“I’m not. But?—”
“Then we’re on the same page.”
“Meaning we want each other?”
“Meaning it’s a terrible idea.”
“Probably, but—” A groan from the stall grabbed his attention. Turning, he glanced over at Speckles. “Call Graham. It’s happening.”
Chapter Ten
Zinnia yanked her phone from her back pocket and tapped the screen as she spun around toward the stall. “Graham, she’s in labor.”
“On our way.”
Disconnecting, she moved in beside Monty. Speckles lay on her side, her back to them, her flanks heaving. The straw under her rump was soaked. “Her water broke.”
“Yep. I heard it right after she groaned.” His breath caught. “And here he comes. There’s a hoof. Both hooves. Attagirl. Keep push?—"
“Mommy, Mommy!” Tex barreled through the door, his face pink and his eyes wide.
“Shh.” She held out her arms to catch him as he raced toward her. “We have to be quiet.”
“Okay.” His stage whisper wasn’t quiet, but it would have to do.
Standing him on the stool, she wrapped an arm around his waist to steady him. He was quivering. So was she, buffeted by aftershocks from that heated conversation with Monty. And now this, a new life joining her little band of survivors.
Graham took Tex’s other side, placing a hand on his shoulder. “This is it, buddy. What we’ve been waiting for.”
He murmured a soft “I know,” then let out a gasp. “What’s that?” He pointed to the translucent, blue-tinted membrane covering the foal’s emerging muzzle and forelegs.
“It’s called the amnion,” Monty said. “He’s been living inside it all this time while he grew.”
“Can he get out of it?”
“He will, once she pushes him all the way out.”
He nodded, his attention glued to the drama in front of him. “She’s trying to, but he’s stuck.”
“She’ll get there, sport. She just has to work a little harder to get his shoulders through. And here we go!”
“He’s out! Mommy, he’s out!”
“He sure is.” She gulped and swiped at her eyes, awash in relief and gratitude.
“Will you look at that.” Her uncle’s gruff voice gave him away.
Tex didn’t move, clearly stunned by what he’d just seen.
No wonder. A perfect foal lay in the straw, rubbing his black nose against his leg to get rid of the amnion. Speckles lumbered to her feet and came over to help him, licking and nuzzling her baby.
What a miracle. Zinnia had questioned her decision so many times in the past few months. Had breeding Speckles been a good idea or a foolish waste of money? Was all the effort worth it?
Oh, yeah, so worth it. All she had to do was look at her son’s face. As the shock wore off, he was still speechless, but his smile radiated pure joy.
She blinked away fresh tears. He’d missed out on having a daddy, but growing up with a foal that would become his best friend would help balance the scales.
She glanced at Monty and caught him wiping his eyes with a bandanna. And didn’t that just tug at her heart, too?
