Read Online Wolf, Joan by Highland Sunset - Free Book Online Page A

her. "Have you been here long?"
    "No." Van's great eyes were fixed on Marcus. "That was beautiful," she said, almost reverently.
    "He's good," Edward agreed, patting the stallion again. He looked over Van's head. "Is Mallow ready?" he asked.
    "Aye, my lord. She's coming."
    "Good. Open the gate for me, please."
    The groom hastened to do the earl's bidding and Edward and Marcus came out to stand by Van. She still could not get over how quiet the obviously highly bred horse was, how tractable.
    "Here's Mallow now," Edward said, and Van let a groom give her a leg up into the saddle. She was much less tense this time and was able to sit relaxed and easy as the two horses walked out of the stableyard together.
    Van filled her lungs with air. It felt so good to be outdoors.
    "Beginning to feel a little caged?" the deep voice next to her inquired.
    She shot him a sideways look. "I'm accustomed to spending a great deal of time out-of-doors."
    He didn't reply and after a minute she asked, because she was intensely curious, "What was that you were doing with Marcus back in the paddock?"
    His splendid profile was grave, unreadable. "Just some exercises," he replied.
    "Can Mallow do them?" Van persisted.
    He looked at her. "He can do the shoulder-in, but his passage is nothing at all like Marcus'."
    "Passage?" she inquired.
    "That slow, highly cadenced trot we were doing."
    "Did you teach the horses to do those things?"
    She got his profile again. "Yes."
    Van was damned if she'd ask him any more questions. She directed her own gaze to the path in front of her and pretended she was alone.
    "I'd better bring Mallow up to London for you," he said finally as they came out of the home woods onto one of the farm roads. "You'll want to do some riding in Hyde Park."
    Van wasn't quite sure if her riding was up to London traffic, but she remembered the confinement of the last week and decided she'd rather look a fool outdoors than be relegated to the house all the time. "Thank you," she said expressionlessly. At that moment a dog erupted into the road in front of them, barking excitedly. Mallow began to dance around, but by this time Van was confident enough to sit calmly and tell him firmly to whoa. Marcus had his ears back but otherwise was quiet. A child dashed into the road after the dog and after a missed try or two finally grabbed it. Then he looked up at the earl and said guiltily, "I'm sorry, my lord."
    Edward looked sternly at the tousle-haired youngster. Van judged the boy to be about seven. "You never even looked before you ran out into the road, Jem."
    "S-sorry, my lord,'" the child repeated. He stared fearlessly up at Edward. "I didn't mean to hurt you or the lady."
    "You are the one who would have been trampled," the earl replied emphatically. He looked then with distaste at the shabby ball of fur in the child's arms. "I hope you are keeping that mongrel away from my cattle."
    "I am that, my lord." The boy's eyes began to sparkle. "Sam's ever so smart, my lord. I'm learning him all sorts of tricks."
    "How delightful. Have you ever tried teaching him the trick of a bath?"
    "Oh, yes, my lord," Jem replied blithely. "Only, he rolled in the pig's mud this morning."
    At that Edward grinned. "He looks it. Get along with you, lad, back to your mother. The next time I come by, I'll expect to see those tricks."
    The boy grinned back. "Yes, my lord!" Then he obediently raced to the house.
    A reminiscent smiled lingered around the earl's mouth as the two horses started forward again. "I remember that age very well," he murmured nostalgically. "One never walked, one ran. And one's dog always seemed to be rolling in mud puddles."
    Van thought for a minute and then her elegant nose wrinkled. "I think I'm still in that stage," she said doubtfully, and at that he threw back his golden head and roared.
    "Do you raise cattle?" Van asked when his mirth had subsided.
    "Yes. Beef is coming more and more into demand." He guided Marcus around a fallen branch