Read Online The Earl's Christmas Delivery by Susan Gee Heino - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Susan Gee Heino
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young men and made sure Miss Meriwether was bundled up appropriately. He left word for Mrs. Hark to send something warm out to them, then hurried after Miss Meriwether as she dashed out into the storm. God, but he hoped this pony didn't disappoint the woman tonight and do something regrettable like die. He didn't know much about Miss Meriwether, but he had a feeling she could use something happy in her life.
It had definitely been warmer inside the crowded inn, but Carole refused to think about that. She also refused to think about how untidy it was in this stable. Very likely that was because most of the stable hands had finished settling their charges for the night and then gone off home, eager to spend Christmas Eve with their families and in their own beds. A few shortcuts had been taken and fresh bedding for some of the stalls had obviously been neglected.
But it was not a bad stall that Holly was in. There were no leaks in the roof and the floor was good and solid, not muddy or covered in rotted boards. For a pony, Carole was content this appeared a more than adequate place to give birth.
For an earl, however, it was a terrible place to spend the night. She couldn't believe he was still here with her. Yet here he was, keeping vigil on the makeshift bench he'd created for them out of some crates and an old plank.
"Perhaps it was a false alarm and the foal will not come until tomorrow," Carole suggested, noting how the earl tried valiantly to hide a yawn. "You should go back inside. Surely for you Mrs. Hark will find a room."
"No, it is full up to the rafters in there. I'm far better off out here," he replied. "Besides, you cannot possibly believe I'd leave you to tend the little mare alone?"
"The shepherds said we could wake them if needed," she reminded.
"A young lady passing the night in a stable with snoring shepherds still counts as 'alone', Miss Meriwether. No, I am staying and that is final."
Gracious, but he did tend to be imperious about things. Still, she could not complain. Those shepherds had been decent sorts, but she was truly glad for the earl's company tonight. Even as low as her circumstance had brought her, she'd never yet slept in a horse stall. She had to admit the wind battering the roof and the occasional squeaky scurry of rodents left her feeling less than at ease.
Not to mention her nerves were completely on edge for the little mare. How could she possibly not have known the pony was nearly ready to give birth? When she found the sweet little gray last month she'd simply thought it a bit overweight. The man she bought it from had not mentioned any special condition. Very likely if he'd known he'd have charged extra for her.
It did, though, make her feel rather stupid to be so very ignorant. Poor Holly... to have been hurried along through all sorts of weather, now to be in a strange stall with no one knowledgeable to tend her... it seemed so very wrong. She could not imagine how there might be a positive outcome to all this.
"She seems rather agitated, and her breathing is rushed," she said, watching the pony.
"I believe that is normal."
"You've assisted with this sort of thing before?"
"I do keep a stable at my family seat. Admittedly, I'm not there often and usually my grooms attend to such things, but I see nothing here that appears out of the ordinary with your little pony's behavior."
"I hope so."
"Estelle will be very proud of your selection. This is a fine little mare, and she comes with something extra. You chose quite well, I must say."
She shook her head. He was being awfully kind to her, but she could not allow him to pretend for her sake.
"No, I chose foolishly. Estelle wanted a pony the children could ride. I should think it ought to be several weeks, at least, before they can do that now."
"But how excited they will be when you show up with a foal."
It was no use. She was not going to let him excuse her incompetence.
"I was not asked to supply a foal. Thank you
It had definitely been warmer inside the crowded inn, but Carole refused to think about that. She also refused to think about how untidy it was in this stable. Very likely that was because most of the stable hands had finished settling their charges for the night and then gone off home, eager to spend Christmas Eve with their families and in their own beds. A few shortcuts had been taken and fresh bedding for some of the stalls had obviously been neglected.
But it was not a bad stall that Holly was in. There were no leaks in the roof and the floor was good and solid, not muddy or covered in rotted boards. For a pony, Carole was content this appeared a more than adequate place to give birth.
For an earl, however, it was a terrible place to spend the night. She couldn't believe he was still here with her. Yet here he was, keeping vigil on the makeshift bench he'd created for them out of some crates and an old plank.
"Perhaps it was a false alarm and the foal will not come until tomorrow," Carole suggested, noting how the earl tried valiantly to hide a yawn. "You should go back inside. Surely for you Mrs. Hark will find a room."
"No, it is full up to the rafters in there. I'm far better off out here," he replied. "Besides, you cannot possibly believe I'd leave you to tend the little mare alone?"
"The shepherds said we could wake them if needed," she reminded.
"A young lady passing the night in a stable with snoring shepherds still counts as 'alone', Miss Meriwether. No, I am staying and that is final."
Gracious, but he did tend to be imperious about things. Still, she could not complain. Those shepherds had been decent sorts, but she was truly glad for the earl's company tonight. Even as low as her circumstance had brought her, she'd never yet slept in a horse stall. She had to admit the wind battering the roof and the occasional squeaky scurry of rodents left her feeling less than at ease.
Not to mention her nerves were completely on edge for the little mare. How could she possibly not have known the pony was nearly ready to give birth? When she found the sweet little gray last month she'd simply thought it a bit overweight. The man she bought it from had not mentioned any special condition. Very likely if he'd known he'd have charged extra for her.
It did, though, make her feel rather stupid to be so very ignorant. Poor Holly... to have been hurried along through all sorts of weather, now to be in a strange stall with no one knowledgeable to tend her... it seemed so very wrong. She could not imagine how there might be a positive outcome to all this.
"She seems rather agitated, and her breathing is rushed," she said, watching the pony.
"I believe that is normal."
"You've assisted with this sort of thing before?"
"I do keep a stable at my family seat. Admittedly, I'm not there often and usually my grooms attend to such things, but I see nothing here that appears out of the ordinary with your little pony's behavior."
"I hope so."
"Estelle will be very proud of your selection. This is a fine little mare, and she comes with something extra. You chose quite well, I must say."
She shook her head. He was being awfully kind to her, but she could not allow him to pretend for her sake.
"No, I chose foolishly. Estelle wanted a pony the children could ride. I should think it ought to be several weeks, at least, before they can do that now."
"But how excited they will be when you show up with a foal."
It was no use. She was not going to let him excuse her incompetence.
"I was not asked to supply a foal. Thank you
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