Page 24 of The Rancher

Was he embarrassed to be with her?

She shook her head. It didn’t matter. She was a vet and a darn good one. No one could take that away from her and if she wasn’t good enough for someone, that was his problem, not hers.

Part of her still wondered if she was making a mountain out of a molehill. Ray had seemed as uncomfortable at the gala as she had. Was he just taking her places he loved because he wanted to show her who he really was?

When she hit the barn the next morning, she was still in her head.

“You’re later than usual today.” Ray leaned against Majesty’s stall. The little filly hid behind her mother.

Lyris ignored his comment. “How’s our baby girl today?” She opened the stall and walked up to Majesty. “Hello, Mama. How are you today? Hmm?”

“They both seem to be doing well. I checked Black Beauty this morning. She’s responded great to having her foal pulled. Sometimes there is a lot of tearing, but she isn’t suffering from that. I’m very pleased with your work. All of your work. You’re a good vet, Lyris.”

She melted a little at the compliment, since, in her experience, most owners were stingy about giving them. “Thank you. It’s nice to hear that you’ve done good work, and it’s appreciated. I haven’t always had that respect.”

“That’s on the people you worked for, not on you.” He came into the stall and patted Majesty’s neck.

Lyris ran her hand over Majesty’s left flank before lifting her tail and checking for excess bleeding, as well as any swelling of the vulva. Luckily, the mare was fine. She dropped the horse’s tail and patted her flank. Then she walked around to her other side to get a look at the filly. The baby was all dry and fluffy now. She was steady on her legs and appeared to be doing well. Lyris held out her hand to her, trying to put her at ease.

The filly was still shy and hurried to the space under her mother’s neck. It was the only place she could go because Ray was on the other side of the mare.

“That’s okay little one. We’ll get familiar with you and become friends on your timetable. You don’t have to be afraid of us,” said Lyris.

Ray put his hand out to the baby and didn’t have any better luck.

The filly backed as far away as she could from him and still stayed away from Lyris.

Lyris backed off, giving the little one room so she wouldn’t be scared. When she did, the little girl hid totally behind her mother.

“It’s too soon. She’s too new. Once she sees that her mother allows us to tend her, she’ll become curious about us and then we’ll make some headway to getting her to trust us. I don’t remember you telling me if she’s somebody else’s or yours.”

“This little filly is mine. I was going to let Maddy name her but I want you to. What do you think?”

Lyris’s eyes narrowed. “Me? Why should I name her?” She patted her chest. “Why do you want me to name her?”

“Because you were here at her birth in case Majesty needed help. She didn’t, thank God, but still I know you could take care of her if necessary, just as you did with Black Beauty. I think it’s only fair you give her a name.”

She let out a deep breath. “What was her sire’s name?”

“He’s Court Royal. He’s a beautiful black, just like Majesty. I’m surprised the filly has white socks. I was hoping for another solid black.”

Lyris placed an index finger on her chin. “Hmmm. Court Royal and Majesty.” She snapped her fingers. “I think she should be Snow Princess because of her white socks. If she was all black, I’d just name her Princess.”

Ray grinned. “I like it.” He wrapped his arms around Majesty’s neck. “What do you think, sweetheart? Is Snow Princess a good name for your baby?”

Majesty swung her head up and down.

Ray laughed. “I think she likes it.”

Lyris chuckled. “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a horse who seemed to understand what a person is saying, that wasn’t trained to do it as a part of some circus-type show. She’s amazing.”

“She understands some questions and responds accordingly, so I guess, in a way, she’s trained.”

Lyris patted Majesty’s left rear flank. “You’re an amazing horse, you know that, girl?”

The horse swung her head up and down.

Lyris laughed.