Read Online On a Snowy Christmas Night by Debbi Rawlins - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Debbi Rawlins
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women somehow seemed like friends. Using the term loosely, of course, because Shea didn’t easily forge relationships with anyone much less people she’d just met.
Mahler’s Adagietto suddenly jolted her out of her reverie. It took a moment to realize the classical music was coming from Annie’s cell phone. She dug it out of her jeans pocket, her brows dipping into a frown as she answered the call.
“Yeah, Russell, what’s up?” Annie paused and listened. “Is he injured?” she asked, and Shea’s heart sunk to her stomach. “Okay, so you’ll be here in about an hour?” Annie’s gaze went to the plain white wall clock. “No problem, really, it’s okay,” she said, disconnected the call and sighed heavily. “I lied. We have a problem.”
6
S HEA HAD ALWAYS considered the notion of love at first sight silly. Her parents were proof the idea held no merit. But the minute she saw Caleb, the beautiful two-year-old roan being led by Annie from the horse trailer, Shea experienced a wash of emotion for which she had no words. Holding her breath she stared at the magnificent creature of her childhood dreams. The long pinkish-blond mane was tangled and his light chestnut body too lean, but he was still a superb horse.
She felt as if she were ten years old again, kneeling at her bed on Christmas Eve, palms pressed together, head bowed, praying with all her might she would awake to find a miracle on her front lawn.
“Easy, boy,” Annie whispered when the horse’s hooves hit the ground and he danced restlessly to the left.
“You need help getting him to the stables?” Russell came around from the front of the truck with a rope in his hands. He was a friend of Annie’s who worked for the government in controlling the mustang population. It was pure luck that he’d found Caleb, who’d been abandoned.
“No, I’m good. I’ve already called Doc Yardley for an evaluation. He should be here within the hour.”
“I hated springing this on you, Annie.” The stocky man in his mid-forties raked a hand through his hair. “Shitty time of year, I know.”
“You’ve bailed me out plenty of times. Don’t worry about it. Go home. Get back to Butte and be with your wife and kids.”
“He was a little skittish when I loaded him. Don’t know when he ate last so I gave him what little feed I had in the truck. Let me take him while you sign the paperwork.”
Annie’s gaze never wavered from Caleb as she backed up, bringing him with her. “You have it ready?”
“Right here.” He pulled it out of his back pocket. “Hopefully I can get you some reimbursement for his upkeep ’til we move him.”
As if he understood what was being said, Caleb suddenly planted his forelegs and refused to budge. Sides heaving, his velvet nostrils fluttering in distress, he nickered low and deep.
“What spooked him?” Annie murmured.
“I don’t know.” Russell stood at the ready.
“May I try?” Shea asked.
Annie darted her an astonished look. “Leading him?”
“Yes.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea... Careful,” Annie said sternly when Shea moved to stroke his neck.
Caleb seemed to relax and turned his head toward Shea, his ears pricked forward with curiosity.
“You want to come with me, you sweet boy?” She slowly reached for the lead.
Annie was hesitant to release it, which Shea totally understood. She sent her a brief beseeching look, anyway. But the deal wasn’t sealed until Caleb took a calm step toward Shea.
Her heart nearly pounding through her chest, she felt the lead being pressed into her hand and she gingerly moved in the direction of the stables. “You’re safe now, sweetie,” she whispered to him, aware that Annie was shadowing her closely. “I’ve got you.”
Shea understood Annie’s concern, though she herself wasn’t worried one bit. Of all the places she could’ve chosen to spend Christmas, this was why she’d come here. Who knew Montana was the place she’d finally feel
Mahler’s Adagietto suddenly jolted her out of her reverie. It took a moment to realize the classical music was coming from Annie’s cell phone. She dug it out of her jeans pocket, her brows dipping into a frown as she answered the call.
“Yeah, Russell, what’s up?” Annie paused and listened. “Is he injured?” she asked, and Shea’s heart sunk to her stomach. “Okay, so you’ll be here in about an hour?” Annie’s gaze went to the plain white wall clock. “No problem, really, it’s okay,” she said, disconnected the call and sighed heavily. “I lied. We have a problem.”
6
S HEA HAD ALWAYS considered the notion of love at first sight silly. Her parents were proof the idea held no merit. But the minute she saw Caleb, the beautiful two-year-old roan being led by Annie from the horse trailer, Shea experienced a wash of emotion for which she had no words. Holding her breath she stared at the magnificent creature of her childhood dreams. The long pinkish-blond mane was tangled and his light chestnut body too lean, but he was still a superb horse.
She felt as if she were ten years old again, kneeling at her bed on Christmas Eve, palms pressed together, head bowed, praying with all her might she would awake to find a miracle on her front lawn.
“Easy, boy,” Annie whispered when the horse’s hooves hit the ground and he danced restlessly to the left.
“You need help getting him to the stables?” Russell came around from the front of the truck with a rope in his hands. He was a friend of Annie’s who worked for the government in controlling the mustang population. It was pure luck that he’d found Caleb, who’d been abandoned.
“No, I’m good. I’ve already called Doc Yardley for an evaluation. He should be here within the hour.”
“I hated springing this on you, Annie.” The stocky man in his mid-forties raked a hand through his hair. “Shitty time of year, I know.”
“You’ve bailed me out plenty of times. Don’t worry about it. Go home. Get back to Butte and be with your wife and kids.”
“He was a little skittish when I loaded him. Don’t know when he ate last so I gave him what little feed I had in the truck. Let me take him while you sign the paperwork.”
Annie’s gaze never wavered from Caleb as she backed up, bringing him with her. “You have it ready?”
“Right here.” He pulled it out of his back pocket. “Hopefully I can get you some reimbursement for his upkeep ’til we move him.”
As if he understood what was being said, Caleb suddenly planted his forelegs and refused to budge. Sides heaving, his velvet nostrils fluttering in distress, he nickered low and deep.
“What spooked him?” Annie murmured.
“I don’t know.” Russell stood at the ready.
“May I try?” Shea asked.
Annie darted her an astonished look. “Leading him?”
“Yes.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea... Careful,” Annie said sternly when Shea moved to stroke his neck.
Caleb seemed to relax and turned his head toward Shea, his ears pricked forward with curiosity.
“You want to come with me, you sweet boy?” She slowly reached for the lead.
Annie was hesitant to release it, which Shea totally understood. She sent her a brief beseeching look, anyway. But the deal wasn’t sealed until Caleb took a calm step toward Shea.
Her heart nearly pounding through her chest, she felt the lead being pressed into her hand and she gingerly moved in the direction of the stables. “You’re safe now, sweetie,” she whispered to him, aware that Annie was shadowing her closely. “I’ve got you.”
Shea understood Annie’s concern, though she herself wasn’t worried one bit. Of all the places she could’ve chosen to spend Christmas, this was why she’d come here. Who knew Montana was the place she’d finally feel
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