Read Online To Tempt a Wilde by Kimberly Kaye Terry - Free Book Online Page B

fraction longer before he pulled away.
    â€œI know everything that goes on, on my ranch.”
    Without another word he cupped her beneath the elbow and steered her toward the stables, her body tucked close to his.

Chapter 9
    J ust as Nate had predicted, the birth was long, bloody and difficult to watch.
    And Althea seemed to love every minute of it.
    The cow, average in size, had already mated before Nate had purchased it, to a much larger European breed. Something he and his brothers never did with their own cattle, as the calf was less likely to survive and many times the cow died as well during thedifficult birth. Throughout the birthing, although his focus had been on the health of the cow and her calf, Nate’s attention had been drawn, countless times, to Althea. He’d watched her with what he couldn’t deny was growing fascination and attraction.
    Without hesitancy she’d helped, no matter what was needed. Although he and Dr. Crandall were there, alongwith an additional ranch hand, thedifficulty of the birth added tension and stress to the situation, and every hand was needed.
    But more than anything, he’d found his gaze drawn to her face, the expressions alternating between awe and amazement, to sympathy for the cow’s pain, particularly when a tough contraction hit the animal.
    At one point their gazes had connected, and to his amazement he’d seen the sheen of tears in herdark brown eyes before she hastily glanced away.
    Without being asked, she stooped down near the cow’s head, running a shaky hand over its face, whispering soothing words to the animal, much as she had with the horse the first day he’d met her.
    When she began to hum softly, the animal’s cries lessened, its ears flickering, the fear in its eyes diminishing. Nathan felt a part of his heart stir,unlike anything he’d ever felt before.
    He’d watched and assisted in more births than he could count. And although this one was by no means an easy birth, the vet having to reach inside the cow to reposition the calf more than once, it wasn’t the worst he’d ever witnessed.
    Yet Althea’s empathetic response to the animal’s stress made it almost feel as though he were experiencing it for the firsttime, along with her.
    When the calf finally made its appearance, his attention went first to Althea, and he saw the relieved smile cross her mouth, the impractical tears that ran unchecked down her smooth cheeks.
    She glanced up at him at the same moment. He feltan answering smile, unknown to him, lift one corner of his mouth as the two of them shared the moment together.
    When he bent to assistthe vet, pulling the calf the last few inches from its mother’s womb, from his side vision he saw Althea rise.
    â€œYou did it, girl.” As the cow stumbled to its feet, she brushed a hand over its neck, moving out of the way to allow it stand.
    â€œYou’re a mama now, Bessie, congratulations!” She laughed, sniffing away at the tears.
    â€œBessie?” he asked, the corners of his mouth twitching.
    She turnedtoward him and gave a little shrug of her shoulders, the grin still in place. “I don’t know…the name seems to fit. Besides, all new mommies deserve a name.”
    â€œAnd you have experience in that?”
    She tilted her head, frowning, the remnants of her smile still in place. “In cow naming? Can’t say that I have. I’ve named a few dogs in my time. A few cats as well. I even named a chipmunk once.” The humorlurking in her eyes brightened. She shrugged one shoulder again. “I can’t say that I’ve ever named a cow before, though.”
    Nate nodded his head, going along with her, as though it was perfectly normal to name a chipmunk. “And what did you name the chipmunk?”
    â€œAlvin, of course,” Althea replied, straight-faced.
    After her lame quip, he groaned and a raspy chuckle escaped from his sensual lips,the