Theo lunged forward, startled as the cat shot through the hay in a streak of gray fur. Lavina clamped her hand over her mouth, trying to stifle a scream, as Jewel clawed at Lavina’s ankles. Lavina let out a sharp gasp as the cat climbed up her skirt, digging her claws into the fabric, and scrambled over her shoulder before bouncing down and bolting out the door.
“Are ye all right?” Theo asked as she tried to regain her composure. “That’s Jewel, and she’s a bit…”
“Wild?” Lavina interjected, clearly flustered over Jewel’s erratic and irrational behavior.
As funny as the scene was, Theo knew better than to laugh. He arched an eyebrow and watched her lips move ever so slightly as she grumbled under her breath.
The foal let loose a distressed whinny before it buckled to the ground.
“He’ll be fine,” Marcus assured when Theo darted to the creature. “Ye leave him be tonight, and ye’ll see first thing in the morn.”
“What if he just broke a bone? We cannae afford to put him down,” Theo said.
“Why would ye need to do such a thing? The creature looks healthy,” Lavina interjected, craning her neck to spy around him.
“Can ye nae see that the creature is havin’ trouble walkin’?” Marcus asked in a clipped tone.
Theo cleared his throat and pursed his lips.
The expression of irritation sent the message.
Marcus lowered his head. “Forgive me, Me Lady. I only meant that the foal is havin’ trouble standin’,” he explained in a dull tone. “If we cannae get him to stand, then we willnae be able to sell him for the seed we need for the spring.”
“Well, that’s an easy fix,” Lavina said, glancing around the stables.
Theo turned his gaze to Marcus before shifting it to Stephen.
Stephen leaned against the stall door.
Each man had the same confused expression on his face.
“What are ye doin’ there, lass?” Marcus asked as Lavina walked outside, leaving Theo and the rest of them just as baffled.
“Ye’ll see,” she answered over her shoulder before disappearing into the midday sun.
“Well now, I’d say she is a bit odd,” Stephen whispered. “Tell me again why ye married the lass.”
“Be nice,” Theo warned as Lavina came back in with a stick and a proud grin on her face.
“Here we go,” she said. “Open the stall door. Ye’re about to see that foal take off like grouse in the spring.”
“Go on, then.” Marcus chuckled, looking at the stick with amusement. “Ye heard Lady McGowan. Open the stall door.”
“But the foal,” Stephen protested, looking to Theo for direction.
Theo pursed his lips as he considered what to do. He’d been trying for hours to get the foal to stand. There was no way it would run, let alone get up.
“Ye heard the lass,” he said with a wink.
Marcus shook his head as he reluctantly opened the stall door. With the same huge grin playing on her lips, Lavina broke the branch she’d brought in. The sound cracked through the stables like lightning splitting a tree.
The foal jumped to its feet immediately. To everyone’s surprise, it darted out of the stall and charged right for the entrance to the stables.
“Would ye look at that,” Marcus drawled, a wide grin stretching his lips. “How did ye ken how to do that?”
“Aye, how did ye ken how to do that?” Theo asked as he moved to Lavina.
The woman was full of surprises. And as he studied her, he realized that maybe she wasn’t as prissy as he had thought she was.
