King Of Hearts by Eileen Putman

Author:Eileen Putman
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: 0
Published: 2017-07-16T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

“Get the tail. Hurry, lad! Mind the hooves — ye don’t want to get trampled.”

Violet, who had come to summon Sam to dinner, stood at the entrance to the breeding shed and watched as Sam and David facilitated the mating between Midnight and the mare. David stood at Starfire’s head, holding her halter and lead rope, as she whinnied loudly. Sam had the simple but tricky job of pulling the mare’s tail aside at the right moment. It made her uneasy, but she knew David wouldn’t have given him the task unless he thought Sam up to it.

Nostrils flaring, the stallion kicked out wildly as he tried to get at the other horse. The mare switched her tail and stepped nervously from side to side. Dodging the stallion’s flailing hooves, Sam pulled Starfire’s tail out of the way just as Midnight mounted her. The act was completed in less time than it took the boy to breathe a huge sigh of relief.

Afterward, Midnight condescended to take a carrot from Sam and to be led away. Violet knew it wasn’t her imagination that Sam squared his shoulders, proud of a job well done.

Lingering in the shadows, Violet stared at the stallion as he pranced away without sparing the mare so much as a glance. Typical male, she thought.

David moved his hands over the mare, checking for injuries, then offered Starfire a carrot.

“How complacent she looks,” Violet said. “You’d think that after such a violent joining she would be out of sorts, at the very least.”

Startled, David turned. “Starfire’s accustomed to the stallion,” he said after a moment. “He has given her three foals.”

Violet drew near the horse, who munched placidly on the carrot. “Am I to assume that she considers herself lucky?”

David flushed. “I’m sorry you witnessed the joining. ’Tis nae for a gently bred female.”

“I am not gently bred,” she said softly. “I have seen it all before, and then some.”

Only Starfire’s chewing disrupted the prolonged, awkward silence that followed her words. David checked the mare’s halter, then checked it again. When Sam dashed back into the shed, David’s relief was evident.

“That was something!” Sam said excitedly. “Did you see the way Midnight came at her? Thought I was going to get poked myself.” The boy laughed. “Being buggered by a horse — now that would be a bit of odd fish!”

“Sam.” David cleared his throat.

The boy looked around, saw Violet, and turned crimson. “Sorry, Miss Violet. I didn’t know you were here.”

“It is all right, Sam. I am quite familiar with the process of procreation.”

The boy’s glance went to her protruding abdomen before he recalled himself, then looked as if he wanted to sink into a hole. Violet took pity on him. “Lily sent me to call you for dinner. She’s made biscuits.”

The lad brightened. “I’ll go along, then.” He looked a plea at David, who nodded his assent. Sam raced off. He was at that awkward age when sexual matters were a source of fascination, bewilderment, and embarrassment.

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