Read Online Purebred by Patricia Rosemoor - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Patricia Rosemoor
Ads: Link
saddle.
She couldn’t wait to see how fast Mac’s first workout would be when he had a much lighter exercise rider on his back.
Her hopes that Mac had it in him to be a champion soared.
Chapter Seven
Something about Dr. Helen Fox brought Pegeen to Aidan’s mind. Taking care of Mac, he’d gotten a glimpse of the vet as she entered the barn with Cat. There was the fiery hair, of course, which made him wonder if she had more than that in common with his late lover. As he groomed Mac in the next aisle, he listened. The way the vet approached the mares as she checked them over convinced him of her capability, but something off—an odd vibe he got from her—made him want to know more about her. He was finishing with Mac when Dean Hill swept in. Aidan quietly followed, entering the aisle holding Hill’s broodmares, simply to appease his curiosity.
Cat stood with Hill and the vet, and seeing her happy and smiling suddenly made him uncomfortable. Wanting her suddenly made guilt course through him.
“So what’s the verdict on Fairy Tail?” Hill demanded.
“I checked on her, but it’s too soon to tell,” the vet replied. “Give it another day or two.”
“You’d think a good vet would be able to tell more quickly.”
The vet narrowed her gaze on him. “You’d think an owner would be pleased two of his mares conceived so quickly.”
Her cheeky comment to the man who paid her to care for his mares raised Aidan’s eyebrows. But Hill immediately backed down into apologetic mode.
“Of course I am pleased. I’m just excited to finally see foals sired by False Promise. Best damn horse I ever owned. His breaking down before he reached his true potential bollixed my racing plans, and I’m overly anxious to get back on the track with a future champion.” He barked a laugh. “Think of me as a potential new father waiting to hand out the cigars.”
Aidan understood Hill’s anxiousness, but the reality of the matter was that he would have to be patient for three years before he could race a foal conceived this summer.
“The rewards will be worth the wait,” the vet said.
Her smile looked forced. Did she not like Hill for some reason? Aidan wondered. Or was that vibe he’d sensed more telling about her openness?
“I need to get back to my place,” Hill told Cat. “Let me know if anything changes.”
“Of course. Diamond Dame may be ready for cover by tomorrow. If so, will you be here?”
“Depends. I might be involved in something. Just keep me informed.”
Hill departed, nodding to Aidan as he passed him.
“Are you waiting for me?” the vet suddenly asked, as if she just spotted him leaning against a stall wall.
Aidan took the opportunity. “I thought we should meet. I may be in need of your services.”
“Is something wrong with Mac?” The color drained from Cat’s face.
“Nah, nah.” Aidan stepped forward. “I simply thought since the good doctor was here, that it would be a grand time to introduce myself.”
He held out his hand and the vet hesitated a moment before taking it. “Dr. Helen Fox.”
At the first touch, Aidan started. He saw through the vet’s smile, realized she was forcing it as she had for Hill. Any resemblance to Pegeen lay strictly in the hair. Pegeen had been open and vibrant. Dr. Helen Fox held herself tight, at least with people. But he sensed there was more…something unsettling…something elusive that he still couldn’t pin down.
“So you’re the Irishman with the really fast horse.”
“That I am. Mac Finnian would be his name.”
“I’ll remember that. I wish you luck.”
The vet said the words like she meant them, but did she? Why did Aidan get the feeling she was simply saying what he expected to hear? Though his true ability was with horses, he could often read people, too.
“What time do you want to leave for the track?” he asked Cat.
“Not until 3:30. We have plenty of time. Helen and I need to take a look at the new mare Martin
She couldn’t wait to see how fast Mac’s first workout would be when he had a much lighter exercise rider on his back.
Her hopes that Mac had it in him to be a champion soared.
Chapter Seven
Something about Dr. Helen Fox brought Pegeen to Aidan’s mind. Taking care of Mac, he’d gotten a glimpse of the vet as she entered the barn with Cat. There was the fiery hair, of course, which made him wonder if she had more than that in common with his late lover. As he groomed Mac in the next aisle, he listened. The way the vet approached the mares as she checked them over convinced him of her capability, but something off—an odd vibe he got from her—made him want to know more about her. He was finishing with Mac when Dean Hill swept in. Aidan quietly followed, entering the aisle holding Hill’s broodmares, simply to appease his curiosity.
Cat stood with Hill and the vet, and seeing her happy and smiling suddenly made him uncomfortable. Wanting her suddenly made guilt course through him.
“So what’s the verdict on Fairy Tail?” Hill demanded.
“I checked on her, but it’s too soon to tell,” the vet replied. “Give it another day or two.”
“You’d think a good vet would be able to tell more quickly.”
The vet narrowed her gaze on him. “You’d think an owner would be pleased two of his mares conceived so quickly.”
Her cheeky comment to the man who paid her to care for his mares raised Aidan’s eyebrows. But Hill immediately backed down into apologetic mode.
“Of course I am pleased. I’m just excited to finally see foals sired by False Promise. Best damn horse I ever owned. His breaking down before he reached his true potential bollixed my racing plans, and I’m overly anxious to get back on the track with a future champion.” He barked a laugh. “Think of me as a potential new father waiting to hand out the cigars.”
Aidan understood Hill’s anxiousness, but the reality of the matter was that he would have to be patient for three years before he could race a foal conceived this summer.
“The rewards will be worth the wait,” the vet said.
Her smile looked forced. Did she not like Hill for some reason? Aidan wondered. Or was that vibe he’d sensed more telling about her openness?
“I need to get back to my place,” Hill told Cat. “Let me know if anything changes.”
“Of course. Diamond Dame may be ready for cover by tomorrow. If so, will you be here?”
“Depends. I might be involved in something. Just keep me informed.”
Hill departed, nodding to Aidan as he passed him.
“Are you waiting for me?” the vet suddenly asked, as if she just spotted him leaning against a stall wall.
Aidan took the opportunity. “I thought we should meet. I may be in need of your services.”
“Is something wrong with Mac?” The color drained from Cat’s face.
“Nah, nah.” Aidan stepped forward. “I simply thought since the good doctor was here, that it would be a grand time to introduce myself.”
He held out his hand and the vet hesitated a moment before taking it. “Dr. Helen Fox.”
At the first touch, Aidan started. He saw through the vet’s smile, realized she was forcing it as she had for Hill. Any resemblance to Pegeen lay strictly in the hair. Pegeen had been open and vibrant. Dr. Helen Fox held herself tight, at least with people. But he sensed there was more…something unsettling…something elusive that he still couldn’t pin down.
“So you’re the Irishman with the really fast horse.”
“That I am. Mac Finnian would be his name.”
“I’ll remember that. I wish you luck.”
The vet said the words like she meant them, but did she? Why did Aidan get the feeling she was simply saying what he expected to hear? Though his true ability was with horses, he could often read people, too.
“What time do you want to leave for the track?” he asked Cat.
“Not until 3:30. We have plenty of time. Helen and I need to take a look at the new mare Martin
Similar Books
