, could still be moved by the process—as could she.
He caught her looking at him. She smiled. He smiled back, bending and giving her a gentle kiss.
“Beautiful,” he said softly.
“It is.”
“No,” he said, touching the side of her face. “You’re beautiful.”
* * *
THEY LEFT THE CLINIC an hour later, mama and baby doing great. Zach told himself not to push spending the night with her again, but when they got back to her place, Mariah invited him to stay. One thing led to another and they ended up making love. Something had changed between them, though. Perhaps it was witnessing the miracle of life, but their lovemaking seemed more intense, more passionate than ever before.
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