A Fall Through Time (Stacey and Shane Mcleod, #1) Read Online Free PDF

kill,” the stableman warned her.
    “What’s wrong with his leg?  I see he’s favoring his right one.”
    “I do not know. His leg be swollen, but he will not permit me near it.” 
    “Does the earl know?” Stacey asked. 
    “Yes,” the stableman said. “His lordship looked at it yester, but could find naught.  That be why he did not take him.  It be best to give him rest.”
    Stacey stood by the fence and watched the big gray horse for some time.  Rodric found her there and said, “Callie tells me ye wish to wear male clothing.” 
    “Yes, I do,” Stacey, said. “What will it hurt?” 
    Rodric shook his head and said, “Stacey, ye have a stubborn streak in ye. When Eric hears of this there will be the devil to pay.” 
    “Well,” Stacey said. “I’ve heard you can bargain with the devil, so we shall see.”
    Callie brought Stacey the male attire.  Stacey bathed in the washhouse and put on the boy’s clothes.  First, she put the chausses on and tied them tight, then an old shirt with a cloth jerkin over it, which came well below her hips. That was good because she felt naked without her underwear. She washed them and took them up to her room to dry.  When the time came for the mid-day meal, Stacey did not appear.
    When Lady Margaret asked about Stacey, Rodric told his mother, “Stacey said she be not hungry.”
    Stacey spent the afternoon watching the sword practice and going to the stables to talk with the big gray horse. The big dog she called Scooby had gone with his master.  Without him, she felt very alone. Stacey spent much time at the stables where she felt more at home.
    After watching for a while, she asked, “What treatment are you applying to the big gray’s leg?”
    Wilfred, the head groomsman said, “We would like to apply a poultice, but he will not let us near him.” 
    At the eventide meal, Lady Margaret said, “Miss Stacey, ‘tis not seemly for ye to dress as a young man.
    “Why not?” Stacey asked.  “Who am I hurting?  As you know, I have nothing of my own. When I ride I can put my hair under a cap and no one will know I’m a female.” 
    Sir Perceval agreed with Stacey. He too, thought, it a good idea.
    “Very well,” Lady Margaret said, “however, when Eric returns expect to be chastised.”
    Stacey really was not worried about that.  She felt sure she would be gone long before black beard returned. The next day after breaking the fast, Stacey made her usual rounds.  First, she went to the kitchen to talk with and thank Alice for the delicious food, then to the garden to talk with Henry. This morn, Stacey asked if she might have a few carrots to feed to the horses.  When she arrived at the stables, the big gray’s leg looked worse.  Stacey called him to the fence and fed him carrots.  She petted his neck and head, all the time whispering and talking softly to him.
    Wilfred greeted Stacey, “Good morn, miss.”
    “Will you bring the poultice and let me try to put it on him?”  Stacey asked.  She had been helping her gramps who was a veterinarian since she was very young.  Her gramps always said she had a way with animals.
    “Nay,” Wilfred said. “The big gray might do ye harm miss, and the earl will have me hide.”
    “Should he becomes lame; will he be happy with you then?  I’m sorry,” Stacey said. “I know I’m putting you in a difficult position.  Let us make a bargain; if Sir Perceval will say aye, then naught can be blamed on you.”
    Sir Perceval was not far away watching her.  Stacey waved him over and told him what she wanted to do.  The big knight looked at her as if she were out of her mind. Stacey took both his hands in hers and said, “I promise you nothing will happen.  I promise.”
    With the nod of his head, Sir Perceval became her accomplice.  Stacey took the poultice from Wilfred and slowly walked into the corral; she was watching and talking to the big gray the entire time.  He met her half way across the