patter of rain turn to a steady downpour. A rumble of far-off thunder sounded like a lionâs growl.
âI just thought,â Ryan said, finally, âit would be wise to notify you of the stallionâs presence, since you, too, have a mare in delicate condition.â
Ryan hadnât exactly backed down, but he hadnât tried very hard to change her mind, either.
âThank you,â Sam said. âIâll keep my eyes open.â
Her lips had parted to say good-bye when Mrs. Coley came back on the line.
âYou can see why Iâve been delayed getting back to your place. Heâs very nervous,â she said quietly.
âI guess I understand,â Sam said.
âHotspotâs overdue and sheâll foal tonight. Iâm sure of it. Iâm not sure heâs up to dealing with her alone.â
Panic mixed with Samâs pride that Mrs. Coley thought she was up to dealing with a foaling mare. Sheâd counted on having an experienced adult as backup.
Not even an adult. Jake would have been fine, or Jenâ¦.
âI know youâre new to this, too,â Mrs. Coley said. âBut your buckskin comes from a long line of hardy mares. They gave birth on the range, in spite of snow, sandstorms, and hungry predators, then returned to the herd and moved on.
âHotspotâs parents were probably raised in stables more luxurious than our houses. Besides, horses are in your blood, Sam.â
âThanks,â Sam said, though she found herself peeking at the gummy bran mash so she wouldnât feel embarrassed by the praise.
Blaze lifted his head and sniffed, deciding whether her concoction was something he wanted to sample.
âNow, you call me for anything at all,â Mrs. Coley said firmly. âUnless we run into trouble with this mare, Iâll be over there before you go to bed.â
Â
Low-hanging clouds and rain made the afternoon feel like evening. Sam left the kitchen lights on, since it might be full dark by the time she returned from the barn.
Hands covered in oven mitts, Sam jogged from the house to the barn, carrying the mash. She was soaked. Her hair was plastered to her head, but the bran mash was still hot by the time she got across the ranch yard.
As soon as she saw Dark Sunshine, she forgot all about the bran mash except to set it down and start shucking off the mitts.
The barn was dim, but she could see the little buckskin staring painfully at her side.
Sam flicked on the overhead lights. The switch didnât move. It was already on. So why were the lights out?
She moved back to the barn door and squinted through the rain at the house.
She was positive sheâd left the kitchen lights on, but the house was dark.
Sunny pawed furiously with one hoof. She kept watching her side, then walked a tight circle around the box stall.
It was then that Sam noticed the damp bedding inone corner of the stall. The bag of waters the foal had lived in for eleven months had been ruptured by the foalâs eager movements. It was ready to be born.
Elation and alarm rushed through Sam. Very soon, she would see the Phantomâs foal!
âHere we go, girl,â she told Sunny, then Sam sat down to wait.
Â
When Sunny lowered herself to lie in the wheat straw, Sam realized how much she was squinting. Dallasâand all the booksâhad said it was important to watch the mare closely. Foals could enter the world in all sorts of contorted positions, which usually required a vetâs help. The sooner you noticed, the safer the baby would be.
Sam jumped up and retrieved the lantern Dallas had left in the tack room. She pumped the handle, lit the wick, then adjusted a silver knob until a bright, steady flame illuminated the stall.
Blaze had followed her to the barn. He sniffed disapprovingly at the scent of lantern fuel, but Sunny didnât notice.
Still resting on her side, the mare closed her eyes. Her legs folded, then extended. With
âI just thought,â Ryan said, finally, âit would be wise to notify you of the stallionâs presence, since you, too, have a mare in delicate condition.â
Ryan hadnât exactly backed down, but he hadnât tried very hard to change her mind, either.
âThank you,â Sam said. âIâll keep my eyes open.â
Her lips had parted to say good-bye when Mrs. Coley came back on the line.
âYou can see why Iâve been delayed getting back to your place. Heâs very nervous,â she said quietly.
âI guess I understand,â Sam said.
âHotspotâs overdue and sheâll foal tonight. Iâm sure of it. Iâm not sure heâs up to dealing with her alone.â
Panic mixed with Samâs pride that Mrs. Coley thought she was up to dealing with a foaling mare. Sheâd counted on having an experienced adult as backup.
Not even an adult. Jake would have been fine, or Jenâ¦.
âI know youâre new to this, too,â Mrs. Coley said. âBut your buckskin comes from a long line of hardy mares. They gave birth on the range, in spite of snow, sandstorms, and hungry predators, then returned to the herd and moved on.
âHotspotâs parents were probably raised in stables more luxurious than our houses. Besides, horses are in your blood, Sam.â
âThanks,â Sam said, though she found herself peeking at the gummy bran mash so she wouldnât feel embarrassed by the praise.
Blaze lifted his head and sniffed, deciding whether her concoction was something he wanted to sample.
âNow, you call me for anything at all,â Mrs. Coley said firmly. âUnless we run into trouble with this mare, Iâll be over there before you go to bed.â
Â
Low-hanging clouds and rain made the afternoon feel like evening. Sam left the kitchen lights on, since it might be full dark by the time she returned from the barn.
Hands covered in oven mitts, Sam jogged from the house to the barn, carrying the mash. She was soaked. Her hair was plastered to her head, but the bran mash was still hot by the time she got across the ranch yard.
As soon as she saw Dark Sunshine, she forgot all about the bran mash except to set it down and start shucking off the mitts.
The barn was dim, but she could see the little buckskin staring painfully at her side.
Sam flicked on the overhead lights. The switch didnât move. It was already on. So why were the lights out?
She moved back to the barn door and squinted through the rain at the house.
She was positive sheâd left the kitchen lights on, but the house was dark.
Sunny pawed furiously with one hoof. She kept watching her side, then walked a tight circle around the box stall.
It was then that Sam noticed the damp bedding inone corner of the stall. The bag of waters the foal had lived in for eleven months had been ruptured by the foalâs eager movements. It was ready to be born.
Elation and alarm rushed through Sam. Very soon, she would see the Phantomâs foal!
âHere we go, girl,â she told Sunny, then Sam sat down to wait.
Â
When Sunny lowered herself to lie in the wheat straw, Sam realized how much she was squinting. Dallasâand all the booksâhad said it was important to watch the mare closely. Foals could enter the world in all sorts of contorted positions, which usually required a vetâs help. The sooner you noticed, the safer the baby would be.
Sam jumped up and retrieved the lantern Dallas had left in the tack room. She pumped the handle, lit the wick, then adjusted a silver knob until a bright, steady flame illuminated the stall.
Blaze had followed her to the barn. He sniffed disapprovingly at the scent of lantern fuel, but Sunny didnât notice.
Still resting on her side, the mare closed her eyes. Her legs folded, then extended. With
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