Mistress of the Runes by Andrews & Austin

Author:Andrews & Austin [Andrews & Austin]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
ISBN: 9781933110899
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2007-09-15T05:00:00+00:00

ANDREWS & AUSTIN

I noticed her eyes were warm and as clear as crystals, and she had a gentleness about her that made me believe she would take care of poor Hlatur, whom she led into his hospital stall.

Overhead a pulley system held the hookups for large IV bags that would dangle above him out of his reach. The IV line and needle extended out of the sky and found its mark in his neck. I hadn’t stopped to analyze how horses have ß uids administered through their necks. I would have thought Hlatur would have pulled the line out or that he would have ß opped down and rolled on it, but he seemed to know it needed to stay in him, and he stood quietly.

I had to demand that Liz leave her horse alone that night, so I engaged the help of the vet tech, who assured Liz she would watch over Hlatur and that he couldn’t rest if Liz was in the stall with him, and I was again struck by her ethereal eyes and wondered how she had ended up with this mundane job. We kissed Hlatur good night and told him he must get well, we needed him—Liz, me, and Rune—we all needed him. Then I drove Liz home with me as she protested.

She sat on the couch, by the phone, for an hour, saying the vet tech watching Hlatur might call and praying Hlatur would survive, while I Þ xed dinner and thought about how tired I was. Late nights with the horses and early mornings at work were taking their toll.

And then there was the stress of Liz. I stayed in a state of heightened nervous energy whenever she was around, and she was around me every day. Maybe that energy’s the only thing keeping me on my feet now, I thought. Maybe she’s just a sexual battery to keep me charged. And why do I still have it when we both know there’s a barrier between us? She knows I have a quick temper and a sharp tongue, for one thing. And I know she’s stubborn.

Liz pushed her food around forlornly and stared at her plate.

“The vet tech said something strange about Hlatur. She said, ‘He is what you see.’ I was too upset to process that remark at the time, but I think she meant that what you see is what he’ll be. Believe he’s going to get well, and he’ll believe that too. And stop pushing your food around like a three-year-old. I don’t cook for everyone.” I’m beginning to have the hostess manners of Madge! I thought . That must be what living alone does to you.

For a moment the look on her face signaled we might have war, but she Þ nally bent over her food and began to eat.

The phone rang, and I picked up the handset while we were at the

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