The Beginning by Cassie Hayes

Author:Cassie Hayes [Hayes, Cassie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: CreateSpace Publishing
Published: 2014-03-25T07:00:00+00:00

~*~*~

Delilah was just wondering if Jack was ever coming back when she heard a commotion from the street. Shouts and the cries of a terrified horse were right outside her door. A horse was rearing, threatening to tip over the wagon it was pulling. She watched helplessly from the doorway as the woman and child on the buckboard held on for dear life while the horse whinnied wild-eyed and tried to throw its bonds.

A figure darted out of the shadows and into the street, heading right for the horse. Before her brain could make sense of what her eyes were seeing, Jack was standing in front of the crazed horse, hands held up and murmuring something too low for her to hear.

For a brief moment, her heart stopped. Jack was going to get trampled by that horse and leave her alone. Alone to run this newspaper, her brain quickly added. But that’s not what happened.

Instead, the horse locked eyes with Jack, who advanced slowly on the beast, murmuring to it all the while. It reared one last time — nearly toppling the wagon — before returning to all four feet. Jack reached for its head, but it pulled back, still wary. But Jack wouldn’t be denied. That soft voice and gentle approach calmed the horse and soon Jack was rubbing down its neck and nose, reassuring it that everything was just fine.

Men rushed to the wagon to help the frightened woman and child, but Jack stayed with the horse, comforting it. But the most touching moment was when the horse leaned into Jack and rubbed its head down his side, neighing softly. Smiling sweetly, he grabbed the leads and guided the horse away toward a livery down the street, a glint of gold sparkling at his neck.

“Quite a sight, in’nit?”

Delilah nearly jumped out of her skin. She’d been so engrossed in the scene playing out before her that she hadn’t noticed that the little Irish man from Mr. Kimble’s had sidled up next to her.

“Oh! Mr….I’m so sorry, I’m afraid I don’t know your last name.”

“Me las’ name is Connelly, but jes’ call me Aidan, miss. If ya call me Mr. Connelly, I’m apt t’think me da snuck up on me.”

His grin was contagious and his thick Irish brogue enchanting.

“Well, then it only seems right for you to call me Dell.”

He bowed low, sweeping his hat in a big, comical arc.

“Dell, may the Lord keep ya in His hand and never close His fist too tight.”

Before she could engage him in further pleasantries, he popped back upright and nodded at Jack’s retreating figure. Giving her a sidelong look, he asked, “Y’ever meet a man with a touch like his?”

Delilah knew he was talking about the horse but the phrasing of the question, and her profound reaction the handful of times Jack had touched her, drew a rush of blood to her face. She hid her embarrassment by turning away as if she was looking down the street. The most she could manage was a shake of her head and a quiet, “No.

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